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06-07-2007, 09:52 PM | #1 | |
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Businees Week Bags on the 1 Series
"BMW's 1 Series: Small and Sporty"
In short, they feel it's a packaging nightmare and a dilution of the brand. I don't think they get it. Quote:
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06-11-2007, 09:07 AM | #3 | |
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not exactly true.. What they meant is that good suspention requires more space in the back, therefore there is less space for rear passenders..
My answer: who cares... I see this as a personal, 1 person car.. Quote:
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06-11-2007, 10:22 AM | #4 |
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Calling it a "packaging nightmare" may be intended to highlight certain characteristics, like a tight back seat, but it leaves the impression that somehow they got the packaging wrong. This is likely not the case.
The rwd layout imposes challenges on the design of this car that other makers have not attempted. And this car is not inteded to be a long distance family hauler. Wait until it comes. The soccer moms will buy A3s and people that really want to drive will buy 1ers... |
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06-11-2007, 10:31 AM | #5 |
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We'll see these kind of kvetches pop up...it's already started with the cover story of the current issue of Car&Driver ("styling may be a turn-off") and now Business Week.
I agree...who cares besides of course, BMW. But the 1-er simply can't be a car for everyone. Nor should it be. What I expect BMW to do is broaden the line even further to include a roadster, which is apparently in the works and a small crossover. But "understanding" the nature of the car is lacking in both articles...to simply say that it will be a little speedster when ecquipped with the twin-turbo or "M" version is short-sighted and glib as if fast is the only redeeming reason to get the car in the first place. The 1-er is so much more than that; it signals a return to BMW's heritage of a small & sporty automobile in the premium segment and gives BMW's engineers and designers a whole new strategy to build from. |
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06-11-2007, 03:55 PM | #6 |
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Thanks for an interesting read Bryan.
I actually think the article is surprisingly level-headed and reasonable, certainly better than what I would've expected from a business magazine. I know most people that come here have to have a lot of love for this car, considering that it's not even out yet. But I really don't think the author was being unfair to the car. Pretty much only thing he criticized the 1 was the lack of rear leg room, which is quite true. The term "packaging" does often refer to the ratio between the interior volume and the size of the car. BMW is often said to sacrifice packaging for the sake of dynamics. In this respect, FR layout with multilink rear suspension and 50:50 WD for a sub-compact car IS a packaging nightmare. I know most people here really don't care about back seats, but if the 1 did not have back seats at all, then it would be competing not against the A3 but against the Z and the s2000. This I don't think is BMW's intention. The point is that having back seats is actually an important aspect of the 1's identity, and it also connects it to the heritage of 2002 as a PRACTICAL 2-door sports sedan. So I don't agree that whoever mentions the back seat "doesn't get it". The pricing WILL be extremely crucial to the success of the 1, more than any other models that BMW currently sells. BMW does need to hit the sweet spot between maintaining premium image and staying well under the 3 series price range. And besides, the guy talks about the lack of steering feel. How often do you hear that even from dedicated car mags? :biggrin: |
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06-12-2007, 10:30 AM | #7 | |
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IIRC, he says something to the effect that this car, like other BMW models, lacks steering feel. I haven't spent any real time behind the wheel of anything newer than my '97 M3. It had great steering feel. Can anyone comment on the steering feel of the 1-series and other BMW models? In other words, is this guy right?
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06-12-2007, 03:31 PM | #8 | |
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It doesn't help the cause either that the face-lifted 1 now has a fuel saving electric assisted steering. |
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06-12-2007, 05:07 PM | #9 | |
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Quote:
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06-27-2007, 12:43 PM | #10 |
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Steering feel on E90?
So... do they or don't they still have good steering feel? You know, like the E24, E28 & E30 did? Like my E36 did?
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06-27-2007, 06:13 PM | #12 | |
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Quote:
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