Brian Cooley of CNET has been around for quite a while now, to be sure of what he is saying. So when he compared the 2013 BMW 135is with the original 3 Series that showed up in the late 70s, we immediately agreed with him.
The reasons for this comparison are pretty easy to spot: both of them are small, coupes, both had/have affordable prices and quite a lot of power to go with the fun feeling you get whilst behind their steering wheels.
Now, the 2013 Bimmer has 2 extra cylinders and 1 extra liter of engine displacement, that meaning it's powered by almost 3 times more horses. Furthermore, the weight distribution is almost perfect, making this car a glorious experience.
On the road, the 135is is more than qualified to bring a smile on your face. It's nimble and fun, agile and surprisingly fast. The 320 HP and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) of torque combined with a manual gearbox will definitely get your heart rate up quickly.
Overall, Brian says that the 135is is worth the money as it will provide the best money/fun ratio. However, it's highly indicated that you keep the manual gearbox, whilst technical add-ons should be kept to a minimum.
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