RE: PH Blog: heart versus head
Discussion
Jobbo said:
No car gets near its official economy figures but that's not specific to BMW. And I've never heard anyone say that BMW quote faster performance figures than they can really achieve.
'Achieve' is an interesting word - I could 'achieve' some interesting figures with any car in the right circumstances (a Lada will go pretty fast if pushed from the back of a cargo plane - for example!)A few years ago - I think it was on the Evo Forums tho it might have been here - someone posted to say they'd written a performance calculator which could calculate top speeds and acceleration times based on knowing a car's power/torque/gearing and Cd.
They were chuffed at what they'd done - but there was one problem. Every car they'd tried had matched it's claimed/reported performance figures EXCEPT for some BMWs - specifically M models. In their case, the cars were putting in times which were noticeably faster than the maths said they should be (about 1sec to 60 quicker, for example).
The best answer they got was something along the lines of
"BMW achieve this miracle through the careful use of lies..."
Leggy said:
Max_Torque said:
BMW are masters at making sure their new platforms with plenty of early, mid and late life cycle impluse revisions designed into them!
Disagree. They make an ugly car then spend the next few years trying to play catch up and improve it.I've disliked the 1 series for quite some time now. I've driven both a 130i and 135i, and on each occasion my heart thawed a little (although the 130i is overly harsh for my tastes). Stylistically, the second generation of cars looked a little out of sorts at first. But now BMW's new family face has become a not uncommon sight, I'm warming to the way it looks. It's actually quite handsome, in the right colour and spec.
Give it another year, wait for the 135i M-Sport and 235i M-Sport models and most of us won't mind them so much. We certainly won't be as vitriolic about them.
iain1970 said:
For me, the last version 2-door saloon (or coupé if you're into marketing) was the best looking version of the 1-series. I hope that this second generation spawns one too.
As for subjective buying when all material specs are virtually the same, isn't that how we all buy stuff?
I heard a while ago that the coupes are being split off, so the 3 series coupe will be a '4 series' and the 1 series coupe will be a '2 series'. Looks pretty tasty from this http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/...As for subjective buying when all material specs are virtually the same, isn't that how we all buy stuff?
I had a seemingly similar head vs heart battle not that long ago when it came to replacing the MGF.
I needed four seats
An estate was preferred
A decent amount of poke but didn't need to set the world on fire
A budget of no more than £1500
The two it came down to? An MG ZT-T 190 or a Volvo V70 Cross Country.
Performance was comparable, pricing much of a muchness but the head kept yelling out Volvo, It would probably be more reliable, if I ever choose to sell it on I'd get a better price for it etc etc etc
So of course I went out and got the MG ZT-T
I needed four seats
An estate was preferred
A decent amount of poke but didn't need to set the world on fire
A budget of no more than £1500
The two it came down to? An MG ZT-T 190 or a Volvo V70 Cross Country.
Performance was comparable, pricing much of a muchness but the head kept yelling out Volvo, It would probably be more reliable, if I ever choose to sell it on I'd get a better price for it etc etc etc
So of course I went out and got the MG ZT-T
iain1970 said:
For me, the last version 2-door saloon (or coupé if you're into marketing) was the best looking version of the 1-series. I hope that this second generation spawns one too.
1 M coupe in Orange, definitely the best looking 1 Series indeed.I believe that the upcoming "2" Series is the next coupe, but could be wrong about it.
I kind of had it with BMW after the debacle with my last 525d.
405dogvan said:
Jobbo said:
No car gets near its official economy figures but that's not specific to BMW. And I've never heard anyone say that BMW quote faster performance figures than they can really achieve.
'Achieve' is an interesting word - I could 'achieve' some interesting figures with any car in the right circumstances (a Lada will go pretty fast if pushed from the back of a cargo plane - for example!)A few years ago - I think it was on the Evo Forums tho it might have been here - someone posted to say they'd written a performance calculator which could calculate top speeds and acceleration times based on knowing a car's power/torque/gearing and Cd.
They were chuffed at what they'd done - but there was one problem. Every car they'd tried had matched it's claimed/reported performance figures EXCEPT for some BMWs - specifically M models. In their case, the cars were putting in times which were noticeably faster than the maths said they should be (about 1sec to 60 quicker, for example).
The best answer they got was something along the lines of
"BMW achieve this miracle through the careful use of lies..."
And yes, I am a BMW fan boy
farrendahl said:
I had a seemingly similar head vs heart battle not that long ago when it came to replacing the MGF.
I needed four seats
An estate was preferred
A decent amount of poke but didn't need to set the world on fire
A budget of no more than £1500
The two it came down to? An MG ZT-T 190 or a Volvo V70 Cross Country.
Performance was comparable, pricing much of a muchness but the head kept yelling out Volvo, It would probably be more reliable, if I ever choose to sell it on I'd get a better price for it etc etc etc
So of course I went out and got the MG ZT-T
Should have gone for the "standard v70" over the XC, more car for your buck, a decent T5 can be had for a grand. But saying that, theres something appealing about the MG ZT 260 I needed four seats
An estate was preferred
A decent amount of poke but didn't need to set the world on fire
A budget of no more than £1500
The two it came down to? An MG ZT-T 190 or a Volvo V70 Cross Country.
Performance was comparable, pricing much of a muchness but the head kept yelling out Volvo, It would probably be more reliable, if I ever choose to sell it on I'd get a better price for it etc etc etc
So of course I went out and got the MG ZT-T
I spend basically all day looking at/driving them, and I'm sorry it still looks like a polo from the back and like its melted at the front....not disputing that the M stuff is a huge improvement, but no. Just no. Only plus is that while driving you cant see anything but the interior. Nice drive mind
As far as I can make out, I quite like the design APART from the headlights. Thet are too big and weirdly shaped. I reminds me of a blue whale.
But when you're driving it, you aren't looking at it and it's RWD. I guess if you want the 6 cylinder, you'd have to splash out 0n a 130 or 135.
But when you're driving it, you aren't looking at it and it's RWD. I guess if you want the 6 cylinder, you'd have to splash out 0n a 130 or 135.
I reckon the BMW would be the better long term ownership prospect, but I find it visually, uh, challenging. I would go for the standard GTI, which I think strikes just the right balance for a warm hatch - handsome, but not shouty. Having said that, Mrs SS insisted on a Giulietta Cloverleaf because she thought the Golf was just too boring. Given that its her daily runabout I couldn't really object.
I'm with Riggers... I really like them in the flesh.
Just ordered this car. Speaking with a good friend at BMW HQ this engine (I know 4 cyl but thats progress I suppose), is brand new, full of their best tech and occupies a good middle ground in terms of performance.
I'm using it for local driving and the view on the 135i is absolutely quicker and more evocative, but 80kgs more over the front wheels, and an economy headache. I also have 2 kids and four doors would be nice..(135i, no rear doors).
Added into this, sub 5% APR PCP deals right now on the 4 cyl model and its a no brainer. Im not into the estoril blue, so toned the colour down and I think its a bit of a sleeper.
Runflats will be off asap and I think it could "chip" nicely, looking at the output of the new 328i (4cyl!) - fully insured of course -
Just ordered this car. Speaking with a good friend at BMW HQ this engine (I know 4 cyl but thats progress I suppose), is brand new, full of their best tech and occupies a good middle ground in terms of performance.
I'm using it for local driving and the view on the 135i is absolutely quicker and more evocative, but 80kgs more over the front wheels, and an economy headache. I also have 2 kids and four doors would be nice..(135i, no rear doors).
Added into this, sub 5% APR PCP deals right now on the 4 cyl model and its a no brainer. Im not into the estoril blue, so toned the colour down and I think its a bit of a sleeper.
Runflats will be off asap and I think it could "chip" nicely, looking at the output of the new 328i (4cyl!) - fully insured of course -
Edited by cris9964 on Thursday 28th June 11:14
Comparing a previous gen 1-series M-Sport with a GTI MK5 Edition 30.
I absolutely agree that in a lot of ways, the subjective appeal of the 1 was better. But the suspension settings were so bad in that BMW, that I could have never lived with it. It was sooo bouncy - every undulation took the car an extra "bounce" to settle down, and this made it particularly unpleasant over an undulating moorland road. To be clear, I'm not talking hard - hard is fine, and it wasn't hard - it was bouncy.
The Mk5 GTI didn't have this issue - that alone made it the better car for me.
I absolutely agree that in a lot of ways, the subjective appeal of the 1 was better. But the suspension settings were so bad in that BMW, that I could have never lived with it. It was sooo bouncy - every undulation took the car an extra "bounce" to settle down, and this made it particularly unpleasant over an undulating moorland road. To be clear, I'm not talking hard - hard is fine, and it wasn't hard - it was bouncy.
The Mk5 GTI didn't have this issue - that alone made it the better car for me.
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