Cars that compete with the 128

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by mega

EEERRRRR you fail

every 1 series has .9 % financing now

I should quit american forums ....its 6.9% over here for 1er
and 2.9% on 3 series
Where I live rs4 starts at 94K and M3s at 70K plus 13% taxes on goods and 50% income taxes
My only failure is sticking around here in Quebec
You guys are lucky to get g35 ats 28K while we pay 41K base apart from a 1.50$/liter of gas. People think youre rich when youre driving a basis 323I(yes we do because the 328I starts at 41K) around here. A lot of folks here wouldnt be driving 1ers over here. Hope you guys realise how lucky you are.
Sorry getting a bit off topic...
As for the question...What about a lexus is250?

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by VFX

Apologies mate! no bashing intended... I just found it amusing that someone considered the JCW MCS 'refined'

It was one of the least refined cars I've recently owned.

Noisy on the highway - in fact noisy everywhere.

Notchy gear shift.

Harsh ride.

Cheap interior materials.

Iffy build quality.

Not qualities I'd associate with a 'refined' vehicle.

But yes I agree, handling is amazing & interior is indeed unique.

However, refined, it most certainly is not!

.

What year did you have? the '02-'04 models were pretty bad, '05 refresh improved the car quite a bit, and the all new '07+ models are significantly better.

My '06 has good build quality imo...I dont find it to be significantly different than the 1er. Cheaper interior materials, yes...but that's expected.

[imported_mega]

the r56 mini's are no where near bmw interior quality or design, they are "retro" and have a "fad" look to them

where the bmw interiors are classic german

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by mtla4

I should quit american forums ....its 6.9% over here for 1er
and 2.9% on 3 series
Where I live rs4 starts at 94K and M3s at 70K plus 13% taxes on goods and 50% income taxes
My only failure is sticking around here in Quebec
You guys are lucky to get g35 ats 28K while we pay 41K base apart from a 1.50$/liter of gas. People think youre rich when youre driving a basis 323I(yes we do because the 328I starts at 41K) around here. A lot of folks here wouldnt be driving 1ers over here. Hope you guys realise how lucky you are.

Move down here...friendly people and no snow!

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by mega

the r56 mini's are no where near bmw interior quality or design, they are "retro" and have a "fad" look to them

where the bmw interiors are classic german

Design has nothing to do with quality. The R56 interior is somewhat BMW in feel...and can be pretty luxurious if well equipped.

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by BimmerKid87

Move down here...friendly people and no snow!

If someone gives me a job and a green card fine Ive been waiting for years.

[imported_mega]

Originally Posted by BimmerKid87

Design has nothing to do with quality. The R56 interior is somewhat BMW in feel...and can be pretty luxurious if well equipped.

it does not, but the r56 interior has too much plastic for my taste, it looks and feels it, I owned one for a year until it got hit by a truck

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by mega

it does not, but the r56 interior has too much plastic for my taste, it looks and feels it, I owned one for a year until it got hit by a truck

hmm...I guess I havent really had enough experience with it to judge... looks good in this pic tho...



for the most part the dash is all soft-touch, from what I remember, the 1er has hard plastic on the dash, which I found surprising. Correct me if i'm wrong.

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by mtla4

If someone gives me a job and a green card fine Ive been waiting for years.

hmm..weird. i hope it works out for you soon.

[imported_mega]

Originally Posted by BimmerKid87

hmm...I guess I havent really had enough experience with it to judge... looks good in this pic tho...



for the most part the dash is all soft-touch, from what I remember, the 1er has hard plastic on the dash, which I found surprising. Correct me if i'm wrong.

it's the same as the 1's dash material

dont get me wrong the mini's are fun, but bmw interior they are not, mostly because it's all "fad" the whole center console needs to go back to the older style, the trim looks neat but they need real metal options like bmw uses, not that plastic

[VFX]

Originally Posted by BimmerKid87

What year did you have? the '02-'04 models were pretty bad, '05 refresh improved the car quite a bit, and the all new '07+ models are significantly better.

My '06 has good build quality imo...I dont find it to be significantly different than the 1er. Cheaper interior materials, yes...but that's expected.

I had 2 R53's, an '02 MCS & an '06 JCW MCS, at various points over the last few years. They were my favourite daily drivers for a while (until I commandeered my partner's Civic Si).

The R53's were all pretty shoddy in build & materials quality compared to my 1er.

R56's are slightly better but still not quite in the same league - too much cheap plastic on show.

I took a new JCW on a long test recently. Was like my old JCW with the edges rounded off, but still nothing close to what I'd call refined.

Staying on topic however, i think we can quickly discount th Mini if refinement & luxury are high on the list of priorities.

So no Mini, Lexus, Volvo, Benz, 350z, WRX, EVO, no hot hatches (MS-3, GTI) & he's not going to like the G37?

If he's not going to like the G37 then he'll probably not like the G35 sedan unless he wants a luxury sedan rather than a true 1er competitor. :iono:

Brand & luxury is more important than performance?

That kinda leaves the A3 & 128 as the best options doesn't it?

.

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by mega

it's the same as the 1's dash material

dont get me wrong the mini's are fun, but bmw interior they are not, mostly because it's all "fad" the whole center console needs to go back to the older style, the trim looks neat but they need real metal options like bmw uses, not that plastic

I agree that its not at typical BMW quality...but its not really "cheap" either. I still think the car is worth cross shopping with a 128i. I'd pick the 128i though, any day.

When I test drove the 135 I remember the upper part of the dash being padded, but the lower half being hard...so I guess yeah, just like the mini.

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by VFX

That kinda leaves the A3 & 128 as the best options doesn't it?

.

He said the bro doesnt like hatches....so no A3.

128i is the best option for sure.

[VFX]

Originally Posted by BimmerKid87

He said the bro doesnt like hatches....so no A3.

128i is the best option for sure.

A3 'vert? or is it a no 'vert kinda deal also.

.

[BimmerKid87]

Originally Posted by VFX

A3 'vert? or is it a no 'vert kinda deal also.

.

Last I checked, we dont get the A3 'vert anywhere in North America.

[1er junkie]

wow, alot of 128i hate on this site. I have read multiple articles saying the 135 overshadows the 128 and causes people to hate it. Guess they were right, I chose my 128 over the 135 for the NA aspect... But the G35 is the other option that I narrowed it down to before I made the right one.

[1HungryMan]

Originally Posted by VFX

I have a 128.

I wish I bought a 135.

Other cars I looked at?

JCW MCS - great handling, poor space. Great driver feedback & pepper performance. Looks could be an issue for some.

350z - good performance, lacks space & practicality. Fun car.

G37 - great performance, great sounding engine, isolated driving experience.

VW GTI - good speed, good space, looks not so good,

WRX - pretty fast, great handling & awd traction, poor build compared to german rivals, looks dull, likes to drink a lot of gas.

A3 - great build, ok performance, boring to drive, boring to look at. expensive for what you get.

For me, the 1 series had the best balance between value, style, comfort, economy, driver enjoyment & performance.

Compared with a 128, a 135 would push the driver enjoyment & performance up quite a bit!

In the end I settled for a 128 as it'll be used as a daily hack rather than a plaything.

.

Nice summary V. I haven't found a car that comes close, at least now. The only one I considered was the A4 but thought "they're everywhere" and it'll never be as fun to drive, which has been true.

[BimmerKid87]

I like the 128i. I love how people consider it slow. 0-60 in 6.1 is far from slow.

I've been going back and forth between it an the 135 lately. I'm 21, and a full-time student, so i'm basically stuck within my "imposed by parents" price cap. I either get a decked out 128i exactly the way I want, with lots of tech options, coral leather, CSLs, the works...or a 135i stripper. I'm actually leaning toward the 128i as of late.

When I drive my Cooper S, I find myself wanting a bit more power sometimes, but nothing drastic. The 128i may be perfect.

[mtla4]

Originally Posted by BimmerKid87

I like the 128i. I love how people consider it slow. 0-60 in 6.1 is far from slow.

I've been going back and forth between it an the 135 lately. I'm 21, and a full-time student, so i'm basically stuck within my "imposed by parents" price cap. I either get a decked out 128i exactly the way I want, with lots of tech options, coral leather, CSLs, the works...or a 135i stripper. I'm actually leaning toward the 128i as of late.

When I drive my Cooper S, I find myself wanting a bit more power sometimes, but nothing drastic. The 128i may be perfect.

Youre 21 enjoy the power before being stuck driving a minivan for family duties. I have a stripper 135 and I do not want more. Also with the way prices of gas are going and cafe kicking in in 2012 I will buy a v8 m3 in 09.....

[AlienDNA]

Originally Posted by 1er junkie

wow, alot of 128i hate on this site. I have read multiple articles saying the 135 overshadows the 128 and causes people to hate it. Guess they were right, I chose my 128 over the 135 for the NA aspect...

Hey, I'm with you. I'd actually prefer a 128 because I can get in enough trouble in a 142hp Miata; I can only imagine how illegal I'll be in a 135. And C&D got the 128 to do 0-60 under 6 seconds, so it's not like it's inherently a rolling chicane.:wink:

Sadly, I think I'm being forced into a 135 () because in Canada, that's the only way to get the Shadowline trim and M-steering wheel. And the 135 sport pack wheels are less hideous than the 128 sport pack wheels (I'm *really* not a fan of split-spoke wheels).

[VFX]

Originally Posted by 1HungryMan

Nice summary V. I haven't found a car that comes close, at least now. The only one I considered was the A4 but thought "they're everywhere" and it'll never be as fun to drive, which has been true.

Thanks.

Glad you didn't go for the A4.

I was given a Dolphin Grey 2.0 SE as a company car for a few months when I was back in London.

It was so bland I actually lost it in the airport car park once.

It was the 1st car I had that my father actually wanted to own himself.

My dad drives a Volvo V70. Diesel.

Enough said.

.

[VFX]

Originally Posted by BimmerKid87

Last I checked, we dont get the A3 'vert anywhere in North America.

Shame. Pretty cars.

.