i think some of you guys forget that comparing cars is a matter of opinion unless you're talking objective statistics....

 

FKL-

I am no longer going to debate the issue with you considering your tone and personal attacks.

I think it's safe to say that you really like the 1 Series, and I do not share the same level of enthusiasm. I think it'd be a great overall car if it was priced from about $25-$40,000, but not for the $50K that it fetches in the upper models. To me, there are far more compelling cars on the market for that much money, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the 1 series is still probably one of the best driving cars today.

I also do not believe that any premium brand (Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Lexus, etc) should dip below entry level luxury because it takes away from their exclusivity and in a lot of ways, drops the brand down a notch in price, features, and image. I would say the same thing if Lexus introduced something smaller than the IS...there is no need for it as a premium brand.

As the original post and poll asked for, these are my opinions

Let's leave it at that.

 

- BMW stated that there are dissapointed with 1 series intial sales in the USA (recent report to shareholders).
- Interior of 1 series not an luxury vehicle. My best buddy got one, and my wife (who could not care less about Toyota/Lexus or whatever else) that rode in it commented how interior is very cheap compared to Euro Rav4 that we had. And yes, it is cheap for hatchback that costs 15k more than Corolla.

 

Well, what do they expect? They made it too expensive (at U.S.-market prices) by not offering 4-cylinder and decontented versions. The American-spec 1-series turned out to be nothing but a 90%-scale 3-series with the same drivetrains....and almost the same prices.

I said at the time....and still do.....that policy was a mistake. BMW, in America, needs to introduce REAL entry-level models. They they WILL be able to increase their sales, particularly in these hard times when a lot of people don't have the money for expensive cars.


No offense to your buddy or your wife, but I have to disagree here. The 1-series that I have seen and reviewed, I thought, had interiors just as good, materials-wise, as that of the 3-series, and the same superb steering/chassis feel. Perhaps those are some of the reasons why they sell at 3-series prices.

BMW, however, did make one good marketing move with the American-spec 1-series......no You-Know-What **** on the console. That turns off some potential BMW buyers

 

i agree 100% here. with the current economy and nothing brighter for the next few years, many people would love to have a bmw with the associated quality and drivability at less cost. teh 1 series would have been it if sold at $25k for the entry level.
all these german companies already make and sell tons of economy versions in the rest of the world, americans are just ill informed brand snobs who think that bmw (and MB and audi) is only an expensive luxury car maker.