128i=Clown car!

[128er]

I went to the Houston Auto Show, and realized that it's a freakin' clown car!! It's way too small for me! That car is so tiny and is very overpriced for what you are getting (128i). I decided it just wasn't worth it and continued looking around the show. The 128i just doesn't look very sporty also, I'm just not feelin' it.

[atr_hugo]

Good. Nice to hear it's small; which is what some of us were hoping for.

Now, Nurse Ratched will be by shortly to administer your long overdue meds, how else are you going to stay a 1addict? ; -)

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by 128er

I went to the Houston Auto Show, and realized that it's a freakin' clown car!! That car is so tiny and is very overpriced for what you are getting (128i). I decided it just wasn't worth it and continued looking around the show. The 128i just doesn't look very sporty also, I'm just not feelin' it.

135i FTW!!

[TP 135i]

The more I hear "it's too small" the happier I am.
:thumbup: :headbang: :roundel:

That's why many of us are going with 1er's and not 3er's

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by 128er

I went to the Houston Auto Show, and realized that it's a freakin' clown car!! That car is so tiny and is very overpriced for what you are getting (128i). I decided it just wasn't worth it and continued looking around the show. The 128i just doesn't look very sporty also, I'm just not feelin' it.

Agreed..
It's so tiny that it's only the same size as the previous model 3-series (E46).:biggrin:
What's up with that?? :iono:
Doesn't BMW know that we North Americans are now 300+ pounders and need 1973 sized Caddies to haul our oversized fat arses around?
As well, my 128i Cabrio is only $20K LT a comparably equipped 328i Cab.. Sheesh, the 1er is 10" shorter and 200 lbs lighter - doesn't that deserve a bigger discount??

[cracka]

Originally Posted by 128er

I went to the Houston Auto Show, and realized that it's a freakin' clown car!! That car is so tiny and is very overpriced for what you are getting (128i). I decided it just wasn't worth it and continued looking around the show. The 128i just doesn't look very sporty also, I'm just not feelin' it.

Man. Talk about all-time bad screen name choices. :wink:

[Year1of1]

Originally Posted by cracka

Man. Talk about all-time bad screen name choices. :wink:

so true.....

i'm glad the car was small, thats why I purchased it. I looked at the 3 series and it was just too big for my liking. This thread makes me want the car even more now

[larryn]

Originally Posted by cracka

Man. Talk about all-time bad screen name choices. :wink:

I do have to say that it's probably not a wise idea by BMW to have just the 128i at the shows, and not have it alongside the 135i.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by larryn

I do have to say that it's probably not a wise idea by BMW to have just the 128i at the shows, and not have it alongside the 135i.

Ahh, everything is done for a reason. :wink:

[Oregon]

Originally Posted by TP 135i

The more I hear "it's too small" the happier I am.
:thumbup: :headbang: :roundel:

That's why many of us are going with 1er's and not 3er's

Ditto. If we wanted a large car we would buy a large car, but, as it turns out, we want a small car because they can be quite 'sporty'.

Perhaps marketing the 128 rather than the 135 is related to MSRP.

[pumaknight]

My first post!! So hello to all before I start :biggrin:

I am 6ft 4" and I did not find the 135i small inside at all - granted the back seats are a bit cramped, but if you want to carry people around, then get a different type of car!!

My wife has an E92 and it is bigger, ceratainly. But it is also more cumbersome on the road, heavier to steer and feels more rubbery through the corners - it is v nice though so not knocking it. The 135i was sharper, more responsive, and bloddy quick.

So if smaller boot and no back seat leg room is the price to pay for better handling - I can;t say I am too disappointed.

p.s. order mine tomorrow so will post spec then :-)

[larryn]

Welcome pumaknight! I read a review on autospies this morning, where the reviewer is 6'5" and rather large, and specifically commented on how much room he surprisingly had. Being 6'3" myself, I'm happy to hear your similar comment!

[pumaknight]

Originally Posted by larryn

Welcome pumaknight! I read a review on autospies this morning, where the reviewer is 6'5" and rather large, and specifically commented on how much room he surprisingly had. Being 6'3" myself, I'm happy to hear your similar comment!

ACtually it was fantastic - I was very worried about space for me, but the headroom is great, the seat can go much further back that I use and there is no issues with arm space on teh side - in short, you just don't feel crammed in atall. Tbh not much different from the 3 for the driver.

[larryn]

It is very similar in width to the 3 series (which I have) in width, and I hoped it would be equally as roomy. Nice to hear good reports like this. Thanks!

[sethchan]

Originally Posted by 128er

I went to the Houston Auto Show, and realized that it's a freakin' clown car!! That car is so tiny and is very overpriced for what you are getting (128i). I decided it just wasn't worth it and continued looking around the show. The 128i just doesn't look very sporty also, I'm just not feelin' it.

It comfortably seats people 6'3" and 6'4" in the front seats. So how big do you have to be to feel like it's a clown car?

Frankly, if you feel that way about the car, I'm not sure why you are here contributing to a forum for people who LIKE the car. To say that it's a clown car and overpriced seems to be a pretty direct assault on the whole premise of this forum. What is the point?

And where is there any substance to your abusive comment about the car? I'm failing to see any content here. Just a tiny, overpriced clown car? How has this remark enriched the conversation? How has it added to our stock of knowledge. You reject the car utterly. That is your privilege.

Now, why are you here? Shouldn't you be in a forum focused on a car you actually like?

I tried, in a comment that was censored, to point out that I'd made the same mistake with the XJ-6. I thought it was ugly when it came out. So maybe, just maybe, if you decide to stick around, you should give this car a chance. It may grow on you.

[128er]

Well of course the dang car was on a stand so it may have looked smaller than normal, and I couldn't sit in it either :-(, I will probably still get it because where else am i gonna find the legendary drive?!

[imported_NuovoTech]

Compared the rear end of a 128i to a 328i coupe on BMW/USA site, here's what you get in the 328i for $6,700 more than a 128i. :biggrin:

1 cubic foot less cargo capacity
1.5 inch less rear shoulder room
.3 inch less rear head room

But you do get:
1.9 gal more fuel tank capacity
1.7 inch more rear leg room
.6 foot more turning radius

[bimmerfile]

To: 128er: :wink:

[Brandon26pdx]

Originally Posted by TP 135i

The more I hear "it's too small" the happier I am.
:thumbup: :headbang: :roundel:

That's why many of us are going with 1er's and not 3er's

It folds into a briefcase when you turn it off

[WolfsburgerMitFries]

I'm surprised to see all this negative reaction by people who are seeing the car for the first time.

I'm going to be at the Chicago auto show to see the Dodge Challenger, and that will be my first opportunity to see the 1er. I'll keep you in mind though....

[sethchan]

Originally Posted by 128er

Well of course the dang car was on a stand so it may have looked smaller than normal, and I couldn't sit in it either :-(, I will probably still get it because where else am i gonna find the legendary drive?!

I think it probably needs 18-inch rims to look right.

But it's bigger than a 2002 or an early 80s 320i and only a few inches smaller than a 3 is today, so "tiny" and "clown car" are pretty wide of the mark unless you are a sumo wrestler, in which case those other cars would look like clown cars, too.

I saw a 135 at my dealer's and even got to ride in it when my sales guy drove it out to the BMW truck (I visited the day it was to be taken to another dealer. There is a limited number of floor models in Sweden right now, so dealers have to share). It definitely doesn't feel small when you are in it. It feels just right. Even sitting in the back seat would be fine for a while.

And it DEFINITELY doesn't SOUND like a clown car. Nosiree.

[Dave]

Sometimes great To hear the negatives but I love the size and 6 inches smalle than the 3 sounds like its just right.