Is there a BMW that feels better than the 1?

[1HungryMan]

I'm new to BMW, and having owned my 128 for about a year now, I can't imagine loving the beast any more, especially the insanely tight braking and handling of the car. It feels like a second skin to me, and I am rarely anything but thrilled driving the car.

My question is: Does the 3 feel like a boat compared to the 1? Does any BMW provide the same insanely tight experience? An M1? The 5 Series?

I just can't imagine a car I could love more, but it's the first car I've owned. Like have others come from the 3/5 series only to be wowed by the stripped down thrill of the 1?

[akak1997]

Originally Posted by 1HungryMan

My question is: Does the 3 feel like a boat compared to the 1? Does any BMW provide the same insanely tight experience? An M1? The 5 Series?

I've not driven a 128, so I just base my comparison on a 135.

Yes, E9x 3Series feels like a boat compare to the 135. you can tell the difference in a 10mins or so test drive.
E46 M3 is more "tight" than the 1, so does the Z4M. Those two cars are awesome, might be a tad rough as a DD for some.
5 series is a bigger boat than the 3series
There isn't a M1 yet...

Hope that helps

[Jammer005]

I just moved from a '06 330xi and noticed a huge difference going to my 128. The 128 is a lot more fun to drive and more responsive and oddly enough, feels a lot quicker.
However, I have noticed that the breaking doesn't seem to be as tight as the 330 I had. I assume the 330 had larger brakes, therefore I'm finding myself having to push down harder. Other than the braking, I wouldn't go back to a 3 series.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Kvnjmpl

Other than the braking, I wouldn't go back to a 3 series.

Nice. Before purchasing the 1 I thought the 3 series was just a little too big for me. I was at the dealer the other day and had a chance to sit in one again...yeah, waaay too big. And yet probably too small to carry around the average family. I feel way more connected to the car just sitting in my 1.

[MOCKBA]

BMW sells motorcycles as well.

[Jammer005]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

And yet probably too small to carry around the average family.

We're a family of 5 (3 teenage girls - yes, I've done my part ). My oldest started driving and that's when I decided to move to a 4 seater. Because it's a cab - the girls love going for rides in it and so far haven't complained about the seating. If I had child seats, that would be a bit different given it's a 2 door.

[Lionel Hutz]

The M Coupes do pretty damned well.

[AchtungF80]

M coupe, E46 M3, E36 M3, E30 M3 - and to put myself in the minority...all the Z3/4s.

[BrokenVert]

Well its all up to what you prefer in terms off feeling. Do you like it long and thin like an M Coupe or short and fat like a 135i?

[jibaholic101]

any M will feel good but they have high end power.

the 335i e92 just feels bigger but tight as well

[Shifty]

Originally Posted by Phiberglass

This

...is a good post...

[ptack]

Nah

[tbird]

I had the 3, and it really felt like it had a fat @$$. It didn't feel tight.

Now, the E92 M3, it does feel rather big after driving the 1, but at least it has the monstrous power. But I still wouldn't really want to drive it in the city, it still feels too big for just getting around. The M3 is more for the hwy, and for the track. It is a true beast.

The 1 gives you tons of power, and a great comfortable feel, while still small enough to feel good in any situation. And yes, drop the top on the vert, and you have the world at your fingertips.

As for the 5, I drive my mother's every once in a while. It is a big big car. I tell her she has a Mafia-trunk because she could hold multiple bodies in it, it is huge! In the city, it feels like driving a parcel truck. BUT, put it up on the hwy, and it just cruises right along, very comfortable.

So, to each car, there is a purpose and a benefit. The 1 just has more allround benefits than the others.

[imported_mega]

Originally Posted by 1HungryMan

I'm new to BMW, and having owned my 128 for about a year now, I can't imagine loving the beast any more, especially the insanely tight braking and handling of the car. It feels like a second skin to me, and I am rarely anything but thrilled driving the car.

My question is: Does the 3 feel like a boat compared to the 1?

yes, didnt you test drive them too? I thought everyone cross shopped the 3's because the price was so close

[Absorber]

Originally Posted by imported_mega

I thought everyone cross shopped the 3's because the price was so close

I certainly did. I drove the 135i first and a 335i coupe second. While I was driving the 335i I kept thinking about how much fun the 1 was to drive. That made my decision easy.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by Absorber

I certainly did. I drove the 135i first and a 335i coupe second. While I was driving the 335i I kept thinking about how much fun the 1 was to drive. That made my decision easy.

Same here... driven probably a dozen 335 coupes and each time I just couldn't get over the size. Just far too large for my liking.

[JimD]

The dimensions and the mass of a 3 is closer to the 1 than it feels. I drove a 3 coupe because that was all I could find close to me with a manual transmission. It was a very nice car but nothing like my 128. More luxury, less sporty. Maybe with different options they would be closer.

My 128 has had a car seat in it and did fine. And I've sat in the back - but not while the car was moving. The seats are well shaped and comfortable. I've had adults (admittedly women) in the back and they thought it was plenty comfortable.

There is just not as much difference between a 1 and a 3 as it appears. Part of the apparent size of the 1 is how it is styled. I think it's the fact that the back slopes off quicker or something. That plus the swoopy doors makes it look smaller than it is.

Jim

[jkp1187]

Originally Posted by 1HungryMan

I'm new to BMW, and having owned my 128 for about a year now, I can't imagine loving the beast any more, especially the insanely tight braking and handling of the car. It feels like a second skin to me, and I am rarely anything but thrilled driving the car.

My question is: Does the 3 feel like a boat compared to the 1? Does any BMW provide the same insanely tight experience? An M1? The 5 Series?

I just can't imagine a car I could love more, but it's the first car I've owned. Like have others come from the 3/5 series only to be wowed by the stripped down thrill of the 1?

Guess it depends on what you're interested in when you say "feels better". Sporty? Maybe the Z4?

I had a 328xi loaner from the dealership a month or so ago. For a family sedan sort of vehicle it felt fine. No, not sporty like the 1er, but it didn't feel 'boaty' and was very comfortable to ride in - especially over Pennsylvania potholes. The 135i is harsher over road imperfections. (But hey, that's the price you pay for handling sometimes.)

[1HungryMan]

Originally Posted by imported_mega

yes, didnt you test drive them too? I thought everyone cross shopped the 3's because the price was so close

No I didn't. I have felt for sometime that the 3 is very dull looking, especially on the back end. The first time I saw the 1 in pictures, I knew I'd own one. The styling is way better than the 3. More aggressive on the front and cleaner lines on the back.

[1HungryMan]

Originally Posted by jkp1187

Guess it depends on what you're interested in when you say "feels better". Sporty? Maybe the Z4?

I had a 328xi loaner from the dealership a month or so ago. For a family sedan sort of vehicle it felt fine. No, not sporty like the 1er, but it didn't feel 'boaty' and was very comfortable to ride in - especially over Pennsylvania potholes. The 135i is harsher over road imperfections. (But hey, that's the price you pay for handling sometimes.)

Yes, this is the only downside I can feel. You really feel the imperfections of the road, especially in the gritty city.

Yea I did wonder about the Z4. An absolutely knockout woman parked a new z4 behind me at the coffee shop the other day and asked me if I liked my 128. I told her I loved it beyond belief but that her z4 was dead sexy.

Aside from wanting to ride in her car just because, lol, does the z4 have the same crazy handling and tight experience?

[cagekicker]

e92 m3

[imported_mega]

Originally Posted by cagekicker

e92 m3

if only they could make it a lot smaller, oohh wait, that's called a 1 series