To vert or not to vert, that is the question

[prospect]

People who have never owned convertibles won't understand. As for safety, always be aware of your surroundings.

 

[///MALCOLM325]

People who have never owned convertibles won't understand. As for safety, always be aware of your surroundings.

+1000...I agree, after you own one, it all becomes clear, personally not a fan of the 1 series vert - E92 for me in a heart beat. In SA you always need to watch your back, with or without a roof :=):

 

[L~C~G]

If I drive in dangerous areas, I simply put the roof up. No hassle.

That is a great idea because you only really need to be careful in areas where there is a possibility that you may be robbed, stabbed, murdered, raped etc. :thumbs:

 

[Prev]

Love the 135i coupe but not the vert ....... bit girlie imo......sorry if I offended anyone

 

[herr bmw]

i like the vert,but would most probably buy the coupe,safety reasons

 

[fusion01]

If you want a more hardcore experience - plan to track the car, then forget the vert. Coupe has far better rigidity: sharper handling. Vert can seem a little softer from comparisons I've read written by motoring journalists. Don't believe all that rubbish about it being a 'hairdressers' ride. They couldn't afford one.

---

If I drive in dangerous areas, I simply put the roof up. No hassle.

That is a great idea because you only really need to be careful in areas where there is a possibility that you may be robbed, stabbed, murdered, raped etc. :thumbs:

Man, it dawns on you what a crazy country we reside in when reading such a comment which is most likely far from paranoid and close to truth.

 

[Josh-ZN]

If you want a more hardcore experience - plan to track the car, then forget the vert. Coupe has far better rigidity: sharper handling. Vert can seem a little softer from comparisons I've read written by motoring journalists. Don't believe all that rubbish about it being a 'hairdressers' ride. They couldn't afford one.

you kidding about hairdressers right? you should see how much they charge my wife every time she goes there! daylight robbery. they are probably driving lamborghini verts :roflol:

 

[fusion01]

If you want a more hardcore experience - plan to track the car, then forget the vert. Coupe has far better rigidity: sharper handling. Vert can seem a little softer from comparisons I've read written by motoring journalists. Don't believe all that rubbish about it being a 'hairdressers' ride. They couldn't afford one.

you kidding about hairdressers right? you should see how much they charge my wife every time she goes there! daylight robbery. they are probably driving lamborghini verts :roflol:

Ok I am 38 and almost bald. I shave my dome with an electric shaver in literally 2 minutes (no hair attachment). What do I know? Nothing Big distinction though between the owner and staff OFC, former pockets all the dough. Back to topic, the coupe or vert both catch my eye when passing. I think the vert a little more classy, while the coupe's more 'badass'.

 

[Karthik]

Get it , drop top is awesome , if you worried what people think when you drive it . Hmm are you gay ? If the answer is No , to hell with them ! Your car , you can afford it , its a 135i they'll probably be jealous anyways . :blab::thumbs:

 

[BrandonF1]

Thanks for all the input guys. You pointed out some issues that I had not considered.

As for the sun, if I think that is a small concern. Keeping a hat in the car or some sunscream for the long drives is easy.

Wind blowing things out, I have seen how this can be annoying in my dads cars. But not a deal breaker.

My big concerns are :

Practically how often would your drop the top during the weekday? Could the current vert owners who use one as an everyday estimate how often they drop the top?

The above will be affected by where you live, my dad lives in cape town and owning a vert there is awesome, and I would not worry about the crime there as much as where I live, here in Jozi. So, living in jozi the vert is less attractive than the coup but we have perfect weather for it....comments on this please.

Now the perfromance side, how much heavier is the 135i vert vs the 135i coupe? Perfromance is important...this the 135 option haha.

The price is one of the biggest factors for me, is the 60/70k extra really worth it for the vert? For that extra cash I can get some nice extra's like the performance kit, the carbon fibre diffuser, bmw performance exhaust....

Thanks again for the input, tough decision this...and I still have to wait to see what the 2012 135i looks like in person. I would buy the 335i vert in white if I could, but I want new and that is out of the price bracket.

 

[v1p3r]

I'd have the coupe above the vert. My opinion is also that the vert looks more feminine than the coupe.

 

[CyberMatix]

Thanks for all the input guys. You pointed out some issues that I had not considered.

As for the sun, if I think that is a small concern. Keeping a hat in the car or some sunscream for the long drives is easy.

I usually wear a cap & sunglasses while driving so no problem for me. If the sun gets too hot, put the roof up.


Wind blowing things out, I have seen how this can be annoying in my dads cars. But not a deal breaker.

You learn quickly after the first item blows out. Just learn to put stuff in the boot or in the cubbyhole.

My big concerns are :

Practically how often would your drop the top during the weekday? Could the current vert owners who use one as an everyday estimate how often they drop the top?

I drive about 80-90% of the time with the roof up. Only when the mood takes me do I lower the roof. Knowing I can take the roof down when no-one else can is good enough for me.

The above will be affected by where you live, my dad lives in cape town and owning a vert there is awesome, and I would not worry about the crime there as much as where I live, here in Jozi. So, living in jozi the vert is less attractive than the coup but we have perfect weather for it....comments on this please.

Really depends where you live. I live on a plot where all the other self-righteous upright citizens and other good people that live around me have big 4X4's for the wives to take the kids to ballet classes, and the men drive big Mercs in their suits to their boring office jobs. So I take down the roof just mainly to irritate them.


Now the perfromance side, how much heavier is the 135i vert vs the 135i coupe? Perfromance is important...this the 135 option haha.

Don't know about the 135 specifically, but the vert will always be a bit slower and handle a bit worse. This is the price you have to pay for exclusivity, and to show them and the world that you are just a bit better than they are. Infantile and immature urges to think everywhere is Kyalami is just below you.

The price is one of the biggest factors for me, is the 60/70k extra really worth it for the vert? For that extra cash I can get some nice extra's like the performance kit, the carbon fibre diffuser, bmw performance exhaust....

Anyone can get carbon fibre fashion accessories, loud exhausts and bling wheels, not everybody can take their roofs down when they feel like it.

Thanks again for the input, tough decision this...and I still have to wait to see what the 2012 135i looks like in person. I would buy the 335i vert in white if I could, but I want new and that is out of the price bracket.

No it isn't. You've already decided. The only question is whether you will follow your basic instinct or bow before stupid social pressures.

 

[dlk001]

Go for it...:thumbs:

On straight line performance, my 335i Convertible feels as fast my last 335i Coupe. With the roof down, you going to enjoy the sound from that engine.

From BMW site, the 0 - 1km times between 135i Coupe and 135 Convertible are 24.4 sec and 25 sec.

 

[BrandonF1]

Thanks Guys. I think a test drive is needed, although I am in favour of the coupe, I would love to own a convertible. The question is, is the the 135i the right car to drop the top...or do I wait later on in life and get my self a weekend convertible.....

 

[Fordkoppie]

If you want a convertible, I would opt for something that was designed to be such from the beginning. Not a saloon/coupe which’s roof has been cut off.
Therefore, I would rather opt for the Z4 35i instead of the 135 convertible.
I use an MX5 daily and would say that the roof is down only 10% of the time and this is in PTA. Night time driving is almost always open and therefore I treat all red lights like stop signs if the situation allows. I don’t really feel comfortable waiting for a green light like a sitting duck especially when going through certain areas.
Regarding safety – I think a closed e30 is more dangerous in attracting unwanted attention than a drop top 135.

 

[135i_carboned]

well .... i wouldnt think twice to buy the vert if it was a hard top and it could open and close while driving ... would totally eliminate the whole harrasment issue when ur getting closer to a offramp or robot ...

how amazing would it sound if you could hear your downpipe rumbling away .... its already so loud with the windows open ... pure eargasm!!

But the way it is now ... thats why i bought the coupe

 

[Cole]

to be honest, the 1 series vert is a good looking car, but I have only ever seen girls driving them...

my girlfriend has a 120i vert and this is what I have found.
the car is stinking hot.
the ride is extremely firm due to the stiffened chassis and it makes the right very unplesant especially if you have the m sport pack with 18's.
the extra weight obviously makes the car slower than its coupe equivalent.

personally I also think that if you have a perfomance machine like a 135i you might prefer the safety of knowing that if you do overcook things you have a proper roof protecting you rather than a rag top...

but either way, nice cars to choose from!

 

[Dmonic1]

Get the coupe..............................................
..............
..............
..Its Faster...... :rollsmile:

 

[Josh-ZN]

Get the coupe..............................................
..............
..............
..Its Faster...... :rollsmile: