J4MES
Registered User
Although probably bias, if you were to be given a 3 year old A3 S line or 1 series M sport, both with identical mileage and specification - which one would you choose and why?
A x
A x
Its a really hard question facing me - and I dont want to go to the other side really. I used to have a 3 series and the reliability was shocking, but it was back in the day and it was an S reg. Maybe things have improved?
Like for like the BMWs tend to alot faster though dont they? And rear wheel drive?
IMO the 1series is just too ugly to consider in any guise.
And the back is very small.
And its ugly.
Cheers
Paul
Echo the girlie car thing too.
The 3 people I know who have a 1 series are female. That wont bother some though.
That said, 4 guys at my work have Minis yet claim to be raging red blooded Hetros?
Apparently the 1 series drives very well, but thats that enough for me of something looks that *****.
Susan Bolye might be an absolute vixen in bed, but would you????
cheers
Paul
So much for the superior driving experience of BMW and rear wheel drive! Doesn't surprise me in the slightest. It was pretty funny to see all the 3 series jokeys going nowehere but sideways in the snow earlier in the year.The A3, easily!
Did you know that BMW asked the 1-series owners of what kind of drive they thought their cars had, and 80% answered front wheel drive. So BMW is planning to put out a front wheel drive model for the 1-series.
Having owned a 1series 120d M Sport from Brand new, I Can give a half decent opinion on this:
1 series For:
Quick
really handle well
1 series against
good to race around in, but horrible to drive any distance
looks dated, been around too long with no facelift/change
interiors feel like they came straight out of a vauxhall astra
everything is an option!
ride is ridiculously hard
i had my one series for 9 months, did really like the car, unfortunately had to change when Doctor found out the seats where giving me sciatica!
Since having the A3, and people saying how hard the ride is etc, i can honestly say the 1 series fail into comparison against any sort of A3.
the only car i would change my current A3 for is an S3!!
The other problem facing the 1 series is the 3 series.
The almost iconic 3 series has been the default BMW choice for years and spawned so many brilliant models. And therefore the 1 series has so far been its shadow.
The A4 has rarely been much more than a premium Saloon, this has enabled the A3 to stand on its own as a pretty desirable model over the years.
Ive actually been a passanger in a 1 series 120d M Sport (the 170odd bhp version) and was completely underwhelmed by the whole thing.
Please BMW, start again and give A3 owners a proper premium hatch alternative.
cheers
Paul
To be fair though, has the 1 Series cannibalised BMW's 3 Series sales? I don't think so...
And as much as we may not all like the 1 Series, a lot of people do - there's no shortage of them on the roads. Not driven by enthusiasts, they're mostly company cars for sales reps, etc.
The 1-series was a pointless exercise from BMW. They made so much of the RWD, longitudinal engine and superior handling, totally failing to recognise that virtually noone in the market for such a car cares about such things. The vast majority of 1-series customers were women who were just after the badge and happy to be seen in a poverty-spec Beemer rather than a decently equipped Golf for the same money. In catering for the few that did care, they compromised the rest of the car for those that didn't, with a lack of interior space and the long bonnet leading to awkward styling.
BMW are on the decline IMO. Their latest models have very bland styling compared to previous generations - just look how boring the current E9x 3-series looks compared to the previous E46, which was such a nice shape. The new 5 looks just like a magnified 3 and has none of the "brave" styling of the previous model. Their interiors are far too "clinical" and not at all welcoming places to sit compared to the likes of Audi or Mercedes. Their i-Drive design people still focus far too much on integrating every single function into the system, resulting in a horribly overcomplicated interface. Finally, where's their answer to Audi's R8? Could it be that the makers of the "ultimate driving machine" are too scared to try in case they come up short? They seem more interested in producing pointless rubbish like the X6.
They also seem to have virtually no motorsport involvement these days. Whilst we have Audi dominating Le Mans for the past decade and duking it out with Mercedes in the DTM, who are also providing the best engine in F1, where are BMW? They canned their F1 programme and have no real presence in endurance racing, touring cars or rallying.
Ten to fifteen years ago, I aspired to owning a BMW, but not any more.
I know you said same spec etc but I do think it comes down to model you're looking at:
130m vs S3 - S3
130m vs 3.2 quattro - 130m
120d vs 140 bhp tdi - 120d
120d vs 170 bhp tdi - a3
123d vs 170 bhp tdi - 123d
The looks are an acquired taste, but beauty in the eye of the beholder etc etc
Which is your prerogative, of courseI disagree with quite a lot of that!
I'll grant that the E92 is the best looking of the 3-series models but the standard 4-door is just bland and none of them looks a nice as the old E46 did in its day.I think the E92 Coupe looks fantastic, the E92 M3 in particular.
Knowing a couple of people with X6's, I disagree that they're pointless or rubbish. Whilst not tasteful, for somebody who wants the road presence and high up driving position of an X5 but doesn't need a car to seat 5 people it makes sense. And it can handle. The people that buy X6's love them. And I would.
Whilst that's true of a lot of motorsport activity, in Audi's case I'm quite sure that a lot of their diesel engine technology has been researched through their R10 and R15 LMP campaigns.As for your motorsport comments, for companies like Mercedes, BMW, VAG.... it's all marketing, and despite all the crap they come up with, nothing translates onto a road car.
It's always a great "marketing expense" if you win - if their F1 team had done better I doubt they've have pulled the plug. I accept that most of motorsport is marketing but I'm including the marketing side of things when I say BMW are in decline relative to their competitors. Regardless of the merits of the actual cars, it's also about the public's perception of the companies themselves. For a company which prides itself on the performance and handling of its cars and which once used the slogan "The Ultimate Driving Machine" to not be competing in any form of top-flight motorsport doesn't send out the right message IMO.If BMW thought motorsport was a great marketing expense they'd still be doing it.
IMO the 1series is just too ugly to consider in any guise.
And the back is very small.
And its ugly.
Cheers
Paul
Thanks for all the info. It pretty much confirms my suspicions that most people think the 1 series is a bit ugly and not as reliable as the A3.
A3 it is! x