What do you think of this?

I recon its pretty shyte and does compare to being the bastard child of an alfa and a 7 series.

It will prob sell tho.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=72&t=88838&h=0

atb

steve


[Edited on 25/3/04 by stephen_gusterson]

If I had that sort of money to spend on a car, I'd consider it very seriously - I quite like the looks, it's more striking than most of the other cars in its class, the RWD is a big possitive, it's going to be fantastically built and the dynamics are likely to be well above average.

Funnily enough I was just thinking to my self "that looks very like an Alfa 147, only a bit more flamed up and a lot more German at the front", I scroll down the PH page and what does it say : "Looks like an Alfa 147... "

Kingr

I was getting ready to say it looks like an Alfa 147 when I saw your reply...

Bugger, beaten to it...

i and all on the comments also thought it was 147 like.


I get my new 3 in about 10 weeks - a tax friendly 150hp diesel.

The car i have had for 4 years wasnt as bulletproof as the mazda I had before and it still urks me that a 118hp car costs 23k.

the one might be well built compared to some others, but you pay for that.

my wifes 1.6 litre megane drives as well as my 3, has the same power, has more features, and its two for the price of one...literally.

atb

steve

[Edited on 25/3/04 by stephen_gusterson]

Saw a preview of it ages ago in CAR magazine (i think). They had the drop top z3 stylee one. Looked alot better than the hatch.

Maybe they just grafted the beemer nose on the 147

Also looks like a Mazda3, without the sleek styling or interior room...

http://www.mazda3.co.nz/gallery/sedan/11_f2.jpg

... but will it handle and ride twice as well for twice the money? or have as much room?

zoom zoom

quote:

---

Originally posted by stephen_gusterson

The car i have had for 4 years wasnt as bulletproof as the mazda I had before

---

Funny you should mention the Mazda3 - took one out for a spin last week - a lot of car for your money!

As for this BMW - not really my cup of tea...
their main selling point seems to be - 'its rear wheel drive'
but the mainstream customers that will buy it would be far safer in a front wheel drive car! IMHO of course

i like it, but i strongly feel that i should dislike it. not sure why. It does fit in a niche though, all those people who previously drove the alfa (and maybe golfs and a3's) can now drive a car that is seen as more up market.

not for me though.

im more than happy with my fiesta diesel.

will this replace the 3 series compact?

when i first read the thread title i was expecting to see a bmw mini, much like the rover 100 was born out of the metro

Ned.

I quite like it tbh but it would be better as a 3 door. The line of the B pillar makes it look like it's twisted in the side shot.

That said, I won't be rushing out to buy one!

Chris

strange that in the review forum it was almost universally slagged off, but on here Im the only one to vote its naff!

aving said that, if it was the only beemer I could have i'd consider it

atb

steve

PS

on my mazda, in 70k, all that went wrong was a bearing making a squaky noise in the air con pump.

In the beemer, I have had 2 cooling system failures, a total aircon failure and 3 suspension bush / joint failures in 90k.

Never had a Beemer. No real desire to own one either.

However, it's rear-wheel-drive in a cost-accountants world.

'Nuff said

Cheers,

Neil.

Take an Alfa 147, add a few creases and other unnecessary lines, there you are - a BMW 1 series. At least any accident damage won't show up much.

Ned - yes, it will replace the compact, but is probably bigger than the original 3 series compact anyway.

"The car i have had for 4 years wasnt as bulletproof as the mazda I had before and it still urks me that a 118hp car costs 23k"

http://www.jamjar.co.uk/carbuying/search/buying_searchresults.jhtml;jsessionid=CI3ULJIIQEBWHQFIJAGCFFI?_requestid=459141

So what if it costs you £400/month tax, it'd cost me nearly £600 month over three years on an interest free (ulikely) loan!!

ATB

Simon

My nissan van is rear wheel drive and has all the latest gimmicks like two speed wipers and handles to wind the windows up and down. If it went faster,wasn't so noisy and the heater worked it would be perfect. I only voted cos I didn't want to be left out.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Simon
"The car i have had for 4 years wasnt as bulletproof as the mazda I had before and it still urks me that a 118hp car costs 23k"

http://www.jamjar.co.uk/carbuying/search/buying_searchresults.jhtml;jsessionid=CI3ULJIIQEBWHQFIJAGCFFI?_requestid=459141

So what if it costs you £400/month tax, it'd cost me nearly £600 month over three years on an interest free (ulikely) loan!!

ATB

Simon

---

It's pretty awful, looks a lot like a Mazda Protege5, which I also detest.

Someone mentioned spectacular build quality earlier, err not in my experience. If you want something that runs forever, Toyota and VW have my vote (though I hear the recent VWs are spoiling their reputation a bit).

The one BMW we had was great fun to drive, big torquey six and a five speed. Got horrible mileage though and broke spectacularly on a weekly basis, rotted in the strangest structural places as well.

AND, I'll never forgive those kraut b*stards for what they did to my Mini! 1200 pounds heavier, a foot wider, two longer with a pathetic wheezing overstressed single overhead cam engine sourced from Chrysler Brazil? At half the price it'd still be a damn site too much. All those Prozac munching Automotive Toadies (ersatz journalists) lining up to praise it ought to be ritually disembowelled with a stick pen, mutter, mumph, mumble...

Cheers, Ted