jgsmuzzy

Are you guys getting the new Bimmer over there? I saw one the other week, wierd looking, and V. expensive, starting at £17k here ($30k)

Autocar BMW 1 road test

Evil_Capri

I think we are getting the 1?! I really hate the "branding down" Mercedes, BMW, and Jaguar are undertaking! Although BMW has at least some history of lower priced vehicles (remember the 2002?), it is a shame. Why ever car make feels the need to fill EVERY market segment is beyond me. (I do understand the marketing concepts behind their "logic", however in the auto industry brand quality goes much further than brand loyalty to the general public.)

I don't want to get started on a rant!

matic

that's a $30k car, that's not exactly "branding down" if you ask me.

Lalo

i thought the 1 series was gonna cost less then the 3 series

anyways, i dont like the way it looks :notnice:

Dr Iven

Eh... it's ok, but not $30k ok. I'd rather have a 3-series for the money.

jgsmuzzy

I think that exchange rates will come into it somewhere, bear in mind my calcs may have been blurred by the stron pound, not sure how the dollar is faring against the Euro though,

When I saw the specs and price of the car when I was stood next to it, I couldn't help thinking that they were asking way to much for it anyway, the top of the range model costs £24000, so go figure!

f1-cobra

According to XE.com:
Euro £17,000 to £24,000
US Dollar $20,568.78 to $29,033.89

Galaxie

BMW's new styling does not interest me at all

FrankBullitt05

I'd get the Audi A3 before the 1Series and a MINI before either...

I think we are getting the 1 in 2K6, as well as the A3 and hopefully S3

Look here for info on the US A3 launch

mr-mstng

Edit: Frank was right, the one series will be arriving shortly. I read the article wrong, it said it won't be built in North America.

http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=983

FrankBullitt05

Whoa, whoa, whoa....that article mentions a new 2002 (is this the 2-series?)....when do we get it and for how much? The original was pretty darn wicked! B)

FrankBullitt05

Here's an article on the 2005 2 series

2-Series

Rakshas

Remember guys, the european cars cost much more for te same models. A 350z in europe is 40k U.s. (24 over here).

We coudl expect to pay 19-21k for that 1 series.

Personally only the 2 and abve interest me, but I don't see a problem with branding down.

Want a small bimmer? Buy a 1 series.

mr-mstng

...or a Mini

scottie1113

The 2 series looks a lot more interesting to me, even though I won't buy one. I understand the marketing concept, though. Introduce first time buyers to the brand and hopefully they'll move upline as the time comes.

However, what Chris Bangle has done to the styling has turned a lot of people off, not to mention the complexity of idrive in the upscale models.

I think it's good to see BMW returning to its roots. I had a 1977 320i which I bought used from a friend in 1980. It wasn't a rocket, but it had good road manners and I kept it for 14 years. When I finally let it go, it had 350,000+ miles on the clock.

FrankBullitt05

Same thinking at VW when they introduced the Touareg and Phaeton...even though most buyers were going to Audi anyways

Kotzenjunge

If I could afford the car and the various expenses (gas prices chief among them) and lived in a city that accomodated large cars better, I'd totally buy a Phaeton. I've seriously loved it from the moment I saw it in the car magazines for the first time.

Blip

The new 2 series is the first of the "new" BMW designs that I kind of like.

Maybe a entry-level priced Bimmer might just be a hit.

kevinb120

Why would you go out of your way to buy an expensive economy car?? BMW quality declines every time they stretch themselves further. Stupid. No way they price them under 25k, it will be just like before with the 'baby' 318......"starting at $22,500, as shown $28,960. BMW has taken a rediculous styling route lately anyway, the Mazda 3 is a better car then that.

mustangfun101

Oh soooooooooo ugly.