17th April 25. A double disappointment.

just1idea
Sep 16
4 min read

Having worked for BMW and had a few Company car BMW 135, 235 and a 240i . Back when they were 6 cylinder cars. I was looking forward to today. Even though my driving fast days are gone.

I was collecting a new shape BMW 135i from a private individual in Tring going to a main dealer in Hampshire.

I took the bus to from Aylesbury to Tring in beautiful spring sunshine and decided to walk to the customers house.

There I saw in the driveway the Mineral white. 135i

The owner was simply selling the car after only 6 months as he was changing to fully electric driving as he was another person similar in thinking to me. That fast cars today are pretty pointless on today's roads.

We chatted away about this as I finished my appraisal and waited for the dealership to transfer the funds. Once received. I started the journey from Tring along country roads to the A41. Then following this until the M25 and round to the M3 westbound.

Driving down the M3 to the M27 junction to Eastleigh And the dealership. I was very disappointed with the car. I imagine, being BMW. It was faster and probably more capable than it's predecessors. It just didn't feel right. Four cylinders instead of six. Ok it gives 302 BHP

But it doesn't feel like it as you have to get it reviving much higher to get that power. Give me the 369 BHP straight six and rear wheel drive any day.

Although this was the X-Drive version I have said before when driving the M5 X-Drive.

I prefer the rear wheel drive. Although concede that the four wheel drive system is incredible and the best on the market.

So the BMW delivered to the garage. I clicked an Uber to the station at Eastleigh to get the train to Fratton station in Portsmouth and my next disappointment of the day.

I arrived at Fratton station and decided to walk the short distance to the customer. Collection a Ford Mustang. But a 2.3 Four cylinder version.

I had called the collection point and the man said yes he's expecting me. This car was going to Allen Ford in Slough. Obviously a purchase to go on sale.

So I arrived at the address and being honest. It really didn't look like an address that a Ford Mustang would be residing. More like a crack house. But I figured. Not my problem. Maybe his dealing isn't going well.

No answer, when knocking on the door that looked like it had been kicked in a few times

No answer.

I called the mobile number. It rang and I heard it through the door. A Female answered. Correct address yes, but they were expecting delivery of their new car. A Ford Mustang from a Slough dealership. I said I would contact the dealer and see what happened. Making sure I wasn't going mad. I checked the app, yes it was supposed to be a collection from Portsmouth and delivery to Slough. Someone in the dealership entered it the wrong way round. Now you understand why I don't work in the business anymore. A lot of good people. But an awful lot of incompetence.

After a few phone calls. I offered to go to collect the car as I had to pass through London on the way home. I thought diverting to Slough would be done by around 5.40. so cutting it fine.

Everyone agreed my plan was the best. And I said I could deliver it to the customer tomorrow morning. But a Saturday, so I doubled my price and also got paid for today as normal too.

Took the train back through Victoria station via Clapham junction and jumped on the extremely busy Friday afternoon underground and North on the Victoria line to pick up the Jubilee line at Green Park to Bond Street and the Elizabeth line west to Slough . An Uber, always quick to get in Slough. But the A4 west was busy and all the traffic lights seemed to be red as they always are here for some reason.

Got to the dealership at 18.15. where someone was placed on duty to wait after hours (always difficult on a Friday night as they usually are in the pub at 17.59. but I guess he was the guilty party who messed up in the first place.

Collected the Mustang and headed to Aylesbury.

I imagine the 5.0 V8 version of this, sounds better, is a little faster. But I also imagine it further highlights the shortcomings of the car. It flexes, crashes and bangs over the road. Corners no better than a family saloon and the steering is awful. The display and controls look like they were thrown at the car and had to fill spaces left. The switches are just an afterthought and the ergonomics of the car left me with a dead leg after an hour.

Comparing this to the BMW earlier and you start to understand why BMW's were called "The ultimate driving machine" This isn't.