Test drove a BMW 135i and Focus ST

[ballmode]

This weekend I test drove a 2012 BMW 135i with DCT transmission and M-Sport package

The 2014 Focus ST 6speed manual was fully loaded, leather recaros/nav/moonroof/sound system

I was able to talk each car down to $26000.

With my current situation: Wife/Small Dog/Myself (5'7 170lbs) we did not find the leather recaros too cumbersome. The only thing we didn't like is that it was hard to put your arms down comfortably.

The BMW was nice but it didn't scream luxury to us. Audi/Lexus/Benz scream luxury to me.

Overall we were more impressed with the focus. For me it was how surprising the 2.0L turbo four was down low. For the wife, it was actually quieter and smoother of a ride than the BMW.

Now the BMW is RWD but with so much power on anything but a straight traction control kicks in or you get a peg leg burnout with no true LSD.

The Focus has an electronic LSD and its wrong wheel drive (FWD), but in everyday driving I think I would have more fun with the focus as I enjoyed the lift throttle oversteer the car did.

I'll try to test drive a Mk7 GTI when I can, I drove the Mk6 GTI DSG 4 door but I didn't care for it.

I can easily get a focus ST anywhere anytime but until I give up my search for the new WRX, the Focus ST is most likely going to be my next car.

 

[mmntech]

No, BMW doesn't scream luxury. Especially the low end ones. They're performance cars. I've driven the coupe and really liked it. Fun little roadster. I assume you're looking at the hatch.

The Focus ST is probably a more practical un-practical car though, if you're looking for a toy. RWD is fun and all, but if you live in a snowy environment like I do, you might prefer FWD. Especially if you're used to the WRX.

 

[cyclistca]

Really think you should wait and get the WRX

 

[ballmode]

Sigh... You're right

 

[z0mb13]

The 1 series is entry level bmw.. So of course u not going to get a lot of luxury from it

I think the golf gti would be a better bet for you.. It drives real nice eventhough its still wwd

The wrx also is not luxurious at all

 

[yh125d]

I have about 15k miles on my focus and I love it. And yes, it's surprising down low and oversteer in a fwd doesn't get old. Mine too is a loaded st3 and apart from the occasional annoyance with sync it's been great. While the interior isn't BMW quality, it isn't cheap either, with good materials and haptics all around IMO. I'd say the interior is easily as nice or nicer than the GTI I tested.

The back seat is tight, but the 135 is probably as tight or tighter. The sony stereo is pretty good, but doesn't get too loud


Let me know if you have any questions


Edit: it's also very easy to drive, for experienced manual drivers and not so experienced. It has hill start assist which I like more than I would have thought, and it will rev up a little bit in response to you dropping the clutch so it takes off smoothly by itself. Also has a shifter lockout for reverse to prevent accidental shifts

 

[michal1980]

Seriously how often on real roads does FWD vs RWD make a difference?

 

[ballmode]

I have about 15k miles on my focus and I love it. And yes, it's surprising down low and oversteer in a fwd doesn't get old. Mine too is a loaded st3 and apart from the occasional annoyance with sync it's been great. While the interior isn't BMW quality, it isn't cheap either, with good materials and haptics all around IMO. I'd say the interior is easily as nice or nicer than the GTI I tested.

The back seat is tight, but the 135 is probably as tight or tighter. The sony stereo is pretty good, but doesn't get too loud


Let me know if you have any questions


Edit: it's also very easy to drive, for experienced manual drivers and not so experienced. It has hill start assist which I like more than I would have thought, and it will rev up a little bit in response to you dropping the clutch so it takes off smoothly by itself. Also has a shifter lockout for reverse to prevent accidental shifts

That hill assist, say you let go of the brake and you have the clutch pushed in will it roll backwards?

I think on the 08+ WRX's they added the hill holder... wasn't sure if other cars did this or not

 

[jlee]

That hill assist, say you let go of the brake and you have the clutch pushed in will it roll backwards?

I think on the 08+ WRX's they added the hill holder... wasn't sure if other cars did this or not

My Forester had that (04 XT). Nifty feature.

 

[yh125d]

That hill assist, say you let go of the brake and you have the clutch pushed in will it roll backwards?

I think on the 08+ WRX's they added the hill holder... wasn't sure if other cars did this or not

It won't roll backwards for about 5 seconds, giving you plenty of time to take off. I'm not sure if the clutch has to be pressed or not for it to engage

 

[ballmode]

Coming from my WRX the Focus ST shifter was smooth and the clutch was almost too light. Still for somebody wanting to learn on a manual I can't see how it would be too hard and cumbersome. People and their autotragic transmissions today....

 

[Wreckem]

Sub $30k luxury cars do not feel like "luxury". Doesn't matter if it's a 1, an A3 or a CLA. They are more luxurious than their mainstream counterparts but do not feel luxurious like their true luxury counterparts.

 

[Wingznut]

Seriously how often on real roads does FWD vs RWD make a difference?

Not sure what you mean...

If you are talking inclement weather, then FWD is a significant advantage over RWD.
If you are talking mostly dry pavement, then RWD is just a much more satisfying experience with spirited driving, even if you aren't pushing it to the limits. FWD cars are generally very front heavy, and not balanced.
If you are talking casual driving, then it doesn't really matter.

DISLAIMER: Of course, all of the above is "in general" and definitely imho. No doubt there are exceptions.

 

[SearchMaster]

I've had my ST for about 15 months and have just rolled over 20K miles (and I work from home!)

FWIW, it does not have a LSD.

I still love my car; really it does so many things very well but nothing perfectly. My only real complaint is it's just a tad too small for me and my family of 5, but that's not the car's fault, I knew its size when I bought it. It's usually only an issue when I have to take 3 boys to baseball practice and trunk space gets tight.

I average 30+MPG on mostly suburban-type roads.

I would recommend driving the new GTI before buying the ST. From what I've read, a Stage I upgrade will put it under 13.2s 1/4 mile which is pretty damned impressive.

 

[iamwiz82]

The problem with FWD is that throwing more horsepower at the car doesn't speed anything up. A 190HP FWD car is not that far off from a 260HP car in 0-60, quarter mile, etc.

The 135i is pretty damned quick. If performance is your thing, it's a no-brainer.

 

[vi edit]

MKVII GTI with performance pack is supposed to be pretty damn impressive. Definitely need to try that out.

 

[michal1980]

Not sure what you mean...

If you are talking inclement weather, then FWD is a significant advantage over RWD.
If you are talking mostly dry pavement, then RWD is just a much more satisfying experience with spirited driving, even if you aren't pushing it to the limits. FWD cars are generally very front heavy, and not balanced.
If you are talking casual driving, then it doesn't really matter.

DISLAIMER: Of course, all of the above is "in general" and definitely imho. No doubt there are exceptions.

IDK.

I've drive FWD around curves, and RWd around curves on public roads, at speeds above the speed limit, but nothing outragous (up to 20miles above). in neither case was the car ever even near a limit where the driving wheels made a difference.

IMHO, people make too big of a deal out of fwd vs rwd for the vast majority of driving, even spirited.

near limits the nose on FWD should push. But if your a reasonable person why are you pushing limits on public roads?

 

[Wingznut]

IDK.

I've drive FWD around curves, and RWd around curves on public roads, at speeds above the speed limit, but nothing outragous (up to 20miles above). in neither case was the car ever even near a limit where the driving wheels made a difference.

IMHO, people make too big of a deal out of fwd vs rwd for the vast majority of driving, even spirited.

It's the weight bias that makes the difference, imho.

near limits the nose on FWD should push. But if your a reasonable person why are you pushing limits on public roads?

See, that's the difference. You will "push those limits" at a lower threshold than on a RWD car.

(Again, in general... Of course, most of it will depend on the car.)

 

[monkeydelmagico]

(Again, in general... Of course, most of it will depend on the car.)

Trying to make someone understand why RWD is "generally" a better driver's car is futile. They either get it or they don't.

As for the OP looks like a Focus ST is in your future. Nice car. Tough choice vs. a used 135. Is the BMW CPO?

 

[MiataNC]

Seriously how often on real roads does FWD vs RWD make a difference?

Every time you take a corner hard in a RWD car and slide the rear out controlling the drift and pointing the nose through the apex by playing with the throttle.

For me that was every day I drove my MX-5 and RX-8. :biggrin:

 

[SearchMaster]

Every time you take a corner hard in a RWD car and slide the rear out controlling the drift and pointing the nose through the apex by playing with the throttle.

For me that was every day I drove my MX-5 and RX-8. :biggrin:

The ST does that quite well too, thank you very much It has Torque Vectoring, where it applies brakes to the inside wheel during cornering which swings the back end around pretty handily. No, it's not RWD but you'd have to try it before dismissing it. I can't argue your point that lift throttle oversteer is tits

 

[MiataNC]

The ST does that quite well too, thank you very much It has Torque Vectoring, where it applies brakes to the inside wheel during cornering which swings the back end around pretty handily. No, it's not RWD but you'd have to try it before dismissing it. I can't argue your point that lift throttle oversteer is tits

The Focus/Fiesta ST is on my short list of cars I am drooling over. I haven't driven either yet (none in stock locally), but I will take your word for it.

I am waiting to see what the new MX-5 is going to be before making a decision. I am also interested in the 2015 Mustang with the 2.3L Ecoboost Turbo, but it doesn't appear to have a significant weight advantage over the GT. So it is hard to justify that over the V8 other than price.

 

[yh125d]

The ST doesn't really understeer. On the rare occasion it does, the throttle pulls the nose back in, and lifting will push the tail out. So the throttle action is reversed, but the effect is pretty similar. But as others have said, there's nothing you can do on public roads that really makes FWD/RWD matter. If you're talking track days, sure. Otherwise not really.

 

[yh125d]

MKVII GTI with performance pack is supposed to be pretty damn impressive. Definitely need to try that out.

I would note that the GTI I drove when I bought the ST was MKVI, which left me unimpressed. I haven't driven the MKVII for comparison

 

[Midwayman]

Seriously how often on real roads does FWD vs RWD make a difference?

Everyday. RWD just feels better through the corners. As soon as you're on power you can feel it. Its not about absolutely limits, its about balance and how the car responds to you. I spend most of my time in traffic where getting anywhere limits is impossible and am still glad I have RWD.