At the end of the day; no car seems better than a compromise except...

"Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle" (1500sand535)
04/26/2019 at 21:20 • Filed to: None

I’ve been grappling with replacing my turbo beetle with something that preferably accomplishes two things; something more practical and preferably an automatic. But I also really don’t want to spend much money as any car I get will probably only be driven 1,000-5,000 miles a year and mostly when my alley is too rutted out with ice and snow to drive my 996.

So after spending lots of time searching, looking, pondering; one-by-one cars have been eliminated. Golf Sportwagen 1.8T 4Motion are really only worth it if you buy new; a GTI stayed in the back of my mind; a BMW X1 with sport packs are practically non-existent and not all too affordable but I’ve heard the sport pack is neat if you can get it.

Well; there is one car that is affordable enough that I think it would be worth having even if I didn’t drive it a ton but the drawback is, it’s no more winter ready than my 996. That car is a 2011-2013 135i:

It’s different from my 996 with its DCT; turbo engine and you know FR layout. The rear seat is decent enough for my daughter . And the prices are reasonable. And it’s still light, small, and fast.

But for now the plan is to sell the Beetle and have one car for me and my wife’s c-max. It’s honestly hard to imagine having only one car that’s mine but for now that’s the plan.

DISCUSSION (17)

AestheticsInMotion > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/26/2019 at 21:26

How much snow are we talking? Could you just get winter tires for the 996?

sony1492 > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/26/2019 at 21:42

Ive been wondering about 135i’s so you could be oppos guinea pig

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > AestheticsInMotion
04/26/2019 at 21:51

More of a ground clearance issue than a stability/capability issue. The ice/snow gets so compacted and rutted in our alley in late winter that my beetle would occasionally drag a little and it sits 1.5 inches higher than my 996. I’m thinking about getting some of the more affordable coil overs that I think could run maybe 1/2-1” higher than stock height and I may be able to run oversize tires(not an option with stock setup) with them to buy another 1/2”. Essentially a mild safari car in the winter. But that’s a lot of ifs/maybes.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > AestheticsInMotion
04/26/2019 at 21:52

And I’m in Minnesota so consistent and large amounts of snow. And it stays from January to April.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > sony1492
04/26/2019 at 21:54

I’m going to keep my eyes out. But my wife was really happy to hear my idea of getting by with just the two cars.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > sony1492
04/26/2019 at 22:17

I want one bad. I have a 535 (same motor - its awesome if youre ok with high maintenance), and I rented a 128i. plenty big while still a small car. 135is if you can get it...

If I can find a good vert, my wife would be ok with it too!

AestheticsInMotion > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/26/2019 at 23:04

Hmm, I would go that route (wait, I did go that route) but yeah, definitely a fair amount of work/time/money to make it all work.

You'd be the coolest driver in Minnesota!

CB > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/26/2019 at 23:08

Subaru Outback? Or V60 CC?

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > AestheticsInMotion
04/26/2019 at 23:27

I need more people like you in my life; budget is the big constraint right now. But budget aside if I could do it tomorrow; I probably would.

AestheticsInMotion > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/26/2019 at 23:31

I hear you. After getting oversized snow tires, I blew my budget on fancy high-end coilovers and couldn’t afford the *lift* part. I’ve been paying for that with rubbing fenders and chipped paint ever since...

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > CB
04/26/2019 at 23:56

Outbacks don’t do much for me. Recent Volvo wagons look great but way outta budget.

PG; the scalpel wielder > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/27/2019 at 01:39

Yeh its why I’m not in a rush to sell mine. Mods are quick and easy. 350hp at the rear wheels is easy to achieve. Manual, rwd, feels sturdy. Handles great.

I have a bigger intercooler, chargepipe, bov, coilovers and a few other things. There is always stuff to go wrong with an n54. N55 is generally more reliable but can’t achieve higher power. Lots of info on the Web. In the past 4years of ownership I've done one window regulator, ac compressor bearing, and some gaskets. Rest has been preventative maintainance.

Kinja'd!!!

CB > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/27/2019 at 05:17

They haven't dropped yet? Going a few years old, while the interior would be outdated, would be a decent deal. I've been pondering used XC70s myself.

ihm96 > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/27/2019 at 07:58

I daily my rwd bimmer in the winter. I had ground clearance issues before cause it was on h and r springs before but I just installed some ISC street valved coilovers (around 1000 msrp, I got a deal for 850) and right now I’m actually sitting pretty high. I used to bottom out occasionally cause we have ginormous philly potholes and speed bumps and now I’m sitting higher than the new accord I was parked to yesterday.

Even with the height gain tho, the body roll is basically nonexistent, the ride has actually improved over springs and it’s actually more composed on rough terrain now. Honestly I was skeptical of them before I installed that they would be a compromise, but they improved every area of the car and I can even make the damping softer or harder if I want or go low again if I decide to.

I’m so sold I’m already getting a set for my E34. Turns at high speed just have much more confidence now it’s amazing. Here’s the old height, I’ll take a pic today of the new ride height. It looked cool but I didn’t like the bottoming our or occasional rubbig especially since it hurt handling which is my favorite thing about the car

Kinja'd!!!

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > ihm96
04/27/2019 at 09:23

Good to hear. I’d like to drive year round if I could.

The ISCs looks similar to the Ceika coilovers ive been eyeing up. I’ve heard lots of those companies use similar suppliers and so mostly you’re buying quality control, customer service, and customization. I was going to go with Ceika because I think I would go softer than some other companies street setup (4 up front and 7 out back) with a helper spring in front ; and they will do that and not charge much extra . I think I could get them for $1000 shipped.

Pics always appreciated.

ihm96 > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
04/27/2019 at 10:15

Yeah the BCs and those are all the same. ISC is based in New Hampshire and had great reviews. I got the street sports and right at the middle of the adjustments they are more comfortable than the H&Rs before, so I have no doubt the street comfort would be soft enough to be dailyable. The other big reason that made me go with ISC was that my local BMW dealer actually was able to supply them through their performance parts division and had had good experiences with them. Overall the ride has improved as has the handling and elimination of body roll. Plus they upgraded from a 5 year to lifetime warranty just this january.

Also, I believe ISC will custom do spring rates for free you just have to ask, but I may be mistaken.

As for driving all year round, I got smaller rims from an E36 that had the 15" (stock wheels were 16s, Ive since switched to 17s in the M size) and were a skinnier 205 tire with Blizzaks and it handled like a beast in the snow. My only issue was roads that were partially plowed would buildup in the center and plow against my low ass bumper, but with the coilovers this issue should be totally gone, and I can always even go higher if I need. Its basically stock ride height at the moment

E90M3 > itranthelasttimeiparkedit
06/28/2019 at 09:31

My dad drives a 135is and he loves it. It hasn’t been terribly unreliable either.