Low Displacement Challenge

[Raza]

There are a surprisingly decent amount of good cars that fall in the 1.4L range.

Runners up to consider:
Fiat Panda 100HP
Fiat 500 Abarth
Smart ForTwo Brabus
Mini One

However, if you were able to stretch to 1.6, you can even swing a Renaultsport.

[Raza]

Yeah, just checked, the 3er is still a few cubic feet shy of midsize status.

When I first got into the 3 series, I thought to myself "There's no way this is a compact car."  So I understand the sentiment.  I think that sometimes about my Jetta, even though it feels noticeably cozier than the 3er (and is markedly roomier than a Subaru Legacy). 

With compacts this big, who needs midsizers? 

[BimmerM3]

When I first got into the 3 series, I thought to myself "There's no way this is a compact car."  So I understand the sentiment.  I think that sometimes about my Jetta, even though it feels noticeably cozier than the 3er (and is markedly roomier than a Subaru Legacy). 

With compacts this big, who needs midsizers? 

Apparently no one since the midsizers are slowly becoming fullsizers. *cough*Accord*cough*

[2o6]

Raza, your CUV has to seat seven.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Raza, your CUV has to seat seven.

Two people, one butt. 

[Raza]

Raza, your CUV has to seat seven.

You said 7 seater/CUV. 

It's a crossover.  It fits under 2 liters.  Two can fit in the back if they hold on tight. 

[Tave]

Fastest, lightest RWD car that fits the displacement constraint and luxury constraint is the 123d 2 door.

The 3-series even stretches the concept of "luxury" a little bit. The 1-series take a shit on luxury and flushes it down the toilet. It's a bargain-basement entry into the BMW brand. There is very little which is luxurious about it.

[BimmerM3]

The 3-series even stretches the concept of "luxury" a little bit. The 1-series take a shit on luxury and flushes it down the toilet. It's a bargain-basement entry into the BMW brand. There is very little which is luxurious about it.

It's a luxury brand, which doesn't really mean all that much these days. However, there's not really a clear way to define luxury any other way. After all, many compact cars can be optioned to be more luxurious than the luxury cars of 20 years ago.

[BimmerM3]

Raza, your CUV has to seat seven.

Are A6s available with a 3rd row? If so, I'll change to a 2.0T A6.

[Tave]

It's a luxury brand, which doesn't really mean all that much these days. However, there's not really a clear way to define luxury any other way. After all, many compact cars can be optioned to be more luxurious than the luxury cars of 20 years ago.

Is this a luxury car?



Or is it an economy car built by a luxury marque?

And remember that in Europe, where more people buy BMWs and Mercedes in general (and these cars in particular) both brands are valued a bit differently than they are in the US.


I just think, out of all the possible luxury models on the market, the 1-series is a pretty weak choice, but it's not my choice to make, so I'll shut up about it.

[the Teuton]

An IS200 Altezza with the 210 hp Yamaha 4-banger might be a good choice for a lux car, even as cheap as it was relative to US prices (low 20s over in Japan equivalently).

[2o6]

Is this a luxury car?



Or is it an economy car built by a luxury marque?

And remember that in Europe, where more people buy BMWs and Mercedes in general (and these cars in particular) both brands are valued a bit differently than they are in the US.


I just think, out of all the possible luxury models on the market, the 1-series is a pretty weak choice, but it's not my choice to make, so I'll shut up about it.

The 1-series is a Luxury car. It's better equipped, and usually uses higher materials than it's indirect competitors of similar size. People in Europe don't equate size to luxury.

[sportyaccordy]

Only car I would get is a 320si, or maybe a Civic Si.

An interesting proposition would be one of those Malaysian Maximas with the SR20DE. Naturally it would get turbocharged later.

I can't imagine a 5 series with a 2.0L motor.

[2o6]

Only car I would get is a 320si, or maybe a Civic Si.

An interesting proposition would be one of those Malaysian Maximas with the SR20DE. Naturally it would get turbocharged later.

I can't imagine a 5 series with a 2.0L motor.

Where's Hemi when you need him? He'd explode over things like this.

[Tave]

The 1-series is a Luxury car. It's better equipped, and usually uses higher materials than it's indirect competitors of similar size.

So if we put some of the same features in a Honda Civic or Chevrolet Aveo, they would be luxury cars too? Is luxury just leather and a nav screen? I don't think so.

People in Europe don't equate size to luxury.

Of course they do.
















If Europeans don't equate size with luxury, then why are their most opulent models also their largest cars?

The 1-series is aimed (in the US at least), at BMW enthusiasts who don't want a luxury car. They want a more focused sport sedan.

[SVT666]

Fiat 500 Abarth SS




[/thread]

[Vinsanity]

commuter car


track car


"luxury" car


That's all I care to be bothered with right now.

[Vinsanity]

oh, I suppose I'd take a Fiat 500 as well

[Laconian]

Everyday Car/Commuter (1400cc limit)
Suzuki Swift (the new one, not Nick's)

7-seater/CUV/Minivan (2000cc limit)
no fanx

SUV/Offroader (1400cc limit)
Citroen 2CV Sahara. Even with two engines it still comes up short!

Cheap Speed/Track toy (1600cc limit you can be a bit liberal with this, but nothing over 1.8L)
Toyota MR2 Spyder

Luxury Car (2000cc limit)
BMW 320d

[the Teuton]

7-seater/CUV/Minivan (2000cc limit)
no fanx

And its interior

http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/subaru_exiga_6.jpg

[BimmerM3]

Is this a luxury car?

Or is it an economy car built by a luxury marque?

And remember that in Europe, where more people buy BMWs and Mercedes in general (and these cars in particular) both brands are valued a bit differently than they are in the US.


I just think, out of all the possible luxury models on the market, the 1-series is a pretty weak choice, but it's not my choice to make, so I'll shut up about it.

However, how do we define luxury though? Price? Size? Features? Normally I'd say features, but you can get a Mazda3 with leather, navigation, and Bose 7 speaker sound system these days. IMO, those are pretty luxurious features, but I will wouldn't consider the 3 to be luxury car.

Now you can get a Camry with all those same (or similar, I don't know if they offer a Bose system) features, and it'll probably have a roomier interior than a current 5er. So what makes the Camry less luxurious than say... a Lexus ES? A fully optioned Camry has largely the same features as a base ES, yet I'm sure most people here would consider the Lexus as a luxury car while the same would not be true for the Camry.

For the record, I consider US spec 1ers to be entry luxury cars, as the base models here are much better equipped than the base models in Europe. However, you can still option the European models out to a similar level of luxury to the US spec models, so for this comparison, I'm going to maintain that the 1er counts as a luxury car since the only constraint was displacement, not number of options.

As far as the choice goes, I like small cars, and like Raza said, we have a CUV for those times when we need to carry large numbers of people.

[the Teuton]

Luxury is that feeling when you close the door and hear a nice, heavy thud letting you know you're protected from everything outside the car.

Comfortable seats don't hurt, either.

[Raza]

The 3-series even stretches the concept of "luxury" a little bit. The 1-series take a shit on luxury and flushes it down the toilet. It's a bargain-basement entry into the BMW brand. There is very little which is luxurious about it.

Luxury is defined by one of two things.  Excess and badge.  Yes, a GTI is a more luxurious car than the 1 series.  But it doesn't have the badge. 

[Raza]

Luxury is that feeling when you close the door and hear a nice, heavy thud letting you know you're protected from everything outside the car.

Comfortable seats don't hurt, either.

So you're saying there are no luxury cars left? 

Man, I've been saying that for a while. 

Do any Citroen C6s fit in the displacement range?

[Laconian]

Do any Citroen C6s fit in the displacement range?

Alas, 200cc too large.

[nickdrinkwater]

So you're saying there are no luxury cars left? 

Man, I've been saying that for a while. 

Do any Citroen C6s fit in the displacement range?

No, I think the smallest engined C6 is the 2.2 HDI.

[the Teuton]

So you're saying there are no luxury cars left? 

Man, I've been saying that for a while. 

Do any Citroen C6s fit in the displacement range?

The closest things that come to mind are full-size lux cars like the 7, S, LS, XJ, etc. 

My car's seats suck and whenever I close the door, it sounds like the window is shaking around, there's a hallow sound, and something's probably broken.  Luxury, for instance, my car is not.

[280Z Turbo]

Luxury is that feeling when you close the door and hear a nice, heavy thud letting you know you're protected from everything outside the car.

Comfortable seats don't hurt, either.

Oh dear.

What does it mean when your doors are light and close with the sound of a school locker being slammed shut?

[nickdrinkwater]

Here's my choices:


Everyday car:  Panda 100HP

CUV (whatever that is):  don't care


SUV:  VW Tiguan  (until an Audi A3 comes along!)


Sports car:  Smart Roadster if I can have something used


Luxury car: Audi A5

[the Teuton]

Oh dear.

What does it mean when your doors are light and close with the sound of a school locker being slammed shut?

The Focus?  I've ridden in a few and I agree.

It means it's not a luxury car.  Don't worry, I think the car got worse with the refresh in 2005.