Topic: BMW 1 Series

[GTI-Gabe]

BMW Canada should have a contest on what pricing should be   

[HeliDriver]

... I know, I know that the 318ti was a "disaster" and they didn't want to repeat that mistake by bringing another hatch, but the 318ti's failure was not due to being a hatch.  Anyone who has seen one knows that it had a horrid interior (cheapppp), engine option was lacking to say the least (1.8L), and was an unussable hatch (unlike the current 1 Series hatch)
...

You forgot to mention the most important reason it tanked: it was also butt-ugly.     

[Julie]

[quote author=GTI-Gabe link=topic=52540.msg428859#msg428859

I really don't see this car selling like crazy in Canada (unlike American's expect south of the border) considering it's a coupe and not as versatile as other luxury brands (A3 & B-Class). 
[/quote]

I've been poking around BMW forums (yeah, this car interests me, except that I don't need 3 cars. Yeah, I'm crazy.  )

Anyways, by the sounds of those forums, the 1 series is really hot among enthusiasts in the States. I think how well it will sell here will be very dependant on price. Anything near the mid 30s for the 128i, and I think it will sell. Although I agree with GTI-Gabe, I still think it will be closer to 40 K.    Who's putting down bets! hehe! (just joking)

[initial_D]

[quote author=GTI-Gabe link=topic=52540.msg428859#msg428859

I really don't see this car selling like crazy in Canada (unlike American's expect south of the border) considering it's a coupe and not as versatile as other luxury brands (A3 & B-Class). 

I've been poking around BMW forums (yeah, this car interests me, except that I don't need 3 cars. Yeah, I'm crazy.  )

Anyways, by the sounds of those forums, the 1 series is really hot among enthusiasts in the States. I think how well it will sell here will be very dependant on price. Anything near the mid 30s for the 128i, and I think it will sell. Although I agree with GTI-Gabe, I still think it will be closer to 40 K.    Who's putting down bets! hehe! (just joking)
[/quote]

The 1 series will be a hit for those who enjoy driving for sure. I have more interest in the 135i than the 335ci. Whatever BMW Canada set the price at, it will be too expensive. 

[ovr50]

Not sure what you mean by 335ci - do you mean the 335i coupe (which also now comes as a 335xi coupe for '08). Technically, there is no model called the 335ci - it is confusing as was earlier models called a 325ci, etc.

In the end, I doubt I will be attracted to the 1 Series as I think, for me, just a touch small. We'll see in the Spring, I guess.

[Julie]

Not sure what you mean by 335ci - do you mean the 335i coupe (which also now comes as a 335xi coupe for '08). Technically, there is no model called the 335ci - it is confusing as was earlier models called a 325ci, etc.

In the end, I doubt I will be attracted to the 1 Series as I think, for me, just a touch small. We'll see in the Spring, I guess.

This past weekend, I was in traffic for multiple hours again, travelling the 401.

Not sure if it's because I've been stuck in traffic a lot recently, but I was starting to feel, gee, I don't think I will be comfortable in a car any smaller than the TSX, as the passenger 50% of the time. (I like a snug fit as the driver, but not as the passenger.)

Especially since we are starting to like road trips and will probably do more in the future.

[mmret]

Not sure what you mean by 335ci - do you mean the 335i coupe (which also now comes as a 335xi coupe for '08). Technically, there is no model called the 335ci - it is confusing as was earlier models called a 325ci, etc.

In the end, I doubt I will be attracted to the 1 Series as I think, for me, just a touch small. We'll see in the Spring, I guess.

This past weekend, I was in traffic for multiple hours again, travelling the 401.

Not sure if it's because I've been stuck in traffic a lot recently, but I was starting to feel, gee, I don't think I will be comfortable in a car any smaller than the TSX, as the passenger 50% of the time. (I like a snug fit as the driver, but not as the passenger.)

Especially since we are starting to like road trips and will probably do more in the future.

Do you find the TSX that much bigger than your departed Civic?

Spent a lot of time driving my girlfriend's Civic this past weekend, and also spent a lot of time driving an E150 cargo van (helping her to move). Never noticed much difference in the available interior room, even in terms of back seat and trunk!

In fact, I bought the same bookshelf on two separate trips to Ikea recently. First trip was done in her Civic, and the package fit neatly with the seats folded down. Second trip in the TSX, and I swear it seemed like the TSX was shorter between the front seats and the end of the trunk.

The Civic must be some kind of warp in the time-space continuum.

[initial_D]

Not sure what you mean by 335ci - do you mean the 335i coupe (which also now comes as a 335xi coupe for '08). Technically, there is no model called the 335ci - it is confusing as was earlier models called a 325ci, etc.

In the end, I doubt I will be attracted to the 1 Series as I think, for me, just a touch small. We'll see in the Spring, I guess.

Ooops, mean to say the coupe version of the 3335i. Interior of the 1 series will be cramped, exterior dimension about the same as the E30, interior space more efficient design and usage, still be on the smallish side.

[Ex-airbalancer]

"Spent a lot of time driving my girlfriend's Civic this past weekend, and also spent a lot of time driving an E150 cargo van  (helping her to move). Never noticed much difference in the available interior room,"

wow, those Civic must be really big  :rofl2:

[tpl]

Lots of 323i's here too, although I don't know what options they may have on them. The alloys make them easy to spot.

I'm anticipating the 128i to start around $33-35, with the 135i starting somewhere around $42-44.

I don't expect pricing of the 128 to be below the 323s.

Specially when you consider the following:
  Coupe > Sedan
  2.5L > 3.0L

Knowing that the 323 (sedan) starts at $35k and the 328 coupe at $43k (sedan at $41k), I expect pricing somewhere in the middle  ($38k perhaps?)

Note: I'm talking in Canadian dollars here.

Yeah, it's kind of hard to know where they'll fit it with it being a coupé ('07MY prices)...
323i Sdn $35,5   
328i Sdn $40,9   328i Cpe $43,5
335i Sdn $49,8   335i Cpe $51,5

If it were a hatch, I'd say it would slot above the MINI Cooper S $30,5 and at a slight premium but comparable to C30 T5 $32, A3 $33,8 and B200 Turbo $34.

With it being a coupé, and a performance coupé at that, thinking BMW wants to aim higher. And they probably can. Don't think they'll import anywhere near the volume that they do with the 3 (they want to complement 3 sales not slice into them) and won't advertise attractive lease pricing like they do with the 323i. Still, it needs to be competitive and it is a fairly small vehicle. I think the base will be attractive on the 128i with more options offered, whereas the 135i will be more comprehensively equipped.

So for me the 135i will be low to mid $40's... the 128i is the big question mark. Low $30's or high $30's? With that engine and the image they're going after would make sense to say high 30's, but they have an opportunity here so I think they will go mid 30's. You're right, low 30's was perhaps estimating too low. Playing safe is lame, but I'll revise 128i to $35-37 

With that, I love the M-Coupé as much as the next guy, but at $68,9... 

I wonder if the 323 will survive  Pricing wise maybe it will be replaces by the 128  and that leaves some room for the base 135

[GTI-Gabe]

I wonder if the 323 will survive  Pricing wise maybe it will be replaces by the 128  and that leaves some room for the base 135

I'm sure the 323 will stick around, specially since it competes with the IS250 and TSX.

Not everyone is looking for a 2 door entry level luxury car (ie. 128), so the 323 fills that need.  Now, if BMW Canada brought the 5 door hatch, then for sure the 323 would be gone.

[ovr50]

Why wouldn't the base 323i survive, it is a sedan, and the 1 Series are both coupes, no sedans or wagons for NA. ?? 

[mmret]

"Spent a lot of time driving my girlfriend's Civic this past weekend, and also spent a lot of time driving an E150 cargo van  (helping her to move). Never noticed much difference in the available interior room,"

wow, those Civic must be really big  :rofl2:

Comparing it to the TSX

I see the ambiguity in my post.

[Julie]

Do you find the TSX that much bigger than your departed Civic?

In my mind, I was comparing to our Camry, so the TSX feels more cramped compared to that.

My Civic was a coupe, and it had good space for the front passengers. Maybe even a little more than the TSX in the front (in the width department)

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Hmmm, UK 135i vs 335i pricing is damned close.
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/05/bmw-1-series-coupe-euro-pricing-slips-foretells-u-s-pricing/

[Mitlov]

If a 335i was only a couple thousand more than a 135i, I'd buy the 335i ten times out of ten.

[Ex-airbalancer]

From July 6 I posted
Just finished a survey for BMW, about 1 series
128I cost will be $32,500 to $38,000
135I cost will be $38,000 to $43,000
and they may bring the cab over
It was a survey done by BMW Canada
So the price will be in that range

[mmret]

So the price will be in that range

Does this mean base price will be in that range, or will base price be the low end, then max options giving the high end?

[mdxtasy]

A base 335 is is $50k....that seems to be good separation between the 1 and 3 series.

[ovr50]

If a 335i was only a couple thousand more than a 135i, I'd buy the 335i ten times out of ten.

No doubt about it, agree totally.