1 Series M Coupe US Base Price Announced: $ 47,010

[fuzzy_dunlop]

Originally Posted by blueshark

I respectfully disagree!
Travel experiences make a difference in people's lives! Travel can provide inspiration, perspective, learning opportunities, and the ever-important fun / mental health aspect!

Nono... my point is that it is not stupid to spend money on travel and new cars and what not. I was just extending the other person's point of view.

Guess my point is that I would never buy a car as an investment. Its recreation with the bonus of being a means to an end.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I personally can not wait for the first magazine test 1M vs M3.

+1...or on Top Gear...could be really entertaining...

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by fuzzy_dunlop

It may be stupid, but stupid things can be fun. Actually, if you think of it like that, the stupidest thing to do with money would be to travel. How impractical is that? Its like throwing money away... very little in the way of something tangible to show for it. Pictures, memories, souvenirs.
.

There was an article on cnn recently with research syaing that people who spent their money on traveling as opposed to tangible objects were generally happier as the memories/stories built while traveling last a life time whereas the "high" from buying something new weares off quickly after you own it.

[HondaGoneRogue]

I love reading the different levels of arguments in this thread. Some basic, and some elaborate. It's like 4 threads in one. All seemingly oblivious to one another. Cool though!

[HondaGoneRogue]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

There was an article on cnn recently with research syaing that people who spent their money on traveling as opposed to tangible objects were generally happier as the memories/stories built while traveling last a life time whereas the "high" from buying something new weares off quickly after you own it.

I almost wanted to post that exact same thing! The wife pointed it out actually. I think she's hinting at a vacation.

[Kurt_OH]

Just think if you do ED, you get to be DOUBLE STUPID: spend money on a car AND travel!

:-)

I'm trying to fight it off; we'll see what happens when spring rolls around ...

[ES BMW]

How do you think I got my wife excited about this car? "Babe... how would you like to go back to Europe? We can go to France this time."

[Ayrton91]

Originally Posted by My E90

How do you think I got my wife excited about this car? "Babe... how would you like to go back to Europe? We can go to France this time."

Same strategy here...

[blueshark]

Originally Posted by fuzzy_dunlop

Nono... my point is that it is not stupid to spend money on travel and new cars and what not. I was just extending the other person's point of view.

Guess my point is that I would never buy a car as an investment. Its recreation with the bonus of being a means to an end.

My bad.. In any case, I'm still high from my last vacation ;-)

[sq86]

Originally Posted by Kurt_OH

Just think if you do ED, you get to be DOUBLE STUPID: spend money on a car AND travel!

:-)

I'm trying to fight it off; we'll see what happens when spring rolls around ...

And hopefully save some money at the same time thanks to ED! Also I don't think the 1M interior is "cheap" compared to the Mustang. It isn't the nicest BMW interior but its better than the Mustang's. I do dislike the large plastic piece/panel beneath the volume/memory buttons when equipped with the iDrive though.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by My E90

How do you think I got my wife excited about this car? "Babe... how would you like to go back to Europe? We can go to France this time."

Worked perfect for me, too. I'm still a bit surprised at how easy the idea went over.

[02fireman]

Originally Posted by My E90

How do you think I got my wife excited about this car? "Babe... how would you like to go back to Europe? We can go to France this time."

Works every time...For me this time I have to take her to Estonia But I get to go back to the Ring, plus Oktoberfest!!

[Jim K]

I am disappointed the price came in so high. I too was hoping for 43-45k. Looks like this might be pursching me to a lightly used Cayman.

[adc]

Originally Posted by formula M

M3 (...) It is too heavy and not tossable, period! Only good for Ring speeds, below that it's a noisy pig.

I understand the use of hyperbole to emphasize a point, but somehow I get the impression you actually believe this nonsense.

For what is worth, from personal experience on and off the track, the M3 is very tossable, has a very balanced setup that resists understeer 99% of the time, handles incredibly well and is indeed gloriously noisy. It is such an accomplished package and such a friendly car to explore the limits in, I view it as BMW's best performance bargain in the past 20 years. So far.


Any potential 1M buyer owes them to themselves to try out a CPO M3 before committing. I have an extremely open mind, can see myself easily driving a 1M instead of an M3 but in order for that to happen the 1M needs to completely blow my mind, the same way the M3 did when I test drove it.

Anything less is a failure IMO - and given that neither you or I drove the damn thing, we cannot say for certain how it will shape up.

[Ayrton91]

Originally Posted by adc

I understand the use of hyperbole to emphasize a point, but somehow I get the impression you actually believe this nonsense.

For what is worth, from personal experience on and off the track, the M3 is very tossable, has a very balanced setup that resists understeer 99% of the time, handles incredibly well and is indeed gloriously noisy. It is such an accomplished package and such a friendly car to explore the limits in, I view it as BMW's best performance bargain in the past 20 years. So far.


Any potential 1M buyer owes them to themselves to try out a CPO M3 before committing. I have an extremely open mind, can see myself easily driving a 1M instead of an M3 but in order for that to happen the 1M needs to completely blow my mind, the same way the M3 did when I test drove it.

Anything less is a failure IMO - and given that neither you or I drove the damn thing, we cannot say for certain how it will shape up.

Valid point about trying out a CPO M3. Unfortunately I don't believe a typical dealer test drive will really allow one to truly test these cars. I am new to the M world so maybe what I am going to say actually happens (if so forgive the ignorance), but one should be able to test drive the M cars on a track. They should do promotional track days...

[adc]

Originally Posted by Ayrton91

Valid point about trying out a CPO M3. Unfortunately I don't believe a typical dealer test drive will really allow one to truly test these cars. I am new to the M world so maybe what I am going to say actually happens (if so forgive the ignorance), but one should be able to test drive the M cars on a track. They should do promotional track days...

You will have a better chance of trying out a CPO M3 for an hour long test drive than you will a brand new 1M, given the scarcity. So it will be difficult to compare, but not impossible.

The key is developing a relationship with one dealer, going during the week (which is dead-time for them) and plain telling them that before plonking down 50 large ones, you will need to drive it for at least 1 hour. Be bold, but not obnoxious.

As for promotional track days... I think you can sense the difficulties.


I was lucky - got my extended M3 test drive when I attended Oktoberfest at Watkins Glen, where BMWNA were signing people off in their demo cars - off track, but still, it was great to flog someone else's M3 around rain slicked country roads at breakneck speeds. But even test driving my dealer's brand new M3 was enough to tell me many things about the handling, even if I almost respected the break-in rules. The key is to established a good "test route" and compare handling at key points vs. your previous benchmark car. I did this with my recent test drives of 911 S too.

Once you get a good feel for the M3, you will use it as a benchmark for the 1M - so within the first 10 miles you should know if it knocks your socks off or not.

[adc]

Originally Posted by formula M

Secondly, @ what speeds..? I am sure the M3 handles really well compared to other car @ 120mph. But people rarely hit that on the track, or in daily driving. Whats worse, is that at low speeds, the current M3 is just incredibly difficult to flick the car around.

I think you're setting yourself up for some disappointment - I doubt the 1M will be as "flickable" as your E30 - this coming from a previous E30 owner.


To flick the car around at low speeds, all you need to do in the M3 is push on the gas. It won't plow, and you can adjust the attitude with the throttle. I've driven all M3 incarnations (and owned a couple) - and I've found that the E9x M3 is the one that responds to driver's input most faithfully, in the sense that you can adjust its attitude all the way into and over the limit. Even though say the E46 M3 appears more "eager" on an initial drive, it doesn't handle better at all. (Still a lovely car, the E46).


I seriously doubt the 1M will offer the kind of feedback, tactility and be as wired into your synapses as say a contemporary Porsche. It just is not lightweight enough to emulate the E30 generation of cars - it would need to be under 3000lbs for that.

Then again, (to me) it is not a "-vs-" situation. The M3 and the 1M have a difference focus.

Yes - the 1M's focus is to bring less affluent people into the M fold.

If it were something completely different, the engineering changes would run much deeper. I am eagerly awaiting the return of the mythical lightweight 4 seater BMW - I guess we'll see if the 1M can play that part convincingly enough or not.

I would rather have the biggest smile on my face @ the Ring, then the best lap time.

I don't know what to tell you dude, except that I drove my M3 on the Ring actually, and had an incredible blast all without looking at the stopwatch.


If it sounds like I'm bashing the 1M, I'm not. I'm optimistic, albeit cautiously so. But I have a very high regard for the current M3 (or else I wouldn't have committed to a $55k hole in my budget) and think the 1M has mighty big shoes to fill.

[E82tt6]

Hmm, could pretty much get a new M3 for those prices, no? (ED at near invoice)

[adc]

Originally Posted by E82tt6

Hmm, could pretty much get a new M3 for those prices, no? (ED at near invoice)

Not accounting for the $1300 gas guzzler tax, yes.

Then again, if you can get the 1M via ED for close to invoice...

[E82tt6]

Originally Posted by adc

Not accounting for the $1300 gas guzzler tax, yes.

Then again, if you can get the 1M via ED for close to invoice...

Assuming they offer an ED discount, even though it's a 'limited edition'.

[02fireman]

Originally Posted by E82tt6

Assuming they offer an ED discount, even though it's a 'limited edition'.

The "word" is that it will get it. Let's see and hope.

[Robert]

Like Adc said I strongly recommend everyone to test drive the 1M vs M3 before picking up the keys. It's better to wait than regret a 50k+ dollar decision.