BMW to pit upcoming 1 Series against Accord, Camry with mid-$20s price

[Beau]

More pics:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid51/pa240065bb7b2f686fe23720af969e8dd/fca4bcb9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid51/p895fb2a1f4945b811cd42eb055610d1b/fca4bcca.jpg

http://www.streetracersonline.com/articles/bmw1/

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/bmw1.htm

 

[BigSmooth]

Basically, this car will be a test of whether people are willing to pay for a badge and (probably) great driving dynamics.

 

[LordUnum]

Originally posted by: dxkj
This is just to get the sales of the borderline people, who want to be able to say they drive a BMW. I live around chicago and see sooo many low-end 3 series its not even funny. Why spend 33k for a 3 series when you could get ______ instead, and either save money or have much more performance.

/shrug

You've never driven a 3, eh?

There's far more to life--and buying a car--than a mere badge or 0-60 times.

 

[digitalsm]

A ~$25,000 econobox.

Save ~$10,000 and buy a Mazda 3.

Whoever at BMW thinks this will compete with Camrys or Accords needs to be fired, the 1 series will not compete with those.

 

[RaiseUp]

BMW is ruining the name now. We have to get rid of our 745li's now .Argh

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: AgaBooga
Bah! I think that will lower the value of a BMW if lots of people buy it, because it could potentially become a common car like a Honda or Toyota.

BMW is out to make money, what you think of their brand name probably doesn't mean much to them.

Same thing with Porsche & the Cayenne.

Face it, being a luxury auto-maker in today's economy isn't the best place to be.

Viper GTS

Wait. How is the Cayenne even in the same class as this new BMW? It's a $90,000 SUV with a 450 hp engine. It can go 0 - 60 in 5 something seconds. No way is it a cheapie or step down for for Porsche. They are just taking the same high quality approach that they've taken to their sports cars and applied it to an SUV.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Beau
More pics:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid51/pa240065bb7b2f686fe23720af969e8dd/fca4bcb9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid51/p895fb2a1f4945b811cd42eb055610d1b/fca4bcca.jpg

http://www.streetracersonline.com/articles/bmw1/

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/bmw1.htm

i kinda like the way the hatchback looks. id never get the coupe. looks fugly!! but id never get these anyways....too pricey

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Ask Mercedes how the new C Coupes are doing.

How about I ask you ?

Sales through July '03

Mercedes C-Class Coupe: 7,732
Infiniti G35: 16,242
Nissan 350Z: 22,576
3-Series Coupe: 12,022

where did u get this info?

http://www.autosite.com/editoria/asmr/svcoupe.asp

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Why would anybody who aspires to own a BMW get a 1-series???

If they can produce a RWD platform with power to match the new Accords/Altimas, at around the same price point, it should sell well.

Viper GTS

That's enough to get my money.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Why would anybody who aspires to own a BMW get a 1-series???

If they can produce a RWD platform with power to match the new Accords/Altimas, at around the same price point, it should sell well.

Viper GTS

That's enough to get my money.

The problem is:

(1) It WON'T have as much power as V6 Accords/Camrys/Altimas
(2) It WILL be about the size of a Civic (and most likely smaller)

Basically, you're paying $25k+ to say "Oh, I'm BMW's bitch." If you want a cheap, fuel-efficient, small, excellent handling BMW, get a Mini Cooper/Cooper S. If you want a small, cheap excellent handling sedan that will make you forget about BMW for $10,000 less, get a Mazda 3.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: LordUnum

Originally posted by: dxkj
This is just to get the sales of the borderline people, who want to be able to say they drive a BMW. I live around chicago and see sooo many low-end 3 series its not even funny. Why spend 33k for a 3 series when you could get ______ instead, and either save money or have much more performance.

/shrug

You've never driven a 3, eh?

There's far more to life--and buying a car--than a mere badge or 0-60 times.

Exactly. Once you drive a 3 you will know why they are worth every penny!

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: LordUnum

Originally posted by: dxkj
This is just to get the sales of the borderline people, who want to be able to say they drive a BMW. I live around chicago and see sooo many low-end 3 series its not even funny. Why spend 33k for a 3 series when you could get ______ instead, and either save money or have much more performance.

/shrug

You've never driven a 3, eh?

There's far more to life--and buying a car--than a mere badge or 0-60 times.

Exactly. Once you drive a 3 you will know why they are worth every penny!

I would have said that too until the G35 came around. The Audi A4 Quattro also offers a better bang for the buck vs the 3-Series.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: tweakmm
Why would anybody who aspires to own a BMW get a 1-series???

If they can produce a RWD platform with power to match the new Accords/Altimas, at around the same price point, it should sell well.

Viper GTS

That's enough to get my money.

The problem is:

(1) It WON'T have as much power as V6 Accords/Camrys/Altimas
(2) It WILL be about the size of a Civic (and most likely smaller)

Basically, you're paying $25k+ to say "Oh, I'm BMW's bitch." If you want a cheap, fuel-efficient, small, excellent handling BMW, get a Mini Cooper/Cooper S. If you want a small, cheap excellent handling sedan that will make you forget about BMW for $10,000 less, get a Mazda 3.

I am not a BMW bitch. I just love my friend's 3 series coupe. All I can say is once you drive a BMW, compare how smooth and powerful the engines are, how well they handle, how good they look, there is nothing else. I don't want to drive FWD anymore, which is why my next car will be RWD. A Cooper? hahaha I wouldn't drive one of those silly looking things. Mazda 3? Doesn't compare.

 

[EXman]

Why would anybody who aspires to own a BMW get a 1-series???

because it says "BMW"

we are a superficial, vain, materialistic, image is everything society. Especially those with Bling Bling as a regular word in their vocab.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Exactly. Once you drive a 3 you will know why they are worth every penny!

I would have said that too until the G35 came around. The Audi A4 Quattro also offers a better bang for the buck vs the 3-Series.

I've driven a 350Z and while they are fast, they are not very refined cars. I was not impressed at all. I can't say I've driven an A4, but I'm not interested in AWD. It's useless where I live, it's heavier, and the handling isn't the same.

 

[bozack]

I say kudos to any company that competes with Honda and Toyota and the other Japanese brands....personally while it isn't something I would buy I will give them credit for trying to go head to head with the price/performance giants....if I were in the market for either a Camry or Accord (Also two cars I would never even consider buying) I would definately consider taking a hit on space and power to have something german instead....

I actually like the look of the Hatch, much better than the Merc offering....I will wait until it is out and for sale before saying anything else.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Exactly. Once you drive a 3 you will know why they are worth every penny!

I would have said that too until the G35 came around. The Audi A4 Quattro also offers a better bang for the buck vs the 3-Series.

I've driven a 350Z and while they are fast, they are not very refined cars. I was not impressed at all. I can't say I've driven an A4, but I'm not interested in AWD. It's useless where I live, it's heavier, and the handling isn't the same.

While they both use a variant of the same chassis, the 350Z and G35 sedan are completely different animals (the G35 has a wheelbase at least 8 or 9 inches longer) and cannot be directly compared.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Exactly. Once you drive a 3 you will know why they are worth every penny!

I would have said that too until the G35 came around. The Audi A4 Quattro also offers a better bang for the buck vs the 3-Series.

I've driven a 350Z and while they are fast, they are not very refined cars. I was not impressed at all. I can't say I've driven an A4, but I'm not interested in AWD. It's useless where I live, it's heavier, and the handling isn't the same.

While they both use a variant of the same chassis, the 350Z and G35 sedan are completely different animals (the G35 has a wheelbase at least 8 or 9 inches longer) and cannot be directly compared.

/sighs

I rode in a G35 that my neighbor has and I was equally unimpressed.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Exactly. Once you drive a 3 you will know why they are worth every penny!

I would have said that too until the G35 came around. The Audi A4 Quattro also offers a better bang for the buck vs the 3-Series.

I've driven a 350Z and while they are fast, they are not very refined cars. I was not impressed at all. I can't say I've driven an A4, but I'm not interested in AWD. It's useless where I live, it's heavier, and the handling isn't the same.

While they both use a variant of the same chassis, the 350Z and G35 sedan are completely different animals (the G35 has a wheelbase at least 8 or 9 inches longer) and cannot be directly compared.

/sighs

I rode in a G35 that my neighbor has and I was equally unimpressed.

I rode in my cousin's uncle's daughter's boyfriend's brother's BMW 330i and I thought it was overrated

 

[AmdInside]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

In the USA, potential buyers include owners of the Volkswagen Jetta and similar cars "who aspire to own a BMW," he said.

Well said. And if they buggar up the BMW's name by putting a car easily within the price range of many new college grads in their first job a BMW will be something I personally will not aspire to owning. There is a reason why most car manufacturers have a couple of brand names. Toyota/Lexus. Nissan/Infinity. VW/Audi - oh wait, VW is trying to enter the highend now just as BMW is trying to enter the low end.

When people spend a lot of money they don't want something with the same badge as a $16k car and when people are able to buy a BMW for so little as the 1 series will cost it's going to take away from others who think it's worth spending a lot of cash for that BMW prestige.

I agree. European car makers for some reason don't get it. Japan gets its (Nissan/Infinity, Toyota/Lexus). The USA gets it (Ford/Lincoln, GMC -> Cadillac). It is really going to piss off current BMW owners. It will drive the value of their cars down when high school students and college students drive BMW's with no respect. BMW should have created a subsidary if they intended to make cheap cars, even if it is still made in the same plants. It sure made me lose respect for BMW.

Another thing that pisses me off is the fact that Porsche is making SUV's. WTF is up with that? Who's next? Harley Davidson?

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Exactly. Once you drive a 3 you will know why they are worth every penny!

I would have said that too until the G35 came around. The Audi A4 Quattro also offers a better bang for the buck vs the 3-Series.

I've driven a 350Z and while they are fast, they are not very refined cars. I was not impressed at all. I can't say I've driven an A4, but I'm not interested in AWD. It's useless where I live, it's heavier, and the handling isn't the same.

While they both use a variant of the same chassis, the 350Z and G35 sedan are completely different animals (the G35 has a wheelbase at least 8 or 9 inches longer) and cannot be directly compared.

/sighs

I rode in a G35 that my neighbor has and I was equally unimpressed.

I rode in my cousin's uncle's daughter's boyfriend's brother's BMW 330i and I thought it was overrated

Whatever. Unlike you, I generate my opinions based on cars I have driven instead of specs I read. If I say I don't like the 350Z because it is unrefined than that is my opinion. Sure the chasis on the G35 may be a little different, but guess what, it's essentially the same car. Same engines, trannies, blah blah. Next thing you'll say is that one has bigger tires and therefore can't be directly compared.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: NFS4

Exactly. Once you drive a 3 you will know why they are worth every penny!

I would have said that too until the G35 came around. The Audi A4 Quattro also offers a better bang for the buck vs the 3-Series.

I've driven a 350Z and while they are fast, they are not very refined cars. I was not impressed at all. I can't say I've driven an A4, but I'm not interested in AWD. It's useless where I live, it's heavier, and the handling isn't the same.

While they both use a variant of the same chassis, the 350Z and G35 sedan are completely different animals (the G35 has a wheelbase at least 8 or 9 inches longer) and cannot be directly compared.

/sighs

I rode in a G35 that my neighbor has and I was equally unimpressed.

I rode in my cousin's uncle's daughter's boyfriend's brother's BMW 330i and I thought it was overrated

Whatever. Unlike you, I generate my opinions based on cars I have driven instead of specs I read. If I say I don't like the 350Z because it is unrefined than that is my opinion. Sure the chasis on the G35 may be a little different, but guess what, it's essentially the same car. Same engines, trannies, blah blah. Next thing you'll say is that one has bigger tires and therefore can't be directly compared.

Would you compare a Toyota Sienna to a Toyota Camry b/c they share the same engine/tranny/chassis? Nope.

And I tend not to base my opinions on something that I have simply "rode in" unless it's something that I can't afford to drive and get in a wreck in (996 911, 360 Modena, Viper RT/10...all exhilerating experiences). But generally just about every car that I've formed some opinion on I've driven. Everything from G35's to 330i's to Eclipses to Camaros to F-150s and Silverados to Rams and Explorers and Muranos. Between my old roommate being a salesman at CarMax (good thing him and I are still close friends) and my love for new cars, I go test drive lots of vehicles.