vs. 128i - Page 4 - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Sasquachulator · 04-28-2012, 02:07 AM

Its 135 or bust imo.

Plus the 128 is stll gonna be several thousand dollars more than a BRZ.

KeepGuessing · 04-28-2012, 09:01 AM

Are we talking the upcomming 128i or the old one on it's way out?

If we're talking new 128i with the N20 I will take the 128i every time..The engine makes the FA20 look an archaic boat anchor and puts out WAAAY more power than the Scoob..

If we're talking old 128.....I can't say i'd be excited thought...Even though the BMW has a worse power to weight ratio, terrible squat and is much slower when coupled with the automatic it out accelerates the the scoob...but the scoob does have alot more going for it by way of dynamics..

So I guess the order goes.... New N20 128i < Scoob/FRS < old N52b30 128i

Laika · 04-28-2012, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sasquachulator

Its 135 or bust imo.

Plus the 128 is stll gonna be several thousand dollars more than a BRZ.

Agreed. On paper you're still getting a BMW when you buy the 128i and it should be quite a fun car but you're not going to be able to live with yourself when you realize how much more fun you'd have in the 135i. Plus IMHO I always felt that getting a 128i meant that you just wanted a BMW as a status symbol so you got the cheapest one possible (not that it's cheap).

whitejdm · 04-28-2012, 10:56 AM

Overall the 128i or 135i will be way more money unless you buy used but as a current 135i owner I can honestly say you're getting a lot more car. The 128i may seem like it's in the same ballpark as the frs/brz but in the real world it will feel MUCH more substantial and the N52 6cyl is just more tractable in all situations. The main problem with the 1 series (as I've said before) is the 135i's combination of power and grip is still too high for day to day fun on public roads. While the 128i engine is better matched the suspension and tires are setup for catastrophic understeer, and to be quite honest unless you get an M sport pack (bumpers, wheels, black window trim..) the car isn't exactly winning any beauty contests.
I think the only BMWs you can get for FRS money that would be just as easy to drive hard and safe for the street are the 330ci w/M package and (if you want to SAVE money) the E36 M3.

DarkSunrise · 04-28-2012, 11:17 AM

The 128/135 are more like sport luxury cars, whereas the BRZ/FR-S are pure sports cars. The former are nicer daily drivers for sure (refinement, interior, power), but won't offer the same visceral, low-CG experience as a real sports car.

KeepGuessing · 04-28-2012, 05:51 PM

Visceral.....The adjectives being used to describe this car are hilarious..

It's a 7000 RPM Boxer engine that makes the same noise someone pissing in a oscillating fan making 200HP and accelerating as fast as nearly everything that costs less.
The thing is as Visceral as a EG hatchback dude....And that's even up for discussion..

that aside, it will definitely handle much more nice in comparison to the current 128, especially with it sitting in the market niche for the avg youngster who wants a cheapo performance car....But when the day comes when you're sick of jamming up on the e-brake to get a slide going you'll be looking into something with a bit more oomph.

speedrye · 04-29-2012, 12:46 AM

Okay guys, I've owned a 135i and drove the FR-S today. Simply put, the FR-S blows the BMW out of the water in handling. No contest, no arguments. Straight line acceleration and stopping, the BMW wins handily. The real argument here is whether you want a machine or a car with a soul. The BMW is one heck of a machine, but it never feels like more than a machine. The FR-S has character/personailty/mojo, whatever you want to call it.
These cars have radically different personalities and should be cross-shopped more on that basis than the basis of numbers/performance. Even the 128i is probably quicker than the FR-S in a line, but without the extra hp and brakes of the 135i, I don't think the 128i compares in any meaningful way. Apples and Oranges.

DarkSunrise · 04-30-2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeepGuessing

Visceral.....The adjectives being used to describe this car are hilarious..

It's a 7000 RPM Boxer engine that makes the same noise someone pissing in a oscillating fan making 200HP and accelerating as fast as nearly everything that costs less.
The thing is as Visceral as a EG hatchback dude....And that's even up for discussion..

You clearly didn't understand what I was saying in that sentence, but feel free to keep guessing.

zygrene · 04-30-2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

You clearly didn't understand what I was saying in that sentence, but feel free to keep guessing.

Hoho, I see what you did there!

bimmerboy · 04-30-2012, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkSunrise

The 128/135 are more like sport luxury cars, whereas the BRZ/FR-S are pure sports cars. The former are nicer daily drivers for sure (refinement, interior, power), but won't offer the same visceral, low-CG experience as a real sports car.

+1

I drive a 135i and above statement sums it up perfectly what the difference is between these cars.

I don't think a 128i would be much different...

Let me know if you want more details behind how the 135i drives

Ryephile · 04-30-2012, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedrye

Okay guys, I've owned a 135i and drove the FR-S today. Simply put, the FR-S blows the BMW out of the water in handling. No contest, no arguments. Straight line acceleration and stopping, the BMW wins handily. The real argument here is whether you want a machine or a car with a soul. The BMW is one heck of a machine, but it never feels like more than a machine. The FR-S has character/personailty/mojo, whatever you want to call it.
These cars have radically different personalities and should be cross-shopped more on that basis than the basis of numbers/performance. Even the 128i is probably quicker than the FR-S in a line, but without the extra hp and brakes of the 135i, I don't think the 128i compares in any meaningful way. Apples and Oranges.

Thanks for your perspective. :happy0180:

zygrene · 04-30-2012, 08:05 PM

For those of you who have driven both the stickshift 128i and 135i, how usable is that extra 70+ HP in "aggressive" daily driving? I'm seriously considering a 1 series right now but not sure which to get. And how big a difference does the M sport package make?

speedrye · 04-30-2012, 09:42 PM

I can't speak for the M sport package, but the HP really depends on your driving style. I'm a very aggressive driver and the extra HP was incredibly useful. Almost all of my driving is on back roads and city with maybe 10% highway. I would have to say the 128i is enough for 90% of drivers since it is quite peppy and so very smooth (6 cylinder models, I haven't driven the new 4 cylinder model). It's just not as much fun to hang the back end out at every chance you get.

Tbxgz · 04-30-2012, 10:13 PM

Hmm lots of BMW hate in this thread. IMO, it's one hell of a car and is a lot more agile than some of you are making it out to be. The only problem is the price. Good luck finding any "base" models. When my friend was shopping for one, he couldn't find a model under 33k because of all of BMW's "packages". And lol at it being a girls car. As car enthusiasts gender labeling cars is just flat out silly.

04-30-2012, 10:13 PM	#56
Tbxgz Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: 2013 BRZ Limited 6MT Location: We got crabs Posts: 702 Thanks: 121 Thanked 113 Times in 43 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Hmm lots of BMW hate in this thread. IMO, it's one hell of a car and is a lot more agile than some of you are making it out to be. The only problem is the price. Good luck finding any "base" models. When my friend was shopping for one, he couldn't find a model under 33k because of all of BMW's "packages". And lol at it being a girls car. As car enthusiasts gender labeling cars is just flat out silly. __________________

04-28-2012, 02:07 AM	#43
Sasquachulator Pavement Grey Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: 2020 Toyota Camry XSE, 2017 BMW X1 Location: Calgary Posts: 3,116 Thanks: 109 Thanked 2,256 Times in 1,221 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Its 135 or bust imo. Plus the 128 is stll gonna be several thousand dollars more than a BRZ.

04-28-2012, 09:01 AM	#44
KeepGuessing Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: e30 150 deville etc etc Location: Arizona Posts: 79 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Are we talking the upcomming 128i or the old one on it's way out? If we're talking new 128i with the N20 I will take the 128i every time..The engine makes the FA20 look an archaic boat anchor and puts out WAAAY more power than the Scoob.. If we're talking old 128.....I can't say i'd be excited thought...Even though the BMW has a worse power to weight ratio, terrible squat and is much slower when coupled with the automatic it out accelerates the the scoob...but the scoob does have alot more going for it by way of dynamics.. So I guess the order goes.... New N20 128i < Scoob/FRS < old N52b30 128i

04-28-2012, 10:56 AM	#46
whitejdm Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: BRZ prem. Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 250 Thanks: 20 Thanked 35 Times in 29 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Overall the 128i or 135i will be way more money unless you buy used but as a current 135i owner I can honestly say you're getting a lot more car. The 128i may seem like it's in the same ballpark as the frs/brz but in the real world it will feel MUCH more substantial and the N52 6cyl is just more tractable in all situations. The main problem with the 1 series (as I've said before) is the 135i's combination of power and grip is still too high for day to day fun on public roads. While the 128i engine is better matched the suspension and tires are setup for catastrophic understeer, and to be quite honest unless you get an M sport pack (bumpers, wheels, black window trim..) the car isn't exactly winning any beauty contests. I think the only BMWs you can get for FRS money that would be just as easy to drive hard and safe for the street are the 330ci w/M package and (if you want to SAVE money) the E36 M3.

04-28-2012, 11:17 AM	#47
DarkSunrise Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 22 BRZ (Previously 13 FR-S) Location: USA Posts: 5,798 Thanks: 2,187 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,221 Posts Mentioned: 48 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	The 128/135 are more like sport luxury cars, whereas the BRZ/FR-S are pure sports cars. The former are nicer daily drivers for sure (refinement, interior, power), but won't offer the same visceral, low-CG experience as a real sports car.

04-28-2012, 05:51 PM	#48
KeepGuessing Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Drives: e30 150 deville etc etc Location: Arizona Posts: 79 Thanks: 0 Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Visceral.....The adjectives being used to describe this car are hilarious.. It's a 7000 RPM Boxer engine that makes the same noise someone pissing in a oscillating fan making 200HP and accelerating as fast as nearly everything that costs less. The thing is as Visceral as a EG hatchback dude....And that's even up for discussion.. that aside, it will definitely handle much more nice in comparison to the current 128, especially with it sitting in the market niche for the avg youngster who wants a cheapo performance car....But when the day comes when you're sick of jamming up on the e-brake to get a slide going you'll be looking into something with a bit more oomph.

04-29-2012, 12:46 AM	#49
speedrye Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: White Location: Southeast US Posts: 161 Thanks: 22 Thanked 78 Times in 50 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Okay guys, I've owned a 135i and drove the FR-S today. Simply put, the FR-S blows the BMW out of the water in handling. No contest, no arguments. Straight line acceleration and stopping, the BMW wins handily. The real argument here is whether you want a machine or a car with a soul. The BMW is one heck of a machine, but it never feels like more than a machine. The FR-S has character/personailty/mojo, whatever you want to call it. These cars have radically different personalities and should be cross-shopped more on that basis than the basis of numbers/performance. Even the 128i is probably quicker than the FR-S in a line, but without the extra hp and brakes of the 135i, I don't think the 128i compares in any meaningful way. Apples and Oranges.

04-30-2012, 08:05 PM	#54
zygrene Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 1991 Formula Red NSX Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 218 Thanks: 69 Thanked 59 Times in 30 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	For those of you who have driven both the stickshift 128i and 135i, how usable is that extra 70+ HP in "aggressive" daily driving? I'm seriously considering a 1 series right now but not sure which to get. And how big a difference does the M sport package make?

04-30-2012, 09:42 PM	#55
speedrye Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: White Location: Southeast US Posts: 161 Thanks: 22 Thanked 78 Times in 50 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I can't speak for the M sport package, but the HP really depends on your driving style. I'm a very aggressive driver and the extra HP was incredibly useful. Almost all of my driving is on back roads and city with maybe 10% highway. I would have to say the 128i is enough for 90% of drivers since it is quite peppy and so very smooth (6 cylinder models, I haven't driven the new 4 cylinder model). It's just not as much fun to hang the back end out at every chance you get.

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