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04-22-2008, 09:34 AM | #111 |
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The last page of this month's Grassroots Motorsports says they are doing a comparison in next month's issue of the 135, 335 and new M3 to see which one provides the 'best bang for the buck'. Based on their initial test of the 135, I have to think the 135 is going to do well!!
Also, not sure if this is nationwide or not but the show Motorweek is going to be testing the 135 on next week's show (it's on PBS at 11:00 AM next Sunday here in Houston). Just an FYI for anyone interested!!
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04-22-2008, 01:07 PM | #113 | |
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Vid to said review...
Quote:
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04-22-2008, 08:28 PM | #114 |
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http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...w?OpenDocument
And their verdict: And we can’t wait to have more time in one on everyday roads – to confirm what we believe is the most convincing BMW package in decades. |
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04-22-2008, 08:36 PM | #115 | |
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Quote:
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04-25-2008, 02:51 PM | #116 |
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04-25-2008, 05:45 PM | #117 |
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04-28-2008, 12:08 PM | #118 |
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Thanks
Many thanks for the broad cross section of reviews. I have arranged a test drive later this week, and the background pieces are very useful going in (even as they often say more about the reviewer than the car)
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05-01-2008, 06:43 PM | #119 |
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Crazy review right here:
Edmunds 2002 M3 vs 2008 135 vs 2008 335.. M3 & 135 gets the 1 spot (split). http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=125908 |
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05-05-2008, 09:48 PM | #120 |
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Nice review over at CNet that came out today (CNet reviews cars?!). They actually tracked the car though. 8.9/10 and Editor's Choice, but a review out of 10 for a car still strikes me as odd.
http://reviews.cnet.com/coupe-hatchb...g=nefdprod.rev
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05-05-2008, 11:32 PM | #121 |
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found a russian review today for the russian speakers in our midst. they liken the 135i to the hottest pepper in existence. anyone for a "bhut jolokia" then?
http://www.motomarket.ru/scripts/inf...drive/?id=4165 |
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05-06-2008, 05:02 AM | #122 |
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hi all!
cnet has a very nice review of our beloved 1'er. http://reviews.cnet.com/coupe-hatchb...g=nefdprod.rev best, M |
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05-15-2008, 07:46 PM | #123 |
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05-21-2008, 11:59 AM | #124 |
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05-24-2008, 01:56 AM | #125 |
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The New York Times reviews the 135i and 128 vert
"The 1 Series is among the quickest, best-handling compact coupes and convertibles on the market. For small-car fans, it is something to aspire to, and it will persuade many to stretch their budgets. In other words, it’s another BMW."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/au...ws/25AUTO.html
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05-24-2008, 08:39 AM | #126 |
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And here is the text of the Times piece.
May 25, 2008
BEHIND THE WHEEL | 2008 BMW 128I AND 135I Less, Yes, but Not by a Lot By LAWRENCE ULRICH THE BMW 3 Series has taken a page from the Marlon Brando playbook. As the legend increases, it grows more weighty, complicated and expensive. The sight of a BMW sticker has become as shocking as that first glimpse of Col. Kurtz in “Apocalypse Now”: bloated with options, 3 Series coupes approach $50,000, and the convertibles march toward 60 grand. Let’s not even mention the new M3, a $56,000 car that some dealers inclined to piracy are marking up to more than $80,000. And while BMW’s new compact 1 Series has moved into the yawning gap below the 3, it is hardly a Hyundai-style bargain. Still, prices that start at $29,375 for the 128i coupe (and $33,875 for the convertible) at least nudge the BMW welcome mat in the right direction. Just as important, the 1 Series doesn’t give off a whiff of impostor luxury, as did the defunct Mercedes C230 coupe or BMW’s 318ti hatchback. The four-seat 1 Series looks and feels legit. It shares its terrific engines with its pricier 3 Series and 5 Series brethren: a 3-liter in-line 6 with 230 horsepower for the 128i, a whip-cracking, twin-turbo 3-liter 6 with 300 horsepower for the 135i. Perhaps leery of the skepticism that often greets entry-level luxury cars, BMW isn’t promoting the 1 Series’s price, stressing instead its pared-down size and spunky attitude. BMW has tried to connect the dots between the 1 Series and its renowned 2002, the boxy, big-hearted sport coupe sold here from 1968 through 1976. Executives use the word “distilled” a lot, positioning the 1 Series as a lighter, purer spirit. After spending a week each in the 128i convertible and 135i coupe, it’s clear that this worldly, full-featured duo has almost nothing in common with the bare-bones 2002. Yet these smaller-scale BMWs deliver a wicked performance kick. That’s especially true of the 135i coupe, which Car and Driver ran from stoplight to 60 m.p.h. in 4.7 seconds. That’s faster than many pure sports cars, including the Porsche Boxster S and Nissan 350Z. Even the open-roofed 128i with a six-speed automatic transmission — the heaviest and ostensibly least sporty version — proved a starting player, not some bench-warming convertible. (Adding the 300-horsepower engine adds $6,000 to the convertible’s base price, bringing it to $39,875). For either version, the softtop powers open or closed in a swift 22 seconds. With its short rear deck, tall roof and pregnant-guppy midsection, the 1 Series looks a bit squooshed from some angles. But it’s still a handsome car and one whose essential Bimmer-ness can be spotted from 100 yards away. The 1 Series trims 8.4 inches from the 3 Series in length, 4 inches from the wheelbase and 1.4 inches in width. That makes this BMW a bonbon for urbanites. With its tight turning circle, the 1 Series proved especially maneuverable in the double-parked mayhem of Brooklyn and Manhattan. What the 1 Series doesn’t deliver is the weight loss you’d expect: the 135i coupe’s 3,373 pounds is only about 200 less than the comparable 3 Series. Thanks largely to its lighter fabric top, the convertible saves a bit more weight, 3,494 pounds versus 3,792 for the 328i hardtop convertible. Despite the heft, both coupe and convertible sparkle on the road with quiver-free structures; a nearly perfect 50-50 front-rear weight balance; and the satisfying handling, shifters and brakes that are at the heart of BMW’s appeal (and arrogance). Muscular and perfectly pitched, the coupe’s twin-turbo 6 put on a masterly performance in the rolling Catskills of New York. With each effortless run up its 7,000-r.p.m. scale, it reminded me why BMW gets away with its high ticket prices. Inside, the 1 Series is comfortable but more intimate than its higher-numbered siblings. The driver and passenger perch closer together, their legs constrained by narrower footwells. Visually, the car offers mild relief from the cabin monotony that’s taken root at BMW. The 1’s switches, gauges and seats are familiar, but the dashboard shows some new curves. Besides lighter weight, the coupe’s critical edge over the convertible is a slightly larger back seat and a remarkably generous trunk for such a compact car. On a drive from New York to Rhode Island, the trunk accepted two wheeled carry-ons, a portable playpen, a stroller and a backpack. The rear seats fold down to extend the storage space, and a folding pass-through lets you carry skis or other long items. The convertible demands more sacrifice for al fresco adventure. The rear armrests and backrests are somewhat bow-shaped to make room for the convertible top, chopping into shoulder room and hip space. Except for a brief boulevard cruise, the convertible’s back seat is not a happy place for large adults. The trunk has less practical space, too, especially when the top is lowered. Neither car can match the 3 Series’s back seat, which was modest to begin with. But at least the comfort access option ($500) improves access to the rear; you press these electric switches on the front seats to slide them forward. Yet on both models I tested, the manual lever that pivots the front seatback had a sticky mechanism, often resisting an initial attempt to pry it open. The 135i coupe and convertible get performance equipment at no charge that is a $1,200 option on the 3 Series, along with standard Xenon headlamps. Those items include a sport suspension tuned by BMW’s M performance division, along with striking 18-inch wheels with higher-performance run-flat tires. To handle the extra power, 135i models also get larger standard brakes. (For $1,000 more, the 1 Series buyer can get a package that includes sport seats, a thicker M steering wheel and the flat black “shadowline” trim that replaces chrome around the windows). The 135i’s no-charge performance equipment improves high-speed handling but makes the ride choppy. With its short wheelbase and huge wheels, the 135i coupe took a toll on occupants over torn-up freeways and potholed streets. It recalls the first year of the X3 sport utility, whose cement-mixer ride was softened after consumers complained. Let’s hope that BMW will tame this suspension as well. It’s rare that you thank an automaker for fewer standard features, but the 1 Series spares owners from the least satisfying dishes on BMW’s electronics menu: iDrive, the systems control knob that i-drives owners mad, is optional, and so is Active Steering, which automatically adjusts the steering ratio for easier slow-speed maneuvering. Yet even the cars I drove weren’t fast enough to escape the options list: Stuffed with $9,000 in add-ons, my 128i convertible snuck past $43,000. The 135i coupe, from a base price of $35,675, reached $42,895. (At least BMW, alone among luxury automakers, still covers the cost of scheduled maintenance — everything from oil changes to worn-out brakes — for four years or 50,000 miles.) Buyers who skip $3,600 premium packages and other nonessentials can keep the performance high and the price within reach. For the twin-turbo coupe, you could omit the frou-frou but keep the sport package, the lovely Monaco Blue metallic paint ($475), the iPod adapter ($400) and the seat sliders and hold the price to an acceptable $37,575. While recent BMWs have set off styling debates akin to hockey brawls, it is the 1 Series’s pricing that has people talking. In arguing that the car is overpriced, some critics in the press have made questionable contortions — for instance, comparing 1 Series convertibles with stripped-bare 3 Series hardtops. The critics’ ambivalence on the 1 Series has surprised me, because it seems to represent all the things that driving enthusiasts clamor for. Compared with the 3, the 1 is smaller, lighter, faster and about $6,000 less. Yet it’s not so tiny that it becomes a two-seat, no-trunk plaything. What’s not to like? If you were expecting any twin-turbo, 300-horse BMW to perform like the previous-generation M3 — and do it at a Volkswagen price — your expectations may be seriously out of whack. I suspect that if BMW had actually decided to offer a stripped-down 1 Series for $25,000, the same critics would be excoriating BMW for cheapening the brand. And if apples-and-oranges is the game, chew on this: The last 335i convertible I drove cost $58,000. The 128i convertible I tested cost $43,000. Both are fun, four-seat droptops, differing mainly in size and space. One valid comparison has noted that the beautifully styled base 328i sedan can be had for roughly the price of the twin-turbo 135i. For those who prefer a roomier car with four doors, the choice of the sedan becomes obvious. But the 1 Series is among the quickest, best-handling compact coupes and convertibles on the market. For small-car fans, it is something to aspire to, and it will persuade many to stretch their budgets. In other words, it’s another BMW. • Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company Privacy Policy Search Corrections RSS First Look Help Contact Us Work for Us Site Map
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05-27-2008, 01:36 AM | #127 |
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New York Times
Sunday May 25 New York Times reviews the 135i:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/au...ws/25AUTO.html
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05-29-2008, 10:27 PM | #128 |
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Jalopnik Review
Rips the 128i Convertible a new one...
http://jalopnik.com/393657/2008-bmw-...tible-part-one http://jalopnik.com/393864/2008-bmw-...tible-part-two
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06-03-2008, 09:23 PM | #129 |
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AutoWeek buys a 135; raves about it
DRIVERS LOG: 2008 BMW 135i
2008 BMW 135i IN FLEET: May 12-26 AS-TESTED PRICE: $39,125 DRIVETRAIN: 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged I6; rwd, six-speed manual OUPTPUT: 300 hp @ 5800 rpm, 300 lb-ft @ 1400 rpm CURB WEIGHT: 3373 lb FUEL ECONOMY (EPA/AW): 20/20.4 mpg SENIOR EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: This latest version of BMW's "entry" model eschews some of the $9,000 worth of options that punched the price of our previously tested 135i to $45,000. This car proves that you could certainly live without the six-speed automatic transmission (a $1,275 option) and the M Sport steering wheel with paddle shifter ($1,100). The six-speed stick is the ticket for this car, allowing the driver to take full advantage of the engine's powerband, regardless of whether you're blasting off from a dead stop, carving a tight corner or motoring along in sixth and need a quick downshift to pass. Any scenario invokes a lightning-quick response from the 135i, with zero lag from either turbo or tranny action. I never once felt deprived because it didn't have the $3,300 premium package with universal garage-door opener, digital compass mirror, power front seats with driver's-seat memory, auto-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, BMW assist and lumbar support. If there's any negative, it's that you'd better buy a kidney belt if you live on a chuckholed back road. Oh, and the car could do with a sun-visor extender. In other words, regardless of the level of comfort and convenience features, the underlying car offers the kind of performance that makes you forget about accouterments. That used to be what buying a BMW was all about. Maybe the 1 Series will be the car that gets BMW and its fans back to that happy place. MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: I don't look at this as an entry-level car in any way, shape or form. It isn't priced like one or built like one, and it certainly does not perform like one. I'm willing to bet that if the 1 Series' body was more "exotic" (think Z4 coupe) in appearance, and if the thing had only two seats, we would look at it as a true performance sports car, and no one would be groaning about the cost, because we've come to expect such cars to carry a premium price. But because it resembles a smaller 3 Series, everyone seems to think it should be priced accordingly, which it actually is to some degree. The 135i's base price is almost $5,000 less than the 335i's base price. Did anyone truly expect BMW to lop $10,000 or more off the 3 Series starting point just because the car is smaller? Keep dreaming-after all, this is a world where Porsche can build a hardtop Boxster, call it a Cayman and sell it for more than the convertible. I'll take this BMW for what it is, and that's one hell of a runner. Up against the just-replaced M3, I bet the 135i would come out on top in every category. And if it didn't, it'd be darn close. Consider that the previous M3 started at about $50,000; then come back and tell me this 135i isn't priced reasonably for the level of performance it offers. Since when are we taken aback by small cars with hefty prices, anyway? The 135i driving experience is phenomenal. The chassis and suspension are typically sharp, with great response, great grip and a throttle-steerable character. Steering and braking are world-class. The interior is up to snuff with BMW's other offerings, something that would almost certainly have suffered had the company aimed to build a poor man's car. Consider the disaster that was the C-Class coupe, Mercedes' attempt at offering an entry-level model. If I recall correctly, that car cost significantly less than this 1 Series. I also recall everyone condemning it for the steaming pile of garbage that it was. Even in stock form, this is a serious performance car and not the cute little Bimmer the country-club set buys for the prom queen on her 16th birthday while Daddy drives the "real" BMW--even if the compact dimensions trick your brain into thinking that is the case. Take the 135i lightly at your peril. This article was last updated on: 05/28/08, 15:03 et
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06-04-2008, 01:06 AM | #130 |
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Who is Jalopnik? And Why Should We Care?
Doesn't seem to make very many comments that conform to any of the other 50 plus reviews I've read which heap praise on the 128 and 135. Also, based on my first week with this vehicle, I would take this over any 3er any day of the week.
You'll note from the replies to his poorly-written review, that many of his readers also didn't major in the English language....
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06-14-2008, 08:01 AM | #131 |
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06-19-2008, 02:21 PM | #132 |
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Anybody else get the latest Grassroots Motorsports yet? I got mine last night and it has the comparison test between the new M3, 335 and 135 but I haven't had a chance to read the whole thing yet.
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