135i or 370z

Sardis

This has been covered so much in reviews and forums. The Z is a more focused sports car and the 1 is a nicer car to drive around in terms of ride qualities in luxury. Pick which benefit you enjoy more.

As for status the 1 was created to be a more focused BMW, which appeals to the old school fans such as myself, who miss the days of the old Bimmers.


For me, the hype was a bit of a letdown on the 1. It only comes in at about 100 pounds less than a 3 and isn't that much cheaper. The 1 is going to be redone soon and the rumor is a truly sports car focused "m1" lightweight, turbo charged 4. That could be the first captivating BMW in awhile for me.

Until then Z is the more focused sports car of the two

GingaBreadMan

Even though the 370z is a amazing vehicle, free maintenance is a huge benefit. I'm not a big Bimmer fan as far as ownership is concerned, but those are nice cars 2 lease imho. If ur a tuner type of guy go with the 370. If u just want a car with a little oomph and ur not looking 2 mod the Bimmer might be a good lease/buy.

juan05

well i test drove the 135i but i dont like how it looks so i went with the nismo....

Asheth

Ok living in Germany and seeing BMW's alll the time a BMW isn't really anything its like seeing any normal dodge or ford. You only get noticed from M3 up thats it. Now in the states I know its different but the first time I saw the 135i I thought oh thats it. At first glance it looks nice then when I got side profile i wasn't as hot about it. But its an alright looking car.

I've seen the AC schnitzer kit on it that you can order with it and it still didnt help much. Practicality I think the 135i has a backseat for the sake of saying I have a backseat who is getting in there? Kids only or midgets. My backseat in my eclipse is bigger and when i have people behind me im up on the steering wheel. Just my 2 cents though.

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Pelican170

Yes it has a turbo but stock vs. stock the Z is faster.. Depends I guess what your are planning on doing to it in the future. Of course im going to say the Z is better. Besides, the 135i is ugly IMO...

Asheth

From the rumors I had read the 1 will get a lighterweight version same power don't know if it will release here in the states though. But the BMW lineup is stacked I cant see where they are going to put it at if they do they could have easily upped the horsepower but didnt then you run into competition against the 335i and M3 then how do price it? You have the Z4 also which is a closer car to the 370z. IMO

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dalparadise

On a similar note -- 6-7 years ago I switched from a BMW Z3 to a 330 Convertible with the M-sport package, because I wanted to retain the sportiness of the Z3, but gain the practicality, refinement and prestige of the E46 convertible. The move was more pronounced than that being discussed here -- from a $36,000 car to a $49,000 one -- but about three months after I had done it, I started regretting it.

The 330 lacked the head-turning capacity of the Z3. The so-called refinement was another way of saying they took the edge off that I liked so much in the Z3. The Z was raw and tossable. You could hear the engine and the shifter vibrated on top of a massive transmission tunnel. I dug the lack of comfort and convenience more than I realized. It made a statement. Everybody asked about the Z3. Nobody cared about the 330. Not that that was a deal-killer, but it made a difference. By that time, there was no way I was going to a Z4.

Now, many years later, I drive a 06 MX-5 and I know it's to recapture that Z3 aura. I originally planned to wait for the 370Z Roadster, but after driving a 370 coupe, I think I won't be missing a beat on the sporty side. The car is raw. It's unrefined, yet luxurious. That's a rare dichotomy in this price range. I'd hate to get into a 135 and find that I'd settled for a civilized car with background blending looks that can't fully deliver on either sport or luxury in terms of feel or driving experience.

Admittedly, I've only driven one of the cars in this equation, the 370. But, it made enough of an impression to not need to drive the other. That's coming from a reformed Bimmerphile.

armensti

pretty much it comes down to what you want. dont take advice from anyone because if you get a car based on someone elses advice you might end up regretting it. so just do a lot of hw and test drive both of the cars.

to me the 135 looks to weak. i know it has a 300hp tt engine but it just doesnt look the part compared to the z. the z out performs it on everything but comfort so thats another thing to take into consideration .

Red370

actually, model wise, it IS the bottom of BMW's food chain. Think of it as BMW's version of the Cobalt/Corolla/Lancer/Civic/Focus......

Not a bad car really, I kinda like em. But by no means is it a head turner.

DooDooBrown

Posting this here would give you a bit of bias results, wouldn't you say?

Sardis

This comparison is dumb dumb dumb dumb

The 1 competes with the G really. Yes the 1 was supposed to be a more focused sports car, like the older 3 series were, but in actuality there is very little difference

If you can't tell the differences between a Z and 1 in terms of where each model is more focused on a simple test drive, you are going to be lost in stats and magazine reviews forever.

The Z is much more alive in terms of how the car feels. Everything in the 1 is smooth, where the Z is still much more rugged.

If you prefer the more raw sports car feel you buy the Z. If you want refinement from the engine to the cabin, you buy the Bimmer.


It is rumored there will be a much more focused 1 coming out with an M variant that will focus on light weight nimble sports car driving dynamics. Let's wait for that to compare the two.

This is like the Z vs EVO debate. It's so fing easy to tell the difference between these cars and it all comes down to what you prefer.

Until there is another 30k very focused two door sport coupe on the market, the Z is pretty much unrivaled. Sorry, the Genesis doesn't count.

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Emac

Alas, I'm on this fence as well. My lease on my TSX is up soon and I'm looking at these two cars.

Had two Z's before (300zx and 350 - for too short of a time unforunately). Love the Z and definitely would like to go back, but also wouldn't mind trying something different. I've test-driven both cars once.

I like the idea of the 1. Cars have become so bloated. 3 series are the size of old 5 series. But as people pointed out, the 1 is still a heavy car. Really like the torque it has and it is definitely more comfortable than Z, less claustrophobic (I'm used to the TSX by now). And BMW's have a certain road feel, they're wonderful to drive.

However, the Z is definitely a sports car and it was a blast to drive too. That cockpit is great, and the car will likely prove more reliable (the fuel pump issue on the 135 concerns me). And where I live in LA, 370'z are less common so far than 135's (that may change).

I just wish both cars had a back-up camera. I think I'd enjoy both just as much for different reasons. Another test drive of each is need. It may come down to the deals I can get. If it's a 135, I'll likely lease, a Z would most certainly be a purchase.

Brandon26pdx

I was excited about the 135i leading up to it's debut. I thought for sure I would do what it took to get one, but now I'm glad I didn't go that way. Seems like the kind of car you'd be pretty bored with after a year, and the styling just never sold me...definitely not a stronger point of that car. M3 coupe is the only current offering from BMW I'd bother with (if I could afford one)

With the 370Z you would get a more exciting looking and handling car, but not a more comfortable or practical one. 135i is clearly a compromise between performance and practicality and is not an all-out performance car like a 370Z, Cayman or Vette.

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mrmixitup

I drove a 135i Coupe 6spd for about two weeks before I settled on my 370Z.

It's really a personal preference. The 135i is only barely quicker than a 370Z (I had a friend with a 370Z race me), but much slower when the turns come up.

The interior of the 135i is subpar, even for a BMW. It's bland and gets old quick. I'm still enjoying my 370Z interior.

If you plan on modding the 135i, the turbo, manifold and everything is all welded together in one piece. Really the only mods worth doing is a JuiceBox 3 ECU mod and FMIC. Anything else will cost you your warranty since BMW dealerships hate that.

I'm very happy I purchased my 370Z instead. It's really, really hard to find a 135i coupe with a manual and the options you want. They option up to $45,000, which makes them far overpriced in my opinion. It's a good deal at $35k, but any more money makes it overpriced. Hell, the 335i starts at $41k.

I paid just over $31k for my 370Z with sport package.

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mdbrich

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