Would you sell your 1er for a 993?

[squidge]

I've owned a few rare cars. Three Galant VR-4s, two Corolla AE-86s, an AWD Turbo Laser. More rare doesn't necessarily mean better. I love the 128i but its rarity doesn't necessarily factor into whether it's "better" than a 993.

I think comparing the number of cars for sale is misleading too because they're from different eras and target markets.

I'm sure that percentage-wise, manual 128s are a smaller slice of total 128s than with 993s. Doesn't mean a manual 993 won't delight me more.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by KNS

You have to be careful with internet sites advertising a "6 speed manual transmission". I remember looking for my 128i and seeing several manual trannies for sale. When you view the pictures you see a six speed automatic transmission and two pedals.

My point being that three pedal cars are even more rare than one may think.

My own experience in looking for 1-Series cars was that about 3/4 of the ones listed as being manuals were in fact automatics. This includes on BMW dealer websites, which is really pathetic. The only site I saw that was almost 100% accurate was Carmax.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by nachob

It depends on your taste. I'll take 128i like this ever 993. Some people have different taste. It's like saying a Panamera or Cayenne are better because they are Porsches. This little 128i is rare and special. 993s while impressive machines are a dime a dozen. I go to cars and coffee in SoCal and see 10-12 every Saturday. Rarely see a low option manual m-sport 128i anywhere and that makes it cool in MY opinion. It's not price, brand or speed that makes a car cool and special. It's a combination of many things and this configuration is one of the last examples of old school BMW sporty coupes. 993 is just another expensive Porsche 911 variant. Now GT4 is a very special car because they went back to manual only as a nod to those that enjoy motoring and the craft of changing gears.

BMWs are not Porsches, and never were. Unfortunately, the manufacturer no longer makes real BMWs anymore, after selling their souls in the pursuit of luxury car buyers. I don't follow Porsches so I have no idea what has happened to that brand, but if it is anything like what has happened to BMW and Porsche's sister, Audi, the future is not bright.

BMW was famous for creating the boxy sport sedan, the first iterations of which were the 1600, 1602, and 2002. My first car was a 1973 2002, bought new. The One Series was the culmination of that lineage, not in that it was the best of the best, but it was the last of the last. Up until 3 years ago you could buy a real BMW sports sedan, camouflaged as a 2 door coupe with more or less the same shape and size as the former 4 door small sports sedans. And now it is all over. OVER. The only car they make that even gives homage to what the brand was is the M2, with its electric steering and all (but still a good car). Everything else is luxury car dreck.

So telling someone that a Porsche 993 or whatever is a superior car to a BMW 128i or 135i invites the question of, "superior in what way?" If you want something that drives like the lineage of BMW sports sedans, the 993 will not satisfy you as it is not that car. If you want a Porsche 2 seater sports car, than likely that is your car.

As a final note, I am not buying into this whole notion of the 128i being some sort of "naturally-aspirated-perfectness," that makes it worth the effort to seek out. The truth is that the 128i in whatever configuration is as full of electronics and other gizmos as the 135i is. My mechanic, the lead BMW mechanic at my dealer, hates the magnesium 128i's engine and has advised me on more than one occasion to not buy one. I haven't had the time to explore this with him at length, but he is a huge fan of my 135i coupe, my 135is convertible, and my 1M. And I love these cars, I appreciate their sheer power, and driving something less powerful is not that interesting to me, in all honesty (even though Nacho and I test drove one together in SD about a year ago :-) )

In order to get the "perfect" 128i, you are going to have to invest a huge amount of time, and in the end it is going to cost you a couple thousand dollars less than a really really good 135i, that can run rings around that 128i. I'll take the 135i or 135is, thank you.

[The__J__Factor]

Some of the comments in here are gold. Buy the 993. Like you said in the future you might not have the chance to buy one. Plus it will feel much more special and more like a sports car than the 1er ever will.

For reference:
The cheapest 993 manual in Australia is $120k.
The cheapest 993 manual 4s here is $225k.
Low km turbos are $350k!!

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by wjk_glynn

C&C events often bring out enthusiasts with interesting cars. My local ones are where I see P1s, 918s, LaFerraris, Veyrons, etc.

Doesn't mean they're dime a dozen

But you bring up an interesting point. So I did a quick nationwide search on CarGurus and right now there are the following for sale:

65x 6MT 993 Coupes
25x Tiptronic (i.e. auto) 993 Coupes

55x 6MT 128i Coupes
444x Auto 128i Coupes

86x 6MT 135i/135is Coupes
189x Auto/DCT 135i/135is Coupes

Manual 128i is the rarest of the above...

Karl.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...9683/overview/

Then there's stuff like this

[champignon]

Originally Posted by The__J__Factor

Some of the comments in here are gold. Buy the 993. Like you said in the future you might not have the chance to buy one. Plus it will feel much more special and more like a sports car than the 1er ever will.

For reference:
The cheapest 993 manual in Australia is $120k.
The cheapest 993 manual 4s here is $225k.
Low km turbos are $350k!!

Meh.

This is letting other persons' values dictate what it is that you should buy. I could care less what other people value, what matters to me is what I value.

My 1M is as close as I want to come to owning a car that is too valuable to drive. While I don't feel that way about my 1M and I don't treat it that way, owning an ultra expensive vintage sports car that I can't afford to drive (or choose not to drive) defeats the whole purpose of owning an automobile collection.

Don't confuse your passions with your investing. If you want to invest in something, buy a company that makes its money doing something disgusting, that no one else wants to compete with. Pumping out peoples' septic systems would be a good start. Make your money there and then use your profits to buy something you can actually enjoy and afford to drive.

[The__J__Factor]

^ He already values the 993, he just needs to know its a good buy. The fact that it's obtainable for him now and that it may appreciate is just a nice bonus.They are special cars and unfortunately out of range for me given the crazy price increases over the last few years.

[squidge]

Talked with the owner for about an hour and went for a drive. The car is a peach -- 65k miles, excellent paint, very nice interior, clean engine, everything works. He's owned it for a decade and has put 10k miles on it in that time. I'm arranging a PPI tomorrow and we're going from there.

I don't plan on buying it as investment, but I certainly like the fact that I can actually use the car for the next decade or whatever and probably come out even, if not better.

I respect the lineage of the 1er and its important place in BMW history, but let's face it -- when he fired up the engine, it was all over.

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by squidge

Talked with the owner for about an hour and went for a drive. The car is a peach -- 65k miles, excellent paint, very nice interior, clean engine, everything works. He's owned it for a decade and has put 10k miles on it in that time. I'm arranging a PPI tomorrow and we're going from there.

I don't plan on buying it as investment, but I certainly like the fact that I can actually use the car for the next decade or whatever and probably come out even, if not better.

I respect the lineage of the 1er and its important place in BMW history, but let's face it -- when he fired up the engine, it was all over.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by champignon

Pumping out peoples' septic systems would be a good start. Make your money there and then use your profits to buy something you can actually enjoy and afford to drive.

I wouldn't buy a car as an investment or in hopes of turning a profit someday. Buy it because it's what you want.

On the other hand - you can't drive your septic company portfolio on twisty road as the sun is coming up.

Not sure about the point of your post - the OP never asked about 135s.

[inFamousKicks]

Easily.

[squidge]

For sale ad: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...7#post20459677

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by squidge

For sale ad: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...7#post20459677

Your 128i was very nice but gotta do what's right for you. Congrats and enjoy your new ride.

[$iriu$black]

Good luck, I heard when you go to the other side and own P cars, you can't go back. Enjoy it in good health squidge!

[Trptguy]

i am having this debate right now. My 135i is an amazing car and I love it. I have had to recently put a ton of money into it, new turbos, ac pump,and more. So i find myself asking if I am spending money on it, is it better to spend it on a Pcar. I have driven many Porsches and they are different than the 135i. Not necessarily better just different.

In a perfect world I would have both, my world is not perfect......


Glad to hear you made a decision that works for you! Congrats!

[squidge]

Don't congratulate me yet guys, still early on in the process. But I'll be sure and let you know when it's done or not.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by squidge

Don't congratulate me yet guys, still early on in the process. But I'll be sure and let you know when it's done or not.

Whoops! Looks like we jumped the gun. Premature excitement!

[squidge]

I forgot to snap pictures while it was still daylight, but here's a couple quick ones.

[champignon]

Originally Posted by squidge

I forgot to snap pictures while it was still daylight, but here's a couple quick ones.

Looks nice! Enjoy it if you get it!

[$iriu$black]

She's a beauty. I'm assuming that's your garage and you already took her home... Wow, if I were as lucky as you I would probably be sleeping in the garage w it! Have always aspired for my own P car. For now, my 128 will be enough I guess. Enjoy!

[squidge]

Purchase is still pending getting a PPI next week, so no, not mine yet. Just wanted you guys to see what I was on about.

[The__J__Factor]

Hope the PPI goes well