2011 BMW 128i BIGGEST Competitor is.........

[Spartikus]

+ 10,000 mile oil change intervals



+ One-touch starting (i.e., a single turn of the key initiates automatic cranking, not to be confused with a pushbutton starter) and efficiency-enhancing fuel shutoff during aggressive deceleration.



+ Limited Slip Differential



+ 305horsepower, 280lb ft tq, 7000rpm redline



+ 30miles per gallon highway



+ Six speed manual and automatic transmission



+ "refined, highly efficient, smooth, powerful engine"



+ MyKey system, which allows owners to limit the vehicle's maximum speed and audio volume, will reassure the parents of speed-loving headbangers everywhere.



+ 0 to 60mph in 5.4sec(estimated)



+ Regular Unleaded



+ RWD



+ V6 Engine from the Lincoln MKS(tweaked for more power + efficiency)



^^Standard at $22,995^^



I can't believe my eyes after reading this article. How does one make a base car so fantastic? Picking one up for 20k with a couple miles on it would be a serious deal.

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ide/index.html

[1ottawa]

that soft suspension makes the car look like crap.

[KingOfJericho]

I really don't know how many people cross-shop the 1er and Mustang...

[Guildenstern]

I did. $25k for 300Hp rear wheel Drive? (Back in 08 on a GT)

You bet I checked it out. It was disapointing.

[MarkR171]

Originally Posted by Guildenstern

You bet I checked it out. It was disapointing.

That's his point.


The MyKey feature is interesting. It's a bargaining chip for parents. They'll tell their kids "I'll buy you a 300hp mustang for your first car..." but they won't mention that they will also limit the speed to 60mph.

[Spartikus]

Originally Posted by Guildenstern

I did. $25k for 300Hp rear wheel Drive? (Back in 08 on a GT)

You bet I checked it out. It was disapointing.

Oh I'm sure its different this time. It's a totally different car.

[lib]

Originally Posted by Spartikus

+ 305horsepower, 280lb ft tq, 7000rpm redline

Surely they meant 135i's biggest competitor

[rsjean]

Originally Posted by lib

Surely they meant 135i's biggest competitor

They may have meant it, but did they really mean it?

There isn't enough real information there to draw any conclusion other than they gave the features list to their ad agency.

[Monterra]

An archaic suspension and Kmart interior- that's how they can do it. The engine changes sound good though. It MIGHT even be enough for me to take a visit to my local Ford store. Last time I was there- circa 2001 for the SVT focus- great little car to drive- sorry ass interior. Their new compact products look interesting too- hard to believe but they actually seem to be 'getting it'. Will this car tempt me (even a little) to hand them my keys- I highly doubt it but I'm open minded enough to give it a chance.

[Ash83]

LOL.... drive the Mustang on twisty road then compare it to the 135i...

Also if you want to fix the suspension and make it sporty you have to spend another 5gs from Rouch or similar companies..

Start watching Top Gear before you compare cars like this...

BMW for Ever

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by Ash83

Start watching Top Gear before you compare cars like this...

BMW for Ever

[ridin135]

The new GT is nice but I wouldn't pick it over my 135

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by ridin135

The new GT is nice but I wouldn't pick it over my 135

The 135i is a much more expensive car. The question here is "Would you pick it over a 128i?" which is more in line with the pricing of the Mustang. The 135i competes more with the GT500 in price.

[BlackjackMulligan]

LOL.... drive the Mustang on twisty road then compare it to the 135i...

Why, when someone posts something about a cool new car coming out (American or otherwise) must people always bash it with generalistic, unproven views? READ PEOPLE! The people at MT haven't driven the car yet, so guess what: You haven't either. So I can understand good conversation comparing numbers and stats, but saying that the Mustang won't compete is unfounded when no one has even driven it yet.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Ash83

LOL.... drive the Mustang on twisty road then compare it to the 135i...

Also if you want to fix the suspension and make it sporty you have to spend another 5gs from Rouch or similar companies..

Start watching Top Gear before you compare cars like this...

BMW for Ever

Top Gear is a great show, but they, nor anyone else has tested the 2011 Mustang with the new 3.7 V6 and the Track Pack suspension yet. With these changes, it sounds like the base Mustang will be giving other cars a run for their money. The Mustang GT is also getting a much needed boost in power.

[1ottawa]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

Top Gear is a great show, but they, nor anyone else has tested the 2011 Mustang with the new 3.7 V6 and the Track Pack suspension yet. With these changes, it sounds like the base Mustang will be giving other cars a run for their money. The Mustang GT is also getting a much needed boost in power.

It's a FORD.

Need we say more?

[Yearofthe1]

Originally Posted by 1ottawa

It's a FORD.

Need we say more?

Yeah, the only American car company to post profits recently.

They're doing something right. Take a look at their JD Power quality ratings. They're in Toyota territory (well, Toyota pre-gas pedal problems). That's a huge jump from even 3 years ago.

[rsjean]

Originally Posted by Yearofthe1

Yeah, the only American car company to post profits recently.

They're doing something right. Take a look at their JD Power quality ratings. They're in Toyota territory (well, Toyota pre-gas pedal problems). That's a huge jump from even 3 years ago.

But just to be honest, Ford the CAR company LOST $1.4billion dollars. However with the surge in financing profits from Ford Motor Financial operations the total corporations was able to show about a $450 million dollar profit...

So if Ford could lose the cars and just finance the sales it would be better off...

Now I can't say whether or not the story is any different for BMW cars VS BMW financial but it certainly tells a story about the car business overall...

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by 1ottawa

It's a FORD.

Need we say more?

You're going to need to say a lot more if you expect anyone to take your opinion seriously.

I'm guessing a lot of people in this thread haven't "Driven a Ford Lately". They've come a LONG way in the last couple of years. Every new model they're introducing is at or near the top of its class. I'm not sure why it's so hard for people to just admit when a company is doing something right, and give them a little credit for it.

A 300Hp RWD coupe for $23k?! That's good value whether you like Ford or not. A 400Hp RWD coupe for a touch over $30k is as well.

[ridin135]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

The 135i is a much more expensive car. The question here is "Would you pick it over a 128i?" which is more in line with the pricing of the Mustang. The 135i competes more with the GT500 in price.

I would most likely go with the gt over the 128.

[jeremyc74]

Originally Posted by ridin135

I would most likely go with the gt over the 128.

Same here. If you've got about $30k to spend, and going fast is the goal, the GT is hard to beat.

[1ottawa]

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

You're going to need to say a lot more if you expect anyone to take your opinion seriously.

I'm guessing a lot of people in this thread haven't "Driven a Ford Lately". They've come a LONG way in the last couple of years. Every new model they're introducing is at or near the top of its class. I'm not sure why it's so hard for people to just admit when a company is doing something right, and give them a little credit for it.

A 300Hp RWD coupe for $23k?! That's good value whether you like Ford or not. A 400Hp RWD coupe for a touch over $30k is as well.

government driven business, FORD.

Every damn rental was a FORD. Nope, don't like em..

If consumers aren't buying them en mass, there's something wrong.