M140i vs. GR86
Discussion
Interested in views here, experience of anyone who has moved from an M140i to a GR86. I’ve got one of the emails allowing me to order a GR86 and need to decide lol. Being the worlds worst at this stuff am on the fence as usual. My M140i is great, comfy, fast, zf8 is nice, economical when it needs to be. I might add that I also have a couple of s1 Elise’s with engine conversions. Question is should I make the jump and buy a GR86? We also have a 2015 Polo GTI 1.8T dsg so I suppose I could sell that and give the Mrs the M140i.
Having owned an M140 (2017 manual) and have an order in for GR86 (but had many hours of test drives) I woul say the M140 is much nicer place to sit with tech etc. The chassis and suspension simply let's the car down, push on a bit and its bouncing all over the road and just isn't as well put together when it comes to driving dynamic.
I wouldn't have another M140, especially not an auto, and in my experience, the GR86 is just in another league of driver engagement. The steering from the M140 is dreadful, numb and dull with nothing inspiring. For me the 86 wins as out outright sense of occasion and driving somethign special. It's sought-after, rare, and will hold value well. Depends what you're after really and what you value in a car. The B58 sound track is excellent, and the M140 has that going for it but I mean, it's a 1 series with a nice engine, that's it. The GR86 is a purpose built sports car, there's no direct comparison that's fair.
I wouldn't have another M140, especially not an auto, and in my experience, the GR86 is just in another league of driver engagement. The steering from the M140 is dreadful, numb and dull with nothing inspiring. For me the 86 wins as out outright sense of occasion and driving somethign special. It's sought-after, rare, and will hold value well. Depends what you're after really and what you value in a car. The B58 sound track is excellent, and the M140 has that going for it but I mean, it's a 1 series with a nice engine, that's it. The GR86 is a purpose built sports car, there's no direct comparison that's fair.
Edited by JB33 on Sunday 30th July 09:47
I tired a demo M140i & it was very quick , great smooth sounding straight six on start up but when driving at 50 - 60 on a busy dual carriage way it felt just like a normal 1 series . Which was fine & as a everyday comfortable car with plenty of power which I would never use I can see the appeal of the M140i but it did not feel special.
I drove the GR86 & came away thinking this felt great , just driving at normal 40 - 50 MPH speed it just felt like I was connected to the driving experience , yes there was more road noise tire roar on a dual carriage way & a 3 hr motorway drive would not be as relaxing as in a M140i but as a second car I really liked it.
If you enjoy you M140i & enjoy the ZF Auto I would stick with it as you have the lotus for a fun car in my view.
I drove the GR86 & came away thinking this felt great , just driving at normal 40 - 50 MPH speed it just felt like I was connected to the driving experience , yes there was more road noise tire roar on a dual carriage way & a 3 hr motorway drive would not be as relaxing as in a M140i but as a second car I really liked it.
If you enjoy you M140i & enjoy the ZF Auto I would stick with it as you have the lotus for a fun car in my view.
Well I have had an M240i for the last four or so years which I am very pleased with. It's a great drive train with the B58 and ZF8 auto. It's quick and cultured drive train and the tech with the iDrive 6 Pro is great. Build quality exterior and interior feels solid and well developed. Mine has a lot of extras including adaptive dampers and electric memory seats, heated seats and heated steering wheel and it's great for living with day to day. it's even quite practical decent rear 40:20:40 seats and a useful 390l boot. Its a GT and not what you would call a sports car. It's a powerful sporting drive yes, but not a sports car. It's feels too heavy and doesn't change direction as a true lightweight sports car should. Steering is a bit numb. The auto box is great but lacks the involvement of a manual gearbox when you are in the mood to get.hold of it and drive it.
So there is something lacking in the involvement stakes and certainly a little wayward when you're pressing on, and yes the M240 is a quick car but sometimes too quick to enjoy at sensible speeds in the real world.
My remedy for this was to look for something with a more involving drive, a manual and something that is light on its feet that.you have to drive with some finesse to get the best out of it and something you can rev out without losing my license.
Many years ago I had an MR2 MkI and I loved it's honest simplicity and I remember it as a great drive and I want to revisit that ethos.
I have looked at the Mazda MX5 and whilst it gives me most of what I'm probably looking for with the bonus of open air motoring, if a little lacking in the practicality stakes, small boot etc, the GR86 has come along just at the right time for me. I was unsuccessful on the first round of GR86 orders but having been invited to now buy one this next round I have placed my order and should take delivery sometime in September. I've not yet driven one but by all accounts and reviews it's what I'm looking for - manual, light, chuckable with good feedback - an altogether more raw old school driving experience. I'll have to wait to see what.it's like and looking forward to collecting it for better or worse.
Two very different propositions of course but I am p!banning on keeping them both as they are different in many ways.
So there is something lacking in the involvement stakes and certainly a little wayward when you're pressing on, and yes the M240 is a quick car but sometimes too quick to enjoy at sensible speeds in the real world.
My remedy for this was to look for something with a more involving drive, a manual and something that is light on its feet that.you have to drive with some finesse to get the best out of it and something you can rev out without losing my license.
Many years ago I had an MR2 MkI and I loved it's honest simplicity and I remember it as a great drive and I want to revisit that ethos.
I have looked at the Mazda MX5 and whilst it gives me most of what I'm probably looking for with the bonus of open air motoring, if a little lacking in the practicality stakes, small boot etc, the GR86 has come along just at the right time for me. I was unsuccessful on the first round of GR86 orders but having been invited to now buy one this next round I have placed my order and should take delivery sometime in September. I've not yet driven one but by all accounts and reviews it's what I'm looking for - manual, light, chuckable with good feedback - an altogether more raw old school driving experience. I'll have to wait to see what.it's like and looking forward to collecting it for better or worse.
Two very different propositions of course but I am p!banning on keeping them both as they are different in many ways.
Price of a GR86 would get you a tidy M2.
Far better to drive than the M-lites it’s honestly night and day.
Way easier to live with than the GR86 and a different level altogether of performance, fun and handling.
You’re even into used Alpine A110 territory for GR86 prices.
Got the email a few weeks back to place an order but personal feedback reviews on the GR86 have been quite mixed so wasn’t for me.
I say all this as a massive GT86 fanboy and totally got the whole ethos of it.
Far better to drive than the M-lites it’s honestly night and day.
Way easier to live with than the GR86 and a different level altogether of performance, fun and handling.
You’re even into used Alpine A110 territory for GR86 prices.
Got the email a few weeks back to place an order but personal feedback reviews on the GR86 have been quite mixed so wasn’t for me.
I say all this as a massive GT86 fanboy and totally got the whole ethos of it.
I own a GR86 and 435i.
As ever, it depends on what's more important to you. The BMW will be more practical, quieter, faster in a straight line - or in other words a better daily (but I could have written that about anything from a Skoda Superb to a 300hp Vauxhall Grandland). The Toyota will be more fun.
If I only had one car the BMW would probably be the way to go, but as a two car garage I'm pretty happy at the moment.
As ever, it depends on what's more important to you. The BMW will be more practical, quieter, faster in a straight line - or in other words a better daily (but I could have written that about anything from a Skoda Superb to a 300hp Vauxhall Grandland). The Toyota will be more fun.
If I only had one car the BMW would probably be the way to go, but as a two car garage I'm pretty happy at the moment.
CG2020UK said:
Price of a GR86 would get you a tidy M2.
Far better to drive than the M-lites it’s honestly night and day.
Way easier to live with than the GR86 and a different level altogether of performance, fun and handling.
You’re even into used Alpine A110 territory for GR86 prices.
Got the email a few weeks back to place an order but personal feedback reviews on the GR86 have been quite mixed so wasn’t for me.
I say all this as a massive GT86 fanboy and totally got the whole ethos of it.
Used Alpine A110 is over £40k. Wasn't the GR86 £30k in the first round?Far better to drive than the M-lites it’s honestly night and day.
Way easier to live with than the GR86 and a different level altogether of performance, fun and handling.
You’re even into used Alpine A110 territory for GR86 prices.
Got the email a few weeks back to place an order but personal feedback reviews on the GR86 have been quite mixed so wasn’t for me.
I say all this as a massive GT86 fanboy and totally got the whole ethos of it.
Have they gone up that much?
I've always liked the GT86 but they still seem expensive for what they are. Even a 10 year old one with 100k miles is £10k which feels like a lot. Still, it probably means GR86 residuals will be pretty good.
You might miss the punch from the turbo if you go for the GR86 with its naturally aspirated engine. They will drive/feel completely different.
I occasionally jump out of the M4(3.0 straight 6 twin turbo) and into the 370Z(V6 3.7 NA), and I wonder if the 370 actually has an engine under its bonnet if you understand what I mean.
I occasionally jump out of the M4(3.0 straight 6 twin turbo) and into the 370Z(V6 3.7 NA), and I wonder if the 370 actually has an engine under its bonnet if you understand what I mean.
CG2020UK said:
Price of a GR86 would get you a tidy M2.
Far better to drive than the M-lites it’s honestly night and day.
Way easier to live with than the GR86 and a different level altogether of performance, fun and handling.
You’re even into used Alpine A110 territory for GR86 prices.
Got the email a few weeks back to place an order but personal feedback reviews on the GR86 have been quite mixed so wasn’t for me.
I say all this as a massive GT86 fanboy and totally got the whole ethos of it.
I like the M2 a lot (not the new one!). Whilst it is on a different level power wise than the GR86 I certainly would not say it’s on a different level for fun and handling. In fact I’d say the GR86 wins those. Unless fun is based on power and straight line speed above all.Far better to drive than the M-lites it’s honestly night and day.
Way easier to live with than the GR86 and a different level altogether of performance, fun and handling.
You’re even into used Alpine A110 territory for GR86 prices.
Got the email a few weeks back to place an order but personal feedback reviews on the GR86 have been quite mixed so wasn’t for me.
I say all this as a massive GT86 fanboy and totally got the whole ethos of it.
Well I managed to get a drive in one yesterday. My Toyota ordering slot was about to expire so I thought may as well see what it’s like. Funnily enough I was very surprised, to me the engine and gearbox were the party piece. The steering I found disappointingly numb and that’s saying something given I have an m140i. Brake pedal was a little too high compared with the throttle for heel toe although some of it could be the puma driftcats I was wearing being quite narrow. Ultimately I think I’m ruined by the Elise and anything else doesn’t seem to deliver as I’d like it, so yes while it is a great car I decided to stick with the BMW and get my thrills on the road with the Lotus. Was very tempted. Also I for some reason got back ache from the seat as well. The indicators I found weren’t a problem despite reading complaints about them (similar to the bmw ones). Perhaps I missed an opportunity here but did see a used one for sale with 3k miles at £30k.
It's quite hard to find drivers cars with great drivetrains unfortunately. I think that's where Porsche really stand alone.
But anyway, as a drivers car there is no comparison - I would take the GR86 over an M140i all day long. However, I suspect, it will sting a bit to let go of such strong and smooth drivetrain, especially when you're on some long motorway slog and the GR86 is not only much slower and noisier but drinking more fuel than the B58 as well. It would depend on your use for the car. The fact you already have an Elise muddies the waters further.
As a single car I'd rather a GR86, but as part of a fleet including an Elise, the GR86 is under stiff competition and M140i makes some sense.
But anyway, as a drivers car there is no comparison - I would take the GR86 over an M140i all day long. However, I suspect, it will sting a bit to let go of such strong and smooth drivetrain, especially when you're on some long motorway slog and the GR86 is not only much slower and noisier but drinking more fuel than the B58 as well. It would depend on your use for the car. The fact you already have an Elise muddies the waters further.
As a single car I'd rather a GR86, but as part of a fleet including an Elise, the GR86 is under stiff competition and M140i makes some sense.
ITP said:
I like the M2 a lot (not the new one!). Whilst it is on a different level power wise than the GR86 I certainly would not say it’s on a different level for fun and handling. In fact I’d say the GR86 wins those. Unless fun is based on power and straight line speed above all.
While I haven’t driven the new GR86 admittedly I have spent considerable time in the GT86 and have to disagree. In defence of the M2 it’s widely described as a riot to drive the GR86 isn’t it’s more known for its finesse especially compared to the GT86. Handling wise the M2 feels faster than the speed you are actually doing. Also for handling the M2 can match the GR86 round a bend, track or down a B road but the GR86 can’t do the same to the M2.
Equally in defence of the GR86 its rivals are the Mx-5, I20N and Fiesta ST so it’s not a fair fight in terms of price, running cost etc.
Also like the GR Yaris it isn’t fair to set the GR86 up as a fun car when it doesn’t seem to be its purpose. Realistically it’s more mini Cayman than muscle car M2.
Still a big fan of the GR86 (more so the GT86).
CG2020UK said:
Equally in defence of the GR86 its rivals are the Mx-5, I20N and Fiesta ST so it’s not a fair fight in terms of price, running cost etc.
GR86 is quite a bit more expensive than any of those, that's if you can even get one.I see the GT86 as a rival to the Fiesta ST as they are pretty much like for like on price.
Both 86's have few direct rivals if you want a light weight, sporty 2+2 coupe.
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