Here's why the BMW 140i is not meant to be a family car
Don't get me wrong, the BMW 140i is a marvellous little car that any petrolhead would love to drive.
It's fitted with an “M” package, for goodness sake! It's thrilling to drive, agile and mighty powerful for its compact size.
Sadly this only rings true for single folk, or young couples without the sprog (or two).
Feeling invincible
Its engine delivers 250 kW/500 Nm and will have you feeling invincible.
But as was foretold in Spiderman, “with great power comes great responsibility”. The car is so responsive, and much lighter than larger M-cars, it could mean driving dangerously if you don't know what you're doing behind the wheel.
I wouldn't even dare turn the traction control off because its rear-end wants to spin out at every opportunity with that much torque available. Who wouldn't want to revel in that sweet M Performance TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder petrol engine? Whenever no one was paying any attention, I'd give the 140i a little more throttle just to hear that engine revving.
My problem is that I'm not a single petrolhead any more. When it's just my spouse and toddler, the BMW 140i can very well make for an awesome family car - if that's what you wanted. But it's simply not my cup of tea, at least not any more as my requirements for a car has changed dramatically a few years ago.
Here's a practical scenario: I had to drive my mother and her sister towards Saldanha Bay, and then drop said family back in Paarl on the way home to Somerset West. Needless to say, the M140i has no mode settings to change the suspension from Comfortable, Normal or Sport - an optional nicety most BMW drivers have access to purchasing their vehicles.
It's in permanent M Sport suspension and that translates to a very track-friendly (read harsh) ride. Every bump and undulation can be felt from inside the car, especially when you're a passenger in the back seat. I know this since my passengers kept reminding me of its harsh suspension at every opportunity, despite my actual enjoyment of the drive on the open road.
Limited space
The other issue is its limited space.
It's mandatory that my daughter is always strapped into her petrolhead-inspired car seat wherever we go. This trip was not going to be any different, but due to the compact hatchback's size, rear legroom, headroom and every other kind of “room” is limited and passengers are packed as tightly as sardines in a can.
The drive for rear passengers, especially, was far from comfortable.
The boot is a different story. This little Beemer's boot left me impressed.
Did I enjoy the car?
Of course I did - whenever I was driving it alone and didn't have my mother reminding of the numerous speed cameras along the way.
When there was no child in the car, or my husband or mother reminding me of my responsibilities I could drive the M140i the way it's meant to be - no holding back - albeit in a conservative, law-abiding manner of course.
- Wheels24
It's fitted with an “M” package, for goodness sake! It's thrilling to drive, agile and mighty powerful for its compact size.
Sadly this only rings true for single folk, or young couples without the sprog (or two).
Feeling invincible
Its engine delivers 250 kW/500 Nm and will have you feeling invincible.
But as was foretold in Spiderman, “with great power comes great responsibility”. The car is so responsive, and much lighter than larger M-cars, it could mean driving dangerously if you don't know what you're doing behind the wheel.
I wouldn't even dare turn the traction control off because its rear-end wants to spin out at every opportunity with that much torque available. Who wouldn't want to revel in that sweet M Performance TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder petrol engine? Whenever no one was paying any attention, I'd give the 140i a little more throttle just to hear that engine revving.
My problem is that I'm not a single petrolhead any more. When it's just my spouse and toddler, the BMW 140i can very well make for an awesome family car - if that's what you wanted. But it's simply not my cup of tea, at least not any more as my requirements for a car has changed dramatically a few years ago.
Here's a practical scenario: I had to drive my mother and her sister towards Saldanha Bay, and then drop said family back in Paarl on the way home to Somerset West. Needless to say, the M140i has no mode settings to change the suspension from Comfortable, Normal or Sport - an optional nicety most BMW drivers have access to purchasing their vehicles.
It's in permanent M Sport suspension and that translates to a very track-friendly (read harsh) ride. Every bump and undulation can be felt from inside the car, especially when you're a passenger in the back seat. I know this since my passengers kept reminding me of its harsh suspension at every opportunity, despite my actual enjoyment of the drive on the open road.
Limited space
The other issue is its limited space.
It's mandatory that my daughter is always strapped into her petrolhead-inspired car seat wherever we go. This trip was not going to be any different, but due to the compact hatchback's size, rear legroom, headroom and every other kind of “room” is limited and passengers are packed as tightly as sardines in a can.
The drive for rear passengers, especially, was far from comfortable.
The boot is a different story. This little Beemer's boot left me impressed.
Did I enjoy the car?
Of course I did - whenever I was driving it alone and didn't have my mother reminding of the numerous speed cameras along the way.
When there was no child in the car, or my husband or mother reminding me of my responsibilities I could drive the M140i the way it's meant to be - no holding back - albeit in a conservative, law-abiding manner of course.
- Wheels24
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