Audi TTS vs merc SLK vs BMW 1

poosamjam · 04-15-2013, 02:28 AM

Hi folks

So i was looking for a small 2 door and came across these. I haven't drove neither of these cars and wanted to know your past experiences. Ive drove the new f30 335i and didn't like the steering. Ive heard good things about the audi Quattro but never tested it. So my question is which has better performance and built quality, and overall which would you choose.

Audi TTS
BMW 135i or is
2014 BMW M235i
Merc SLK

elstoof · 04-15-2013, 02:45 AM

Build quality is something only you can guage when you sit in each car but performance wise the 135i should spank all over the TTS. Audi's 2.0TFSI in that tune is about on par with BMW's N20 in its highest tune you find in the 328i.

Different cars but you should check out the Chris Harris video comparison of the M135 and RS3, same platform as the TT and the same Haldex system so handling and chassis wise they should be similar if not in the drivetrain.

elstoof · 04-15-2013, 02:56 AM

What about a Cayman?

BMWseeker · 04-15-2013, 05:57 AM

Cayman reliability is pretty poor (electronics wise)

elstoof · 04-15-2013, 06:50 AM

That's what warranties are for. It'd be my choice in the small 2 door car stakes in any case, F21 is quite a bit bigger than the TTS and SLK so not really comparable and neither the TTS or SLK is in the same league driving wise as a Cayman. Not much is really, and a 2.7 flat 6 is only a touch dearer than a TTS.

jontymo · 04-15-2013, 01:28 PM

Had the TTS before my Cayman R.

TTS was nice on the appearance front but needed a remap to get rid of the huge turbo lag which i had done with a Revo map, totally transformed it. Main issue i had was the odd rattle from the Dash and the central dash speaker vibrated with any deep bass.

Never heard of electrical issues with the Cayman but then again my Cayman R was new, its the best car i have ever had and was the best built after my 3 series coupe i had a few years ago.

Think i would go for the BMW over the TTS and Merc, the cayman is a different proposition altogether.

Here's a few piccys to mull over:

[/URL]

elstoof · 04-15-2013, 02:34 PM

Nice motors, still got the Cayman? The F21 is a pretty different proposition to to the TTS and SLK as well.

macar · 04-15-2013, 02:42 PM

I drove 10 laps on a cayman (track version). That was awesome.

vladberca · 04-15-2013, 02:59 PM

M235i will be better than SLK or TTS, but related to track performance new Cayman S is on the top.
An M2 will follow and after that a new Cayman R

Madgambler · 04-15-2013, 05:06 PM

Had a Cayman S 987c and it's an awesome machine all right, but held back by 3 things. The standard manual shifter sucks. Swap it for the short shifter for £70 - easy retrofit. The torque curve is horrible at low revs, so it lacks the balls off the line unless you rev it like crazy (obviously so it doesn't threaten a 911). And unless you're buying the newer model the ICE is awfully dated. I had a mObridge installed (bluetooth & IPod) in mine and that helped, but it wasn't cheap.

emlevins · 09-03-2013, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elstoof

Build quality is something only you can guage when you sit in each car but performance wise the 135i should spank all over the TTS.

Not according to a Road and Track comparison between the 09s anyway:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-revi...-2009-bmw-135i

Check out the final results for all the data...

creepy coupe · 09-04-2013, 03:18 AM

I owned one of these and loved it. Very overlooked car IMO. great performance and standard equipment.

I sold the 135i and bought this..

I sold it after just a month. Couldn't get on with the boneshakingly hard ride. Wooden brake feel and strange clutch to gearshift action.

My missus bought one of these....

And although not in the same league as the Porsche or BMW for performance. It is a fantastic wafter. especially with the top down and Mercs build quality has come on leaps and bounds.

I now own this...

It's such a good allrounder. I call it my Swiss army Knife.

Vervain · 09-04-2013, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poosamjam

Hi folks

So i was looking for a small 2 door and came across these. I haven't drove neither of these cars and wanted to know your past experiences. Ive drove the new f30 335i and didn't like the steering. Ive heard good things about the audi Quattro but never tested it. So my question is which has better performance and built quality, and overall which would you choose.

Audi TTS
BMW 135i or is
2014 BMW M235i
Merc SLK

If you decide to go with the TTS, you may want to know that the all new TT will probably debut next year. Just a heads up..

04-15-2013, 02:28 AM	#1
poosamjam Private First Class 15 Rep 121 Posts Drives: 2013 e92 328i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: california iTrader: (0)	Audi TTS vs merc SLK vs BMW 1 Hi folks So i was looking for a small 2 door and came across these. I haven't drove neither of these cars and wanted to know your past experiences. Ive drove the new f30 335i and didn't like the steering. Ive heard good things about the audi Quattro but never tested it. So my question is which has better performance and built quality, and overall which would you choose. Audi TTS BMW 135i or is 2014 BMW M235i Merc SLK
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04-15-2013, 02:45 AM	#2
elstoof First Lieutenant 85 Rep 339 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, england iTrader: (0)	Build quality is something only you can guage when you sit in each car but performance wise the 135i should spank all over the TTS. Audi's 2.0TFSI in that tune is about on par with BMW's N20 in its highest tune you find in the 328i. Different cars but you should check out the Chris Harris video comparison of the M135 and RS3, same platform as the TT and the same Haldex system so handling and chassis wise they should be similar if not in the drivetrain.
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04-15-2013, 02:56 AM	#3
elstoof First Lieutenant 85 Rep 339 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, england iTrader: (0)	What about a Cayman?
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04-15-2013, 05:57 AM	#4
BMWseeker Private 3 Rep 75 Posts Drives: none Join Date: May 2012 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	Cayman reliability is pretty poor (electronics wise)
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04-15-2013, 06:50 AM	#5
elstoof First Lieutenant 85 Rep 339 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, england iTrader: (0)	That's what warranties are for. It'd be my choice in the small 2 door car stakes in any case, F21 is quite a bit bigger than the TTS and SLK so not really comparable and neither the TTS or SLK is in the same league driving wise as a Cayman. Not much is really, and a 2.7 flat 6 is only a touch dearer than a TTS.
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04-15-2013, 01:28 PM	#6
jontymo New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: BMW 116d Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Huddersfield iTrader: (0)	Had the TTS before my Cayman R. TTS was nice on the appearance front but needed a remap to get rid of the huge turbo lag which i had done with a Revo map, totally transformed it. Main issue i had was the odd rattle from the Dash and the central dash speaker vibrated with any deep bass. Never heard of electrical issues with the Cayman but then again my Cayman R was new, its the best car i have ever had and was the best built after my 3 series coupe i had a few years ago. Think i would go for the BMW over the TTS and Merc, the cayman is a different proposition altogether. Here's a few piccys to mull over: [/URL] [/URL]
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04-15-2013, 02:34 PM	#7
elstoof First Lieutenant 85 Rep 339 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, england iTrader: (0)	Nice motors, still got the Cayman? The F21 is a pretty different proposition to to the TTS and SLK as well.
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04-15-2013, 02:42 PM	#8
macar New Member 0 Rep 28 Posts Drives: F20 - 125i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: France iTrader: (0)	I drove 10 laps on a cayman (track version). That was awesome. Attached Images
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04-15-2013, 02:59 PM	#9
vladberca Major General 763 Rep 5,560 Posts Drives: '18 octavia 2.0 tdi dsg Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Craiova iTrader: (0)	M235i will be better than SLK or TTS, but related to track performance new Cayman S is on the top. An M2 will follow and after that a new Cayman R
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04-15-2013, 05:06 PM	#10
Madgambler Private First Class 15 Rep 127 Posts Drives: Hartge, M Xorst, Quaife, B1 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Surrey, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW M135i (F21) [0.00]	Had a Cayman S 987c and it's an awesome machine all right, but held back by 3 things. The standard manual shifter sucks. Swap it for the short shifter for £70 - easy retrofit. The torque curve is horrible at low revs, so it lacks the balls off the line unless you rev it like crazy (obviously so it doesn't threaten a 911). And unless you're buying the newer model the ICE is awfully dated. I had a mObridge installed (bluetooth & IPod) in mine and that helped, but it wasn't cheap. __________________ Madgambler 325i (E30) => Alpina B3.33 (E46) => Alpina B3s (E46) => 130i M Sport (E87) => Cayman S (987c) => Carrera S (997) => M135i (F21)
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09-04-2013, 03:18 AM	#12
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	I owned one of these and loved it. Very overlooked car IMO. great performance and standard equipment. I sold the 135i and bought this.. I sold it after just a month. Couldn't get on with the boneshakingly hard ride. Wooden brake feel and strange clutch to gearshift action. My missus bought one of these.... And although not in the same league as the Porsche or BMW for performance. It is a fantastic wafter. especially with the top down and Mercs build quality has come on leaps and bounds. I now own this... It's such a good allrounder. I call it my Swiss army Knife.
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