FWD BMW 1 Series expected at Paris Motor Show

[TurboDan]

Who buys something like a 128i coupe because it's practical?

What's so impractical about it? As a single guy, a nice small car like a 1er that can zip in and out of traffic and easily make it into tight parking spaces sounds perfect for me.

Some people just don't like large cars. I'm one of them. When I drove a Charger for a week as a rental, I thought it was a very cool car, but knew I could never drive one as a DD in a million years because it was just too damn big. The size of muscle cars has been the reason why I've avoided them over the years as well. Again, cool cars, but it'd be annoying to me to drive one every day. I drive the SUV really because I'm a boat owner and need something to be able to haul it in an emergency. Truthfully I'd rather have a small car.

[sportyaccordy]

Right but for the $$$ there are way more practical choices. Hell there are more practical coupes.

128i gets unremarkable gas mileage, has damn near no back seat, tiny trunk, big expensive tires etc. Its def no S2000 but its hardly an Accord Coupe either.

[TurboDan]

Right but for the $$$ there are way more practical choices. Hell there are more practical coupes.

I agree that it's overpriced, especially for the demographics most likely to buy a car like this. I'd take one over an A3. Besides that, what does it really compete with?

What do you mean by practical? Do you mean the practicality of the car itself or being practical in a monetary sense if brand/luxury isn't an issue? If you don't care about badge, H&H or luxury, you wouldn't be looking at this car to begin with.

[2o6]

Why buy one over a Lexus CT?

[Colonel Cadillac]

Why buy one over a Lexus CT?

Really?

[2o6]

Listen to what I'm saying. Take away the sporting character, you have a seriously compromised hatchback that would be better off being FWD (if it would end up with a more usable interior; FWD models should do this, but it's not an end-all). What's the purpose of a 1-series versus a Lexus CT? The Lexus has more room, and far better fuel economy.




I may sound like I'm being cynical, but oh well.

[hotrodalex]

doriftos

[cawimmer430]

Listen to what I'm saying. Take away the sporting character, you have a seriously compromised hatchback that would be better off being FWD (if it would end up with a more usable interior; FWD models should do this, but it's not an end-all). What's the purpose of a 1-series versus a Lexus CT? The Lexus has more room, and far better fuel economy.

From my experiences with the 1-Series, it's generally a spacious car for what it is. I can haul around a lot of stuff because the trunk is big for what it is and because I can fold down the rear seats and create more space. As someone who generally drives by himself and rarely transports more than two people, this is a "practical car" overall. It's also practical because it's relatively compact and that means an easier time finding rare parking spaces in crowded European cities.

Where the 1-Series becomes impractical is when you have tall drivers upfront like me who need to slide the seat all the way back. When that's the case there is zero leg space in the rear. So when I am driving with friends, this is a problem. Someone with small and thin legs can sit behind me but I'll need to slide the seat forward a bit which in turn means an uncomfortable driving position for me. It's endurable for short distance driving but on long-distance journeys it's a pain.

In terms of rear leg space, I think the CT200h has clearly got the 1-Series beat. But I don't think the Lexus CT200h is comparable to the BMW 1-Series in the US since the 5-Door Hatchback isn't on sale there. The comparison is much more valid in Europe.

The Lexus badge doesn't mean much here so you won't have many people walking into a Lexus dealership showing interest in a CT200h to begin with. And another major drawback for the Lexus CT200h is that it comes in only one boring flavor: a gasoline-hybrid.

There are tons of efficient BMW 1-Series models to choose from, namely the diesels, which are just as if not more efficient than the CT200h and also faster and in a subjective way, more fun to drive.

The E87 BMW 1-Series was available as:

116i / 115-hp (N45B16)
116i / 122-hp (N43B20)
118i / 129-hp (N46B20)
118i / 143-hp (N43B20)
120i / 150-hp (N46B20)
120i / 170-hp (N43B20)
125i / 218-hp (N52B30)
130i / 258-hp (N52B30)
130i / 265-hp (N52B30)
135i / 306-hp (N54B30)
135i / 306-hp (N55B30)
1M / 340-hp (N54B30)

116d / 116-hp (N47D20)
118d / 122-hp (M47TU2 D20)
118d / 143-hp (N47D20)
120d / 163-hp (M47TU2 D20)
120d / 177-hp (N47D20)
123d / 204-hp (N47D20)


The F20 BMW 1-Series comes with these flavors:

114i / 102-hp (N13B16)
116i / 136-hp (N13B16)
118i / 170-hp (N13B16)
125i / 218-hp (N20B20)
M125i / 320-hp (N55B30)

116d / 116-hp (N47D20)
116d Efficient Dynamics / 116-hp (N47D20)
118d / 143-hp (N47D20)
120d / 184-hp (N47D20)
125d / 218-hp (N47D20)

The CT200h has gotten lukewarm reviews here. It's not a particularly sporty drive (didn't Lexus claim this thing would murder a 1-Series in driving dynamics?), doesn't handle particularly well and its gasoline engine is noisy. And even though the vast majority of 1-Series customers could care less about RWD, there are a few thousand buyers that got a 1-Series because it is RWD and can promise some dynamic fun.

So in short. The 1-Series is overall a practical car - provided you don't have to transport rear passengers!

[MX793]

What's so impractical about it? As a single guy, a nice small car like a 1er that can zip in and out of traffic and easily make it into tight parking spaces sounds perfect for me.

Some people just don't like large cars. I'm one of them. When I drove a Charger for a week as a rental, I thought it was a very cool car, but knew I could never drive one as a DD in a million years because it was just too damn big. The size of muscle cars has been the reason why I've avoided them over the years as well. Again, cool cars, but it'd be annoying to me to drive one every day. I drive the SUV really because I'm a boat owner and need something to be able to haul it in an emergency. Truthfully I'd rather have a small car.

Right but for the $$$ there are way more practical choices. Hell there are more practical coupes.

128i gets unremarkable gas mileage, has damn near no back seat, tiny trunk, big expensive tires etc. Its def no S2000 but its hardly an Accord Coupe either.

Bear in mind that the 1-series is sold in more than a coupe bodystyle.  Globally, the 5-door hatch is the more common variant and even that isn't particularly roomy compared to others in that size class.

As I've said any number of times, a small back seat is acceptable on a coupe.  If you've got rear doors, the car should be able to accommodate adults in the back in reasonable comfort without requiring an average height driver to shove the seat all the way forward.

[nickdrinkwater]

Why buy one over a Lexus CT?

The Lexus CT200 H is a lovely car but it's a lot more expensive than the 1 Series.

[cawimmer430]

BMW is apparently planning more FWD cars. Possibly the 2015 X1 will dump the standard RWD layout and go with FWD instead.






Also, it seems that BMW is planning a 1-Series sedan to counter the Mercedes CLA and Audi A3 Sedan.

[sportyaccordy]

What's so impractical about it? As a single guy, a nice small car like a 1er that can zip in and out of traffic and easily make it into tight parking spaces sounds perfect for me.

Some people just don't like large cars. I'm one of them. When I drove a Charger for a week as a rental, I thought it was a very cool car, but knew I could never drive one as a DD in a million years because it was just too damn big. The size of muscle cars has been the reason why I've avoided them over the years as well. Again, cool cars, but it'd be annoying to me to drive one every day. I drive the SUV really because I'm a boat owner and need something to be able to haul it in an emergency. Truthfully I'd rather have a small car.

I was thinking about this. If you want something cheap, fast, and RWD, you can get the Z, Camaro, Rustang. Something small + RWD? Miata + BRFS are cheaper (though admittedly slower). Something zippy in the city? BMW's own MINI Cooper S or an Abarfh. I personally like the 1er, but its about $5-10K too expensive new. Even used, its up against some tough competition.

[cawimmer430]

I was thinking about this. If you want something cheap, fast, and RWD, you can get the Z, Camaro, Rustang. Something small + RWD? Miata + BRFS are cheaper (though admittedly slower). Something zippy in the city? BMW's own MINI Cooper S or an Abarfh. I personally like the 1er, but its about $5-10K too expensive new. Even used, its up against some tough competition.

Used BMW 1-Series can be had for little money here. In fact there's a booming youth market for them as enthusiastic teenagers who want a RWD car are literally gobbing them up like crazy.

And they're more practical and spacious than a Miata, which is a sardine can in comparison.

[Raza]

I was thinking about this. If you want something cheap, fast, and RWD, you can get the Z, Camaro, Rustang. Something small + RWD? Miata + BRFS are cheaper (though admittedly slower). Something zippy in the city? BMW's own MINI Cooper S or an Abarfh. I personally like the 1er, but its about $5-10K too expensive new. Even used, its up against some tough competition.

You literally mentioned every scenario in a way that excludes the 1 series.  What if you want small, zippy, RWD, quick, and upscale?  Sure, the 1 series is overpriced, but people seem to be buying them.

[Xer0]

The only 1 series that anyone should buy is the 1M 

[Raza]

The only 1 series that anyone should buy is the 1M 

I'd prefer a 128i.  Or maybe a 135i convertible.  I prefer power I can use.  A 128i is the modern day E36 M3.  And you know how I feel about those. 

[Colonel Cadillac]

LOL at the "so remove why people buy or like the 1-series, why would someone buy it?" scenarios.

Seriously

[Xer0]

I'd prefer a 128i.  Or maybe a 135i convertible.  I prefer power I can use.  A 128i is the modern day E36 M3.  And you know how I feel about those. 

I'm not a fan of the lesser 1's, I just feel like they don't make a compelling enough reason to get them instead of an equivalent 3.

To me, the 1M is about the only one that really justifies itself.

[MexicoCityM3]

A 128i with manual is a very good drive indeed.

[sportyaccordy]

You literally mentioned every scenario in a way that excludes the 1 series.  What if you want small, zippy, RWD, quick, and upscale?  Sure, the 1 series is overpriced, but people seem to be buying them.

Never said it was a bad car. Just too expensive. $25K 128i would be a fucking smash.

[2o6]

LOL at the "so remove why people buy or like the 1-series, why would someone buy it?" scenarios.

Seriously

I don't really think that's why anyone buys the 1-series.

[cawimmer430]

The only 1 series that anyone should buy is the 1M  

That's the "least practical" 1-Series.

[TurboDan]

I do think they're outrageously overpriced in the U.S. market. Don't know how they MSRP globally.

[sportyaccordy]

I think they're priced about right. Limited edition, cheaper than the M3. I think the bottom of the 1 series range is where they're overpriced.

[cawimmer430]

A new 1-Series isn't that expensive. Buyers choose the features they want and that keeps the price in check.

Used 1-Series can be had pretty cheap. I searched for used 118i's on www.autoscout24.de.

[CJ]

Wow.  That really is inexpensive.  A 1-Series here is really 3-Series money. 

[TurboDan]

Wow.  That really is inexpensive.  A 1-Series here is really 3-Series money. 

Yeah. The prices are messed up on this side of the pond. There is no reason a 1er should cost as much as it does, and the sales reflect that. A lot of people see the price and shy away from even considering the vehicle.

[MX793]

Wow.  That really is inexpensive.  A 1-Series here is really 3-Series money. 

Our 1-series also comes with far more equipment as standard than the basic 1-series in Europe.  Starting with the 6-cylinder engine instead of the smaller 4-banger.

[sportyaccordy]

A new 1-Series isn't that expensive. Buyers choose the features they want and that keeps the price in check.

Used 1-Series can be had pretty cheap. I searched for used 118i's on www.autoscout24.de.

Wimmer, you do realize the 1 series is priced/equipped differently in the US than Germany?

You do realize we don't get the little hatches or 4 banger engines, right?

[r0tor]

In 5 years from now, BMW will be todays Honda - a brand that mainstreamed itself into a hole nobody cares to look at.