Friend has a 128i loaner...a few very brief impressions.

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JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,541
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He sent me a picture of it via e-mail sitting in his driveway.

photo.jpg


Me: Would be cool if it was the twin turbo 135i. So, is wifey rocking the mommy wagon today while you drive the uber puny-mobile?

Him: 128i... The answer to a question that nobody asked. No, wifey is rolling in non-fast, non-furious, and will pick up uber mobile later today.

Me: Did you drive it? What are you impressions? It is an ugly little bastard isn't it? I bet the back seat is as useless as the back seat in a Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Him: Gutless, but handles well. Ugly as sin. Back seat is moderately useless.

Me: Could your son (his son is almost 6' tall and he's barely in high school) sit behind you if you were driving it or does the rear seat become a parcel shelf when anyone over 5'4" is driving?

Him: No, you could squeeze back there, but wouldn't want to go to Vegas in such a manner. Better than the 6-series, but that's not saying anything.
 
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K

KIAman

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2001
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I never understood the 1 series.

It is 95% of the weight of a 3 series, 90% of the base cost, and only 70% of the usable interior space.

Does not compute.
 
M

MotF Bane

No Lifer
Dec 22, 2006
60,801
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KIAman said:
I never understood the 1 series.

It is 95% of the weight of a 3 series, 90% of the base cost, and only 70% of the usable interior space.

Does not compute.
Click to expand...

Status symbol of the badge, or they're banking on women thinking it's cute because it's small? :shrug:
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
1 series is catering to low income badge shoppers. I could find exception for a 135i or M for enthusiasts who want a bare bones shell wrapped around all motor, but the 128i....? Bah.
 
Arkaign

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
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Yeah, it's another car like the IS250, 328i, etc, just for a nicely badged adequate runabout. Absolutely zero performance aspirations.
 
Aharami

Aharami

Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
21,205
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I was so excited when I heard of BMW making the 1 series. And I was equally disappointed when I found out how much it would weigh.
 
Arkaign

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
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JulesMaximus said:
At least the IS250 has 4 doors and a usable back seat and trunk.
Click to expand...

Ya but you get back to the issue of price. The current IS is not a large car. And it's quite expensive :

http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/is-250/2011/

$33,295 base.

They sell enough of them to people who don't care about performance that Infiniti is now copying them with the very slightly cheaper G25.

Something like a '11 Maxima has a lower MSRP than either, but has a ton more power, and more space as well (the backseat and trunk are a lot better than the IS, and about the same as the G Sedans). Of course that comes with downsides : Nissan badge, FWD, CVT (ugh).

It's an interesting problem. MSRP $33k for the IS250? or $6k more for the IS350? The G is a lot closer in price, it looks like ~$3k separating the 2.5 from the 3.7L, which is a no brainer.

Then again, a lot of people truly don't care. They just want the (lexus/infiniti/bmw/etc) badge, and a comfy/cute/etc car that does what they want. Performance is not an issue with these types of people, and there's nothing wrong with that.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
What does horsepower have to do with anything? Can't you get the same tiny engine in the 3 series?

Besides, horsepower isn't the end all be all of performance. Just ask any Miata driver.
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,541
920
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Arkaign said:
Ya but you get back to the issue of price. The current IS is not a large car. And it's quite expensive :

http://www.edmunds.com/lexus/is-250/2011/

$33,295 base.

They sell enough of them to people who don't care about performance that Infiniti is now copying them with the very slightly cheaper G25.

Something like a '11 Maxima has a lower MSRP than either, but has a ton more power, and more space as well (the backseat and trunk are a lot better than the IS, and about the same as the G Sedans). Of course that comes with downsides : Nissan badge, FWD, CVT (ugh).

It's an interesting problem. MSRP $33k for the IS250? or $6k more for the IS350? The G is a lot closer in price, it looks like ~$3k separating the 2.5 from the 3.7L, which is a no brainer.

Then again, a lot of people truly don't care. They just want the (lexus/infiniti/bmw/etc) badge, and a comfy/cute/etc car that does what they want. Performance is not an issue with these types of people, and there's nothing wrong with that.
Click to expand...

I hate the new Maxima. It is ugly as sin and I'd never consider buying one.

I know the IS is not a large car, my wife and I own one (her car). I also don't like the front seats in the IS, they are over bolstered on the seat cushion and it isn't in a good way. Honestly, we bought the IS because my wife liked the way it looked, although, she has said she wished we bought the IS350 instead of the 250. The fact that it's a Lexus and Lexus service played a big part as well. Lexus service has been exemplary IMO.

The G37 sedan is a contender for sure...might be my next car.
 
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A

Apex

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
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www.gotapex.com
KIAman said:
I never understood the 1 series.

It is 95% of the weight of a 3 series, 90% of the base cost, and only 70% of the usable interior space.

Does not compute.
Click to expand...

You know, the strange thing is, the 1 series handles noticably better than the 3 series, despite the similarities in weight.

It's ugly as heck, but I'd find it easier to build a successful track/fun car with a 135i than a 335i.
 
JulesMaximus

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,541
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LTC8K6 said:
5.8 seconds could hardly be called gutless...
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Well, in all fairness, he drives a 2009 BMW 650i.

And I question the 5.8 second 0-60 time. My car makes 255hp (25hp more than the 128i) and weighs about the same or less and it takes about 6 seconds to sprint to 60 from a standstill and being wrong wheel drive it should suffer from less drivetrain loss.
 
K

KIAman

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2001
3,342
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When I hear gutless, I think of lack of torque from 2000-4000rpm, not necessarily overall acceleration and speed.

So I would agree to that point consider I feel my car is pretty gutless compared to the 335i.

As to 1 series being a better handler, I've never driven a 1 series but I own a 3 series and have driven a 5 and 7 series. The 3 series is a great handler, so I find it hard the 1 series is so much better.
 
A

Apex

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
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KIAman said:
As to 1 series being a better handler, I've never driven a 1 series but I own a 3 series and have driven a 5 and 7 series. The 3 series is a great handler, so I find it hard the 1 series is so much better.
Click to expand...

I have a pretty limited comparison in terms of various 1 and 3 series models, but I've found the 1 series to handle noticably better. Ones I've worked on/driven:

1 series: 135i with stock suspension, stock wheels. Also with KW Suspension V3 coilovers setup, wider lighter wheels with stickier (but still DOT rated) tires, and power mods.

3 series: E92 & E90 335i with stock suspension, stock wheels. Also with Eibach springs, KW Suspension V1 & V3 coilovers. DOT tires. Power mods.

M3: E92 stock as well as KW V3, DOT-R tires, power mods.
 
Arkaign

Arkaign

Lifer
Oct 27, 2006
20,736
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Don Vito Corleone

Don Vito Corleone

Elite
Feb 10, 2000
30,029
67
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I hate the looks of the 1 series and it doesn't seem enough cheaper than the 3 series to merit serious consideration IMO. To each his own though . . . By all accounts the 1M is s fantastic little car, but you still have to wrestle with the awkward looks.
 
D

Doggiedog

Lifer
Aug 17, 2000
12,780
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If the 1 looked better it might cannibalize sales of the 3 so I'm sure some of it was done on purpose.
 
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