Bmw sucks - hard to accept, but true

[V8slayer]

I could buy a 320i with metallic paint, CD stacker and arm rest for $69,500 two years ago. And that's Australian dollars. It's much cheaper in the U.S. Now the new one's coming out, the E46 would be even more of a bargain. a 318i with no options would go for less than $50k. That's less than the top of the range Toyota Camry.

And like I said, why cheapen BMW with the 1-series when you've got the Mini to work on?

[Jimster]

Because the MINI has only 3 doors, while some want 5. The MINI's dimensions rule it out as a practical choice as well. That's not to say the rear seat space of the 1 series is something to write home about.


The BMW 1 series is a perfectly decent idea, Mercedes have the A Class, Audi have the A3 (and A2, may I add), so what's wrong with BMW having the (fantastic) one series? It's the car for people wanting a small-medium sized hatch who think the Golf is too bland (And they aren't far wrong). The premium hatch sector is rapidly expanding and BMW are smart to tap it.

[kman10587]

The cheapest 3 Series in America, the 325i, still goes for $29K, and that's with absolutely no options. On the other hand, you can get a nice turbodiesel 1 Series with nearly as much power, significantly better gas mileage, hatchback versatility, and excellent handling for only $25K. Even if the car's existence and image are questionable, the car itself is done extremely well, and I think BMW should bring it over here to give people a chance at owning a true driver's car for less than 30K.

[drunken monkey]

i think the 1 series (platform) would work better as a strict 2 seater coupe rather than trying to tap into the family hatchback market.
those looking for a family car can do better because well, there are better FAMILY hatches out there.
the ones who are interested in the rear wheel handling probably don't have use for the rear seats anyway.

i mean, look back at some of the little coupes we've had, the ford puma, vauxhall tigra, fiat coupe and even the audi tt.
all have something that resemble rear seats but they really didn't need them and would've done better without them.

of course the seats in the 1 series aren't as bad as the ones in some of those but still.... it's no focus or audi sportback.

[porscheguy9999]

I think the Audi Sportback A3 (5 door) would kill the 1 Series. The BMW said, like Drunken Monkey said, RWD so then the driver probable doesnt need the backseats. Whereas the A3 has Quattro sportiness, and the functionality of carrying a family. Its for people who want the sporitness of the 1, and the comfort of the Mercedes A class.

As for thne Mini, BMW should have just made a dressed up Mini and charger $8,000 more for it.

[crayzayjay]

"BMW sucks"... definitely a little harsh. Especially as this seems to be an attack on styling rather than anything else.

New 3 - i saw one in the flesh today and on big alloys it looked good. I definitely like the front, and profile, and the back is actually better IRL than in pics. Still a little generic from the rear, but in all a superior look to the E46 sedan. The E46 coupe was a great design imo, so let's see what the E90 coupe will look like.

As for the new 5 and 7, well, after 'adjusting' to the designs i have to say i like both, but they are admittedly more sensitive than previous BM's to wheel and colour choices. I think the new M5 looks great, as does the 6-series. The Z4 is a beauty, has been from day 1. The X3 i'm not too fond of, and while it still looks good, i don't like the big nose the X5 has gained during its makeover. Reverse rhinoplasty.

All in all i have to say i quite like BMW's new design direction.

[lamehonda]

Originally Posted by kman10587

I don't give a damn how fast it is, if you can't even get a regular manual transmission, it fails as a sports sedan.

Would you want to shift a seven speed manual? I think that would get tiring

[kman10587]

Maybe it shouldn't have seven gears. Even most supercars only have six, and that's about all you need. Plus, I assume that the gears are really long, so as to give decent gas mileage and top-end for the monstrous V10.

[lamehonda]

You really don't want to like this car do you?

[kman10587]

I don't "not want" to like the car, I just don't. I hate the fact that there is a modern BMW that doesn't offer a conventional manual transmission. That goes against everything the company stands for, and symbolizes that there are people out there who buy BMWs not for sportiness, but for prestige. "My car has 500 horsepower and SEVEN gears!" You can take your seven gears and shove them, Mr. Bigshot. I'll stick with a lowly six-speed M3.

The other reason is that I really can't stand electronic overflow. The M5 has about two full pages of standard features, and that's just WAY too much for me to handle. You don't need all that crap to make a good sports sedan; you just need a willing engine, a manual transmission, a tight chassis and suspension, and some big brakes and tires. It's not what the M5 doesn't have that turns me off, it's what it does have -- way too much stuff that I don't want, would never use, and would just distract me and get in my way.

[Ssom]

Originally Posted by porscheguy9999

I think the Audi Sportback A3 (5 door) would kill the 1 Series. The BMW said, like Drunken Monkey said, RWD so then the driver probable doesnt need the backseats. Whereas the A3 has Quattro sportiness, and the functionality of carrying a family. Its for people who want the sporitness of the 1, and the comfort of the Mercedes A class.

As for thne Mini, BMW should have just made a dressed up Mini and charger $8,000 more for it.

Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 FSI 6 Speed Tiptronic - NZ$57,990

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 FSI 6 Speed Tiptronic- NZ$42,490

Can you please tell me where the extra $15,000 is going? That's a lot of money for not a hell of a lot more.

To make it worse the 120i costs the same in SE (Top-trim) specification for the Automatic model and offers higher spec and more power.


I don't think many here buy the A3 or 1 series for a family car, especially when the Accord Euro, Skoda Octavia and Mazda6 cost about the same as a Golf 2.0 FSI.

[MexSiR]

[quote=Ssom]
Can you please tell me where the extra $15,000 is going? That's a lot of money for not a hell of a lot more.
QUOTE]

You are paying for the name "Audi" instead of "VW".

[Ssom]

[quote=MexSiR]

Originally Posted by Ssom

Can you please tell me where the extra $15,000 is going? That's a lot of money for not a hell of a lot more.
QUOTE]

You are paying for the name "Audi" instead of "VW".

That's true, except one thing: Volkswagen has almost as good of a name in New Zealand as Audi does. The Passat, Touareg and now the Phaeton have lifted the reputation of VW to that of a brand that is a cut above the Japanese, the Koreans, the French and of course, FIAT. Hence the Golf is bought by the same image concious people that buy the A3 (Not calling every VW buyer image concious, some buy them because they're built more solidly than a Pulsar or Corolla and don't have the rep-box feel of the former two).

Ever since VW bought Skoda over here as thier budget brand, they've moved thier cars up market.

[crayzayjay]

What do you guys think of the styling of this?



(AC Schnitzer)

[drunken monkey]

being the resident architect/designer i will simple say, i don't like it.....
it looks superfluous.
(same goes for the coming RS4)
whereas you can believe the bits and pieces on the M3 and new M5 serve a purpose, it's hard to see what the more angular front spoiler is going to achieve.....
in fact, it makes the already 'fat' nose even fatter.

of course, that's based on my own design philosphy.
i don't think it adds anything over the standard 3.
don't like the wheels.
not in proportion with the car.
i think it would look better if one inch was taken out of the front and rear arches.

hmm, never noticed how similar the rear 3/4 is to an alfa 156 before, especailly with that line down the flank.