BMW 1-series coupe...or old 3 series?

[glojo]

My pants drawer is

My pants are draws

John the knickerbocker glory luvver

 

[Gucci]

Nice pants! (I love how easy it is to go off topic on this forum!) So...man bags then...

 

[robert.saunders]

Aaaah yes, the old off-topic routine eh! Actually, don't mind man-bags

But pants? Now you're talkin'!!

 

[Richard W]

Just what we needed...a squished 3 series. How creative of them.

Have you driven a 3-series coupe recently? It's massive!!

I like the idea of a small coupe, the problem is I bet it won't be a lightwieght small coupe.....

....And while I'm banging on - are BMW going the way of too diluted a model range, fill every niche etc.?

Like Mercedes then.... R, M, ML, G, CL, CLS, etc, etc...

 

[Gucci]

Yes I can imagine the 3-series coupe has grown as other models have. Just would've thought the 1-series and the Z4 based coupe would be enough to satisfy the customer's choice. Will be interesting to see how they price it along with the above?

 

[hawk20]

Yes I can imagine the 3-series coupe has grown as other models have. Just would've thought the 1-series and the Z4 based coupe would be enough to satisfy the customer's choice. Will be interesting to see how they price it along with the above?

And it needed to grow. Old model had inadequate legroom in the front for people my size, and cramped in the back as well. C class was much better. In fact an A class has more legroom.

The sad thing for the 3 series is that volume became the main goal, almost an obsession, and it now outsells the Ford Mondeo. Lack of any kind of exclusivity has harmed it in many people's eyes.

Just hope Mercedes don't go too far down the volume at all costs road.

 

[sym]

I am still fascinated as to why moderators have not moved this thread to other marques. Are BMW moles in charge?

Nobody's defected, have they ? Seems like general motoring discussion to me !

S.

 

[hawk20]

Nobody's defected, have they ? Seems like general motoring discussion to me !

S.

Meant to be general discussion about Mercs or general motoring. There is a whole section dedicated to other marques. If it is not for 'other marques' what on earth is it for? Mercedes perhaps?

 

[MikeL]

Changed my mind!

I think I've changed my mind about the 1 series coupe:

# 135i Coupe Tech
# Length: 4360 mm
# Wheelbase: 2660 mm
# Weight: 1560 kg
# Cylinders: Straight six
# CC: 2979
# Power: 306hp@ 5800 rpm
# Torque: 295 lb-ft
# Top speed: limited to 155 MPH
# 0-60- 5.3 seconds
# 50-70- 5.0 seconds (4th gear)

For the record that makes it quicker than an M3 CSL and an SLK 350.

Mike

 

[big x]

The sad thing for the 3 series is that volume became the main goal, almost an obsession, and it now outsells the Ford Mondeo. Lack of any kind of exclusivity has harmed it in many people's eyes.

Just hope Mercedes don't go too far down the volume at all costs road.

Ah, the peculiarly British obsession which confuses exclusivity with quality and class.The idea that something made in volume is somehow likely to be of lower quality and hence class is alien in more egalitarian societies like Germany.
You mean put the price up, reduce supply to make sure people have to wait a year? Marketing of that type on mainstream models went out of fashion years ago for both MB and BMW because it sucks in parallel imports to satisfy unmet demand.The 3-series traditionally outsells the C-class because more people want it. Both companies are volume makers with toes in all sectors of the market because economies of scale demand it.

Back to the original question: In my view it makes more sense to buy a nearly new 3-series than a new 1-series.The 1 series is seriously lacking in the looks dept.

adam

 

[fuzzer]

And it needed to grow. Old model had inadequate legroom in the front for people my size, and cramped in the back as well. C class was much better. In fact an A class has more legroom.

The sad thing for the 3 series is that volume became the main goal, almost an obsession, and it now outsells the Ford Mondeo. Lack of any kind of exclusivity has harmed it in many people's eyes.

Just hope Mercedes don't go too far down the volume at all costs road.

nah , no need to worry about that. Mercedes are doing a good enough job of killing their own rep without selling volume

 

[hawk20]

Ah, the peculiarly British obsession which confuses exclusivity with quality and class.
adam

I don't think the British suffer from any such confusion. If diamonds were found in thousands on every beach, they would be worthless -even if of high quality. The pebble I picked up this morning is very rare, there is only one of them. But it too is worthless. Paradoxes economists wrestled with for many years until the theory of supply and demand was put forward and gradually gained universal acceptance.

Exclusivity is one of those things, an asset a good can have, that may affect its value. When a car becomes common, as the three series has, commentators on Top gear and car magazines all start to mention the fact and disparaging comments soon follow such as, as one said 'every chav in Essex now has one'.

Burberry used to be exclusive. Now it is common. What was once seen as a luxury buy, is now seen as something 'the masses' have. May be daft, may not be totally logical, but people value exclusivity in some goods. Clothes (haute couture), watches (Rolex etc) and cars are all such goods. And if it gives people pleasure to have something that bit different, that bit out of the ordinary, something special, rare, beautiful -- why not?

 

[hawk20]

nah , no need to worry about that. Mercedes are doing a good enough job of killing their own rep without selling volume

Sure you are on the right forum.

 

[fuzzer]

Sure you are on the right forum.

you keep asking me that , of course i am. I just dispair at the current management and how they are mucking it up.

There was a limit to what id take and it was breached , when they start behaving again , ill buy another.

 

[hawk20]

you keep asking me that , of course i am. I just dispair at the current management and how they are mucking it up.

There was a limit to what id take and it was breached , when they start behaving again , ill buy another.

Time you looked at the JD Power Initial Quality Survey in the US where the Mercedes S class came out least faults of any car on the market (1st equal with Audi 8). E class and other Mercs did really well too. Things have changed a lot IMO.

 

[gaz_l]

I think I've changed my mind about the 1 series coupe:

# 135i Coupe Tech
# Length: 4360 mm
# Wheelbase: 2660 mm
# Weight: 1560 kg
# Cylinders: Straight six
# CC: 2979
# Power: 306hp@ 5800 rpm
# Torque: 295 lb-ft
# Top speed: limited to 155 MPH
# 0-60- 5.3 seconds
# 50-70- 5.0 seconds (4th gear)

For the record that makes it quicker than an M3 CSL and an SLK 350.

Mike

I've just compared those figures to the ones in my C43's documentation, and to be honest I'm shocked. We all know how cars grow over time, and that a Mondeo now has a bigger footprint than the last Granada, but even so.. I thought the 1-series was supposed to be the baby BMW.

# C43 AMG
# Length: 4516 mm
# Wheelbase: 2690 mm
# Weight: 1610 kg
# Cylinders: 8
# CC: 4266
# Power: 306hp@ 5850 rpm
# Torque: 302 lb-ft @ 3250-5000 rpm
# Top speed: limited to 155 MPH
# 0-60- not quoted
# 50-70- not quoted

Hmm..

Gaz

 

[fuzzer]

That 3.0 twin turbo engine is a cracker!

 

[BenzedUP]

Rather have CLK63 AMG Black Series bye bye bmw

 

[hawk20]

I thought the 1-series was supposed to be the baby BMW.


Gaz

It is. It is the baby BMW. It is tiny inside and very cramped. You can make anything fast if you put a big enough engine in it.

 

[big x]

That 3.0 twin turbo engine is a cracker!

It won engine of the year award. Has maximum torque at only 1250 rpm and holds it through most of the rev range. In other words marries diesel engine torque with a petrol engine that revs out making it the enthusiasts choice.

adam