LOL, in the first pic it looks like it's headlights are stretched open in shock at it's own imminent failure. How is this car worth over $30000? 230hp? You're joking right. People who but this will pay for the name and NOTHING else. Buy the new Hyundai coupe coming out... much cheaper, more power, and probably handles the same...

Now that the salesman on the VERY quiet lot, has answered a question nobody asked.....
The base 128i is a good value, and should be well under $35k, well-equipped.
Looks great in Silver!
DrFill

Now that the salesman on the VERY quiet lot, has answered a question nobody asked.....
The base 128i is a good value, and should be well under $35k, well-equipped.
Looks great in Silver!
DrFill

1. as long as european/american/ japanese cars were built, i wont buy a korean/chinese cars, because its Crap like trash...

1. as long as european/american/ japanese cars were built, i wont buy a korean/chinese cars, because its Crap like trash...

"1. as long as european/american/ japanese cars were built, i wont buy a korean/chinese cars, because its Crap like trash..."

First of all, why would you start numbering the responses you are going to make if you are only going to have ONE response. Second, saying that Korean/Chinese cars are trash is a completely ignorant statement that only leads me to believe you have zero knowledge of vehicles. The Hyundia line of vehicles has proven extremely reliable and very classy for its price. Not to mention the price is phenomenal compared to American/European cars (at least the cars in the same class). At this point, the best thing you can do is post in the 'i love saying stupid things to just cause commotion forum' and i think that would be the Ford section.

Wake me up when the 118d gets here.

I think the 128i is okay at less than $30k, but the 135i just seems overpriced when compared to the 335i. It uses the same basic chassis (so it's only about 200lbs lighter) and it does NOT feature a performance oriented mechanical LSD, it uses a cheap brake based system.

135i vs 335i:
1 - it's not light and tossible
2 - it doesn't even have an LSD
3 - it's not nearly as good looking as the 335i
4 - optioning it to 335i levels (leather, moonroof, etc.) makes the price difference negligible
5 - I highly doubt it's resale will match that of the 335i.

"1. as long as european/american/ japanese cars were built, i wont buy a korean/chinese cars, because its Crap like trash..."-H

Oh...so you're one of the idiots still buying Domestic crap over Hyundai's? Not a very smart move.

hey in oz we pay 75K for this but we get sat nav and leather and all that standard

This thing is almost the same price as a 335i, weighs almost as much, is smaller and doesn't look as good...WTF...Why bother buying one..Just opt for the 335i

BMW doesn't use limited slips in ANY of it's non 'M' cars. Which is stupid in my opinion.

The 1 series does weigh entirely too much. My 95 m3 weighed less, had more horsepower from the same size engine, and had it's limited slip.

I too would opt for the 335i for 7k more, but this car still doesn't suck and it's still not ugly. I think everyone just hates BMW on these forums. Go drive test drive them, they're awesome.

I'm still waiting on the 4 cylinder turbo rwd Hyundai also.

@ SEALBOY

The Hyundai will NOT handle the same as BMW. Hyundai just started to make decent cars. They've never made a decent sports car and they've just started at RWD. BMW has done all that for 30 years. I think Hyundai will have to catch up, not leap to the front of the pack with their first attempt.

"1. as long as european/american/ japanese cars were built, i wont buy a korean/chinese cars, because its Crap like trash..."

Heheh. A few decades ago I frequently heard people say, in effect "1. as long as european/american cars were built, i wont buy a Japanese car, because its Crap like trash..."

Things change. If you allow bias to keep you from LOOKING at the competition, you'll have no idea why they are suddenly beating you.

I think Hyundai is becoming what Honda used to be.

RE: This BMW. Personally, I like its looks. It seems too expensive. But then again, I love what lightness can do for a car. Minus 200lbs could make a difference. Only a test drive can really find out.

The car looks good but the horsepower is a joke. For goodness sake you can buy a Dodge Grand Caravan with more horsepower then that.

the gay-car got a goaty

If they dropped $5k off the price of the 1 series it would sell like hotcakes. With current pricing, the 1 series is pushed up into categories with some very stiff competition.

Performance-wise, you could get a Hyundai Genesis coupe, 350Z or Mustang GT (and others) instead of a 128i and blow it's doors off. The 135i in the $40K range faces Corvettes, G37 coupes, the 335i and many others.

The 335i makes the 135i look fugly in comparison. (Several coworkers have the 335 and it is sex on wheels, especially the coupe)

BMWs are high maintenance. It is one of the few cars that make you consider both the purchase price and the maintenance issues up front. If you have the warranty the shop time is still inconvenient.

For utility, bring the hatch over dammit! How hard would it be? I am sick of seeing all the nice cars that sell in Europe that we can't buy here.

"@ SEALBOY

The Hyundai will NOT handle the same as BMW. Hyundai just started to make decent cars. They've never made a decent sports car and they've just started at RWD. BMW has done all that for 30 years. I think Hyundai will have to catch up, not leap to the front of the pack with their first attempt."

Granted, maybe I was inaccurate in my inital statement. However, buy the Hyundai, take it to a tuner shop, get it tweaked to within an inch of its life, and you may well have a car that is better than the BMW in most, if not all, respects. Then pocket the $10000+ you just saved and go smoke all the 135i's on the road.

While I understand BMW trying to enter the not-so-expensive market, they are reducing features and power to a level that glaringly reveals how much they charge just for the name.

Noya

Why the fuck do you hate Amerarican cars so much, and how the fuck are Hyudais any better?

@Tommy Boy

I don't hate American cars, but it is true that Hyundais have had much better quality than the domestics in recent years.

@others

I agree, the 1 series is a bit too expensive. I actually kinda of like the looks, just because its smaller than the 3 series (I like small cars), but it should be cheaper and lighter.

"I agree, the 1 series is a bit too expensive. I actually kinda of like the looks, just because its smaller than the 3 series (I like small cars), but it should be cheaper and lighter."

Agreed. BMW really let me down here. Ever since they started talking about releasing the 1-series in the US they'd said "starting at around $20k". At that price, they'd be a great deal and would sell like crazy. As it is, they're about $7k higher than the first price estimate released. As a result of this horrible pricing strategy (which I really fear will cause the 1-series to flop and then people will claim that "the US just didn't want a small performance car"), I'll go to the Mini dealer if I want a small, fast, and reasonably priced BMW. Really, a fully loaded Cooper S won't be much slower than a 128i and it'll have way more goodies and better mpg.

I the US dollar hadn't gone to crap vs. the EURO I'm sure it would start in the low 20's...

terrible 135 pricing vs 335 pricing
terrible feminine econobox looks
disappointing weight difference (200 lbs less than 335)
a car interior actually achieved looking worse than a 3 series
???
/facepalm

"I the US dollar hadn't gone to crap vs. the EURO I'm sure it would start in the low 20's..."

The exchange rate hasn't changed enough to create a roughly $7,000 difference. $2,000 or $3,000 -- maybe, but no more than that.

Better then Mustang GT...

The problem is most people miss the point of this car - a properly setup RWD car is simply a joy to drive. It handles well in corners and inspires spirited driving. Anyone can drive fast in a straight line but most slow right down in corners - mainly because their vehicles don't convey a sense of being "planted" to the pavement. The BMW is horrible value (when you consider what the same money can buy you from other manufacturer's) but still a joy to drive and often a joy to own (mind you I've had the odd german-lemon). Plus the BMW has great weight distribution adding to its "driveability".

No disrepect to Hyundai - but they are what they are - built to a price for people who value "value" first and want a bit of flair. My brother has been driving Hyundai's for years so I've had the pleasure of "sampling" a number of his rides. His latest '07 Sonata is a nice car - feels a bit of cheap plastic on the inside, doesn't do corners that well, but has a relatively smooth powerful engine for an unbeatable price. It is the definition of good value.

In comparison to my European cars - I've gotten the "snob factor", more style, higher repair costs, but a hell of a lot of joy driving them.

This car will be a success only because it'll cater to the perceived "snob factor - even though its on the low end of the line" and will be fun to drive. BMW's biggest problem will be its "dent" that will put in the 3-series sales.

My biggest problem is that its WAY too small to get my big ass into ...

soo... yeah...

i'm getting a 3-series.