German Car Zone

Even with the fatter aftermarket tires (215/50R-13), the older car looks downright dainty. Would've been cool if they'd found a 2002 Turbo...



"A Vast Gulf Between Them?

Thirty-five years, 170 horsepower and 1,400 lbs. separate the 1972 2002tii from the 2007 335i Coupe. Does anything beyond the blue-and-white badge still unite these two sport sedans?
By Nick Kurczewski
Photography by Nick Kurczewski

With more than three decades of development separating the latest 335i Coupe from the iconic 2002tii, we have to wonder: Do these two cars share anything other than a twin-kidney grille and a Hofmeister kink in their C-pillars?
They certainly don’t share much in terms of price. The base 335i Coupe carries a $40,800 sticker price, which puts the cost of entry for the modern twin-turbocharged BMW coupe on par with a year at Harvard. A solid 2002tii, on the other hand, can still be had for community college-levels of cash, though with little change left for pizza and beer. To find out what else might separate or unite these two BMWs, we gathered one of each for a comparison."

(Obvious contrasts noted in the rest of the article:
Bimmer Magazine )

"As different as they are in terms of power and comfort, the cars do share one important similarity: The 2002tii and 335i are driver’s cars. Each has a stellar engine, precise steering and excellent gearshift. As cliched as it might sound, they are cars that encourage you to take the long way home.
In the 335i, a short trip for coffee and bagels somehow turned into a blast down the highway. And from behind the wheel of the 2002tii, every corner is an invitation to experience the wonderful balance that made the little sedan such a revelation.
From a sensory overload and budgetary standpoint, the 2002tii is the clear winner. It’s one of those rare cars that not only lives up its hype but exceeds it, even while remaining perfectly capable as an everyday classic. On the other hand, the 335i Coupe is an engineering masterpiece that blends sports car performance and luxury car refinement. Like the 2002tii did three decades ago, the 335i Coupe moves the BMW performance bar up several notches and leaves competitors in its wake."