[Bumps]

Originally Posted by E92Fan

Does anyone else think that the 1er coupe's ass looks like it's been slammed by a door? Too short compared to the rest of the car??

Yep I do too it means the rear side window looks a little short IMO; it's the only aspect of it that I'm a bit uncomfortable with. However, I have yet to see one in the metal, so my jury's out on the overall effect. Considering that I really hated it when it first appeared, I've really grown to like it a lot, and the tii concept looks amazing.

[dxb335d]

Its No oil painting for sure, its the 3 series uglier younger sistwah.

But it is growing on me!

[scotw]

The coupe is an improvement on the hatchback, but its been smacked with the ugly stick a few times. When I had my E46, I had decided I wanted a hatch, so was eagerly waiting the 1, then I saw in the flesh at the open for the first time, yeuch!

So, the 1-series is the reason I left BMW ! Quote from the months What Car? reviewing the coupe:

"to our eyes the 1 series coupe didn't just fall out of the ugly tree, it hit every branch on the way down..coupes should not [be] short and stout"

they did like the way it drove though.

[Gibbo]

Had a look at the 1 series coupe whilst at the dealers today. It was a silver 123d with 17" wheels. It looked ok, but I was not bowled over by it to be honest.

Sales guy v. impressed by the new diesel engine and said it was superb but his opinion was although smaller than 3 series and more the size of an E36 3 series it's not as fun as 'old school bm's' handling set-up for saftey, with traction controls, etc. I guess thats the way of the world for all manafacurers in 2007. He also said he would go for a 130i hatch over the 123d engine if you don't care about paying for fuel.

So if you have a £25k budget a basic 123d I am sure is a very nice car and will be good fun no question. Especially if you are in your 20's and can stretch to one.

I will defo have a go in a 135i next year when it's out.

My perfect car would be a car size wise between a 1 and a 3 series.

That would be a 235d then.

[dxb335d]

Guys, if you buy this months BMW mag, there is a sedona red 135i in their, cornering hard around a race track. It majorly looks da MUTZ NUTZ.


Even tho im not a fan of the front end, i love the side angle and the chunky reat quarter panel!


Carlos


p.s is the 135i out to buy yet or not?

[Hotcoupe]

dxb335d Guys, if you buy this months BMW mag, there is a sedona red 135i in their, cornering hard around a race track. It majorly looks da MUTZ NUTZ.
Even tho im not a fan of the front end, i love the side angle and the chunky reat quarter panel!
Carlos
p.s is the 135i out to buy yet or not?

Carlos,if you actually read the magazine and not just looked at the pictures,you would know the answer to your above question.

Car mags are not like girly mags,you do actually have to read them!

[ChrisMWard]

Me and the lad had our test drive today in the 123d M Sport Coupe.

First thing we noticed when out side the car was how quite it was. The sales guy started it up and although it sounded noisey when cranking, as soon as it was ticking over you really would've been hard pressed to tell it was a diesel. My son drove first and I sat in the back. The rear seats (only two) were comfortable and the leg room was acceptable even though the front seats were quite a way back. Suprisingly there was quite good headroom and I didn't feel at all cramped. Unfortunately there was no armrest in the rear. The car was on 17" M Sport alloys and the ride was fine, my son commenting that it was better than his 17" shod MG ZR. My son also found the brakes very fierce after his car and he stood it on its nose with the first couple of applications.

When I got behind the wheel I gave the car a little more beans. The engine has a much better spread of power over the normal 2.0 litre turbo diesel. There is no lag at take off, just like the 335d and the power seems to flow to about 5000 RPM which is better than the 1500 to 4250 RPM range that the single turbo engine has. In reality though the 204 BHP engine didn't feel any quicker than the 120d, although the car had only done 18 miles and would hopefully loosen up a bit. The electric power steering felt fine and had more feel than the M3 I recently test drove which felt overly light. The auto stop start feature only kicked in once during the test drive and didn't cause a problem. All in I was very impressed and so was my son, he'll just have to save a few more pennies and wait untill the 120d version arrives next year.

Regards

Chris

[Z4 Beemer]

Interesting to hear your thoughts - good review. What worries me about going from a 3 coupe to a 1 coupe is that you don't get all the nice finishing touches that the 3 coupe has... like the orange ambient lighting along the doors and side trim at the back, as well as the rear passenger heating controls. I'll need to pop along to the dealers and have a proper look myself.

[Gibbo]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

Interesting to hear your thoughts - good review. What worries me about going from a 3 coupe to a 1 coupe is that you don't get all the nice finishing touches that the 3 coupe has... like the orange ambient lighting along the doors and side trim at the back, as well as the rear passenger heating controls. I'll need to pop along to the dealers and have a proper look myself.

+1, nice review.

But in reality these little details don't really matter and if the car is fun to drive does in matter? I have driven a 118d and 120d on road and track and they are great fun. They remind me a (bit) of the E36 3 series of the past. i.e. they are ultimately less able than a new 3 E46, E90's but more fun everyday.

Put all the bias out your head and go and have a drive and if it's fun and you want it, then go for it. It would be a mistake to think the 1's less than a 3 series. Think what do I fancy driving over the next few yrs? I drive a Fabia vRS as well as my 335d and I love driving the fabia. It's good to drive, has lots of go as it a turbo diesel and small car and although it roles a bit it can go quickly down a b road with lots of driver.

What I think would be difficult is do you but the 123d or the 135i as both have there merits.

[ChrisMWard]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

Interesting to hear your thoughts - good review. What worries me about going from a 3 coupe to a 1 coupe is that you don't get all the nice finishing touches that the 3 coupe has... like the orange ambient lighting along the doors and side trim at the back, as well as the rear passenger heating controls. I'll need to pop along to the dealers and have a proper look myself.

I agree it's never going to be a replacement for a three series but for my son it's going to be a step up to BMW ownership. It misses some of the nice things like the rear armrest and ventilation outlets and controls that you get with the three and I'm sures there's more. It did have the interior lights package as standard (SE and M Sport models) though. After all BMW won't want it to detract from sales of threes.

Regards

Chris

[Steve A]

I get the impression from all the articles its quite understeery and not as enjoyable as it should be.

But ACS have done this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIA...ews/38047.html

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by Steve A

I get the impression from all the articles its quite understeery and not as enjoyable as it should be.

But ACS have done this http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIA...ews/38047.html

Looks good, but not in silver... White or black would look so much better!

Just proves again that it aint as pretty as the E92.

[Bumps]

Great review Chris - thanks.

Carlos seems like you've got it bad for the 1 coop. My local dealer has a 123d M Sport in LMB - nice, and a 135i M Sport in black which looks ace on the new style 18s.

[ChrisMWard]

Originally Posted by Bumps

My local dealer has a 123d M Sport in LMB - nice, and a 135i M Sport in black which looks ace on the new style 18s.

I think black cars look really nice too. My son is torn between a Black Sapphire or Sedona Red model. He won't have a Le Mans Blue as we already have two blue BMs in the drive and he wants to be different although I think it looks great (in the brochure, haven't seen one in the metal yet).

Regards

Chris

[Hotcoupe]

I like the 1 Series,ok it's not too every one's taste looks wise, but it's still a cracking car.
As for colour well,black is always the tops,less drag,more aerodynamic,hence a quicker car.

No brainer really!

[squeezebm]

Was out in a normal 5 door 1 series last night being driven around to various public houses i was sat in the back with a lard arse and two other lard arses in the front loads of room,nippy and well built