What do we think of this then? (New BMW 1-series coupe)

[steviem]

I would totally go for one of these, although, I wish it was the UK equivalent to $30k. I cant see it happening though

I'm so glad BMW brought out the 3 door hatch and this, they look much nicer than the 5 door 1 series.

 

[true777]

Looking at this and the hatchback model I just wonder what took BMW so long before producing something that can compete with the Audi A3 in terms of looks... 3 years late?

The 1-series hatchback has been around in Europe for years. They just didn't sell it in the US, which might have been smart since Mercedes sold so few of the C-class "sports coupe" hatchbacks that they discontinued selling them in the US in 2006, while still producing and selling them in Europe. I believe the Audi A3 is slightly larger than the 1-series and C-class hatchbacks, so it's slightly more suitable for US customers. The BMW 1-series hatchback really is quite small (I have been inside one), as is the C-class sports coupe which I own. I love these cars but apparently US customers don't.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I love these cars but apparently US customers don't.

I'm an American auto afficionado, but not a typical one. Generally speaking, Americans prefer sedans over hatchbacks, al else being equal. American car manufacturers sell cheap V6 sedans, which the public gobble up. In the case of the C-class coupe, it lost out here to Acura (RSX), Honda (Civic Si), the BMW 3-Series and the VW GTI/R32/V6 Jetta. For some reason this time, the badge wasn't enough to pip more run of the mill (but more entrenched & popular) marques.

I test drove a C-class coupe and liked it...not sure if I'd have bought one though - I am a bit wary of bottom of the range luxury cars.

 

[cycocelica]

People who drive BMWs are stereotypically rude and think they own the road.

 

[bartelby]

People who drive BMWs are stereotypically rude and think they own the road.

Them and Vauxhall Vectra drivers!

 

[iGav]

So perfect for pissing off every other BMW driver whose model doesn't include a prominent M on their motor.

Only thing is... why has it taken BMW so long? the 1 Series is due a straightforward f**k over now it's getting on a bit in the style stakes.

 

[AlBDamned]

Only thing is... why has it taken BMW so long? the 1 Series is due a straightforward f**k over now it's getting on a bit in the style stakes.

Who knows mate. Considering its looks got hammered by every single magazine out there when it came out, I'm surprised they didn't or haven't changed it sooner as well.

When the current Seven came out and flopped because it looked like a big barge, they smoothed out a few of the lines within about 2-2.5 years. I think the 1-series hatch is undoubtedly the worst of the Bangle designs. They usually grow on me, but I still hate the hatch even now. This new coupe is a big improvement, even if it does have a slight toy-car look to it.

 

[Chris Bangle]

0-60 5.3secs, 50-50 weigh, its going to be awesome. and it has an lsd. dont like rear lights. shame they are not making m1. apart rom that it looks stunning.

 

[walangij]

0-60 5.3secs, 50-50 weigh, its going to be awesome. and it has an lsd. dont like rear lights. shame they are not making m1. apart rom that it looks stunning.

Those are very tempting numbers, plus an LSD shoot. If the price is right, oh man debt here I come...really but jk. I don't think it'll be priced so nicely as steviem said, its just doesn't seem like bmwusa to offer us a great deal like that.

 

[sananda]

So I guess this is another option when I consider upgrading my Jetta 1.8T next year.
I like the look of the BMW, but wonder how many critical corners were cut in order to keep the price down. Would it really be that much of an upgrade from a higher-end VW or lower-end Audi? (I love my german cars) There are some really nice european cars to compete with in the 25K-30K range.
I guess I'll just have to test drive one.

i have driven a 120d quite extensively and haven't found that any corners have been cut at all. in fact, the 1 series shares a lot of components with the 3 series.

it probably isn't a massive upgrade from a vw or an audi in terms of build quality, but it will be a step up in terms of driving simply because of the rear wheel drive and 50/50 weight distribution.

Wow, seems I'm getting a little heat from my comment, haha . I suppose to me the idea reminds me of the 318... was really only a BMW in name only

that is nonsense. we have a 318ti we have had for coming up to 11 years. it has been faultless and no different in terms of quality and balanced driving from any of our other BMWs (1, 3 and 5 series).

I think its a bad idea. Its just going to degrade the BMW brand. Also, every BMW shares a common styling theme with its distinctive front kidney grill etc., and having a bunch of these low cost models filling the road it would no longer be a cool thing to see BMW driving by... it may end up as another redundantly annoying car on the road that all look the same.

i don't see how having a smaller car devalues the BMW brand. this brand was in large part built on the 1602/2002 which was a small driver oriented car just like the 1 series. the fact is that cars are have getting much bigger. the present 3 series is a bigger than the original 5 series. so BMW have merely reintroduced a car the same size as the original 3 series.

 

[addumb@hotmail.]

I owned the 06 325i and have to say by the end of the 2 year lease I was glad to rid myself of that car. Some minor electrical problems here and there, but mostly I got sick of looking at that design disaster. I thought it was way cool when I got it, but as time went on I thought, like most others i found, that car just didn't look right. This 1series however I personally think its kickin'. I'd buy one. But one thing I thought of; does anyone else seem to think that it looks similar to the mazda 3" Some of the styling cues? That's what it reminded me of. But anyway if they can come under 25k (which i doubt) I'd seriously consider it.

 

[addumb@hotmail.]

i don't see how having a smaller car devalues the BMW brand. this brand was in large part built on the 1602/2002 which was a small driver oriented car just like the 1 series. the fact is that cars are have getting much bigger. the present 3 series is a bigger than the original 5 series. so BMW have merely reintroduced a car the same size as the original 3 series.[/QUOTE]


I totally agree to this, allowing others to share in the BMW experience will only heighten bmw's brand and make it more accessible. It's very very hard to come up in the luxury market, but going down? well we'll see. The new jetta i was told is the size of the old Passat. Same thing, different company. Americans are slowly getting fatter and need more room. We want SUV's that get 90miles to the gallon. MORE MORE MORE. I live in wisconsin.

 

[MrSmith]

That car is butt ugly at the back. BMW seem to have lost their style. Shame. They used to be very slick.

 

[weckart]

i have driven a 120d quite extensively and haven't found that any corners have been cut at all. in fact, the 1 series shares a lot of components with the 3 series.

it probably isn't a massive upgrade from a vw or an audi in terms of build quality,

Almost certainly a step down, if anything. The 1-series, quite apart from being one of the most hideous hatchbacks ever foisted on the market is cheap looking on the inside and suffers from the occasional loose fitting. Pretty insulting to bracket VW and particularly Audi in the same league of workmanship, especially since Audi is pushing ever upmarket with prices to match.

 

[sananda]

Almost certainly a step down, if anything. The 1-series, quite apart from being one of the most hideous hatchbacks ever foisted on the market is cheap looking on the inside and suffers from the occasional loose fitting. Pretty insulting to bracket VW and particularly Audi in the same league of workmanship, especially since Audi is pushing ever upmarket with prices to match.

i really don't find the interior on the 1 series cheap looking at all (although it did take me a while to get used to it and the 3 series bmw interior since i prefer the old dash curved toward the driver). haven't found any loose fitting unlike the mini i had for a couple of years which rattled a lot. never had an audi but i hear their build quality is exemplary but i just don't like them aesthetically. vw are according to reliability surveys not that good.

 

[mark!]

chris bangle

 

[AlBDamned]

chris bangle

LOL, say no more...

 

[Alex72]

"I think its a bad idea. Its just going to degrade the BMW brand. ...
<etc>

i.e. if they release the 1-series I may no longer be interested in getting the 3-series convertible.


I bet you were one of those people who said "If Bush wins this election, I am moving to Canada." too."

Actually, anybody who is worried about this car "degrading the brand" may well have voted for the man, even in 2004, when it was completely inexcusable.

As far as the car's design goes, I agree with the recent frowny-face for C. Bangle... I loathe the "flame" look with a passion. Like most recent BMW designs, it is hideous from the sides and front, though I will admit (in this case), mildly okay from the rear.

Still, I hope this does well. Some people forget that 318s and the like are or were completely legitimate BMWs. In Europe, especially, it's not all about the power, it's also about an enjoyable motoring experience, even at fairly low-end levels of equipment.

Folks here, in the U.S., often aren't aware that BMW makes plenty of cars like 316s and 518s with cloth or vinyl interiors and minimal equipment levels for the rest of the world. Yet these cars are still "BMWs." In fact, most of the BMW purists I know are more intrigued by the 1-series than by, say, a "6" or a "7."

 

[scrambledwonder]

Meh. A ho-hum vehicle. I'd rather have a Honda Civic.

 

[iGav]

chris bangle

What exactly does it have to do with Chris Bangle?

 

[sananda]

chris bangle

i like the new designs. it works best on the z4. it took me a while to get used to the 1 series but it has grown on me. the only one i think is unsuccessful is the 3 series saloon. it looks fine from the front but completely boring from the side. unless you get the 330i the rear wheels don't fill the arches and it looks terrible. also i don't like the rear lights. whereas the coupe is much more successful with it rear arches and rear lights.

of course bangle was also responsible for some of the previous generation's designs which were very conservative. despite the criticisms of the new designs they are selling better than the previous incarnations. whether this means buyers like the designs or that they'll be a BMW whatever the design..i don't know.

 

[sananda]

Meh. A ho-hum vehicle. I'd rather have a Honda Civic.

if you don't notice the difference between having the wheels that are steering putting the power down and having rear wheel drive, then you are probably better off with a civic.

 

[djarum69]

The 1 series isn't really moving into new territory for BMW, it's just revisiting some territory that the 3 series used to live in. The 1 series is the exact same length as the E36 3 series that was so wildly popular here in the States (4227mm vs. 4208mm) and the same weight (1375kg vs. 1380kg) as well.

As the 3 series packed on the pounds and the price it left a gap the right size for the 1 series. If they don't screw it up, this will be a wild success with car guys in the US where some of us consider the E36 generation to be the last sporty 3 series.

 

[Alex72]

The 1 series isn't really moving into new territory for BMW, it's just revisiting some territory that the 3 series used to live in.

Exactly. A colleague of mine is a hard-core 2002tii guy, and he has often expressed interest in the 1-series, at least from a driving perspective; not so much from a styling perspective.

As for the post which mentions BMW sales being brisk in the Chris Bangle era, I think it has less to do with people liking the looks of the cars (no one I know does) and more to do with continued refinements making the cars more pleasant to drive for a wider range of people.

 

[AlBDamned]

where some of us consider the E36 generation to be the last sporty 3 series.

And only the M3 Evo version at that.

Despite that, for me the E46 M3 coupe is as pretty close to perfect. If I had the money, I would buy one in a flash.