The 120D Sport
Alright, collected it a few days ago actually, but I couldn't drive it because the insurance wasn't sorted until yesterday. So when I was finally given the green light, I took it out for a couple of hours...
Engine:
My ears will forever regret going for the "D" version, but my pocket and my smile won't. When they said it pulls, holy shit does it pull. Naught to 60 kicks you in the back, and glues you onto your seat. One interesting bit I notice, but am not entirely sure of, is that I heard a "hiss" similar to a forced induction engine dumping air. Whether or not this was the 120 or another car close to me, I couldn't say for sure. I'll find out today.
Ride and Handling:
As I chose the sports pack, I also ended up with the sports suspension, which is lower and stiffer. That, plus the standard run flats, don't exactly make for a magic carpet ride, but it isn't as bad as some journalists say it is. Large bumps (i.e. speed humps) will definitely bother the car. It feels as if the entire rear end of the car "drops" (instead of a wheel first, boot second on an S-class) when it goes over. Road undulations are, surprisingly, fine. Anything slightly reminiscent of the nurburgring, the car simply shrugs it off. The ride noticeably improves once you're going 30mph and over, but anything below that, and your rear end will get to know the road in 3D.
Handling? It is flawless. It feels like a bigger Mazda MX-5, with the RWD very quickly showing it's abilities. Couple that with the same engine in the E90 320d, but with less weight to tug along, and you've got a recipe for some serious city driving fun.
Summary? It's a liveable compromise.
Exterior:
Honestly, the first time I saw the car up close, both me and my father-in-law were taken aback. "What a strange shape" we both exclaimed. The longer we stayed at the dealership, the more it started growing on us. Like loveable fungus. There must be something about the flame surfacing though, because the car looks far far more cohesive in the metal, than in photographs. It looks fat, tall, and bulky in pictures, whereas it looks long, low, and sleek in the metal. I kid you not.
It's like those times when a mate of yours shows you a photo of a girl he says is really hot, but when you see her picture, you think to yourself "she's alright... not that hot though." But when you see her in the flesh, you quickly turn to your friend and say "You're right, she
IS hot!"
Seriously. It really is a lot like that. Flame surfacing almost (almost) gives the car's profile a human face. Whether or not that appeals to you is entirely down to personal taste... I, however, think that it gives the car quite a bit of character.
Interior Quality and Space:
In a phrase? Slightly disappointing. You can see that you pretty much paid for the chassis, the suspension, and the engine. It's not poor in a Cadillac or Ford sense, but it isn't great either. The glove box feels cheap, and so do the other harder plastics.
Comfort-wise, the car is fine. The rear space again, isn't as bad as some journos make it out to be. Obviously, a VW Golf would have more legroom due to the FWD setup, but as far as RWD cars go, the rear legroom in the 1-series is only slightly less than the current Merc C-class.
Can you sit 5 adults in comfort? Only if they're not over 6 foot and 220lbs, like myself. 4 of me could fit in it fine. 1 of me in the driver's seat, plus 4 regular sized adults would too.
Seats? I opted for the sports seats (again, came with the package), and they are excellent. So much adjustability, combined with adjustable side support (to hold you down whilst drifting), and a fully adjustable steering wheel, will definitely give you the options to find the perfect driving position.
Rear seats? Haven't sat in them long enough to tell. I will today since the wife will be driving.
Boot space:
"Able" would be a word. Definitely enough room for the groceries, but not for IKEA. You'll have to fold the rear seats down for that (which do fold flat, I would like to add). Again, it's a liveable compromise.
Summary:
What is it like to drive? Brilliant. The clutch and gear change are unbelievably light, and the steering is well weighted and direct. My wife finds it far easier and relaxing to drive than a lot of other "hot hatches", and that says a lot, since she's quite a petite person.
We both agreed that the engine, in a word, is powerful for a hatch of this size. Although I'm alread starting to get used to it, so the plans for a Hartge-supplied engine management unit and exhaust kit (to turn 163bhp into 200+) are well on the way.
Recommended? Only if you're prepared to compromise some space, and some comfort for a wicked engine and sports car-type handling.
Understeer durch technik? Not in this baby.
P.S. Here are the direct links to the full size photos:
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/5250/dscn07061tx.jpg
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/715/dscn07093eu.jpg
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/4515/dscn07078lb.jpg
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/833/dscn07104ih.jpg
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/1050/dscn07044ed.jpg
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/6562/dscn09947jt.jpg
http://img228.echo.cx/img228/860/dscn09969tx.jpg