My Trophy Replacement

[Jonc]

I recently acquired a new car to replace the Trophy after 6 years of ownership, call it a mid life crisis if you will, but want to try out something different and found it in the guise of a '08 BMW 135i Coupe. It's a big step up in performance and still need to take things carefully to get used to RWD, but it is proving great fun to drive. Not quite as infectious as the Trophy in terms of scruff of the neck fun and chuckability, but more refined and measured. The engine is fantastic though it doesn't have the instant throttle response and control as the Trophy despite the two turbos, the 130i which I also tried is much better in that respect, still, you can't argue with 300+bhp and the 6 pot stoppers are awesome, I don't think I've experienced anything that stops as well as this!!



I will therefore be putting up 218 up for sale soon. It will without a shadow of doubt it will be sorely missed and hope it go to a good home.

 

[nbc]

Nice choice Jonc and good luck with the sale.

 

[roystinho]

Love it. A 1M is on my list to own one day, but they don't seem to depreciate. Great if you have £35k sat around to sit in a car, not so great if you haven't

 

[Jonc]

The 1M is a bit special and it uses the same N54 as the 135i. I test drove a 135i tuned to the same 400bhp as the 1M and fitted with a Quaife diff at BMW specialist Birds near Uxbridge, now that was neck snapping fast!! Too much for me! I also tried a 130i there and that engine is sweet, better than the 135i if I'm honest, much more responsive, but obviously doesn't have the grunt of the 135i. I would have settled for the 130i but someone else beat me to it by 10 minutes, I was stuck on the M25!!! Both BMWs would be a great replacement for the Clio Trophy for anyone, especially the 130i which whilst a little softer than the Trophy, is close in character with its responsive engine, but finding a good one is hard as hell and I was very lucky finding this 135i too.