Golf R vs M135i
Discussion
Been looking at a 17.5k m135i and a poverty spec Golf R at 20k as a replacement for an ancient Civic banger I've been running whilst saving.
Had a whizz in each as a test drive, and again been for rides in colleagues' cars (both autos).
The Golf R's acceleration just seems insanely quicker than the BM's - am I imaging things - I know that both are booked to do 0-60 in about 5 seconds, but the 4wd car FEELS so much quicker.
Anybody owned both? Or have other insight? I'm most interested in manuals as won't be touching an autobox, even with the fun of l.c.
Had a whizz in each as a test drive, and again been for rides in colleagues' cars (both autos).
The Golf R's acceleration just seems insanely quicker than the BM's - am I imaging things - I know that both are booked to do 0-60 in about 5 seconds, but the 4wd car FEELS so much quicker.
Anybody owned both? Or have other insight? I'm most interested in manuals as won't be touching an autobox, even with the fun of l.c.
R. Spec is going to be a lot better, Faux-WD is great and it's a nice place to be in.
My friend has an M135i (I had the R), and I dunno I just very underwhelmed with it. It was quick, don't get me wrong, but it didn't really feel that special. I guess the Golf wouldn't either had I sat in a GTD, but I feel like the R is a better 'go-to' in pretty much every instance.
My friend has an M135i (I had the R), and I dunno I just very underwhelmed with it. It was quick, don't get me wrong, but it didn't really feel that special. I guess the Golf wouldn't either had I sat in a GTD, but I feel like the R is a better 'go-to' in pretty much every instance.
I’ve spent a fairly large mount of time in a R, owned 4x Golfs (none R’s) and now own a M135i.
The Golf is very competent and is overall a good package and doesn’t have many negatives.
I went for the M135i largely because the engine/gearbox combo is just brilliant and to me best in class. The M135i engine dominates the experience with its fantastic sound and muscular delivery (peak torque at 1300rpm), it’s also incrediblely smooth and tractable at nearly any revs and is as happy to plod along as it is at full effort which makes a pleasing change from my last 3 cars that had highly strung 2.0t engines.
I also like RWD cars and the M135i is wonderfully playful with its lively rear end which means the car goes from calm, comfortable commuter to slightly unhinged on demand.
Most of all for me, I like the superb performance hidden in a very discrete package.
The Golf is very competent and is overall a good package and doesn’t have many negatives.
I went for the M135i largely because the engine/gearbox combo is just brilliant and to me best in class. The M135i engine dominates the experience with its fantastic sound and muscular delivery (peak torque at 1300rpm), it’s also incrediblely smooth and tractable at nearly any revs and is as happy to plod along as it is at full effort which makes a pleasing change from my last 3 cars that had highly strung 2.0t engines.
I also like RWD cars and the M135i is wonderfully playful with its lively rear end which means the car goes from calm, comfortable commuter to slightly unhinged on demand.
Most of all for me, I like the superb performance hidden in a very discrete package.
Not owned either, but had two Mk7 Golf GTis. Having heard an M135i start up on a petrol forecourt it would be my choice!
Noise aside, I think the BMW probably has the most to offer to a 'driver', but it's true talents would (and perhaps could) only become properly apparent once you own one.
Noise aside, I think the BMW probably has the most to offer to a 'driver', but it's true talents would (and perhaps could) only become properly apparent once you own one.
Looks are subjective, but I couldn’t get past the M135i front end looking like ‘Sloth’ from the Goonies.. the Facelift helped no end, however the rear lights were more Vauxhall Corsa-esque unfortunately.
The big issue was the traction with DTC off, because it was so powerful it’d spin an inside wheel without hesitation under full acceleration. This would be easily solved by an LSD upgrade, but from memory a BMW option was 3k fitted and aftermarket options (I like Wavetrac stuff) weren’t a massive amount cheaper.
I agree the engine is a cracker though, sounds good and takes tuning very well... but then so does the Golf (not the sound, it sounds crap!), very basic mods will see ~400bhp and low 11-sec 1/4 mile times in that too.
I bought a Golf R manual (I prefer the extra involvement) and didn’t regret my choice one bit for the ~3yrs I owned it.
The big issue was the traction with DTC off, because it was so powerful it’d spin an inside wheel without hesitation under full acceleration. This would be easily solved by an LSD upgrade, but from memory a BMW option was 3k fitted and aftermarket options (I like Wavetrac stuff) weren’t a massive amount cheaper.
I agree the engine is a cracker though, sounds good and takes tuning very well... but then so does the Golf (not the sound, it sounds crap!), very basic mods will see ~400bhp and low 11-sec 1/4 mile times in that too.
I bought a Golf R manual (I prefer the extra involvement) and didn’t regret my choice one bit for the ~3yrs I owned it.
I always saw them as slightly different types of cars. The R is a bit more like a classic hot hatch, where the M135i is more of a mini-GT car with it's big engine, smooth ride, refinement etc. It didn't quite have the handling in stock form to be considered a hot hatch IMO.
However, add an LSD (e.g. Quaife), some M4 suspension bits and strut mounts to the beemer and it's a different animal
However, add an LSD (e.g. Quaife), some M4 suspension bits and strut mounts to the beemer and it's a different animal
Coming to the end of 2 years with an M135i manual - it was either this or a Golf R and having test driven both of them I preferred the more involved feeling of the BMW.
After 2 years its being replaced with a Leon ST 4DRive - why - to be honest the BMW stopped being fun and became frustrating, traction is a joke, handling is very badly resolved (over sprung and under damped). Great engine and enjoyed the 2 years with it but looking forward to the added traction that awd will provide - I will miss that engine though
After 2 years its being replaced with a Leon ST 4DRive - why - to be honest the BMW stopped being fun and became frustrating, traction is a joke, handling is very badly resolved (over sprung and under damped). Great engine and enjoyed the 2 years with it but looking forward to the added traction that awd will provide - I will miss that engine though
I had a similar predicament when looking for a fun all-rounder to replace my aging / boring passat estate and was struggling with what to get. I test drove a couple of mk 7 golf gti's, drove my mates R (manual) and also an R with DSG but was left a bit numb by the golfs. Although the R is a great car and would no doubt cover ground quicker than the M135i, I just didn't get excited at the prospect of owning one.
After test driving the M135i I was pretty much sold straight away despite it's drawbacks, particularly with the recent weather and living in NE Scotland, as it just felt more exciting to me and also a nicer place to be when pottering in and out of work during the week. Fair enough, it does have its limitations with handling etc. as mentioned by other folk but for my needs it's still enjoyable as is certainly no slouch.
In my case it was heart over head in the end and I've not regretted it, although I've only had it a couple of months so far.
After test driving the M135i I was pretty much sold straight away despite it's drawbacks, particularly with the recent weather and living in NE Scotland, as it just felt more exciting to me and also a nicer place to be when pottering in and out of work during the week. Fair enough, it does have its limitations with handling etc. as mentioned by other folk but for my needs it's still enjoyable as is certainly no slouch.
In my case it was heart over head in the end and I've not regretted it, although I've only had it a couple of months so far.
I'm surprised you found the Golf R felt faster. I had the opposite experience. I have the M135i LCI and you can really tell it's rear driven. You get more of a shove from behind which makes it feel quick. The Golf R (2018 model with Akrapovič exhaust upgrade) didn't have the same feel. I'm sure it was just as quick or even quicker on anything other than a dry day but it didn't feel it.
Here's some thoughts from my experiences.
The Golf:
It's better looking. It's more roomy and better in all weather conditions. It's more boring to drive and the engine doesn't sound as good/sounds more fake. The hand gesture menu system is hopeless.
The BMW:
It's ugly and less practical. It handles great up to a point. It's less planted and more skittish and in damp/wet conditions the traction isn't great. All that said, It feels a lot more special. It's more fun to drive especially on damp corners.
In truth, as much as I'm not a great VAG enthusiast both cars are great and I couldn't argue if someone chose one over the other. I much prefer the 6 cylinder RWD car. I'm not sure I'd choose a 1 series in the future given what I've heard about dropping that layout and going with a 4 pot xDrive. I'd probably end up going Golf come replacement time if I was after a similar hatch.
Here's some thoughts from my experiences.
The Golf:
It's better looking. It's more roomy and better in all weather conditions. It's more boring to drive and the engine doesn't sound as good/sounds more fake. The hand gesture menu system is hopeless.
The BMW:
It's ugly and less practical. It handles great up to a point. It's less planted and more skittish and in damp/wet conditions the traction isn't great. All that said, It feels a lot more special. It's more fun to drive especially on damp corners.
In truth, as much as I'm not a great VAG enthusiast both cars are great and I couldn't argue if someone chose one over the other. I much prefer the 6 cylinder RWD car. I'm not sure I'd choose a 1 series in the future given what I've heard about dropping that layout and going with a 4 pot xDrive. I'd probably end up going Golf come replacement time if I was after a similar hatch.
I was recently in the same boat, and the 3 front runners were a Leon Cupra, Golf R and Pre facelift M135i.
I drove the Golf, and although naffing quick, it felt like it lacked something. The Cupra was slightly better. It may have been because I was going from an identical platform - 2litre, 4pot, turbo with a load of power.
The 135 felt like a big engine, with a little car squeezed around it. Even on a 20 minute test drive it was apparent it had traction issues, but as I'd never had a RWD car before, and I liked the appeal of having a 6cyl too.
I agree with the comments on it needing a diff though. I've had mine for 2 months now, and it does desperately need a diff. An M performance diff is about £2,300 fitted, and the likes of quaife is a little cheaper at about £1600 fitted. Either way it's the first modification it's getting. Great cars though.
I drove the Golf, and although naffing quick, it felt like it lacked something. The Cupra was slightly better. It may have been because I was going from an identical platform - 2litre, 4pot, turbo with a load of power.
The 135 felt like a big engine, with a little car squeezed around it. Even on a 20 minute test drive it was apparent it had traction issues, but as I'd never had a RWD car before, and I liked the appeal of having a 6cyl too.
I agree with the comments on it needing a diff though. I've had mine for 2 months now, and it does desperately need a diff. An M performance diff is about £2,300 fitted, and the likes of quaife is a little cheaper at about £1600 fitted. Either way it's the first modification it's getting. Great cars though.
Just had the m135i xdrive for a 24 hour test drive. It's s completely different car from the m140i that i owned. Much more in common with the golf R I had before the 140. The BMW has piles of grip. I'm not convinced by the gearbox. I'm reading it's not a zf8 box. This is noticeable. It's very very quiet. Both great fun though. I would be tempted to save £10000 and buy a used m140i!
Get yourself a 24 hour test drive. I guess the choice comes down to how much more the BMW is going to cost. TRL has then at roughly £399 £399
Get yourself a 24 hour test drive. I guess the choice comes down to how much more the BMW is going to cost. TRL has then at roughly £399 £399
I myself am having a similar debate in my own head. I live in South Wales therefore it's basically raining 80% of the time, which automatically makes the Golf a more attractive prospect. Having said that, I'm currently running a stage 2 fiesta ST and although it is FWD I'm not massively struggling with traction in the wet weather.
I've been interested in the M135i since learning to drive. A massive engine wedged into something quite small was very appealing to me. In addition to this, the sound and gearbox combination are hailed to be one of the best in any car in this price range. That's the thing with the BMW, on the used market I find them a lot more reasonable for the price over a Golf R. I'm guessing this has been caused by the arrival of the M140 which is a much better car. That for me is the problem with the M135i, if I end up with one, will I regret not spending a couple of grand extra and getting the M140i? Other issues with the M135i have been mentioned earlier in the thread so I won't go into those. But overall, probably one of the best "bang for buck" hatches on the marker (imo).
The Golf is the car that makes the most sense to me personally. With my Dad owning a mk3 focus RS I just adore the traction you can put down from low-ish speeds and through corners. Also, imo the Golf is a far better-looking car and with a few subtle mods they can look very agressive. Although it possibly won't be the most fun out of the two, it makes the most sense to me personally.
Not to mention the platform is brilliant, apparently a stage 3 Golf R (DSG) with around 500bhp can do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. That's nuts. For some reason people don't modify the Beemer to the same extent, possibly due to the N55 being less tuner-friendly than the B58 in the M140. Furthermore, the traction issues may prevent M135i owners from taking their cars beyond the stage 2 level.
I aim to test-drive both along with an A45 if I can ( just to see the difference) but not really interested in the A45 as they are still a bit too expensive (imo) and my Dad test-drove one and said it was very underwhelming for the price. Sorry for the long monologue
just wanted to give my personal views into how I'm approaching both cars.
I've been interested in the M135i since learning to drive. A massive engine wedged into something quite small was very appealing to me. In addition to this, the sound and gearbox combination are hailed to be one of the best in any car in this price range. That's the thing with the BMW, on the used market I find them a lot more reasonable for the price over a Golf R. I'm guessing this has been caused by the arrival of the M140 which is a much better car. That for me is the problem with the M135i, if I end up with one, will I regret not spending a couple of grand extra and getting the M140i? Other issues with the M135i have been mentioned earlier in the thread so I won't go into those. But overall, probably one of the best "bang for buck" hatches on the marker (imo).
The Golf is the car that makes the most sense to me personally. With my Dad owning a mk3 focus RS I just adore the traction you can put down from low-ish speeds and through corners. Also, imo the Golf is a far better-looking car and with a few subtle mods they can look very agressive. Although it possibly won't be the most fun out of the two, it makes the most sense to me personally.
Not to mention the platform is brilliant, apparently a stage 3 Golf R (DSG) with around 500bhp can do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. That's nuts. For some reason people don't modify the Beemer to the same extent, possibly due to the N55 being less tuner-friendly than the B58 in the M140. Furthermore, the traction issues may prevent M135i owners from taking their cars beyond the stage 2 level.
I aim to test-drive both along with an A45 if I can ( just to see the difference) but not really interested in the A45 as they are still a bit too expensive (imo) and my Dad test-drove one and said it was very underwhelming for the price. Sorry for the long monologue
just wanted to give my personal views into how I'm approaching both cars. 
Golf R with a H&R rear anti roll bar.
As much as I love BMs having recently sold my e46 m3. The 6cylinder engines are a real peach however you really can't beat the package the R offers.
You've got access to the power all the time with it being 4wd, I personally think they look much better and nicer inside. If you can get into a 7.5 then that would be my go to car as the interior is another step up.
I also prefer the dsg box over the zf box. The 7.5 has a slightly better box too compared to the 7. Also with the 135 you'll always wish you stretched to the 140 with the better b58 whereas with the R you've ultimately got the best Golf in the range
The R will be quicker over the sprint and I'm sure they're sub 5 to 60. Stage 1 takes them down to 3.7. The other positive is that maintaining one will also be cheaper as it doesn't have the BMW badge.
The negative of the R is that it is a Golf. Not a band thing but ultimately it will always be Golf and spending 20k on one could also fetch you some pretty nice cars too.
As much as I love BMs having recently sold my e46 m3. The 6cylinder engines are a real peach however you really can't beat the package the R offers.
You've got access to the power all the time with it being 4wd, I personally think they look much better and nicer inside. If you can get into a 7.5 then that would be my go to car as the interior is another step up.
I also prefer the dsg box over the zf box. The 7.5 has a slightly better box too compared to the 7. Also with the 135 you'll always wish you stretched to the 140 with the better b58 whereas with the R you've ultimately got the best Golf in the range
The R will be quicker over the sprint and I'm sure they're sub 5 to 60. Stage 1 takes them down to 3.7. The other positive is that maintaining one will also be cheaper as it doesn't have the BMW badge.
The negative of the R is that it is a Golf. Not a band thing but ultimately it will always be Golf and spending 20k on one could also fetch you some pretty nice cars too.
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