Wrote out a cheque for the 1-series...

[Sir_GT]

Yep. Me and the (new) missus's first car. Got the 120d sport (we live in the UK... you MUST go diesel for a daily commuter). Should arrive in June.

I know some of you will be thinking: Golf? A3? Works Mini Cooper S?

Well, we looked at all of them. We had a budget of £23k including insurance. We first went to Audi, looked at the A3 (and A3 sportback). The missus didn't fancy the A3's huge grille, liked the rest of the car, but we both decided we couldn't stand to see our money go up in smoke because Audi's have poor residuals in the UK.
We then looked at the Golf, but the dealership was unbelievably rude. It was almost like they couldn't be bothered to help us out. We fancied the GTI, but the insurance on it was just incredible (since we're both under-24 year old's, and that equates to a massive amount of money in the UK), and the closest to it (to what we were looking for) was the TDI 4motion which, frankly, just wasn't worth the asking price.
It wasn't going to have the same residuals as the GTI, insurance wasn't going to be any cheaper, and the dealership was crap.

A-class? No thanks. We don't fancy driving a futuristic milk van. Especially one with crap residuals and a so-so dealership.

1-series? We both liked the way it looked, especially in sparkling graphite (yes, that's the colour we chose), the dealership was great (Cooper Banstead), insurance was understandably high, but it was sort of balanced out by the residuals, which was the highest amongst the choices (save for the mini), plus the 120d's engine is the same as the one in the E90 320d, so we felt it made the most sense. Throw in the amount of kit we got for the money, and we felt that it was the best car for our money. (An equivalent E90 320d with the amount of kit we got would've cost £29k with insurance... which is why it wasn't part of the list of choices)

Throw in the rear-wheel drive factor, excellent engine, excellent build quality, and brilliant mileage, we then both agreed it was a good investment. We almost opted for the Works Cooper S, but the 5 month waiting time, plus the lack of a proper rear seating area, virtually no boot, and high mileage sort of defeated the case for the car as a daily commute.

Anyways, I'll have pics as soon as it arrives.

[ZfrkS62]

way to go sir_gt :D I'm sure it's going to be alot of fun compared to the others, not to mention alot safer. :D can't wait for the pics :D

[Sir_GT]

Thanks mate. I'm happy with the car. I'll get some good pics. :)

[Imre]

Good and very reasonable choice. Golf and A3 are just crap compared to BMW. I`m going to drive 1series next month.

[blah]

Good choice. Today i saw the new 3 series on the Freeway, a white one. OMG its so nice in person. It looked stunning. I know not a 1 series but still BMW. It had distributor plates, i cant wait for this car. 8)

[Sir_GT]

^^^ It does look brilliant. We were wondering if we should stretch our budget to get one, but right next to the 1-series was an E46 coupe. Me and my wife thought the same thing - if we're going to get an E90, better make it the coupe, and have the 120d as the family/daily car, since we don't have kids yet anyway.

Nevertheless, I encourage everybody to test drive the E90... it feels like a mini-5 series. Quiet, comfortable, yet oh-so-chuckable... and the engine of the 330i is just... I can't explain it... it doesn't sound like the engine of a 4 door family saloon. When you hear a 330i at full blast down a country road, the hairs on your arms stand up. :D

[crayzayjay]

Congrats mate. Much more sensible choice than the Cooper S :)

[ARMAN]

Great choice Sir_GT! Sparkling graphite is this, right?
http://www.bmwworld.com/images/cars/3er/sedan/e90a_400.jpg

[Sir_GT]

crayzayjay: Thanks mate. Sensibility was really the deciding factor.

ARMAN: Yep. That's exactly the colour. :)

Brembo: Funny you should say that, because when we looked at the cars, we were with my father-in-law, and my wife's kid nephews. The two cars which they thought looked the best, were the Audi A3 and the BMW 1-series... more so than the Golf or the Cooper S... which they described as "boring" and "ordinary" looking.

I've actually thought about it, and I think BMW's new design is really a lot like Marmite (a food thing sold over here)... it's either you love it, or you hate it.

[crayzayjay]

I agree. I think it will grow on a lot of people though...

What options did you go for?

[blah]

I think you just have to see these cars in person to appreciate their design.

[bmwdakias]

First of all i hope you enjoy the car ,sth you wouldnt be able to do with a boring to look at and drive front drive a3. I am not a great fan of hatchbacks, especially four door versions but this particular one as described by car is BMW's miracle for the masses, therefore i cant but just agree with their statement :). The looks of the car are not to everyones taste but i personally like it and the colour you chose will certainly help, especially if combined with a nice set of rims. Look forward for some pics.

[Just_me]

Congrats and you did the right choice.
I have driven A3 and 1-serie, I would take the bimmer as well. It looks good and fun to drive. So once again congrats :D

[Sir_GT]

I agree. I think it will grow on a lot of people though...

What options did you go for?

Most of what came standard with the "sport" package (including the lower suspension, sport seats, auto climate control, etc.). Just added the paint (which was an extra), aluminum kodiak trim (i think that's what they call it), and a few comfort bits in the interior. I didn't opt for iDrive because I didn't think it was necessary.

I didn't pay up for the 17" rims because I'm planning to get the 18" M sport wheels (like on the 5 series sport versions) when the standard tires wear out. I'll just sell the standard rims on eBay after that. :)

Honestly though, with regards to styling, I can't see what some people hate about it. As small cars go, it's actually very handsome. Not like the boxy lunchbox shape that most hatchbacks are adopting now (Golf? Civic? 307?)... they look like a pensioner's car.

[GTO]

Nice car, I saw it up close. Hey Sir GT did you test drive the car though??? Had a friend looking for a car and everyone had an opinion, so the tested them all! lol
He looked the 1 but he said that here (Sydney) its too expensive for what it is but the handling and interior he said was first rate. Though he said the STD engine was weak :(

[ZfrkS62]

Not like the boxy lunchbox shape that most hatchbacks are adopting now (Golf? Civic? 307?)...


Not to mention the Scion Xb :P Perfect example of shoebox styling :puke:

[crayzayjay]

I agree. I think it will grow on a lot of people though...

What options did you go for?

Most of what came standard with the "sport" package (including the lower suspension, sport seats, auto climate control, etc.). Just added the paint (which was an extra), aluminum kodiak trim (i think that's what they call it), and a few comfort bits in the interior. I didn't opt for iDrive because I didn't think it was necessary.

I didn't pay up for the 17" rims because I'm planning to get the 18" M sport wheels (like on the 5 series sport versions) when the standard tires wear out. I'll just sell the standard rims on eBay after that. :)
I'm not sure exactly which alloys you mean. Point them out please:

http://zoouz.free.fr/wheels.htm

:D

[Sir_GT]

Nice car, I saw it up close. Hey Sir GT did you test drive the car though??? Had a friend looking for a car and everyone had an opinion, so the tested them all! lol
He looked the 1 but he said that here (Sydney) its too expensive for what it is but the handling and interior he said was first rate. Though he said the STD engine was weak :(

Which standard engine? The 116i's? If so, yeah, it's bloody asthmatic.

Realistically, you've only got 3 choices. 118d is the lowest you should go, then it's either the 120i or the 120d depending on what you fancy... that is, until the 130i is released.

crayzayjay: The 17's that they offered as an upgrade option was style 142 (E87). The one I think I will get when I change the tires will be style 135... or, if they would be so kind, style 194.

Mind you, style 101 is incredibly rare... but just by the look of it, I can see that the price is probably the reason why you don't see it at all on the road. :)

[abbor]

Congrats man...

I'm sure you'll love to drive the car, but personally I think it looks like shit... :wink:

I'd love any other beemer though...

[pharzo]

I actually like the look of the thing. First I thought it was a bit iffy, but a guy down the street from has one, and it's actually very good lokking. Much more so than any other 5/3 door hatches. Looks a lot more handsome, rather than pretty, as opposed to other bm's

[Sir_GT]

pharzo: your post is basically a summary of how I felt.

dani: Cheers mate. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't goodlooking "guwapa" in spanish?

[TransAm]

Sir GT

When do you pick the beemer up?

[Sir_GT]

dani: Not at all. I'm spanish by ancestry, but I never brushed on up the language.

The only thing I know is what my relatives keep saying when I visit... "Conyo de su madre" and all that shit. :wink:

TransAm: Early to middle of June is what they told me. I'll take pics next to my mum-in-law's C-class so that everybody (with regards to you boys in the USA) can get a good size comparison.

[TransAm]

coolio, I look forward to it

[thekillingroad]

Congrats!

really nice choice... May be slower than the S or GTI... but the feelin of the 340nm comin from the rear axle... awesome!! :)