People who don't understand the 1

[bimmerfan3]

I'm wondering how many of you guys go through what I am going through right now. I will soon be a proud owner of a 135i and I've heard some opinions from some people about the 1 series.

I'm sure most if not all of us have probably heard why did you just get the 3 series coupe instead. Some person said to me I don't understand why people buy the 1 series, just to save 5% but get 30% less car than the 3 series.

I don't usually care what people say but I just hate it when someone says something ignorant. I could understand it if someone thought the 3 series was a better looking car and that's why they bought it or like it better than the 1. But for someone to say that the 3 series is 30% more car is pretty ignorant. Many people just view the 1 as an "entry-level" BMW and for most people a 135i still isn't cheap by any means and they just think well if I'm gonna spend that much money already why not spend the extra 6k for a base 335i coupe.

I think though most people who don't know about cars don't understand the point of the 135i. It is more performance orientated and for people who don't really need all the space of the 335i. I told that same guy in my above paragraph then why is that the 135i has bigger and better brakes. Is faster then the 335i. Same transmission and engine as the 335i. I could get the same packages and options as the 335i. How is this 30% less car.

If I am wrong about something I said I would like to hear some feedback from you guys but for me the 1 series is the perfect car for me. I drive by my self like 80-90 percent of the time, to work and back. maybe like 10-15 percent I might have a passenger. I hardly ever need all 4 seats so for me the 135i is perfect. I have 4 seats just in case I need it. I have a usable trunk with fold down seats unlike a 370z. And the ride is comfortable to use as a daily driver. I think for someone young like me and who wants a usable everyday coupe nothing comes close to the 1. I just get irritated a little bit people don't understand why BMW came out with the 1 series. They took a 3 series coupe which a lot of people think is kind of big now and made it lighter, smaller, faster, and cheaper for being a smaller car. Still they thought about nothing but performance in this downsizing of the car.

Anyway that's how I feel about the whole thing and am wondering if anyone else goes through this or if they agree/disagree with me. I also find it ironic that my friend who has a 2007 335i coupe said to me, hey lets trade cars. Goes to show that even 335i coupe owners who bought the car early, if they had the choice to do it over again might just pick the 135i instead.

[BoostedTerp]

It is irritating. I have a few friends who buy cars just for status and don't understand the point of the 1...But they don't see driving as something to be enjoyed either. Their loss, not ours

[Ajumepke]

I'm irritated that you let yourself be irritated by them. F their couch.

To get a 3 that has the same features that I have on the 1 - you'd have to pay more than 48-50k.

[cagekicker]

you said the right thing to that uninformed person.

[Jaguar66]

!

[SG Spiff]

I agree with Ajumepke. Why sweat it?

[Robert]

You have this forum, an awesome community to share the secret with.

[Xin1120]

The 1 series is a niche car aimed at younger people who are not married and still want performance but for an affordable package. Its "entry level" only in the fact that it is priced for younger generations and is stripped more of some fancy 3 series features to make it perform. I wouldn't worry about what others will say about the 1 series as long as you are happy with it yourself. It is probably perfect for current your age and situation.

[Citizen Z]

+1 to most of the above; I consider the 1er a replacement for the E46 3er, since they are more similar in size, weight than the E46 is to the E92.

[Monterra]

+1 OP- but its closer to a 20% premium than 5 and like you said if you don't need the space (but there really isn't much more!) or the AWD the 328/335cis make much less sense to me as I informed MT.

[roscoe]

Originally Posted by Xin1120

The 1 series is a niche car aimed at younger people who are not married and still want performance but for an affordable package. Its "entry level" only in the fact that it is priced for younger generations and is stripped more of some fancy 3 series features to make it perform. I wouldn't worry about what others will say about the 1 series as long as you are happy with it yourself. It is probably perfect for current your age and situation.

I think you summed up the point of the 1 very well here. I too have a wife, no kids (and no plans to) and most of the time I spend in my car is driving by myself to and from work, or just hitting the back roads for the hell of it. That is indeed what the 1 is all about.

I remember pricing out a 335i coupe before buying my 1 (M sport only option). To get a base 335 with M sport only was nearly $12K more, at least in Canadian dollars. And for what? Two more inches of rear seat legroom for passengers I never have? Anyone who says the 1 as "the poor man's 3 series" is ignorant on many levels, and their opinions are not worth debating.

[TakeOne]

Hey we have the M-series steering wheel, nicer suspension, bigger brakes and weight 130lbs less. Some people would actually pay MORE for those options. Not us, we paid (on average) 6k LESS for it! Why sweat it?

[ptack]

The 135i offers higher performance than the 335i at a lower price. If they can't follow that, give up, you're not talking to a driver.

[JimD]

I hate it when people make these kind of comments and do no research. The BMWNA website shows the 335i coupe has less headroom in the rear seat (35.8 inches) than the 135i coupe (37.1 inches). Edmunds says rear legroom is 1.7 inches more in the 335i but shoulder room is actually more in the 135i (.7 inches more in front, 3.1 inches more in the back). The 135i is almost exactly 200 lbs lighter (3373 lbs versus 3571 lbs with manual). It is .2 seconds quicker to 60. Gas mileage is listed as slightly worse for the 135i on the highway (25 versus 26) and the same in town (17) - I would call it the same. The 135i is 4 inches shorter in length and 4 inches less in wheelbase (according to BMWNA).

A better question seems like why would you spend more money on a 335i coupe when you could have a better looking and faster coupe with about the same space in the 135i. There is a perception that a 335 is a lot bigger but the numbers do not support that. Edmunds True Market Value for a 335i is almost $6,000 higher.

Jim

[Monterra]

Actually its 9.4 inches shorter, so much shorter overhangs. Legroom is about 1.5"- not a lot to be sure. Looks are subjective, many would say the 3 wins there hands down, but that a slipperier Cd and 1.5" of rear legroom doesn't bridge the price gap (river really) that many publications say is "almost negligible". These people don't live in reality. 15-20% of your "second most expensive purchase" is a sizable chunk of change, no?

[pjdvd]

I have to admit, the OP got me fired up. But, as you begin to read the rest of the posts you see that you have the opportunity to be the bigger person and walk away from a worthless conversation knowing .... "that person just doesn't care as much as I do about this" (or has money to throw at anything).

If they did care, they would have done the research and realized that BMW filled a huge void in their line-up that would have forced buyers to Nissan, Mitsu, Subaru, Hyundai, Chevy, and Ford. BMW wants their piece of the "fun-to-drive/muscle car" pie too. The 3er just doesn't fit that anymore.

[Monterra]

I certainly don't view the 135 as a "muscle car", M3 maybe. I think a V8 is kinda prerequisite for that label, in my mind anyways although that'll probably be a changin.

[BrokenVert]

Heres what I will never understand...

The 3 series was BMW's entry level car for decades and nobody ever thought of it that way. Why do people consider the 1er that way?


Thats my only issue with people who downgrade the 1.

[sunking420]

Anything bigger than the 1 is a waste of space. Looked at the M3 and it's a boat. The 135i drives almost as fast for $25k less. What's not to love????? I wish people would stop calling it entry level before BMW catches on and starts to charge way more. The car isn't cheap, it's just a hell of a value. Thought about a Cayman S as well, price difference to me was no where worth it. I drive cars, not badges...........

[adrean8j]

@BrokenVert: GREAT point.....I second that!

[AlBel1214]

^^ + 1000...

No one ever really talked smack on the three series when it use to be the "entry level" car... I think its great when people say we have a "poor mans bmw"... even though it cost more than a 328i...

[Qunadry]

Originally Posted by Xin1120

The 1 series is a niche car aimed at younger people who are not married and still want performance but for an affordable package. Its "entry level" only in the fact that it is priced for younger generations and is stripped more of some fancy 3 series features to make it perform. I wouldn't worry about what others will say about the 1 series as long as you are happy with it yourself. It is probably perfect for current your age and situation.

I disagree that the 1 series is aimed at younger people. I'm 61. It is aimed at people who like to drive and need something that can be driven everyday.

I keep hearing people say I am a fool for trading in a 335i for a 135i. They are entitled to their opinion, but I'm entitled to mine. I enjoyed driving the 335i but love driving the
135i. It is also easier to get in and out of than the 335i and in my opinion looks like a BMW. The 3 series looks too much like an Audi, Lexus, Infiniti, etc.

I have said it before and will say it again; it is great that BMW builds cars that appeal to many market segments.