BMW Taketh, BMW Giveth (More Traction)
Even though BMW foists upon us unfortunate derivative junk like the X4, 3-Series GT and 4-Series Gran Coupe (which, I’ve only recently just made sense of), at least they give us models like the 2-Series. Which just happened to get better for anyone who lives in the snowbelt.
Later on this summer, xDrive AWD will be available on both the 228i and the M235i, for an extra $1800. As much as the 228i might be the pur sang option, even moreso than the M235i, I would not hesitate to anger forum purists and Build Your Own window shoppers by ordering the xDrive version. Yes, I know that with proper snow tires and a modicum of skill, two wheel drive cars are just fine in the snow – I’ve driven two Miatas with LSDs and no ABS in dreadful winters, and I’ve never had a hairy moment. But there are times when I would have appreciated two extra driven wheels, and if I were in the market for this car, I’d have no qualms with forking over the extra $1,800. In my mind, it’s a WRX coupe with two fewer doors and a nicer interior.
More by Derek Kreindler
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Where's the 220i?
Derek, you say, " ... and I’ve never had a hairy moment." Never? I suppose that's why you should be in Formula 1, with car control like that! Here in Nova Scotia, you never see Miatas driving around in winter. Come Spring, they're everywhere. In fact last weekend I was at a friend's barbecue 60 miles from Halifax, and he was prepping the Miata for the summer when I got there. I asked him why he didn'r drive it in winter, and he looked at me incredulously. "Have YOU driven one of these in winter? Don't talk s**t, man!" I can only pass his question on to you. Perhaps Toronto has the world's best snow-clearing, seeing as they call in the army with shovels when you get more than 15 centimetres.
"I’ve driven two Miatas with LSDs and no ABS in dreadful winters, and I’ve never had a hairy moment" yea but you can never safely drift and then punch it out of a corner without fear of spinning into the ditch or traffic. Tail out fun is one thing but feeling all wheels grip and drama free acceleration is another. I need a new car and the 228 might do the trick but the whole encyclopedia of options is bewildering, it might be easier to just get the vw
Hey as long as they don't force you to get xDrive like in the Wagons here whatever floats their OMG SNOWPOCALYPSE! boats. I've never had a problem getting where I needed to go no-matter what wheels were or were not driven on my car, and with and without traction control. I just don't get the AWD security blanket thing up here in Ohio. I'm dealing with it now with my father who indoctrinated me on RWD for Life. At least he's smart enough to still put winter tires on his cars even with AWD. You still need to maneuver and stop both things AWD doesn't help with at all.