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Originally Posted by Klayfish
Thanks for the replies. Let me clarify a little, to help with some of the things posted.
Sure, a Tesla would be awesome, if I could afford one. But not even remotely close. I'm looking to spend $17-$20k max. I actually had a Nissan Leaf as a daily driver a few years back (had two Miata as weekend toys then). As a commuting appliance, I enjoyed the hell out of it. But it could never meet my commuting needs now, as its' range is 85 miles and I do 110+.
Definitely not interested in the 135i. They are unquestionably more trouble prone. Turbos are wear items. Direct injection has a long and well documented history of carbon build up. I don't want to deal with either of those. That's why I'm not really looking at cars like the Mazdaspeed3 or Focus ST. I've driven them both and love them, but don't want to deal with their needs. Yeah, yeah, I know...if that's the case then just buy a Honda. But there's probably a good compromise middle ground in here, and I'm hoping a 128i is that. Not quite Honda reliable, but not a diva either.
My car would see no track or autox duty. One of my hobbies, which is where much of my disposable income goes, is road course racing. I run in the 24 Hours of LeMons series, in fact I own a car...well truth be told it's a pick up truck. So my new car will be 100% devoted to commuting duties.
I've test driven the 128i and Accord coupe several times. Loved them both for different reasons. Not sure what other word to use to describe the Accord other than slick. It's just good at everything it does. And it's unbreakable. But, it's still based on a family sedan and so while it's fast and a competent handler, it's nowhere near as passionate to drive as the BMW. The BMW is just plain fun. Everything about it speaks to your driving senses. In 128i form, it's also $3-$4k less than the Accord. But it's smaller, and I'm not sure how practical it is for daily use.
How many of you carry kids in the car? Like I said, my wife has a minivan, so I wouldn't need to use my car for daily family transport. Truthfully, I'll spend 95% of the miles in the car alone. Typically, I carry the kids home from sports practice, which is about 6 miles. But I do that 4-5 times per week. Wondering how old that will get.
Also, what do you guys with the 128i typically spend on maintenance? I know a lot of that depends on how much you DIY. I'll do oil and brakes myself, and maybe anything else that's as simple as that, but don't have the time to more "complicated" things.
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How many kids are you talking about carrying at once? All 3?
I take my 6-year-old to school every day, but it's only a few blocks. And we'll occasionally go to the store together after school, maybe a couple of miles. But really, the distance is not the issue, it's more loading/unloading. At 6-years old it's certainly gotten much easier, but I still need to buckle his seat belt for him because he can't reach from his booster (it's kind of tucked far down).
All of this is to say that, really, it's not too big of a deal to take kids around, although it's certainly easier in our 4Runner (especially if I'm talking the 2-year-old as well), which tends to see most "family duty" as a result. But your 8-year-olds should have an easier time buckling in and you 11-year-old can probably ride in front (I think? Check local laws, lol.) so it will probably be pretty manageable for you. In terms of cabin space, I think it's fine. My wife and I took a 2-3 hour trip ( each way) with another couple once in my 128i when it was new, and everyone seemed fine. I've also very occasionally sat in the back seat of my own car and, while cozy, found it surprisingly comfy. I mean, I wouldn't want to do it every day, but a kid probably won't complain so long as you use the minivan for road trips.
I don't really see the advantage of the Accord in this situation. If you were talking about the sedan, I could see the argument, but the coupe is just as impractical as the 1er. And, while Honda knows a thing or two about driving dynamics and engine design, you've driven both and prefer the BMW as a driver's car. The Honda might have lower running costs - I've never had one, but the handful of Toyotas that have passed through our household have been practically free to own - still, I don't think the 128i is obscenely expensive to own. It does use 7qts of synthetic per oil change, OEM pads and rotors are not the cheapest (but brake jobs are much more expensive on the 135i). A good set of tires should last quite a while on a street-driven car (wont wear out the rears so fast as a 135i). What else is there, really? Brake fluid and coolant flushes every couple of years. Transmission fluid every 30k or 60k, depending on your source (bear in mind that transmission and coolant intervals are not dictated by BMW and are considered "lifetime fill;" in other words, you can go as crazy as you like on maintenance costs, but you certainly don't have to).
Really, it's not that expensive of a car. Most of my expenses have been the things I just outlined above, but even more so suspension and engine mods, sticky tires once a year, etc. Optional things the average street-driven car wouldn't need.