CD Article: 2008 BMW 1 Series coupe

[rrocket]

If we are lucky Snowman, the Rapture will take all the people who want automatic trans in performance cars  ( and Fantino)  This will leave the roads empty for those of us who are left.

I indulge every day….but I won’t be posting about it anymore as Fantino’s goose steeping storm troopers are probably reading this right now.

You can always preface your road warrior stories with "I had a dream last night, and in it I....."  or "While in Mexico.."

I had this dream, and I think we were driving in Mexico in the Supra.  Anyways, Snowy was at the wheel of the Supra.  I don't remember much, except that we were sideways more than pointed straight for most of the test drive......

[Snowman]

...as opposed to what?  Do WRXs never attract poseurs or idiots?

Yes they do. But only being available wit an MT weeds a lot of them out.

Edit: I stand corrected slushboxes available in 2007 . The end is near.

  The WRX has had an available automatic since its North American introduction.  Was it manual-only in Canada?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_Impreza_WRX#United_States-spec

Yes.

[Snowman]

If we are lucky Snowman, the Rapture will take all the people who want automatic trans in performance cars  ( and Fantino)  This will leave the roads empty for those of us who are left.

I indulge every day….but I won’t be posting about it anymore as Fantino’s goose steeping storm troopers are probably reading this right now.

We know were you live, we know what you drive, and we know about the 'back roads' you take to work!

A few of us educated, intelligent, mature “need for speed” gentlemen have come up with a plan to form a high tech speed club. The risk has been mitigated. 

[rrocket]

^^^^How do I get in to this club??   

[Leviathan]

I guess when you compare it to all the SUVs that people drive these days, yah it's a light car.

My 4WD SUV weighs in at 1524Kg/3350lbs 

[Jameel]

I guess when you compare it to all the SUVs that people drive these days, yah it's a light car.

My 4WD SUV weighs in at 1524Kg/3350lbs 

Wow, that's true, the Mazda Tribute 4cyl, AWD, only weighs 3359 lbs (according CanadianDriver website).  How could this BMW 1-series weigh so damn much?   

I don't get it.  Can somebody explain?

[mmret]

I guess when you compare it to all the SUVs that people drive these days, yah it's a light car.

My 4WD SUV weighs in at 1524Kg/3350lbs 

Wow, that's true, the Mazda Tribute 4cyl, AWD, only weighs 3359 lbs (according CanadianDriver website).  How could this BMW 1-series weigh so damn much?   

I don't get it.  Can somebody explain?

Stiffer chassis = more metal, more steel, etc?

I read somewhere that BMW purposely uses heavier metals on the rear to improve weight distribution.

[Giant Dwarf]

99% can be sold with automatics.  99% can be purchased by badge-whoring, brain-dead, Paris Hilton wannabes.  It can be as homely as a 3-legged pug.  It can weigh as much as three Hummers.  I don't care.  When you pack one of BMW's most exciting engines ever into their smallest and cheapest 4-seater, you've got a car that I want.  As long as 1% are available with a stickshift for me, and as long as the reports keep coming in about how wonderful a machine it is to drive -- lively and with the most exceptional steering -- I fail to see why we need to waste two pages on how heavy it is.  It's semi-luxurious, reasonably comfortable and very safe.  These things add weight.  Get over it. 

I am a BMW fan; this is no secret 'round these parts.  I would absolutely LOVE to have a 335, but given my measly salary, that ain't happening any time soon... at least not a new one anyway.  But, at nearly $10k less than a 335, the 135 suddenly makes a lot of sense to me. 

Personally, I would like to summarize thus:   

[Mitlov]

Stiffer chassis = more metal, more steel, etc?

  Chassis stiffness has improved as much over the decades as horsepower has.  So cars might be heavier, but that doesn't mean they're worse handling.  I'd be interested to see how a 135i and a 2002tii compete on a track.  I suspect the 1-Series would wipe the floor with the 2002, and not just in the straights.

[Jameel]

99% can be sold with automatics.  99% can be purchased by badge-whoring, brain-dead, Paris Hilton wannabes.  It can be as homely as a 3-legged pug.  It can weigh as much as three Hummers.  I don't care.  When you pack one of BMW's most exciting engines ever into their smallest and cheapest 4-seater, you've got a car that I want.  As long as 1% are available with a stickshift for me, and as long as the reports keep coming in about how wonderful a machine it is to drive -- lively and with the most exceptional steering -- I fail to see why we need to waste two pages on how heavy it is.  It's semi-luxurious, reasonably comfortable and very safe.  These things add weight.  Get over it. 

I am a BMW fan; this is no secret 'round these parts.  I would absolutely LOVE to have a 335, but given my measly salary, that ain't happening any time soon... at least not a new one anyway.  But, at nearly $10k less than a 335, the 135 suddenly makes a lot of sense to me. 

Personally, I would like to summarize thus:   

In all honesty I'm surprised an MX-5 owner would write such a statement.

Because this is a discussion board, that has a discussion thread regarding the BMW 1-series.  That's why we've wasted 3 pages discussing what a poseur, pig of a car it is 

Nobody is doubting it's a great car. I don't think I or anybody else in this thread has implied otherwise.  But don't you think if it weighed 300, 400 or 600 lbs less it would be and even better car?  I mean even the Mazdaspeed3 which is a bigger car in every dimension weighs 200lbs less.

Even though I'm not a huge fan of BMW, I will admit they are great cars. 

[rrocket]

Stiffer chassis = more metal, more steel, etc?

  Chassis stiffness has improved as much over the decades as horsepower has.  So cars might be heavier, but that doesn't mean they're worse handling.  I'd be interested to see how a 135i and a 2002tii compete on a track.  I suspect the 1-Series would wipe the floor with the 2002, and not just in the straights.

Interesting. One of the Ultimate Street Car Challenge cars is a VERY nicely done 1969 BMW 2002 fitted with E36 M-Power!.

Read up:  http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/uscc/0711_sccp_ultimate_street_car_challenge_2007_contenders/bmw_2002.html

[Mitlov]

Nobody is doubting it's a great car. I don't think I or anybody else in this thread has implied otherwise.  But don't you think if it weighed 300, 400 or 600 lbs less it would be and even better car?  I mean even the Mazdaspeed3 which is a bigger car in every dimension weighs 200lbs less.

The Mazdaspeed3 is a FWD four-cylinder.  Apples and oranges.

You can't cut 300, 400, or 600 lbs from a car without dramatic consequences.  Why do new BMWs feel like bank vaults, whereas Miatas do not?  Why do BMWs give such a great combination of sharp handling and supple ride?  You can't achieve all of these things together without there being some consequences on the scales.

If BMW could cut 500 lbs without serious negative consequences to the total package, don't you think they would have?  It's not like the car has big lead bars sitting in the footwells for no reason.

[Demosthenes X]

Hey, maybe they'll come out with a 135i CSL version for all the lightweight-lovers.  It will have a carbon fiber roof, no air conditioning or stereo, plexiglass windows, and no sound deadening.  It will cost $16 000 more than the standard 135i, but as they say - less is more! 

[Jameel]

The Mazdaspeed3 is a FWD four-cylinder.  Apples and oranges.

You can't cut 300, 400, or 600 lbs from a car without dramatic consequences.  Why do new BMWs feel like bank vaults, whereas Miatas do not?  Why do BMWs give such a great combination of sharp handling and supple ride?  You can't achieve all of these things together without there being some consequences on the scales.

If BMW could cut 500 lbs without serious negative consequences to the total package, don't you think they would have?  It's not like the car has big lead bars sitting in the footwells for no reason.

Why is it an apples to oranges comparison?  I've seen RWD, FWD and AWD cars in the same segment being compared all the time? Porsche 911 vs Audi R8 vs F430 vs  Gallardo or GTI vs STI vs Mazadspeed3 vs BMW 3 series vs Audi S4, etc... Why should this comparison be any different?

Why would you want your performance "sporty" car to have a bank-vault feel?  I can understand if you want your 7, 6 or 5 series to be like that but why would you want your 1 series?  It's suppose to be a light and nimble car why do you want it to weigh more than an SUV with AWD?  I don't know, it just seems odd to me. 

Anybody else think it's weird or is it just me?

In fact we are going to see cars getting lighter and lighter in the future. As a result of stricter emission standards.  I think HP will not go up very much more than what we have today.  Cars will just get lighter.  In fact Ferrari has claimed their next supercar will not have anymore HP than the Enzo, but it'll be smaller and lighter.

Hey, maybe they'll come out with a 135i CSL version for all the lightweight-lovers.  It will have a carbon fiber roof, no air conditioning or stereo, plexiglass windows, and no sound deadening.  It will cost $16 000 more than the standard 135i, but as they say - less is more! 

Actually they've already done this and it's called the 135 Tii.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

My former manual GTI was just over 3100lbs. Even tho it was FWD, still felt entertaining, relatively good handler with lively acceleration and decent economy.

Adding RWD and larger 300hp I6 could only make things better. Even it comes with a 250lb penalty. I'd just have to lose weight to compensate

Honestly think this will sell on looks, specs, and price alone. Priced right, and just comes across as an authentic, sporty, and youthful BMW in a way nothing else comes close to.

[mdxtasy]

In fact we are going to see cars getting lighter and lighter in the future. As a result of stricter emission standards.  I think HP will not go up very much more than what we have today.  Cars will just get lighter.  In fact Ferrari has claimed their next supercar will not have anymore HP than the Enzo, but it'll be smaller and lighter.

Ferrari can make use of ultra lightweight, expensive raw materials to produce such a car.  I highly doubt Honda can slap on a carbon fibre chassis into the next Civic.  How about aluminum?  Who can fix an aluminum car if it ever were to get into an accident?  Insurance would not be cheap.

[mmret]

Porsche 911 vs Audi R8 vs F430 vs  Gallardo or GTI vs STI vs Mazadspeed3 vs BMW 3 series vs Audi S4, etc... Why should this comparison be any different?

At the top end you don't have as much selection, and either of those cars (911/R8/F430) are so stupidly fast that exploiting differences in layout is essentially beyond the capability of anyone who can actually afford the damn car.

At the lower end you may see those comparisons by spoiled American children who will:
1. get chrome dubs
2. 20% tint, 5% on the back
3. lower the car to 1" off the ground
4. proceed to brag about their kills on the internet

The wealthier ones will get the 3 or S4, not so wealthy ones will get GTIs and MS3s and take abuse from the 335/S4 drivers. The rotten ones will get an M3, RS4. You also forgot the Evo, G35, 350Z.

Those types of comparos don't have relevance here at CTC.
GTI vs. MS3 is sensible, but reaching into BMW 3.0 twin turbo territory is a big stretch.

[safristi]

.".how do ya get into this club?" quote....oh ya mean tha "RUPTURE FLIGHT KLUB"...

 a.k.a "FRATFAT BOYS CLUB"...wot do their dailies WEIGHY Boy...whoa there....

[jcon]

Those types of comparos don't have relevance here at CTC.

The only thing we want to know, is how much it will cost in the US vs Canada?

[safristi]

should BE!!!! 7.4% LESS................ Up here in Hatcbackistan.....bring that lil baby ovr please OVR