I love the way the M140i drives. I've had mine a year now, and I've put 16,000 miles (25,000 kms) on it, and it still puts a massive smile on my face. RWD and six cylinders win every time for me.
Just found your channel looking at m140i videos while I wait for mine. Can i just say mate this video is absolutely incredible. Your un-awkward, intellectual, coherent and never rambling demeanor is really quite incredible. Love the video. One criticism, please supply BHP figures aswell for us brits lol.
Hi Tom, I really appreciate your considered and unbiased reviews. I recently was in the market for either a Golf R, Audi S3 or BMW M140i with a budget of around AUD$60K. I have previously owned tuned WRX, very tuned EVO IX and Falcon XR6 Turbo and appreciate a well balanced, powerful car that can go around corners, is comfortable and can cut a good 1/4 mile. I test drove all three and I concur that the BMW M140i in it's current form is the bargain of the times. I bought one and am loving it. Keep up the good work! I've also got to say in my BMW M140i I have the ZF 8 speed auto transmission, that I absolutely fell in love with when I hired a Jaguar F-Type for a few days in Germany. This gearbox is legendary, everyone needs to try it, and this is from a previously dedicated manual fan.
Gavin Heitman Hi if you like special edition hatchbacks: Check my channel for the 2017 GTI Clubsport. Its the 40 Year Anniversary GTI. (Golf R Performance, minus AWD but sends 100% to front wheels.. Videos seen on my channel! ;)
Thanks for the review The 140M is one of the few rear wheel drive sports car at an affordable price I've got a 6 speed manual on order, fingers crossed it will be here in May
It’s unfortunate that BMW is discontinuing the M140i, if i had to buy a performance hatch, i would pick the M140i over any car in the segment accept the RS3.
I’ve just ordered an Indium grey ( same colour as your test car) full phat 310 bhp 3 door Golf R 7.5 DSG on standard 18s” ( for much improved ride quality over the 19s) after driving it & the M140i 8 speed Auto back to back here in the UK. I’ve been a long standing fan of both marks, having owned numerous VW Golf GTi s as well as a number of 6 cylinder BMWs, including the almighty E46 M3 CSL. While I absolutely adored the character of the M140i’s inline 6 Turbo engine /8 speed ZF Auto combo and its pace the rest of the car left me a little bit cold, especially ( surprisingly for a Sporty BMW ) the numb steering and the cramped interior. To me the Golf R felt more alive, sure footed , precise, specious (I’m 6 foot 2”) and its interior felt more of a premium product & bang up to date out of the two. All in all the better all rounder for my particular daily needs however I do appreciate your review and opinions. Thanks very much for a great comparison vlog .
I agree with virtually everything you've said.. as it's pretty much my overall assessment of them as well.. I had an M135i LCI and test drove an M140i and a Golf 7.5 R (ended up choosing the R as well)... interesting that you picked up on the steering as well.. because other than this review - no one else really mentions it! - but it's how I found it as well!! :) - good luck counting down the days - it seems to take forever!! LOL!
Auto Addict just give me a five! XD My 7.5R is on delivery. Iridium greay..with 19 silver prets and 5door because of the family,neither of the fact my wife has an Octavia RS.I will get it in middle of June..production date is 21st week! Some gadgets..like sway bar kit f/r vwr intake brakes,brake lines and so on on the shelf now! XD Greetings!
Auto Addict how long does the delivery take?! Mine was ordered at the end of Jan. Production date is 21st week..than i get 2 3 weeks later...i just get crazy...
I had the M140i back in the UK. I really loved it!! Had a nice exhaust system on it and a JB+ box. So quick!! But In the UK they are great value. But so expensive in Australia!! I've just ordered a Golf R. Basically comes fully loaded as standard. Amazing value and way better APR than what BMW were offering me. BMW was gonna be near $70k on the road. VW more like $56k on the road. I had a test drive. The VW drive and holds the road way better than the 1 series. The 1 series feels floaty and disconnected from the road. I'll defo miss the 8speed ZF box and 6cyl engine. But DSG I was stunned it's just Amazing!! And the golf has far superior equipment and a long warranty. One thing I did notice is the golf had a way nicer interior and nicer seats than my BMW had. Can't wait for delivery of my car in 3 weeks!
@@georgekirby3361 yeah really enjoying it. Great fun to drive. Now it's run in, launch control is good fun! The DSG box is an absolute joy too. Very comfortable too and the adaptive suspension is great.
Rob Thomson I drove my cousins golf r 69 plate in twisted roads in south of albania yesterday i nearly crushed it. we have some really sharp bends here and to be honest i wasnt impressed with it , to much front wheel interference, michelin pilot sport 4 s on it and sliding all over, my x5 is more happy and feels safer, i think the golf is more front wheel drive then awd , for uk weather the golf may be safer but on dry climate bmw 140i will be better then the r , plus golf r feels cheap on interior, the glass surround horrible plasticky/rubber sound system is very basic unless dynoaudio , saying that it looks nice , good lights , side skirts , front splitter,rear defuser , exhaust compact car . i haven’t driven the 140i i cant say much but i have driven 120d m sport and it feels nice , as i said previously rain is not favourite for the bmw.
I had a mk6 Golf GTI for 4 year, then another 4 years with a mk6 Golf R. I wanted something better in performance so I have been looking at RS3 and M140i, so finally I traded my Golf R to a LCI-2 M140i last weekend, exactly the same colour but with the M135i style wheels (which I prefer anyway), I haven't driven the mk7 or mk7.5 Golf R, so I can't comment on how they compare to the M140i. The front end of my Golf R definitely feels heavier when turning, when compare to the M140i, practicality wise the Golf R is actually better, especially for the rear passengers, the Golf has cup holders at the back and storage space on the rear doors, while the M140i doesn't have any storage on the rear doors, the cup holder and the armrest don't come standard, you have to tick the option list box to have these features, my car is a very low mileage demo unfortunately it doesn't have this, but it is not the end of the world, I still love it very much! I agree that you can definitely stretch your legs more in the M140i than the Golf, which I really like, I am currently driving the car gently due to it is still in the break-in period (1200km on the odometer), I am sure I will love this car even more once I can feel the potential of this engine. The cold start on the M140i factory exhaust is much louder than my golf r, but very quiet when driving gently, it does feel like you are driving a more premium vehicle. Thanks for videos like this which I found very helpful and informative, keep it up guys at the Chasing Cars!
I have an M140i and I'm still happy with my choice but I will say the Golf R looks great from the outside - possibly even better than the BM (I change my mind on this depending on the model - I think my Shadow Edition looks a lot better than the BM in this video and the Golf as well.) Apart from the seats I think the inside is better on the M140 and performance wise there really is no comparison that I have seen where I would prefer the Golf. I upgraded my steering wheel, gear stick and hand brake to the M Performance Alcantara models as I was really disappointed with the stock items which felt cheap and looked shit (OK, the steering wheel didn't look shit but the gear stick and hand brake lever looked like it cost £5 to make.)Based on my car, things I have learnt that would have helped me:1) I got the manual gearbox - it isn't great right away but it becomes really smooth and less clunky over time (I've had my car 7 months and it's been fine for at least 3 months) but I wish I went for the automatic - in Oz I understand it is the same price (we have to pay extra in the UK) so it is definitely worth considering unless you're desperate for a manual. For me, I would pay the extra if I had the choice again.2) Sunroof - I don't have one and wish I chose the option. as in the video, it makes the interior so much brighter.3) Options - Not sure what comes as standard in Oz but adaptive suspension, adaptive headlights are not standard in the UK but a lot of other drivers report the suspension in particular being an option they wish they had chosen
Love the reviews , but I preferred the previous cinematic openings before launching into the reviews, it gave your tests a distinct point of difference and an overall touch of class.
Fair point. We’ve found on the whole that most people are responding better to starting the review immediately and having some cinematics after the intro - hopefully that is an okay compromise.
Spot on review. Have tested both in the UK and the golf is a great car no doubt but the 140 is just a little bit more rewarding to drive. 6 cyclinder noise in a batch will indeed be missed this time next year!
In 2014 I test drive the GOLF R, M135i and Lexus IS350. I liked the BMW the most as well but.... The cheapest insurance was $2850... And I was 30 at the time, that's just crazy. Check insurance cost before buying the M
I wouldn't agree that the m140 on adaptive dampers ride better. The Golf is def more comfy. In addition the M140 feels perturbed when you swing and corner it above 6 or 7th tenths on less than perfect roads. Speaking as a 140i owner here. I still bought it over the R because the B58 is just amazing.
Couldn't be any different? They're completely different. The BMW has far superior gearbox and safer infotainment with the joystick that lets you keep your eyes on the road unlike the golf touchscreen only. Could go on but I like both, depends what you're looking for in a hot hatch. New auto gearboxes are far superior to manuals now. Car is faster and gets better fuel economy. I don't know why anyone would go for manaul these days. And if you go for the BMW you don't have clutches to wear out. Admittedly the new golf has wet clutches so could be better. The BMW's use ZF gearbox and their gear shifts are rapid. It goes one further that the BMW can shift down and skip over gears (not sequential) unlike the golf that is sequential. The torque converter locks up very early so you don't even notice that it's an auto. You can even flick it to manual mode and stamp foot to the floor in the BMW and the gear will not change. I believe in the golf that once your foot presses the kick down button it activates kickdown even when you're in manual mode. I think that's a bit counter intuitive else why would you use manual mode.
I don't think bmw's steering wheel is too soft, it just appears that way through corners after driving a golf because it doesn't have fwd but in reality its very informative. It's a shame that it has open diff though
It'll never be a future classic.. there's far too many of them for a start.. and if any of the 1 series are likely to be future classics it'll be the M135i.. the one with the N55 engine which won 3 Wards International Engine of the Year awards back to back and is the base engine for the M2.
pipe down!!.. by the look of things you drive a shitey old BMW 3 series probably a 316i PMSL!!! - regardless, either car would be a massive upgrade for you... in fact - driving your wheelbarrow would probably be a massive upgrade... and faster!
Just weighing up my options in 2024 between these 2 mentioned in the video, but also considering i30n, GTI MK7, Fiesta ST and M135i x-drive all around the $40,000aud price range. Anyone have advise from personal experience? I would go for the RS3 but they are up around 60,000.
Normal golf is just the most valuable. I want a good alternative, a bit because I don't totally love the look of the golf (although it looks good) but mainly since it's so common.
Mentions that the power in the bmw makes it feel like you're rocketing along when you apply the power. I remember that feelint when i first started driving in my 1.3 - 1.4 litre corolla, at 70 it felt like i was doing 140. That said, ive been in the M bmws and maybe its the sound of the engine that makes it feel fast, the engines do sound lovely.
Another great review Tom! I love the Golf R, but for not much more, that M140i is an absolute BEAST!!! Great choice of colours for the test too, they must have been a sight on the roads...
Yep agreed Glenn. It’s not much of a step up but it unlocks a higher tier of performance and engagement. Still like the Golf R a lot, but in a warm and dry part of the country (without any traction problems) I’d be happier in the M140i. Yeah, it was a happy coincidence that we got two metallic greys. Always nice when the pair matches.
The BMW140i doesn’t have adaptive cruise control. It isn’t simply an option you can spec. You can get it as part of assistance package however on the immediate lesser model 125i
This is becoming one of my favourite motoring channels. You can tell that a lot of effort has gone in to the research. I was wondering where you filmed this video. It looked like a nice spot.
Oh how i wish bmw gave the m140i a full on M treatment. At 60k its 3.0L turbo inline six with 250k in a small hatchback config is sweet. It just doesnt look sweet The VW however is a more complete package
Yep. A proper 1M - this time in hatchback form, three or five door, would have been epic. That said, I’d take it as it is... it’s the last of a breed I don’t think we will see again.
Chasing Cars i agree. Its sorta like the commodore SS in saying that it had a big engine, a rear wheel drive set up & it was the last of it’s kind. Great review champ!
I just picked up a 2019 Golf R Special Edition, with the wonderful Akrapovic exhaust. At the price I paid, a used M140i would have been $10-15k more expensive. I also found the M140i to be hopeless in the wet, and the steering felt strangely lifeless at speed. The Golf is the ultimate all-rounder, in my humble opinion; a lethal but unassuming hitman in a Hugo Boss suit.
Hi there Chasing Cars, while we are on the topic of a ride what do you think of audi s3 ride against BMW m140i adaptive suspension? is it better or worse? Thank you, keep doing a great content.
Do you have different type of license plates in Australia? The small rear plate on the BMW looks really strange when the car is designed for an European size plate.
Yep, we have lots of different sizes of plates that differ by design and by state. The Golf R has New South Wales New European style plates while the M140i is wearing slimline Victoria plates.
Regarding the exhaust, after a few hundred miles, especially in sport mode, it crackles and pops away! It does sound much better once run in. And the 8 speed sports auto is sublime (please don’t hate me manual lovers).
Oh man, I ended up getting a new car in October last year, I'm spewing I missed out on the m140i at it's new price :( Great work Tom as always a fantastic in-depth comparison.
Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it! Sorry to hear you missed the new price ... they cut a huge amount out and it was a real shock, even within the industry.
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The M140 is a seasonal car in most of the world, and that puts it against may other rear wheel drive beasts, but I still wish it were an option in the U.S. I have an R and think its the best daily you could imagine, but i miss rear wheel drive.
test drove a golf r then test drove an M140i. bought the BMW. Not even close. The only things better on the golf are the DSG box which is amazing and the look of the dash. the m140i is just better in every other department, amd way way quicker once moving.
Having had an m135i xDrive and now driving an m140i RWD, there is a fair amount of difference in character. The RWD is more fun, but the xDrive is as fast (or faster) with far less fuss. If you are going out for thrills, the xDrive doesn't do it as much, but in everyday driving conditions (never mind icy/snowed-on) I much prefer it - I don't like having to deal with a car shimmying its back every time I'm trying to overtake on a short stretch in a daily commuting trip (dry road, 10 °C outside, warm tyres, crap British asphalt). Expect ~1l/100 km less on the xDrive. TL;DR It depends on what you want. Both are good, and I definitely wouldn't say AWD destroys the car.
I have now had the car for two days and all i can say is that i love it! I live in Sweden so we get our fair amount of snow every year. Would be fun to test a m135i/m140i just to see the diffrence of power delivery. We clocked the car doing 4,4 sec from 0-100 kph. Altho not through gps so take it with a pinch of salt :P
Enjoy it - it's a great little car. If you are ever in the London area and want to test drive an M140i, ping me! 0-100 the 135 xDrive may be faster, but the B58 has much more torque in the middle. BTW the greatest limitation on acceleration measurement is not the speedo - and GPS is not necessarily more accurate - it's the timing of when the needle goes past the 100 kph bar! If you want decently accurate 0-100 times you need something other than eyes at varying angles looking at a needle. I have a P3 multi-gauge that does 0-100 (or 0-60 mph) measurements, oil temp, turbo pressure and all sort of other things which was on my 135 in Switzerland, and I took it with me to the UK... without thinking about driving on the other side of the road, so it's now unused in a cupboard. If you want it for the cost of shipping from the UK (~£40), let me know - happy to ship it to you and re-use it.
Unless you are a trained driver, I feel most will wrap their inline RWD around a pole! The R lets the driver at every skill level enjoy it! Let’s not forget that the R also is overbuilt in the capability of the engine and transmission and can do so much more! If you want to look wealthy, drive a BMW. If you are a gear head, drive an R. Only being in production since 2012 as a 135m and already being dropped from production hardly says BMW ever committed to the hot hatch arena. But hey, it's "luxurious", right? Not saying BMW doesn't make great cars, this just isn't one to compare with what the Focus RS and Golf R are meant to be!
Um. What about the 1M? Or the E87 130i/135i? On sale from 2005, i.e. since the 1 series existed. So why do you feel that the 1 series is not to be compared with the Focus and the Golf? (Yes, the R is easier to drive; not so the RS - at least if you want to drive smoothly, and no you don't necessarily wrap powerful RWD cars around poles even if you are not "trained" - whatever that means)
The Golf looks so boring, apart from the 'R' badge and 4 tail pipes you can't tell the difference from any other Golf, OK if you want the stealth look. For the market it's in it should a bit special.
i just don't understand why you would wouldn't make every aspect of the car pristine in a car like the BMW, the Golf should be beaten in every avenue, and yet, its a close competitor, very close. I brought a brand new dishwasher home in the box in the back of my MK7 Also what were those birds? haha
The M140i is definitly the best Choose/Car in the same Class/Price League like S3 / Golf R. The Torque is incredible....delete the both middle silencer and u got nice sound....love this car with the B58 and the 8-Speed Steptronic... :D. Anyways i benching my car on the dyno and got 378hp / 538Nm Stock thats a beast dudes :D.
Golf for me just tested back to back and unless you are a professional driver, you wouldn't know where the golf went on the twisties. Also it just looks like a regular 118d M Sport
One thing that may have not been mentioned here is that the BMW uses a torque converter gearbox vs the VW' S dual clutch. and for me the one thing that absolutely ruins the whole drive experience in the golf is that terrible tranny that VW group insist on using in their vehicles. I would pick the BMW here for this reason alone
Krass, da ist der beste 6 Zylinder verbaut, den man kaufen kann.Noch ein paar Tage. Verstehe BMW nicht. Er kann ruhig und brav im ECO PRO Modus, wer aber auf Sport + geht, der hört und spürt wie der 140 losbrüllt: Nach dem Motto, mehr ich will höher drehen, dann gehen die Klappen im Auspuff auf und der will gar nicht aufhören zu drehen. Fahre den über ein Jahr, aber Vollgas war leider nie möglich, da die Autobahnen immer voll sind. Werde mir im Frühjahr mal einen Sonntag morgen nehmen. Abfahrt gegen 5.30 und dann bekommt er Vollgas !Nichts gegen den VW, aber man merkt den Unterschied schon am Drehmoment. Der 140 schaltet bei ruhiger Stadtfahrt bereits bei 1100 Touren hoch. Er verbraucht nicht mehr als der 125i. Für mich eine Fehlkonstruktion, da er genau so viel Benzin braucht. Im Grunde mehr, den habe ich immer mindestens mit Super + betankt. Den m140i fahre ich mit Super 95, kein E 10. Denn es ist Fakt, dass 10 % Alkohol die Gummis angreifen. Das sind oft 20 Cent Unterschied, da manche Tanken von Shell und Aral kein Super Plus anbieten, da sie Super E 10 bereit stellen müssen. Das sehe ich nicht ein. Den V- Max und Ultimate Kram kann man tanken wenn man Leistung fordert, aber so ? Nööööö!!
Great review!!! - I'm happy you picked up on the steering as well!! - I thought I was going crazy as no other reviews seem to mention it when comparing the M135i/M140i to the Golf R steering! - I found the M135i steering to almost have a 'dead/heavy' spot in the centre and generally always felt quite light (unless in sports mode - where it felt artifically heavy).. whereas the Golf R feels a lot sharper/more connected and more responsive as soon as you begin to turn... Regarding the comments around sound - I found you have to put the M135i/M140i into 'Sport' or 'Sport+' to enable it to open up the exhaust valves and hear the engine.. you'd get more pops/bangs on the over run from sliding the ZF8 into Sport mode as well.. otherwise, it does sound quite muted as you picked up on.
I understand the BMW is supposed to be cool upscale and what society considers as you’ve made it,… but honestly I’d take the R any day,… yep I’m a nerd and the Golf would be my BMW or Benz
Driving a 118d at the moment which is already incredible fun, can't imagine how this one would make me smile! In my honest opinion, this is the perfect car, especially for our bavarian country roads! You really feel BMWs are home here. :D I'm curious, what was the fuel consumption in your test (in litres/100kilometres please)? :D
Similar to a few comments to date, why would you compare a high end car 6 cylinder with a modest 4 cyl. The comparison should be Golf R 7.5 versus Honda R versus Focus RS. The other match-up should be BMW , Audi and Merc can have the other fight. Golf R 7.5 for me, though never get to give it a good run with far too many speed traps set in Perth WA. Sad face here.
We’d compare them because they are almost the same price Simon, they’re the same size, they attract similar clientele - they are natural rivals in this country.
Golf R perfect allrounder and when your spending money on a fast daily driver you want good fuel economy so i wouldn't take the bmw PS bmw interiors are very cheap
Excellent review as always sir. I agree with your analysis and recently put money down on the M140i. I just want to point out that the BMW M-lites and full M cars can not have Adaptive Cruise optioned on in AUS (as far as I am aware, happy to be corrected), because the area where that equipment is usually mounted is converted to ventilation for radiators. The feature is absolutely available on the less expensive variants as an option though. For others who are interested, a few days ago I responded to Brendan Feldwick in a comment over at th-cam.com/video/3_i58TD4fEE/w-d-xo.html on the Joe Achilles / Car Advice combo. I have mentioned the below info there already so no need to re-read if you have been over there before.. Copy of comment: I have just ordered an M140i LCI II, however it should be said I deliberated about the Golf R 7.5 long and hard. Drove both a few times. In the end the M140i made me grin, the Golf R was an impressive feat of engineering that I really appreciated but (dare I say it here) was more ‘impressive’ than ‘fun’. I say this after struggling to keep up with a Golf R on a wet morning around a mountain in an M140i. For your reference I lamented before ordering the M140i about missing the rimless rear view mirror, electronic parking brake with hill assist, adaptive cruise control and the digital dash that the Golf R comes with. I also considered the legitimately better ride in the Golf, the beautiful pearl white paint colour VW does now (don’t normally go for white), and the fact that the Golf R comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard (although I am sticking to iDrive 6 when my car arrives because it CarPlay connection prohibits contacts etc. flowing through to iDrive, which I would find annoying during day-to-day use. iDrive really is great by itself). Jerky low speed DSG, local VW sales & finance shopping experience plus much larger degree of interior engine noise fakery scored against the Golf for me. I live in Brisbane though and don’t get the traffic or weather that you would down there, so ACC and AWD are potentially not as important to me. Ultimately went the M140i because grin factor coupled with this is the first and last of the “inexpensive” rear-wheel B58’s, which also helps me buy it so close to being the end of its life cycle. Don’t know if I would buy a Golf R with the replacement so close. Want a Golf R later? No probs, there is an all-new (possibly) better version just around the corner. Want a $60k rear-wheel, straight 3.0L 6 M140i later? Too bad, we don’t make those anymore. Hope this helps. S.
Thanks a lot Stephen. Good to read about your decision making process. Both cars have plenty to offer but I tend to agree that in warm and dry climates like ours there’s no need for the huge all weather grip of the Golf R - however 4Motion makes that car extremely easy to drive at pace. For me though, I like having more to manage and the M140i offers that additional layer of engagement.
Chasing Cars DSG is the better gear box for a daily driver. It does everything better except satisfy some people’s subjective opinion on what’s more “fun” to drive. If manual transmission’s were better, they wouldn’t be disappearing from more and more cars. People don’t buy cars solely based on fun to drive factor. This review seemed to put too much focus on RWD and manual biases.
Your comment is equally subjective. We've conducted extensive testing of the DSG and manual gearboxes in both daily driving and performance settings. In both contexts, we prefer the six-speed manual in the Golf. The new seven-speed wet clutch DSG exhibits too many hesitant characteristics at low speed, unlike the old six-speed DSG. And then in the area of dynamic driving - surely a substantial reason for purchasing a $60K sports hatchback - the manual alleviates what we perceive as a problem of the DSG, that it disconnects the driver further from the Golf R's already isolated dynamics that is the product of its sheer traction.
I test drove the M140i before I eventually bought the R and It's a fantastic car but the interior, in my opinion, is shit compared to the Golf. The R just feels like a much nicer place to be.
P B Nah it really hasn't, even down to the plastics, the golf is soft almost foamy, the bm's sounds like the packaging of a cheap toy, obviously it's just personal preference and I bought the golf because I preferred it, a friend bought the 140 and he loves it!
I love the way the M140i drives. I've had mine a year now, and I've put 16,000 miles (25,000 kms) on it, and it still puts a massive smile on my face. RWD and six cylinders win every time for me.
Good to hear you're loving M140i ownership.
after owning both and currently driving the M140i its the best no doubt
Lots of bmw bias here,
M140i of course, no doubt!
Accelleration, sound, look, that's too good.
Just found your channel looking at m140i videos while I wait for mine.
Can i just say mate this video is absolutely incredible. Your un-awkward, intellectual, coherent and never rambling demeanor is really quite incredible.
Love the video.
One criticism, please supply BHP figures aswell for us brits lol.
Thanks, Ryan. Much appreciated. The M140i is greatly missed!
Hi Tom,
I really appreciate your considered and unbiased reviews. I recently was in the market for either a Golf R, Audi S3 or BMW M140i with a budget of around AUD$60K. I have previously owned tuned WRX, very tuned EVO IX and Falcon XR6 Turbo and appreciate a well balanced, powerful car that can go around corners, is comfortable and can cut a good 1/4 mile. I test drove all three and I concur that the BMW M140i in it's current form is the bargain of the times. I bought one and am loving it. Keep up the good work! I've also got to say in my BMW M140i I have the ZF 8 speed auto transmission, that I absolutely fell in love with when I hired a Jaguar F-Type for a few days in Germany. This gearbox is legendary, everyone needs to try it, and this is from a previously dedicated manual fan.
Gavin Heitman Hi if you like special edition hatchbacks: Check my channel for the 2017 GTI Clubsport. Its the 40 Year Anniversary GTI. (Golf R Performance, minus AWD but sends 100% to front wheels.. Videos seen on my channel! ;)
Are you from Australia? Also how well does the m140i make power?
Thanks for the review
The 140M is one of the few rear wheel drive sports car at an affordable price
I've got a 6 speed manual on order, fingers crossed it will be here in May
No problem Michael. I think you’ll love the car, and a manual too! Very cool 👏🏽👏🏽
Was it good?
A future classic for sure - the M140i. Awesome video!
If i could afford to buy one and keep it miles free i would. They will eventually go up in price
It’s unfortunate that BMW is discontinuing the M140i, if i had to buy a performance hatch, i would pick the M140i over any car in the segment accept the RS3.
Yeah, it is a shame. There will be another M140i but it will most likely be an AWD adaptation of the BMW front drive platform.
They’re saying it will still have a six cylinder though
it better be or there would be no reason to buy a bmw hot hatch anymore,
do you know if they keep the m240i coupe / cabrio rwd?
It'd be a tad difficult to fit the B58 in the new 1 Series East-West engine bay layout, but here's hoping.
@@chasingcars infact it is a 4cyl. sad
I’ve just ordered an Indium grey ( same colour as your test car) full phat 310 bhp 3 door Golf R 7.5 DSG on standard 18s” ( for much improved ride quality over the 19s) after driving it & the M140i 8 speed Auto back to back here in the UK. I’ve been a long standing fan of both marks, having owned numerous VW Golf GTi s as well as a number of 6 cylinder BMWs, including the almighty E46 M3 CSL. While I absolutely adored the character of the M140i’s inline 6 Turbo engine /8 speed ZF Auto combo and its pace the rest of the car left me a little bit cold, especially ( surprisingly for a Sporty BMW ) the numb steering and the cramped interior. To me the Golf R felt more alive, sure footed , precise, specious (I’m 6 foot 2”) and its interior felt more of a premium product & bang up to date out of the two. All in all the better all rounder for my particular daily needs however I do appreciate your review and opinions. Thanks very much for a great comparison vlog .
I agree with virtually everything you've said.. as it's pretty much my overall assessment of them as well.. I had an M135i LCI and test drove an M140i and a Golf 7.5 R (ended up choosing the R as well)... interesting that you picked up on the steering as well.. because other than this review - no one else really mentions it! - but it's how I found it as well!! :) - good luck counting down the days - it seems to take forever!! LOL!
Auto Addict just give me a five! XD My 7.5R is on delivery. Iridium greay..with 19 silver prets and 5door because of the family,neither of the fact my wife has an Octavia RS.I will get it in middle of June..production date is 21st week! Some gadgets..like sway bar kit f/r vwr intake brakes,brake lines and so on on the shelf now! XD
Greetings!
@ Paul Lynch ... it’ll be worth the wait 👍🏼 mine is due to arrive in mid May 😎 not that I’m counting down every single day 😬
Auto Addict it was!! Mine arrived in February! 😎
Auto Addict how long does the delivery take?! Mine was ordered at the end of Jan. Production date is 21st week..than i get 2 3 weeks later...i just get crazy...
I had the M140i back in the UK. I really loved it!! Had a nice exhaust system on it and a JB+ box. So quick!! But In the UK they are great value. But so expensive in Australia!! I've just ordered a Golf R. Basically comes fully loaded as standard. Amazing value and way better APR than what BMW were offering me. BMW was gonna be near $70k on the road. VW more like $56k on the road.
I had a test drive. The VW drive and holds the road way better than the 1 series. The 1 series feels floaty and disconnected from the road. I'll defo miss the 8speed ZF box and 6cyl engine. But DSG I was stunned it's just Amazing!! And the golf has far superior equipment and a long warranty. One thing I did notice is the golf had a way nicer interior and nicer seats than my BMW had. Can't wait for delivery of my car in 3 weeks!
How do you like your new golf r so far?
@@georgekirby3361 yeah really enjoying it. Great fun to drive. Now it's run in, launch control is good fun! The DSG box is an absolute joy too. Very comfortable too and the adaptive suspension is great.
Rob Thomson, great to hear. Its on my short list for my next car here in Canada. Thanks man.
Definitely worth it! You will be glad you did :)
Rob Thomson I drove my cousins golf r 69 plate in twisted roads in south of albania yesterday i nearly crushed it. we have some really sharp bends here and to be honest i wasnt impressed with it , to much front wheel interference, michelin pilot sport 4 s on it and sliding all over, my x5 is more happy and feels safer, i think the golf is more front wheel drive then awd , for uk weather the golf may be safer but on dry climate bmw 140i will be better then the r , plus golf r feels cheap on interior, the glass surround horrible plasticky/rubber sound system is very basic unless dynoaudio , saying that it looks nice , good lights , side skirts , front splitter,rear defuser , exhaust compact car . i haven’t driven the 140i i cant say much but i have driven 120d m sport and it feels nice , as i said previously rain is not favourite for the bmw.
I had a mk6 Golf GTI for 4 year, then another 4 years with a mk6 Golf R. I wanted something better in performance so I have been looking at RS3 and M140i, so finally I traded my Golf R to a LCI-2 M140i last weekend, exactly the same colour but with the M135i style wheels (which I prefer anyway), I haven't driven the mk7 or mk7.5 Golf R, so I can't comment on how they compare to the M140i.
The front end of my Golf R definitely feels heavier when turning, when compare to the M140i, practicality wise the Golf R is actually better, especially for the rear passengers, the Golf has cup holders at the back and storage space on the rear doors, while the M140i doesn't have any storage on the rear doors, the cup holder and the armrest don't come standard, you have to tick the option list box to have these features, my car is a very low mileage demo unfortunately it doesn't have this, but it is not the end of the world, I still love it very much! I agree that you can definitely stretch your legs more in the M140i than the Golf, which I really like, I am currently driving the car gently due to it is still in the break-in period (1200km on the odometer), I am sure I will love this car even more once I can feel the potential of this engine. The cold start on the M140i factory exhaust is much louder than my golf r, but very quiet when driving gently, it does feel like you are driving a more premium vehicle. Thanks for videos like this which I found very helpful and informative, keep it up guys at the Chasing Cars!
What about mileage?
BMW M140i all the way, no contest.
Love the Golf R
We do too... there was no disappointing car in this test!
Welcome to check out the 2017 GTI Clubsport @ my page! Which looks more agressive/cooler than the R.
3DFX I like the R because it doesn't look aggressive.
Vdub 1971 Have a 2017 Golf R in Lapiz Blue. So stealth.
@@Vdub-md2wz perfect sleeper
Test driven both, pick up my 140i tomorrow. It was by far the better drivers car. Rwd is amazing
Did that car have a Petrol particulate filter? i know that LCI-2 cars in the UK did and it makes the exhaust sound worse than an earlier car.
I have an M140i and I'm still happy with my choice but I will say the Golf R looks great from the outside - possibly even better than the BM (I change my mind on this depending on the model - I think my Shadow Edition looks a lot better than the BM in this video and the Golf as well.) Apart from the seats I think the inside is better on the M140 and performance wise there really is no comparison that I have seen where I would prefer the Golf. I upgraded my steering wheel, gear stick and hand brake to the M Performance Alcantara models as I was really disappointed with the stock items which felt cheap and looked shit (OK, the steering wheel didn't look shit but the gear stick and hand brake lever looked like it cost £5 to make.)Based on my car, things I have learnt that would have helped me:1) I got the manual gearbox - it isn't great right away but it becomes really smooth and less clunky over time (I've had my car 7 months and it's been fine for at least 3 months) but I wish I went for the automatic - in Oz I understand it is the same price (we have to pay extra in the UK) so it is definitely worth considering unless you're desperate for a manual. For me, I would pay the extra if I had the choice again.2) Sunroof - I don't have one and wish I chose the option. as in the video, it makes the interior so much brighter.3) Options - Not sure what comes as standard in Oz but adaptive suspension, adaptive headlights are not standard in the UK but a lot of other drivers report the suspension in particular being an option they wish they had chosen
Love the reviews , but I preferred the previous cinematic openings before launching into the reviews, it gave your tests a distinct point of difference and an overall touch of class.
Fair point. We’ve found on the whole that most people are responding better to starting the review immediately and having some cinematics after the intro - hopefully that is an okay compromise.
Spot on review. Have tested both in the UK and the golf is a great car no doubt but the 140 is just a little bit more rewarding to drive. 6 cyclinder noise in a batch will indeed be missed this time next year!
The BMW is such a rare breed, too bad it was never offered in Canada. I'd love to own one if it was offered here.
Did you guys get the xDrive version or just no M140i at all?
No 1 series at all, the only 1 series offered in North America was a coupe that came before the 2 series coupe/convertible.
I see. Knew that was the case for the US but didn’t realise Canada missed out on the fun as well.
Chasing Cars looking at a M235i now, next best thing we can get.
Still a boatload of fun.
Still love my M140i, it's very quick at 411bhp/576nm but still does the comfy, quiet, daily driver thing so well.
Even quicker now at 455bhp/634nm :=-))
In 2014 I test drive the GOLF R, M135i and Lexus IS350. I liked the BMW the most as well but.... The cheapest insurance was $2850... And I was 30 at the time, that's just crazy. Check insurance cost before buying the M
Depends on so many factors. Age, driving record, address, etc.
I can't comprehend who that's interested in cars would want a 4 pot golf over a RWD, straight 6 BMW
About half the people in this comment thread I guess!
Anyone who gets snow in the winter for starters..
Me! Golf all the way!!! Bmw shit inside and shit in the winter!
@@marveeeee The only shit in winter would be bad tires or bad driver..
Oscar Arzaluz they are shit in the winter trust me!! Up hill in the snow with brand new tires on! No matter which tires u have on!!
I wouldn't agree that the m140 on adaptive dampers ride better. The Golf is def more comfy. In addition the M140 feels perturbed when you swing and corner it above 6 or 7th tenths on less than perfect roads. Speaking as a 140i owner here. I still bought it over the R because the B58 is just amazing.
It's called FUN matey ;-)
That is the reason I bought one and tuned it, instead of driving a boring 2.0 4 pot AWD like all the other sheep.
Couldn't be any different? They're completely different. The BMW has far superior gearbox and safer infotainment with the joystick that lets you keep your eyes on the road unlike the golf touchscreen only. Could go on but I like both, depends what you're looking for in a hot hatch. New auto gearboxes are far superior to manuals now. Car is faster and gets better fuel economy. I don't know why anyone would go for manaul these days. And if you go for the BMW you don't have clutches to wear out. Admittedly the new golf has wet clutches so could be better. The BMW's use ZF gearbox and their gear shifts are rapid. It goes one further that the BMW can shift down and skip over gears (not sequential) unlike the golf that is sequential. The torque converter locks up very early so you don't even notice that it's an auto. You can even flick it to manual mode and stamp foot to the floor in the BMW and the gear will not change. I believe in the golf that once your foot presses the kick down button it activates kickdown even when you're in manual mode. I think that's a bit counter intuitive else why would you use manual mode.
4 cyl vs 6cyl... BMW all the way
Bit of a breath of fresh air in a segment full of two litre fours
B58 is the best 6 cylinder on the market! Stock numbers are impressive never mind when you do a simple stage 1 crazy gains!
I don't think bmw's steering wheel is too soft, it just appears that way through corners after driving a golf because it doesn't have fwd but in reality its very informative. It's a shame that it has open diff though
You can order an M sports differential from the M performance parts program. Obviously, the additional cost is meh, but you can have it!
I don't think it's close. M140i is a future classics and a bargain at its price.
It is a bargain now, I agree.
J c it's definitely love hate. I really like the look, but it took me a while to come around and I can see why others would hate it for sure!
It'll never be a future classic.. there's far too many of them for a start.. and if any of the 1 series are likely to be future classics it'll be the M135i.. the one with the N55 engine which won 3 Wards International Engine of the Year awards back to back and is the base engine for the M2.
J c my wheelbarrow looks better than the golf
pipe down!!.. by the look of things you drive a shitey old BMW 3 series probably a 316i PMSL!!! - regardless, either car would be a massive upgrade for you... in fact - driving your wheelbarrow would probably be a massive upgrade... and faster!
Just weighing up my options in 2024 between these 2 mentioned in the video, but also considering i30n, GTI MK7, Fiesta ST and M135i x-drive all around the $40,000aud price range. Anyone have advise from personal experience? I would go for the RS3 but they are up around 60,000.
Normal golf is just the most valuable.
I want a good alternative, a bit because I don't totally love the look of the golf (although it looks good) but mainly since it's so common.
Mentions that the power in the bmw makes it feel like you're rocketing along when you apply the power. I remember that feelint when i first started driving in my 1.3 - 1.4 litre corolla, at 70 it felt like i was doing 140. That said, ive been in the M bmws and maybe its the sound of the engine that makes it feel fast, the engines do sound lovely.
M140i for sure - very nice car
👍🏽
Another great review Tom! I love the Golf R, but for not much more, that M140i is an absolute BEAST!!! Great choice of colours for the test too, they must have been a sight on the roads...
Yep agreed Glenn. It’s not much of a step up but it unlocks a higher tier of performance and engagement. Still like the Golf R a lot, but in a warm and dry part of the country (without any traction problems) I’d be happier in the M140i. Yeah, it was a happy coincidence that we got two metallic greys. Always nice when the pair matches.
M140i all the way.
☝🏽👍🏽
This guy just convinced me Golf R is the way to go
We'll take what we can get
Need a GTI vs 125i video :)
The BMW140i doesn’t have adaptive cruise control. It isn’t simply an option you can spec. You can get it as part of assistance package however on the immediate lesser model 125i
I dont know man, ppl call me crazy but I like the Golf. Its so much less pretentious, although the bimmer is Sweet.
You aren't crazy. The Golf R is a great thing.
This is becoming one of my favourite motoring channels. You can tell that a lot of effort has gone in to the research. I was wondering where you filmed this video. It looked like a nice spot.
Thanks a lot Mark, I really appreciate that. We do try to provide more detail as a point of difference. This video was shot in and around Bowral, NSW.
Oh how i wish bmw gave the m140i a full on M treatment.
At 60k its 3.0L turbo inline six with 250k in a small hatchback config is sweet.
It just doesnt look sweet
The VW however is a more complete package
Yep. A proper 1M - this time in hatchback form, three or five door, would have been epic. That said, I’d take it as it is... it’s the last of a breed I don’t think we will see again.
Chasing Cars i agree. Its sorta like the commodore SS in saying that it had a big engine, a rear wheel drive set up & it was the last of it’s kind.
Great review champ!
where would you put ford focus st in this test?
I find your assessment very professional and objective. Very impressive.
Thank you - I appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed the comparison.
Great video and reviews , really informative 👍🏻
This presenter is super slick and the reviews are always thorough without ever being boring. Great! It's the 140i hands down. A future classic.
Much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed the video.
I just picked up a 2019 Golf R Special Edition, with the wonderful Akrapovic exhaust. At the price I paid, a used M140i would have been $10-15k more expensive. I also found the M140i to be hopeless in the wet, and the steering felt strangely lifeless at speed. The Golf is the ultimate all-rounder, in my humble opinion; a lethal but unassuming hitman in a Hugo Boss suit.
Hi there Chasing Cars, while we are on the topic of a ride what do you think of audi s3 ride against BMW m140i adaptive suspension? is it better or worse? Thank you, keep doing a great content.
The Golf now comes with a 6 year 72,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty, and a 10 year 100,000 power-train warranty.
Wish we got that in Australia… here it is just 3 years and unlimited kilometres.
sadly it doesn't come with an inline6. not interested in the warranty
This is probably the best review/video out there for the 140 vs R.
Wow, thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed it ✌🏽
I didn’t think there was an option for adaptive cruise control in the BMW. Happy to be proven wrong as I love it in my Golf.
Why would you give away wireless Apple Carplay if you are the only manufacturer that car offer it?
Do you have different type of license plates in Australia? The small rear plate on the BMW looks really strange when the car is designed for an European size plate.
Yep, we have lots of different sizes of plates that differ by design and by state. The Golf R has New South Wales New European style plates while the M140i is wearing slimline Victoria plates.
Regarding the exhaust, after a few hundred miles, especially in sport mode, it crackles and pops away! It does sound much better once run in. And the 8 speed sports auto is sublime (please don’t hate me manual lovers).
There is a bit more attitude in Sport, agreed
Oh man, I ended up getting a new car in October last year, I'm spewing I missed out on the m140i at it's new price :( Great work Tom as always a fantastic in-depth comparison.
Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it! Sorry to hear you missed the new price ... they cut a huge amount out and it was a real shock, even within the industry.
Golf R all the way. If you get a beamer you have to act like a beamer driver. Also, AWD is key in New England.
We drive two of our all-time favourite hot hatches! Help us make more of our detailed comparisons by hitting that subscribe button ☝🏽☝🏽☝🏽 and if you’re really committed, the notification bell 🛎
can you get adaptive cruise control in the BMW?
The M140 is a seasonal car in most of the world, and that puts it against may other rear wheel drive beasts, but I still wish it were an option in the U.S. I have an R and think its the best daily you could imagine, but i miss rear wheel drive.
test drove a golf r then test drove an M140i. bought the BMW. Not even close. The only things better on the golf are the DSG box which is amazing and the look of the dash. the m140i is just better in every other department, amd way way quicker once moving.
This week ill have a m135i xDrive, how it is comperd to a m135i or m140i?
Does the xDrive "destroy" the car?
Having had an m135i xDrive and now driving an m140i RWD, there is a fair amount of difference in character. The RWD is more fun, but the xDrive is as fast (or faster) with far less fuss. If you are going out for thrills, the xDrive doesn't do it as much, but in everyday driving conditions (never mind icy/snowed-on) I much prefer it - I don't like having to deal with a car shimmying its back every time I'm trying to overtake on a short stretch in a daily commuting trip (dry road, 10 °C outside, warm tyres, crap British asphalt). Expect ~1l/100 km less on the xDrive.
TL;DR It depends on what you want. Both are good, and I definitely wouldn't say AWD destroys the car.
I have now had the car for two days and all i can say is that i love it! I live in Sweden so we get our fair amount of snow every year. Would be fun to test a m135i/m140i just to see the diffrence of power delivery. We clocked the car doing 4,4 sec from 0-100 kph. Altho not through gps so take it with a pinch of salt :P
Enjoy it - it's a great little car. If you are ever in the London area and want to test drive an M140i, ping me! 0-100 the 135 xDrive may be faster, but the B58 has much more torque in the middle.
BTW the greatest limitation on acceleration measurement is not the speedo - and GPS is not necessarily more accurate - it's the timing of when the needle goes past the 100 kph bar! If you want decently accurate 0-100 times you need something other than eyes at varying angles looking at a needle.
I have a P3 multi-gauge that does 0-100 (or 0-60 mph) measurements, oil temp, turbo pressure and all sort of other things which was on my 135 in Switzerland, and I took it with me to the UK... without thinking about driving on the other side of the road, so it's now unused in a cupboard. If you want it for the cost of shipping from the UK (~£40), let me know - happy to ship it to you and re-use it.
dlevi67 Would be awesome! Ill think about it!
This is the gauge - www.p3cars.com/
Nice Review keep up the fantastic job :)
ordered my M140i and I can't wait to drive it...
Greetings from Germany
Enjoy the car! Thanks a lot for tuning in. Hope you liked it enough to subscribe!
Unless you are a trained driver, I feel most will wrap their inline RWD around a pole! The R lets the driver at every skill level enjoy it! Let’s not forget that the R also is overbuilt in the capability of the engine and transmission and can do so much more! If you want to look wealthy, drive a BMW. If you are a gear head, drive an R. Only being in production since 2012 as a 135m and already being dropped from production hardly says BMW ever committed to the hot hatch arena. But hey, it's "luxurious", right? Not saying BMW doesn't make great cars, this just isn't one to compare with what the Focus RS and Golf R are meant to be!
Um. What about the 1M? Or the E87 130i/135i? On sale from 2005, i.e. since the 1 series existed.
So why do you feel that the 1 series is not to be compared with the Focus and the Golf?
(Yes, the R is easier to drive; not so the RS - at least if you want to drive smoothly, and no you don't necessarily wrap powerful RWD cars around poles even if you are not "trained" - whatever that means)
Great review, really enjoyed it 👍
What wheels are on the bmw?
These wheels are the 719 M Bi-Colour. A NCO here in AUS.
The Golf looks so boring, apart from the 'R' badge and 4 tail pipes you can't tell the difference from any other Golf, OK if you want the stealth look. For the market it's in it should a bit special.
That's a key reason some people buy it I think
thats the point.
i just don't understand why you would wouldn't make every aspect of the car pristine in a car like the BMW, the Golf should be beaten in every avenue, and yet, its a close competitor, very close. I brought a brand new dishwasher home in the box in the back of my MK7 Also what were those birds? haha
The M140i is definitly the best Choose/Car in the same Class/Price League like S3 / Golf R. The Torque is incredible....delete the both middle silencer and u got nice sound....love this car with the B58 and the 8-Speed Steptronic... :D.
Anyways i benching my car on the dyno and got 378hp / 538Nm Stock thats a beast dudes :D.
M140 with straight pipe and lsd
Ooft
Get an aftermarket exhaust or MPE and you will get crackles and pops for days
sethy1 The akrapovic is very loud.
Golf for me just tested back to back and unless you are a professional driver, you wouldn't know where the golf went on the twisties. Also it just looks like a regular 118d M Sport
Great review
Manual or auto for the beemer then??
Thanks! Auto for the BMW, manual for the Golf is my recommendation.
One thing that may have not been mentioned here is that the BMW uses a torque converter gearbox vs the VW' S dual clutch. and for me the one thing that absolutely ruins the whole drive experience in the golf is that terrible tranny that VW group insist on using in their vehicles. I would pick the BMW here for this reason alone
Android auto is also free in the golf R but not available on the BMW
Good point. Thanks for noting that.
I still like 2014 Golf R over this 7.5R... These colours though, beautiful
Awesome vid
This video covers everything
Glad you found it useful.
Krass, da ist der beste 6 Zylinder verbaut, den man kaufen kann.Noch ein paar Tage. Verstehe BMW nicht. Er kann ruhig und brav im ECO PRO Modus, wer aber auf Sport + geht, der hört und spürt wie der 140 losbrüllt: Nach dem Motto, mehr ich will höher drehen, dann gehen die Klappen im Auspuff auf und der will gar nicht aufhören zu drehen. Fahre den über ein Jahr, aber Vollgas war leider nie möglich, da die Autobahnen immer voll sind. Werde mir im Frühjahr mal einen Sonntag morgen nehmen. Abfahrt gegen 5.30 und dann bekommt er Vollgas !Nichts gegen den VW, aber man merkt den Unterschied schon am Drehmoment. Der 140 schaltet bei ruhiger Stadtfahrt bereits bei 1100 Touren hoch. Er verbraucht nicht mehr als der 125i. Für mich eine Fehlkonstruktion, da er genau so viel Benzin braucht. Im Grunde mehr, den habe ich immer mindestens mit Super + betankt. Den m140i fahre ich mit Super 95, kein E 10. Denn es ist Fakt, dass 10 % Alkohol die Gummis angreifen. Das sind oft 20 Cent Unterschied, da manche Tanken von Shell und Aral kein Super Plus anbieten, da sie Super E 10 bereit stellen müssen. Das sehe ich nicht ein. Den V- Max und Ultimate Kram kann man tanken wenn man Leistung fordert, aber so ? Nööööö!!
Bema all the way
What about M140i xdrive?
Sounds good, but it’s not available in Australia.
@@chasingcars or England don't think they do one yet
Great review!!! - I'm happy you picked up on the steering as well!! - I thought I was going crazy as no other reviews seem to mention it when comparing the M135i/M140i to the Golf R steering! - I found the M135i steering to almost have a 'dead/heavy' spot in the centre and generally always felt quite light (unless in sports mode - where it felt artifically heavy).. whereas the Golf R feels a lot sharper/more connected and more responsive as soon as you begin to turn...
Regarding the comments around sound - I found you have to put the M135i/M140i into 'Sport' or 'Sport+' to enable it to open up the exhaust valves and hear the engine.. you'd get more pops/bangs on the over run from sliding the ZF8 into Sport mode as well.. otherwise, it does sound quite muted as you picked up on.
Wouldn’t trade my 2018 Golf R 6 spd manual for anything!!!
Wish they'd bring the manual back!
I understand the BMW is supposed to be cool upscale and what society considers as you’ve made it,… but honestly I’d take the R any day,… yep I’m a nerd and the Golf would be my BMW or Benz
M140i doesn't sound good? Get yourself to Hearing Australia for an urgent assessment.
What is the name of the music at 2 mins
The pop up screen is so out of date
In the BMW? It’s still being rolled out on their new models. It’s actually fixed, but appears to be floating. I don’t mind the look.
Driving a 118d at the moment which is already incredible fun, can't imagine how this one would make me smile! In my honest opinion, this is the perfect car, especially for our bavarian country roads! You really feel BMWs are home here. :D I'm curious, what was the fuel consumption in your test (in litres/100kilometres please)? :D
What colour is that
Golf R: Indium Grey
M140i: Mineral Grey
Similar to a few comments to date, why would you compare a high end car 6 cylinder with a modest 4 cyl. The comparison should be Golf R 7.5 versus Honda R versus Focus RS. The other match-up should be BMW , Audi and Merc can have the other fight.
Golf R 7.5 for me, though never get to give it a good run with far too many speed traps set in Perth WA. Sad face here.
We’d compare them because they are almost the same price Simon, they’re the same size, they attract similar clientele - they are natural rivals in this country.
Golf R perfect allrounder and when your spending money on a fast daily driver you want good fuel economy so i wouldn't take the bmw PS bmw interiors are very cheap
Do you even have a license ?
Here in europe the m140i is not cheaper, its way more expensive then a Golf R
Yep. We are very lucky here in Australia with the pricing of both these cars.
No it isn’t look on Auto Trader or online anywhere because the list price is higher but the actual price you pay is way way lower than on a Golf R.
golf r is 5kaud less in Australia
Golf R for me, no doubt. .....2 doors and manual transmission.
Wish we got the 3 door version in Australia. Alas, we only get the 5 door.
Excellent review as always sir. I agree with your analysis and recently put money down on the M140i. I just want to point out that the BMW M-lites and full M cars can not have Adaptive Cruise optioned on in AUS (as far as I am aware, happy to be corrected), because the area where that equipment is usually mounted is converted to ventilation for radiators. The feature is absolutely available on the less expensive variants as an option though.
For others who are interested, a few days ago I responded to Brendan Feldwick in a comment over at th-cam.com/video/3_i58TD4fEE/w-d-xo.html on the Joe Achilles / Car Advice combo. I have mentioned the below info there already so no need to re-read if you have been over there before..
Copy of comment:
I have just ordered an M140i LCI II, however it should be said I deliberated about the Golf R 7.5 long and hard. Drove both a few times. In the end the M140i made me grin, the Golf R was an impressive feat of engineering that I really appreciated but (dare I say it here) was more ‘impressive’ than ‘fun’. I say this after struggling to keep up with a Golf R on a wet morning around a mountain in an M140i.
For your reference I lamented before ordering the M140i about missing the rimless rear view mirror, electronic parking brake with hill assist, adaptive cruise control and the digital dash that the Golf R comes with. I also considered the legitimately better ride in the Golf, the beautiful pearl white paint colour VW does now (don’t normally go for white), and the fact that the Golf R comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard (although I am sticking to iDrive 6 when my car arrives because it CarPlay connection prohibits contacts etc. flowing through to iDrive, which I would find annoying during day-to-day use. iDrive really is great by itself).
Jerky low speed DSG, local VW sales & finance shopping experience plus much larger degree of interior engine noise fakery scored against the Golf for me.
I live in Brisbane though and don’t get the traffic or weather that you would down there, so ACC and AWD are potentially not as important to me.
Ultimately went the M140i because grin factor coupled with this is the first and last of the “inexpensive” rear-wheel B58’s, which also helps me buy it so close to being the end of its life cycle. Don’t know if I would buy a Golf R with the replacement so close. Want a Golf R later? No probs, there is an all-new (possibly) better version just around the corner. Want a $60k rear-wheel, straight 3.0L 6 M140i later? Too bad, we don’t make those anymore.
Hope this helps. S.
Thanks a lot Stephen. Good to read about your decision making process. Both cars have plenty to offer but I tend to agree that in warm and dry climates like ours there’s no need for the huge all weather grip of the Golf R - however 4Motion makes that car extremely easy to drive at pace. For me though, I like having more to manage and the M140i offers that additional layer of engagement.
Love the 6 speed manual!
Same! The better gearbox in the Golf R, for sure. Couldn’t nail one down in the M140i but hopefully in the near future.
Chasing Cars DSG is the better gear box for a daily driver. It does everything better except satisfy some people’s subjective opinion on what’s more “fun” to drive. If manual transmission’s were better, they wouldn’t be disappearing from more and more cars.
People don’t buy cars solely based on fun to drive factor. This review seemed to put too much focus on RWD and manual biases.
Your comment is equally subjective. We've conducted extensive testing of the DSG and manual gearboxes in both daily driving and performance settings. In both contexts, we prefer the six-speed manual in the Golf. The new seven-speed wet clutch DSG exhibits too many hesitant characteristics at low speed, unlike the old six-speed DSG. And then in the area of dynamic driving - surely a substantial reason for purchasing a $60K sports hatchback - the manual alleviates what we perceive as a problem of the DSG, that it disconnects the driver further from the Golf R's already isolated dynamics that is the product of its sheer traction.
I test drove the M140i before I eventually bought the R and It's a fantastic car but the interior, in my opinion, is shit compared to the Golf. The R just feels like a much nicer place to be.
well said!
YOU not a driver mate. might as well invest in a good couch. love the inline 6 fk everything else.
drdj69 What an utterly stupid thing to say! You're obviously not too bright.
Really don’t agree with this, the BMW has a much higher quality interior than the Golf.
P B Nah it really hasn't, even down to the plastics, the golf is soft almost foamy, the bm's sounds like the packaging of a cheap toy, obviously it's just personal preference and I bought the golf because I preferred it, a friend bought the 140 and he loves it!
In england you get three year waranty or sixty thousand miles on all vw what a joke
Great review! Both great cars but I’d take the M140i
Really liking your videos. Keep it up.
Thanks a lot Joel. Appreciate you taking the time to watch.
Test drove both of these cars. Both great but went for the M140i far superior engine and much better discounts given in the UK.
The engine is really something special.
the Golf R is a good car to drive but the M140 is the Ultimate undisputed champ of all times
TRUE
Why not a xdrive?
Not sold in Australia, as noted in so many of the comments
Golf R all day mate!
60 k? Not in the USA. Canada?
This is an Australian channel, if you want local pricing for your own country you will have to Google it 🤷🏼♂️
couldnt ask for better colours, one of the great reviews ever... id go R direction
Fair enough. Yep, really nice deep greys and a good match for one another
The BMW is great, but definitely prefer the R its just a nicer looking car too
Two good hot hatches!
The golf looks like a fish tank
Would get the BMW were it not for that hideous screen display thing.
It's never bothered me but it seems to annoy a lot of people
Can you put it down? Cheers
No you can’t - it’s fixed in place
You think that’s bad? You should see Mercedes😂