[Marsden]

Yeah, journalistic love letters to the 3 Series are nothing new,
but this one comes in the form of a review of the current 1 Series.

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=823201

Via BIMMERPOST homepage.

[N55]

Cool

[WULFFZA]

"It's also a matter of larger focus. The 135is doesn't have a single "Sport" button in its cockpit, because a proper sports coupe doesn't need a button to tell it when to be sporty."

I like this. This resonates with me comparing the 335i to my previous M5. No configurating favorite settings, extra power, suspension etc. Its just ready, all the time.

[ASAP]

well at least they state the obvious...the f30 is no longer a driver focused machine

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by ASAP

well at least they state the obvious...the f30 is no longer a driver focused machine

Sad but true, I’ve never driven an N55 powered one, but the real issue isn’t the motor on the F30. It’s just a big, soft, wafty car that doesn’t feel half as engaged as an E9x. There isn’t anything contemporary in the ballpark of E9xs, no doubt it’ll go down as a truly worthy successor to the E46. I can’t say the same about the F30s I’ve driven, and what a shame. I really hope they don’t go the same route with the E8x replacement, but they’re certainly trending in that direction. BMWAG and Merc are producing essentially identical cars from a drivers perspective at this point, and that’s too bad.

[Marsden]

Unfortunately a brilliant mod edited my OP so that it no longer makes any sense at all. They removed the link and replaced it with one which has the references to the E90 deleted.

I won't dare re-insert the link but here is a small relevant quote:

The 135is is our undisputed favorite BMW of the moment. Is it dramatically new? No. It's one of the oldest cars in Munich's stable, and it hasn't changed significantly since the 135i debuted in 2008. Back then, it had the misfortune of being born in the shadow of the contemporary (E90-chassis) 3-series, which was the best car in its class by an autobahn mile and perhaps the best-driving sedan on earth. Now that we've had time to settle in with the E90's bigger, softer, more disconnected replacement, the F30 Three, the E90-based 1-series reminds us just how good the old days really were.

[Bingobimmer]

This is why I will seriously consider the 1-series for my next car. The 3 series used to be a driver fueled car made for drivers. Nothing against the f30, but its just not for me.