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11-16-2007, 02:56 PM | #1 |
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Media blackout on the 128i
Curiouser and curiouser.... weeks have gone by and still not one review of the 128i - just what is BMW so afraid of? My guess - BMW knows the 128 with the standard suspension is even more of an understeering boat than the 135i with its "sports suspension", and it's wary of this car getting shredded in the inevitable reviews, given the hammering the 135i is taking about its level of understeer.
Interesting how Mitsu and Subie have taken the opposite tack in their rollouts, releasing their lesser versions for review prior to dropping their big guns on the NA auto press. |
11-16-2007, 02:58 PM | #2 |
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I wouldn't count on the 128i understeering more. Part of the 135i's understeer can be accounted for by the offset front/rear tire widths. The standard 128i doesn't suffer from this problem.
Frankly, a stock 128i on all season tires might be a hoot to steer around a corner. |
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11-16-2007, 02:58 PM | #3 |
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mr. negative! :wink:
i'm not familiar with the ways of press roleouts but why not lead with your best foot. seems to me the idea is to get people in the door with the great 135i reviews and sell them the 128i when the price becomes an issue. not that the 128i isn't a great car to begin with...
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11-16-2007, 03:13 PM | #5 | |
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I mean, with the 3-series, how often do you see reviews of the 328 versus the 335? There's certainly reviews of the 328, but most of the comparos and road tests are for the 335. People are usually simply more interested in the quicker sibling in the lineup. |
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11-16-2007, 03:13 PM | #6 | |
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11-16-2007, 03:25 PM | #7 | |
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11-16-2007, 04:39 PM | #8 |
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Probably the fact that the 128i is a North American only vehicle and the 135i is global (and launches this month in Germany) has more to do with the lack of coverage. I'm sure we'll get more on the 128i eventually.
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11-16-2007, 04:46 PM | #9 | |
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All you ever heard and read about was the 3.0i. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I have yet read a 2.5i review and I've had mine for 5 years now.. But not to worry, the 2.5i Z4 consistently outsold the 3.0i 2 or 3 to 1.. |
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11-16-2007, 05:34 PM | #10 |
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Just think of how many pictures are floating around of the 135 vs the 128...the 135 is more the "showy", spotlight car for the 1-series...vs the 128 which is the mystery car...the one tucked behind the corner, hiding on the shadow of the 135...unseen, and unsuspected...perfect for being a true sleeper...
Of course if bmw is quote "afraid" to get some reviews on it, perhaps it's because they don't want to see anyone writing lines about it like "The lesser powered 128 handled the corners of our test track with far less understeer then the 135...":wink::iono: Not to say that is what would happen, but if it did, I'd find it pretty damn funny, and that would certainly but a big smudge on the 135 |
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11-16-2007, 05:39 PM | #11 |
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The 135i has been reviewed (as well as the 120d and 123d) because they are on sale in Europe very soon (if not now). The 128i is a NA market only car, we won't see any reviews on it until the Jan/Feb '08 timeframe.
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11-16-2007, 10:53 PM | #12 |
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Hmmm, I started reading this thread, then did some research and now I am very disturbed. Most of the understeer of 135i can be attributed to its large 6-cylinder engine for the relatively small car. It overhangs the front axle. As I said before, 1-series is designed for 4-cylinder engines. I looked at the UK site and 1's with 4-cylinder engines are slightly over 3,000lbs. While it could shave a few hundred more pounds, it is still much better the pigs with the 6-cylinders. The, those nice 4 cylinder including diesel are anywhere between 170ps-200ps, yielding solid 7 - 7.5 sec for 0-60mph. Not a car that scorch others in the straight line, but I would imagine they sure handle very nicely and that's more in line with the spirit of the 2002. Also, if BMW could bring 135i and 128i at the prices announced, I am sure it could bring 1's with 4 cylinders under or aroudn $25K. You could still make it clear that you would have to pay premium to get a BMW 6-cylinder, but 4 cylinders would position very nicely as the "bridge" from middle market to BMW..... And this would be a "real" enthusiast car... I had been kind of writing off 4-cylinder BMW's, but now I know the fact I am a little upset with BMW that it is not bringing 4 cylinders (at least for now) to the US>
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11-16-2007, 11:06 PM | #13 |
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Good point, makes sense - I should have thought of this global launch schedule. (Note to self: in future, pass on making provocative posts after 4 hours of sleep. :tongue
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11-17-2007, 12:50 AM | #15 | |
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It's also pretty common for manufacturers to initially release only "the ringer" model to the press. That's what drives people into the showrooms, even if they end up buying the base model. |
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11-17-2007, 06:47 AM | #16 | |
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