There's a dreadful front angle photo of it floating around - I'll see if I can find it - and because of the long bonnet, it looks like a shoe. Gimme a minute...
There will be a 3-door version, and a 2-door coupe within the next two years, as the 1-series range will eventually replace the 3-series Compact, according to the current issue of 'Auto Express' in the UK.
Originally posted by aljones There will be a 3-door version, and a 2-door coupe within the next two years, as the 1-series range will eventually replace the 3-series Compact, according to the current issue of 'Auto Express' in the UK.
Yeah - they also say that the entire 1-series would be 'contrary to BMW's sporting image'. It's interesting to me that they want to keep their image since they seem to want to be a volume seller.
Originally posted by bengee Really i would guess that about 50-60 percent of the bmw's i see from the era of the ti are infact the ti in SF and Berkeley...
Yeah. So then a car that accounted for probably one percent of BMW sales from 1995 to 1998 suddenly flooded the market and became 60% of all 1995-1998 BMWs, with the 3-series sedan, 3-series coupe, 3-series convertible, 5-series, 5-series wagon, 7-series, and 8-series left to share the other 40%. If I were looking for a 318ti I'd probably move to the Bay Area!
A quick check on AutoTrader reveals the 318ti is no more concentrated in San Francisco than in any other city in America. In fact, within 75mi of 94103, there's just five 318ti's on the market. Not exactly 50-60%.
One of the things I remember about this car was that it had an optional full-length cloth sunroof, particularly popular in California. BMW seemed to feel this was a great idea, until the customer theft complaints started to come in - I can't remember whether the alarm wasn't adequate enough or if owners simply left it open and thieves reached in the unusually large opening and took whatever they wanted, but owners with that option weren't particularly pleased with BMW for it. After that car such an option has never resurfaced, except of course for convertible tops. I saw one about a month ago with the sunroof - very odd. It makes one wonder why the owner didn't just go for the 318i convertible - it's not like the 318ti was ever that much more practical. It still isn't
Originally posted by M5Power It makes one wonder why the owner didn't just go for the 318i convertible - it's not like the 318ti was ever that much more practical. It still isn't
Well, that is true, but some people want to buy a brand name without paying a lot for it. I think the 318ti was the most affordable BMW between 1995-8. I am not sure totally, but it is from what I heard about it ...
My dad is interested in the 1 Series because of his experience with the 318ti. With a 180hp 2.2L Inline 6, a 6-speed manual transmission and being a small car, he cannot wait to buy one.
Originally posted by Thio Well, that is true, but some people want to buy a brand name without paying a lot for it. I think the 318ti was the most affordable BMW between 1995-8. I am not sure totally, but it is from what I heard about it ...
I am sorry M5... I meant that of the 3 series BMWs I see in berkeley and sf from 95-98 that a majority are ti's... Berkeley is not a large place so I am fairly confident in my assertion here. I guess my point was that in areas were parking might be a bit more cramped, the ti was a car that people took seriously.
Cars for sale isn't really an accurate picture of the cars driven in an area is it? I am sure there is a better way...
Actually, it is. To the largest degree possible. And autotrader says there's about 120 1995-1998 3-series vehicles within 75 miles of 94103, a Bay Area zip code and not a Berkeley zip code, with 4.2% being 318ti's. I don't imagine it would change that much inside Berkeley...
I guess my point was that in areas were parking might be a bit more cramped, the ti was a car that people took seriously.
Originally posted by bengee Is there a way i can use the dmv for free to get the number of 3 series within berkeley and the number of 3 ti's between the years of interest?
Not the California DMV. You can thank Robert John Bardo for that. And plus, nobody in Berkeley's intelligent enough to register their vehicle as a "318ti". Like twenty percent of the time, people don't even register their vehicles in the proper color, and even more frequently they get the body style wrong.
Oh and about bmw not believing US citizens like hatches... what about the mini?
Don't think anyone has mentioned the one unique selling point of the 1-series and 2-series.
They will be the only cars in their particular class with rear wheel drive. The range suffers from very poor interiour space, due to the front/rear drive train layout and transmission tunnel.
However it will be unique in its class and one reason I am looking at one when my current company car comes to be changed. The small size of cars in this class combined with rear wheel drive is a big selling point for me.
However it may prove to be it undoing for the general public, I am not going to go into the reasons why again, if you are interested have a look at my posts on the following thread.
The info I had seen was that the 1-series was not headed to the USA in any form hatch or sedan/saloon. However the 2-series have been suggested for a US launch and would include a Cabriolet and Coupe, with strong rumours of an M2 model as well, dates for the launch of the 2-series has been suggested for 2006.
