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What is this discussion about? BMW 1 Series, Coupe, Convertible, Sedan

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#3 of 1809 specs by kradue Apr 29, 2003 (12:58 pm)
I haven't been following the 1-series, so besides what Edmunds has listed under their "future vehicles" section what else is known about the 1-series?   There aren't many RWD cars out there for less than $30k decently equipped (two roadsters (Miata, MR2) come to mind, but 3-series, IS300, C-class would have to be stripped) that I'm aware of (am I missing some? Hmm, I guess domestic muscle cars, but I'm not interested in any domestics). It seems like BMW would have this market to themselves.   I'm more interested in a modestly priced fun-to-drive car than a luxury car, which this would be if it was in the low $20's. I'm sure some won't view the 1-series as a "real BMW" (similar to how some claim the C-class isn't a "real MB"), but I've always thought their priority has been sporty cars first, luxury second.
#4 of 1809 1-series by seivwrig Apr 30, 2003 (12:07 pm)
I think the buy will fall into two catagories: Poseurs and enthusiasts. The poseurs are gonna want a BMW because of the badge. The enthusiasts will look at the 1-series as a 2002 re-incarnate. The C-class is very much a M-B especially when you consider the models sold in Europe. Because of the limited model of M-B sold in the U.S., we have a higher standard of M-B as a luxury car maker. Whereas in Europe, though more expensive then Fiat or other Japanese models, M-B, Audi and BMW do sell small cars with plenty of 4-cylinder engines and diesels. The 1-series should be cute pending that Bangle does not give the car some strange headlight and taillight treatment.
#5 of 1809 1 series by harlequin1971 May 09, 2003 (10:32 pm)
will have to be better than the Jetta (not looking like a tough job ATM with VW reliability issues) and be more dynamic than the Volvo 40-series. The 40 will be redesigned, the Jetta is due, the Golf is hitting around 05 as well, and the Subie WRX is grabbing most of the real enthusiasts in the low 20's   Price will be the big indicator here. Price must be decent, or it risks facing off against a stripper G35 (RWD) and some of the new hot cars on the market. BMW will always draw attention, my little 318ti always elicits a comment or two when a person sees it for the first time. SO they will sell some, but if they want to "steal" the young crowd over...they better give them something that won't be embarrassed by the Focus SVT, MazdaSpeed Proteges, and Sentra Spec Vs of the world.   If they can give us 160-165 BMW-thoroughbred HP in the car with their typical hammer-on-nail trannies, it will smoke most cars...including that new Accord disguised as an Acura. I guess that will be a bench mark of sorts...how well does it compete in the goodies and performance with the likes of the suped econo cars and the low tier lux cars.   I can't wait to see it...but I will be watching rather than playing at this point. Made my sensible-shoes purchase that will be my ride for at least the next five years.   Anyone interested in a nice '95 318ti? Just kidding.
#6 of 1809 1-series in US by harlequin1971 May 10, 2003 (9:27 am)
At this point, I guess I would believe that BMW does NOT plan to ship a 1-series to the US, at least not right away.   They have done nothing to promote its advance arrival. The CS1 was a taste, but BMW has been very tight lipped about the 1-series.   Maybe they are waiting to see how the market is responding before they make a final decision. The Mini has been very well received but seems to be getting nailed with poor reliability so far.   Can BMW afford to release a 1-series in the US and have it be a reliability issue? How would a so-so 1-series affect the image of the 3-series and maybe even the 5-series in the US consumer mind?   I hope they do bring it here. I find it aggrevating that Euro-manufacturers do not send their line-up to the US. Audi holds back its A3, VW holds back the Lupo (?) and all manufacturers hold back certain engine types. After very slow sales, BMW withdrew their ti-compacts, and then released a I6 model that I think would have done fairly well in the US...   When they redesigned the TIs, they fixed most of the complaints that the US market seemed to have. Then they didn't even bring it over.
#7 of 1809 luxury - family - economy by harlequin1971 May 10, 2003 (9:36 am)
I think GM did us all a disservice when it broke up the GM family into murky "class" designations.   Buick serves the older, build-it-like-I-remember-it crowd.   Oldsmobile is the fancy, wish-I-could-afford-a-Cadillac crowd.   Chevy is the econo-buyer designate.   Pontiac is the boy-racer division.   and Cadillac is the luxury division.   Each group has a car that crosses some boundaries, but all the divisions offer cars that appeal to separate segments of the car buying public, rarely is a guy cross-shopping a Buick and a Chevy or Pontiac.   I think that is why BMW and Mercedes have some trouble bringing their full-range of products to the US. We grew up with a notion that brand identity had to apply to every car within a certain line.   Porsche could make a really nice I-4 sedan that handled like few sedans in the world, offer a flat-6 option and price it in the high 20s to mid-30s. But purists would be up in arms about a "fouled" brand.   Mercedes, when they decided to move even further up-market, decided to create Maibach to market their new "ultra-suede" cars, rather than leave it good with MB.   Maybe BMW needs to create a down market division to sell its more economy minded cars in the US and abroad?
#8 of 1809 by creakid1 May 14, 2003 (11:51 pm)
"At this point, I guess I would believe that BMW does NOT plan to ship a 1-series to the US, at least not right away."   I guess they don't have to, at least the 4-dr:   http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?news/ae_news_story.php?id=36535
#9 of 1809 by creakid1 May 14, 2003 (11:54 pm)
"When they redesigned the TIs, they fixed most of the complaints that the US market seemed to have. Then they didn't even bring it over."   Gosh, that 2nd Compact sure is ugly, especially how cute the C-class hatch showed up. No wonder BMW gave up.
#10 of 1809 Carolina, not California by creakid1 May 15, 2003 (12:18 am)
Too bad, my favorite - 4-dr 1-series - is not imported von Deutchland.   Good thing the M1(?) got normally aspirated 2.4 4-cyl. No turbo or Kompressor.   The E46 not just lost some steering feel from the old E36, but also lost the wide rear view for lane-change visibility, especially the 4-dr.   Hatches got narrower rear view, so my only hope is the notch, but maybe I have to go for the coupe in order to get a German made. & who knows if those less than 4 doors will get mandatory sport suspension like the current 3-series.   Do you know that the current 3-series Compact can't absorb bumps as well as the WRX, per Top Gear 11-02.   So the new 1 & next 3 will get the good-communication steering back. That means the new A3/Golf/Jetta can't compete due to still lacking steering feedback even when compare to the current 3-series Compact. Only the new Focus family - Mazda3/Volvo S40/Focus II can, along w/ the RX-8, which got less stretch-out interior room than the current 3-series sedan.   VW/Audi just wasted another generation:   dudleyr "2005 Audi A3 5 door" Apr 12, 2003 11:20pm   & read #3,7,9
#11 of 1809 Separate at birth? by creakid1 May 15, 2003 (12:39 am)
Was the 1-series originally planned as a fwd Focus twin?   mdaffron "Mazda3" May 7, 2003 2:22pm   & read #265,268
#12 of 1809 AUTOMOBILE by nyccarguy Jun 08, 2003 (7:13 pm)
Magazine has an article with a photo of the upcoming 1 series. It says is due out in 2004. I guess we won't have to wait that long.

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