Hi [ref]Boyo[/ref], As requested from the other thread
As mentioned I had the 35iS before the M40i. I liked it, liked the power, acceleration, speed, etc and was perfectly happy. Until I got the M40i itch and started making enquiries.
I genuinely mean from the minute we pulled out of the dealership, too quickly and not in a straight line, I knew that it was a different car, and in a good way. It just seemed so much quicker though on paper very similar to the 35iS.
Itās much more spacious inside, which was really important for us. Iām 6ā2 and built for comfort rather than speed and at times felt the E89 a bit snug.I never really seemed to get my seating position just right. Did this within 60 seconds of getting into the G29. Boot space was also important to us as we use this solely for our fun/weekend car. I think itās just clicked 16k and every one of those miles have been on trips, runs, or our European trip last year. We had more than enough space for 18 dayās luggage.
Iām going to do a pros and cons list to see if that helps at all, and no doubt others will have differing opinions on some, or even all, of these but thatās what youāre looking for, others opinions to help you make your decision.
This definitely isnāt āIām in the driving godsā criteria but this car has been driven VERY hard at times and Iāve absolutely NO doubt it flatters my driving abilities by being so good an all round package. We drive as part of a group very regularly with very good drivers and varying cars including ///Mās and heavily modded E89ās not once have I been left feeling I needed either more power or better handling.
Pros
The engine is fantastic, and imo perfectly matched to the gearbox. I donāt miss the manual at all. Always had manual fun cars before the Z4ās. If I want the full hooligan experience, which this will provide, itās into sports + and paddles then hold on. The car thinks quicker than me so why interfere. The acceleration in this thing for overtaking is just madness.
The handling is fantastic, it doesnāt have the roll, weight displacement etc of the E89. It just sits so flat and keeps traction in all but the stupidness that is me that may provoke it. My E89 had new suspension on it just before I got it so this wasnāt down to tired or worn units on the E89
The brakes are very good and capable, only once have they started to fade slightly and that was totally down to how hard it was being driven over a sustained period. (Iāll mention brakes below too)
The cabin is a fantastic place to be, seats are great, space is great seating position just all what I want. I tried a new Boxster GTS 4.0 and nice as it was it felt dated and cramped inside compared to the G29 and that made me appreciate the G29 even more.
The tech is great, best thing for me is HUD, hardly ever look at the dashboard especially not when shifting on. The active cruise is my next favourite thing. The car does many many things that I donāt even know about and find it quite funny when you see people waxing lyrical about all the fancy stuff that theirs does and I didnāt even know mine had that capability. That reflects on me not them btw.
I like the look and style of the car even the front that so many people donāt like.
The roof speed and being able to go up or down while moving. Road noise is better than the E89 too when the roof is down.
This one may seem odd since Iāve said how itās usually driven but thereās an economy mode. This is rarely used but when it is itās perfect. When going to the Chunnel last year, 750 miles, I stuck it in economy mode and was returning over 40 mpg. Yes itās gutless and boring but I was just sitting in motorway traffic with cruise on and using about half the fuel I would normally. General fuel consumption is good too. When weāre out on a forum run etc a tank of fuel will get you through the day of 300 hard miles, fuel light normally on by the end but better than expected for the performance. On the Pyrenees trip I averaged 34 ish over 4K
Cons, and there arenāt many and no big ones
The exhaust sound is almost non existent from inside the car, but this is where itās a bit odd for me. People outside the car say the sound is amazing
I was on a forum run and someone was talking about travelling behind me and the exact words used we āwhen I hear the roar off of that b@stard it gives me the heads up heās taking off and I need to get readyā To me thereās no indication of that from within the car. As mentioned an exhaust change is an option, and one Iāve looked at but I could never quite justify the Ā£3k as a must have, maybe on the next one.
At times it can be ātoo quickā the speed it approaches the horizon at times can be very deceiving. I got caught out a few times early doors when I had a few brown trouser moments cornering or trying to slow down to do something. I very quickly realised this wasnāt the cars fault but that I was doing maybe 20mph quicker than I would be in anything else. Once you get used to that all good. The following of course is on my private access roads or my trips abroad but one of the biggest indicators of this is my OH. She drives everywhere at 50 mph but if weāre out hooning and need to slow down when sitting around 80 sheāll regularly ask why weāre going so slow or if thereās something wrong. Itās also a standing joke in our group that she regularly falls asleep when other members OHās are gripping the door handles as we (well they) bounce around the countryside.
Iāve mentioned how good the brakes are above but thereās also the well known issue with them about bad design and stones getting stuck. This has happened to me at least 3 or 4 times. I accept this as an issue and carry a 9 inch flat blade screwdriver in the car. Each time it happens I get the screwdriver and push the backing plate back all the way round and the stone has fallen out. Iāve never had to remove the wheel or call assistance. PITA, yes major issue for me, no.
There is a much bigger blind spot in the G29 over the rear of the seats but we donāt notice it too much as the roof is almost always down.
These points are neither in the pro or con sections just observations.
It is a wide car, but also very flat, I havenāt noticed it much driving the car but people travelling behind me have said things were tight and Iāve not realised. The car tech beeps furiously at me if itās too close so it doesnāt bother me as much. I donāt feel itās too big/heavy but Iāve never been one for a Lotus or MX5 etc. mainly because I wouldnāt fit in the bloody things
The standard Michelins were very grippy ONCE theyād heated up, itās now on Conti 7ās and theyāre a much better tyre all round, especially noise, and give slightly better steering feel.
On the tyres, driven the way I drive mine, the tyre life isnāt great BUT my driving style and the type of car makes this totally acceptable and why this isnāt in the conās section. Iāll be on set 3 soon enough but hopefully rears only this time
The rear tyres Iām probably getting 9-10k before changing. Iāll need to change the current ones within the next few months but covered why below.
I want to caveat that with a few things.
The tyres are getting pushed and hot and with the power going through the rear wheels itās inevitable that theyāre going to wear reasonably quickly when being used on forum runs and the Pyrenees etc. Thatās why I never included it in the negatives because I am the cause of the wear. People like Ori who use the car more as a daily and not firing around the Scottish highlands are getting twice the wear rate that I am.
Also the legal limit and the change depth on this car I found are two different things anything south of 3mm and it starts getting a bit squirrelly!!
This is most definitely not helped by the Contiās starting life new at 6.8mm. Not sure what the Michelinās start with. But the Conti choice was a lot to do with reviews helped by price point, Ā£650 v Ā£950 for Michelins (full set) at time of change so a few miles less if the Michelin start with greater tread will be offset by the cost difference. The car has never done donuts or launch control, any wear is just through spirited driving.
I suppose to finish it off, the negatives are very minor and this is by far the favourite car Iāve owned. If I replace it it will be with a new M40i in one of the new colours before the end of the production run
HTH
keep the views coming