08-20-2014, 09:56 PM | #1 |
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Autocar compares M4, M235i and Alpina B4
Guess what car wins! Let the debates begin!
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08-20-2014, 10:23 PM | #2 |
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Very interesting and well-written article. The last page sums it up best - correct answer is subjective to each individual buyer. For me, I'd gladly trade the extra refinement and smoothness of the Alpina (very, very nice car with highly impressive performance capabilities) for the extra poise, performance and more aggressive styling of the M3/M4.
That particular author placed the M4 last, but he did so by placing more weight on the refinement category than I would, and more weight on the value proposition than I would (sure, the M235i offers more performance per dollar, but if the M3/M4 is something that you can or are willing to pay for, why wouldn't you? A C7 Corvette or Z28 Camaro offer more performance per dollar than a Ferrari 458 - no doubt. However, if I was able to afford a Ferrari 458 (which I clearly cannot, otherwise I'd have one) - there is no way I would pick the C7 or Z28 over the 458... Again though, that just my own subjective opinion... |
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08-20-2014, 10:52 PM | #3 |
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It's funny; in the piocture on page 42, either the driver is a really big guy with reallybig hands, or the steering wheel has shrunk. Or maybe it's just the photo angle, but it really looks liek the steering wheel is very small in the picture.
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08-20-2014, 11:09 PM | #5 |
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Well said Powerslide
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08-20-2014, 11:15 PM | #6 |
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I quite don't understand his reasoning. I feel if he compares the Cayman, Cayman S and Cayman GTS he would probably rank the base Cayman as #1 for the better ride and 83% of the performance for almost 50% cheaper than the GTS? If someone cannot or can barely afford those cars this article and logic makes sense but for someone who is shopping for a $100,000 Porsche would they really consider a base model because it the best value for dollar?
Comparing the M235 vs M4 lets say the handling is on par. Why would you want the smaller, weaker mini version if you can get the full sized model? You are paying more for the size and power. But if the M235 has better handling and handing feel that is a different story. |
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08-20-2014, 11:28 PM | #7 |
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Andrew Frankel writes regular road and race car reviews for Motorsport magazine and is often entrusted by manufacturers or collectors with drives in some of the rarest and most iconic race cars on the planet, e.g. Rothmans Le Mans Porsche 962.
The comparo above correlates to his reviews of the three cars, each reviewed separately in Motorsport. He was less than enamoured (though technically impressed) with the M4, and highly impressed in all ways with the 235, especially when 'bang for buck' is taken into consideration. Just some useless background info |
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08-20-2014, 11:37 PM | #8 |
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Having driven the M235i and the M4...my opinion is that these guys are on crack. The M4, to me, is indeed comically faster, the chassis much much better, and the ride is great to me. Everything about it is better. Of course I've never driven a B4 so whatever, but to me the Alpinas are just a different type of car. My take on them is that they are more luxury focused with better than base car performance, not exactly track monsters. But, I could be wrong..maybe someone with some Alpina experience can shed some light on that one.
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08-21-2014, 07:07 AM | #10 |
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Other than Sutcliffe (also Autocar) I believe this is the first review to find problems with M4 at the limits. Interesting. Most have said just the opposite......that the F8X shines most there.
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08-21-2014, 07:39 AM | #11 | |
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08-21-2014, 07:42 AM | #12 | |
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they specifically said that in "at the limit" the alpina was easier to drive. not that the chassis is better, not that its faster, or any of that. this doesn't surprise me as its a lot of power through the rear wheels.... as far as Clarkson, IMO you misinterpreted that as many others said. as for the article, to each their own. there is nothing that appeals to me about the alpina at all (looks, auto only, soft, luxury vs sport interior) but a lot that appeals to me about the m3/4, even with its downsides of being a little loud, potentially tricky to drive and less focused on comfort. but that's personal preference the m2 has a lot of potential, I think that's the one thing that is clear from this article. take the tech that has allowed the m3 to smash the other two in performance in this test and put it in the smaller and lighter m2? might be pretty special....... Last edited by Black Gold; 08-21-2014 at 08:27 AM.. |
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08-21-2014, 08:20 AM | #13 |
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I agree with the cost factor in the article and I hope more people buy the Alpina and m235. That will make my M4 more exclusive and add some more interest on the track and at car shows. I love the animalistic less composed nature of the M4 on the limit and harsher ride. (isn't this what we loved about the e46?). This is suppose to be a DD and track car. The limit character of this car is what you should want to learn to control at HPDE weekends. It's called car control and driving! I don't want my car doing everything for me all the time and massaging my behind at the same time. I love comparisons but the bottom line is does your purchase meet your individual needs. There is always a faster, more sophisticated and better looking car out there but for my money, M4 ticks all my boxes for now and possibly next 5-10 years. My .02
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08-21-2014, 08:27 AM | #14 | |
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08-21-2014, 09:44 AM | #15 |
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So an observation here...
He liked to put more weight on cars that are clearly "sportier" or more into "refinement". Oftentimes, a manual transmission car will FEEL sportier and get better scored as a result. Similarly, an automatic transmission'd car (which the DCT is, albeit with the ability to self-select lightning fast shifts), will have more "refinement" to the driver. Perhaps the M4 with DCT simply didn't push itself enough into either the sportier category NOR the refinement category as the other two cars, with appropriate transmissions for their purposes, did?
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08-21-2014, 10:37 AM | #16 | |
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08-21-2014, 11:20 AM | #17 |
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It should be noted that the delta in price between the M235i vs M4 is the absolutely worst case scenario.
25000 Sterling Pounds = $40000 If you compared a loaded M235i with a loaded M4 (minus CCB, not that many people will order this option anyway), it's more like a delta of $26000 ish. Still a huge sum of money of course, but it's more "reasonable" than $40k.
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08-21-2014, 11:28 AM | #18 | |
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And echoing what someone else said... there are so few reviews that say the M4 is hard to control at the top end. I understand that the reviewer is well respected and does this a lot - but I wonder why so many praise the handling, but every so often you get a weird outlier. Personal preference I suppose, but maybe comfort zone as well? You'd think someone who does as much as this Author would have a comfort zone the size of... well. you know. I also don't like it was not apples to apples, 6MT all around, but realize that with the Alpina that isn't possible. Great read though overall!
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08-21-2014, 11:44 AM | #19 |
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The writer keeps referring to the Alpina as having a nicer interior. What did they do other than replace the wheel? The M4 tested didn't have the full leather package, neither did the Alpina. Curious to see what I missed when it comes to Alpina improvements to the interior.
On another note, this car is close to 100K in the UK. Not too far from that in Germany. God Bless the USA and our 65-80K price points.
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08-21-2014, 11:52 AM | #20 | |
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08-21-2014, 12:04 PM | #21 |
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Not knowing this writer or his driving experience, I don't know how the auto slush-box can feel just as good as the a DCT? His comments on low-speed driving I get, but people aren't spending the extra money on the DCT for extreme comfort, they are buying it for better/faster shifts.
His comments on the handling/suspension feel on the M4 vs the B4 are interesting though; I sure would like to see a video comparison. Currency exchange rate and consumer demand is what explains the price differences. |
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08-21-2014, 12:09 PM | #22 |
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I don't understand this kind of comparisons.
"This is 10% better but 20% more expensive" logic is kind of weird to me, because "pricing" doesn't work this way. Armani isn't 200% more functional than GAP. Lobster isn't %500 tastier than chicken. Macbook Pro isn't 100% more functional than Macbook Air. So on so forth. NONE of the top-end expensive cars would be worth their prices if you look at it this way.
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