Anyone come from a BMW M135i/M235i to 981 - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

As above, was just wanting to see people's views. Currently have a M235i and I am really enjoying it but it is just making me want an even better driving experience as there is a couple things that aren't great about the BMW. The things I am not keen on is the ride is a little too soft for me when pushing on and I also think the car would really benefit from an lsd. The exhaust note could be a bit louder too. The main issue is I feel really disconnected from the car, it is an auto, if i went for a 981 it would have to be manual i think, will try both though. I know these things can easily be modified to suit but I think a car just like the 981 cayman s/gts would suit me perfect right out the box. I was thinking about the BMW M4, would also like to hear if anyone considered this prior to getting a 981, would rather have the 981 but would consider the M4 due to the price. I know a test drive would most likely answer my questions but I would also like to hear peoples view on it too. Will post my thoughts on the test drive when I get it done.

I have just gone form a 330xd touring to a 987.2 There is no comparison. Period. Involved, engaged, entertained in the Cayman. Quick, cosseted and bored in the 330d.

If you are looking for something special, not ordinary, engaging, which feels special when you drive it, go for a 981. It will lack of torque if compared to an M4, but it will be more effective, sharp, although you need to push it hard, even if it is a GTS, to accelerate fast. M4 is just a muscle car, lot of power without ability to properly transfer it to the road. Handling, Connection to the car, Engine Sound and high rev capability are the 981 strenght points. And it looks miles better than an ordinary/slightly tuned BMW coupe. PDK is a no brainer if you like blink eye fast gear changes with paddles. Edited by RBT0 on Monday 23 March 22:26

RBT0 said: If you are looking for something special, not ordinary, engaging, which feels special when you drive it, go for a 981. It will lack of torque if compared to an M4, but it will be more effective, sharp, although you need to push it hard, even if it is a GTS, to accelerate fast. M4 is just a muscle car, lot of power without ability to properly transfer it to the road. Handling, Connection to the car, Engine Sound and high rev capability are the 981 strenght points. And it looks miles better than an ordinary/slightly tuned BMW coupe. PDK is a no brainer if you like blink eye fast gear changes with paddles. Edited by RBT0 on Monday 23 March 22:26 I was considering the M4 as it seems the natural progression from the M235i, waiting to see what the M2 will be like but don't think it will be quite what I am after. I think the M235i is fast enough for me so the power of a 981 s will be fine. I think I've kinda already made up my mind on the going for one just wanted to see other people's experience as I haven't seen many going this route. I'm not sure about PDK, want to try it though but I really missed manual sometimes in the BMW but then the BMW is not PDK!

RBT0 said: I M4 is just a muscle car, lot of power without ability to properly transfer it to the road. PDK is a no brainer if you like blink eye fast gear changes with paddles. Edited by RBT0 on Monday 23 March 22:26 I will vouch for this, despite the m4 hp advantage I smoked one from a standing start with PDK at the lights. Got in front and thats where I remained. (also the weight helps)

My wife drives a 330d M-Sport. Very quick, quiet, comfy.. A nice motor indeed. But my Boxster GTS is a whole different world. Quicker, louder, a more sportier experience altogether. And the exhaust + PDK make it sublime. Mrs now wants part-ex the 330d for a Macan GTS when they arrive

marcella said: The things I am not keen on is the ride is a little too soft for me when pushing on and I also think the car would really benefit from an lsd. The exhaust note could be a bit louder too. The main issue is I feel really disconnected from the car, it is an auto, if i went for a 981 it would have to be manual i think, will try both though. I know these things can easily be modified to suit but I think a car just like the 981 cayman s/gts would suit me perfect right out the box. You say 'modified' and I wonder if you're thinking aftermarket? Exhaust and LSD are BMW options through BMWP - admittedly not cheap, but BMW parts. Perhaps worth hunting out a manual car with these things fitted? What about the forthcoming M2... might that be worth the wait? I've come from an M3 GT through a 123d coupe to a Cayman R. I'm surprised to hear you find the M235i soft given I didn't feel a huge difference from the M3 to the 123d and I don't think I would ever have described the 123d as soft. That said, the CR is in a different league to both previous cars.

I've had a 135i for two years. Not an M135i I know but still. Just got into a Cayman R. It's a night and day step up.

I had an M135i that I used every day for a while, I've also owned a 981 Cayman S and Cayman GTS. The BMW is great value for a car of £30k, quick and fun, but absolutely not in the same league as the Cayman. It is better in every way. Exterior looks, interior, useable performance, gearbox, brakes... I suppose it should be given my Cayman S was double the cost of the BMW.

I dont think you can compare, the M135i is like a mini GT car and the Cayman is a Sports car. The M135i is great value for money, Ive also got a GT4 coming too which i think is good value too.

DMC2 said: I had an M135i that I used every day for a while, I've also owned a 981 Cayman S and Cayman GTS. The BMW is great value for a car of £30k, quick and fun, but absolutely not in the same league as the Cayman. It is better in every way. Exterior looks, interior, useable performance, gearbox, brakes... I suppose it should be given my Cayman S was double the cost of the BMW. +1. Had an M135i for about a year, wonderful car, took it around the alpine passes last summer too... which is kinda what made me decide to change back to a sports car, was very quick and torquey, but ultimately felt overly soft, leant very heavily on the front tyres, too much roll/lean, etc, and while the stock engine sound is 'ok/good', it just doesn't compare with something properly sporty either, and I didn't really want to change stock exhaust. I've had a 986 and 987 Boxster before and really wished I had been driving one of those last summer instead. I want a car with character, and it was sadly missing on that trip. I'm going again this summer in the CGTS I've had since October - like the others are saying, night and day. In terms of character there is just no contest, Cayman feels incredible just driving in town traffic, and that exhaust is to die for. I will be enjoying the tunnels a whole lot more this year . And in terms of driving, the softness is gone, feels direct, pointy, a handling dream in comparison, the driving position is way more appropriate, steering and brakes are light years ahead too, can't really notice any big torque deficit on the CGTS, feels lighter, faster, more accelerative. Won't even go there on the looks . I considered an M4, but that engine and general BMW middle ground refinement ultimately put me off tbh. I borrowed a 981 2.7 with PSE, PDK, PASM for a day to test the setup and enjoyed that infinitely more than the faster M135i. PDK is just amazing IMO btw (I always drive in manual mode anyway, M135i never rev matched in a sporty way which always bothered me too). M135 a great used buy... M235i looks way better IMO.

I just switched from a F80 M3 to a CGTS. Picking up the car on Tuesday and have a 500 miles blast. I will report back on my findings, but they are two very different cars. Basically the torque is the dominant sensation in a M3/M4 while in a GTS it's the nimbleness, sound and the way it revs. The CGTS is much more enjoyable, that said the M3/M4 does have its strengths.

PastaSource said: DMC2 said: I had an M135i that I used every day for a while, I've also owned a 981 Cayman S and Cayman GTS. The BMW is great value for a car of £30k, quick and fun, but absolutely not in the same league as the Cayman. It is better in every way. Exterior looks, interior, useable performance, gearbox, brakes... I suppose it should be given my Cayman S was double the cost of the BMW. +1. Had an M135i for about a year, wonderful car, took it around the alpine passes last summer too... which is kinda what made me decide to change back to a sports car, was very quick and torquey, but ultimately felt overly soft, leant very heavily on the front tyres, too much roll/lean, etc, and while the stock engine sound is 'ok/good', it just doesn't compare with something properly sporty either, and I didn't really want to change stock exhaust. I've had a 986 and 987 Boxster before and really wished I had been driving one of those last summer instead. I want a car with character, and it was sadly missing on that trip. I'm going again this summer in the CGTS I've had since October - like the others are saying, night and day. In terms of character there is just no contest, Cayman feels incredible just driving in town traffic, and that exhaust is to die for. I will be enjoying the tunnels a whole lot more this year . And in terms of driving, the softness is gone, feels direct, pointy, a handling dream in comparison, the driving position is way more appropriate, steering and brakes are light years ahead too, can't really notice any big torque deficit on the CGTS, feels lighter, faster, more accelerative. Won't even go there on the looks . I considered an M4, but that engine and general BMW middle ground refinement ultimately put me off tbh. I borrowed a 981 2.7 with PSE, PDK, PASM for a day to test the setup and enjoyed that infinitely more than the faster M135i. PDK is just amazing IMO btw (I always drive in manual mode anyway, M135i never rev matched in a sporty way which always bothered me too). M135 a great used buy... M235i looks way better IMO. You hit the nail on the head. The reason I have this urge to change is after having an awesome run from Aberdeen to Braemar on a nice sunny day. It was the most fun I've had in any car. I have got used to using my BMW as a daily driver and that was my first proper spirited drive and it was a blast. But like I said its giving me the craving for that better driving experience that I think the 981 can fulfil. As I've read from a lot of comparsions relating not only to the M235i but also the M4 is that they are normal every day cars turned in to "sports cars" where as the cayman started its life as a sports car and this is evident as soon as you sit in it. I am far from saying that M235i is not good enough, it is an awesome daily driver and I don't think anything else competes with it in terms of new price range, this is my opinion obviously. I think the M2 will be fantastic but I still can't see it giving a better driving experience than the 981 but I could be wrong. There will hopefully be more details about it before I can get a 981 so I will consider it.

I went from a 987 BS to an M135i and 2 weeks ago got a 981 2.7 Boxster. I cant deny the engine in the M135i is incredible, the shove in the back under acceleration is great but its not the same as being in a Boxster and listening to a flat 6 at 7000rpm. I was intending to get a 981 BS but went for a the base model after several test drives, the ability to use more of the rev range on the road and hear the engine rev up was more appealing in the end to me. The big improvement to me and the main reason for the switch is the ride and handling, I found the M135i very jumpy and unsettle where the boxster just feels composed.

Just to echo what everyone else has said you will not be disappointed moving into Porsche ownership. I have owned three Porsche's (a Gen 1 new Boxster S, two 911's (993 & a 996 turbo)& deposit down on a CGTS. I currently drive a 325d coupe - & find it too 'soft'. It's sporty looking but not a sports car. For me Porsche offers the best driver feedback from road to steering wheel. I always looked forward to every journey in the Porsche. Don't rule out the PDK. I had thought I made my mind up with a manual for the GTS but just had my Porsche Experience Day (the only freebie from Porsche when you place a deposit)& tried both & was really impressed with the PDK & will spec this nearer the time to lock down my spec.