Joined
·
4,646 Posts
So I thought I had it all figured out. I was going to buy a new sport compact in the spring. Either a Mazdaspeed 3 or Cobalt SS Turbo. They were the perfect blend of performance and value...and the two cars that I was pretty much assuring myself I'd end up with. I was done looking at other vehicles...as there was no real point.
Then today at work one of my interviews was cancelled...which thus allowed me to have some free time on the computer. So for grins and giggles, I went on to the BMW website and started dabbling with the 1 series configuring thingamajigger. Next thing you know I had one built for a shade over 32k dollars. Wow, a great value...I wonder when my dealer is going to be getting one in so I can check it out.
*RING RING*
"Hello, when are you guys getting your first 1 series in?"
"Well we just got our first 135i in today, and it's quite beautiful"
"really?"
"Yeah we've all been having a blast with the customers driving it all day, would you like to come down and take it for a ride?"
![]()
![]()
http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
"alright we look forward to seeing you"
So after work I fly straight to my dealer, and much to my dismay there is no one series.
So I talk to the manager and he explains that it's out on a test drive. So he tells me to just hang out and check out the inventory until it comes back. So I started to wander around for a few minutes when I heard a rumbling straight six pull up the drive.
And there it was...and holy hell was it fine! It was metallic black with red leather interior. Loaded with every option...and equipped with the six speed automatic. I don't care what people say....pictures don't do this car justice. It really is sooo much more incredible in the flesh. I was instantly in love.
So after gawking at the exterior for a few moments...the sales guy slaps on a plate and I jump in the drivers seat. The first thing I noticed was how the sports seats really do wrap around your body like a glove. Initially I felt rather constricted, but as the test drive went on I began to appreciate the support that they provided into the bends and felt perfectly at home in them. Also the dash materials were definitely strokeable. With the high gloss black trim I felt it had a much more upline appearance than the dash of the previous E46's.
So I start it up with the push button ignition and am immediately wowed by the bark from the exhaust. I gave the throttle a little love tap and the engine gave a beautiful intoxicating rev that I've never heard before from a a stock bmw. I knew this was gonna be good...
So I head out on the main drag and wait for an open straight and pin the throttle. The car after a very VERY minimal hesistation drops a gear and lunges forward with amazing force. I clicked of 90 mph before I even knew what had happened. And again...that engine wail was absolutely spine tingling! There is absolutely no need for an aftermarket exhaust with this cars setup imho, its THAT good. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
The sales guy then directs me on to a curve laden back road where he encouraged me to steer into the bends with as much enthusiasm as I liked. So I settled into a groove and began to go to work on the bends. The car remained extremely surefooted and predictable as I tossed it into the bends. Having driven a great deal of E46's, I found the 1 series to feel much more tossable and nimble in comparison. I know a few people have complained about the steering feeling somewhat numb, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. The transmission was excellent too. With the paddle shifters, I started to feel like Schumi working my way around a track. The exhaust barked as each downshift was met with the perfect rev match. I hadn't felt this giddy in a car since I drove the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
So after having my fun, I was directed back to the dealer where I had to be removed by force from the drivers seat.
![]()
I went back in to the dealer and began to work the numbers on both a 135i like I had driven and the 128i that I had spec'd online. For a two year lease on a 128i at 15k miles a year and 2k down...I was at 465 a month. A four year lease under the same mileage restrictions was actually more expensive at roughly $486. (When equipped with the sport pack, heated seats and HIDs) The 135i in a six speed with everything except the premium pack came in at $686 and some change with similar conditions.
So basically, I've screwed myself. I drove the top shelf model and fell in love with it. However, I will "settle" (lol at using the word settle) for a 128i I think and take advantage of that lease offer if it still exists by the end of next month. I'm sure 230 horsepower and a manual transmission with the sport pack will do me just fine.
![]()
The dealer is going to let me know when they get a 128 manual in so I can make sure that is definitely what I want.
As for the other compact cars, they are in the running still. The key virtue that they provide is that I would actually finance those to own, where as I would only be leasing the 1 series. However, I go through my cars like water, so I'm thinking a two year lease on this car would better suit my lifestyle than a financed sport compact. That and the free maintainance is hard to ignore...
Hmm...however, I'm sure if I sold my kidney...I could probably swing the 135i instead.
Financial devestation never looked or sounded so good...
![]()
![]()
Oh and on the way home from the dealer...their Jarez Black M3 pulled along side me on the main drag and dropped a gear and promptly pulled away like I was standing still. It sounded glorious...and looked absolutely evil. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
Then today at work one of my interviews was cancelled...which thus allowed me to have some free time on the computer. So for grins and giggles, I went on to the BMW website and started dabbling with the 1 series configuring thingamajigger. Next thing you know I had one built for a shade over 32k dollars. Wow, a great value...I wonder when my dealer is going to be getting one in so I can check it out.
*RING RING*
"Hello, when are you guys getting your first 1 series in?"
"Well we just got our first 135i in today, and it's quite beautiful"
"really?"
"Yeah we've all been having a blast with the customers driving it all day, would you like to come down and take it for a ride?"
"alright we look forward to seeing you"
So after work I fly straight to my dealer, and much to my dismay there is no one series.
So I talk to the manager and he explains that it's out on a test drive. So he tells me to just hang out and check out the inventory until it comes back. So I started to wander around for a few minutes when I heard a rumbling straight six pull up the drive.
And there it was...and holy hell was it fine! It was metallic black with red leather interior. Loaded with every option...and equipped with the six speed automatic. I don't care what people say....pictures don't do this car justice. It really is sooo much more incredible in the flesh. I was instantly in love.
So after gawking at the exterior for a few moments...the sales guy slaps on a plate and I jump in the drivers seat. The first thing I noticed was how the sports seats really do wrap around your body like a glove. Initially I felt rather constricted, but as the test drive went on I began to appreciate the support that they provided into the bends and felt perfectly at home in them. Also the dash materials were definitely strokeable. With the high gloss black trim I felt it had a much more upline appearance than the dash of the previous E46's.
So I start it up with the push button ignition and am immediately wowed by the bark from the exhaust. I gave the throttle a little love tap and the engine gave a beautiful intoxicating rev that I've never heard before from a a stock bmw. I knew this was gonna be good...
So I head out on the main drag and wait for an open straight and pin the throttle. The car after a very VERY minimal hesistation drops a gear and lunges forward with amazing force. I clicked of 90 mph before I even knew what had happened. And again...that engine wail was absolutely spine tingling! There is absolutely no need for an aftermarket exhaust with this cars setup imho, its THAT good. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
The sales guy then directs me on to a curve laden back road where he encouraged me to steer into the bends with as much enthusiasm as I liked. So I settled into a groove and began to go to work on the bends. The car remained extremely surefooted and predictable as I tossed it into the bends. Having driven a great deal of E46's, I found the 1 series to feel much more tossable and nimble in comparison. I know a few people have complained about the steering feeling somewhat numb, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. The transmission was excellent too. With the paddle shifters, I started to feel like Schumi working my way around a track. The exhaust barked as each downshift was met with the perfect rev match. I hadn't felt this giddy in a car since I drove the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
So after having my fun, I was directed back to the dealer where I had to be removed by force from the drivers seat.
So basically, I've screwed myself. I drove the top shelf model and fell in love with it. However, I will "settle" (lol at using the word settle) for a 128i I think and take advantage of that lease offer if it still exists by the end of next month. I'm sure 230 horsepower and a manual transmission with the sport pack will do me just fine.
As for the other compact cars, they are in the running still. The key virtue that they provide is that I would actually finance those to own, where as I would only be leasing the 1 series. However, I go through my cars like water, so I'm thinking a two year lease on this car would better suit my lifestyle than a financed sport compact. That and the free maintainance is hard to ignore...
Hmm...however, I'm sure if I sold my kidney...I could probably swing the 135i instead.
Financial devestation never looked or sounded so good...
Oh and on the way home from the dealer...their Jarez Black M3 pulled along side me on the main drag and dropped a gear and promptly pulled away like I was standing still. It sounded glorious...and looked absolutely evil. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif
