[FieldingMellish]

Hi folks

My daughter is thinking of buying a 1 Series, probably a 1.6i. She had been looking at a Honda Civic but naturally I reckon a 1 Series would be a better buy. Her budget is limited to around 7.5K, 8 at the most.

She's looking at a few from 2006, maybe 40,000 miles done, SE spec. Quite a few available for just under £8k.

Any advice or things to avoid?

Cheers
FM

[Vaheed1]

Hi,

I don't think you can go too wrong with any of the 1ers really. It's got a good range of engines - the 120d is a great little car - but I'd imagine it being £2-3k more than what her budget is.

If she's after space, however, then she'll be disappointed.

[the_rangdo]

It's thirsty, would have to drive like a nanny to get anything above 30mpg/

[Spoonhead]

There are better cars out there for the money, or thereabouts.

1 series petrol aren't great.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...80gu?logcode=p

Gazza

[edowen]

As above, small 4 cyl BMW engines are not class leading IMHO, stick with the oil burners. 118d or 120d.

2005 BMW 1 SERIES 118d SE 5dr Diesel Hatchback
Private Seller

35,000 miles, Immaculate Condition 5 Door Hatchback, Red, Diesel, Manual, Traction control, Height adjustable drivers seat, Solid Paint, PAS, Trip computer, Rear wiper. 118 Sport Edition, 6 gears, 2 lady owners, only 35000 miles, 55 reg- can be sold with or without the private plate. Immaculate condition, no marks inside or out. Alloys are in perfect condition. Selling due to company car. Very comfortable, economical, safe and reliable car. 4 top of the range run flat tyres (can drive for 150 miles on them if it punctures) - lots of tread on them. AV line to connect your iPod through the stereo. Full service history. Tax till end May 2011, MOT end June 2011. No silly offers. Any marks are on my camera and not the car - sorry!. £7,800 ONO.

[rsmallwo]

for 1 series advice goto www.babybmw.net

I'd be in the 118d camp too. The 116i will feel gutless, even for someone who isn't a petrolhead

[FieldingMellish]

I have suggested she consider a 118d but she is opposed to diesel.

[edowen]

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

I have suggested she consider a 118d but she is opposed to diesel.

Has she driven any?

You need to get her to drive both and understand that diesels are no longer only in tractors.

The 116i sounds shit, is gutless, and has nothing going for it over the derv apart from a slightly quieter tickover.

[V88TAC]

Hi i would recommend the honda civic any time its a great wee car! Space, looks, comfort, etc.. Is great! It was my 1st car n loved every minuite of it! I was gettin 43mpg goin easy n 38 blastin it! Very gd car! Even think of the money u save changing tyres! How much is run flats compared to non run flats? Servicing is much cheaper aswell! Keep us updated how she get on!

[Carjack]

Originally Posted by V88TAC

Hi i would recommend the honda civic any time its a great wee car! Space, looks, comfort, etc.. Is great! It was my 1st car n loved every minuite of it! I was gettin 43mpg goin easy n 38 blastin it! Very gd car! Even think of the money u save changing tyres! How much is run flats compared to non run flats? Servicing is much cheaper aswell! Keep us updated how she get on!

You can say similar to the above about 2 or 3 other motors in comparison to the range of BMW's. But the fact is IMO when you undertake an A B comparison trial run, the BMW always drives that much better. Invarabily I am staggered at the difference. When one has been driving a BMW for some time one tends to forget the difference.
In any case any other motor is not a BMW, fullstop!

[davyk31]

Volkswagen Golf ............ much superior to a 1 Series.

[SteveF1]

I agree, VW Golf is a better car overall than the 1 series.

It is more spacious, just as good quality and build wise and drives very nice too.

I'd have a Golf over a 1 any day.

[225_AB]

How about golf v civic?

[SteveF1]

Golf

[SteveF1]

I think the Golf is THE best car in its class bar none.

The Focus, despite its Ford roots is also extremely capable and probably better to drive than the Golf.

[m1bjr]

I would take a small Honda any day over the little 1'er.
Seriously.

Better VFM.

Or buy a decent Clio.

[kaishang]

I think a Clio is too powerful. Something which can drag off a 335i is too much for young 'uns.

[creepy coupe]

Suzuki Swift, looks great, will be bomb proof.

[p0jy]

Audi a3....

[Falmouthboy]

Even though we have a 1 Series, I think this may be a mistake. The money you are talking about only puts you in a Pre-Facelift car (FL took place in 2007). Not only was the quality of the interior way down on BMW standards (much improved Post FL), the car didn't benefit from any Efficiency Dynamics so isn't cheap to run. I had a 116i Post-Facelift as a courtesy car the other day and even that only gave me 34 MPG on a decent 160 mile 'A Road' run! Speed may not be an issue for her but I imagine running costs are.

You haven't really said much about your daughter (or rather what she needs the car for and her annual mileage). Having had a few Mini's, that may be the way to go if she doesn't often carry 4 or need the boot (or do a lot of motorway miles). If she is in need of a 'full size' hatchback, then as much as it hurts to say it, she would be better off with a Golf or Civic as other have suggested.

Now if you can convince her to try a diesel, that is a differenct matter!

[FieldingMellish]

Thanks for all the responses, people. I'm quite surprised at the lack of partisan 'BMW or nothing' replies!

I had a Golf before I had my current BMW and I loved it. Many times did I eulogise the Golf as 'best in its class'. I suggested a Golf to my daughter, repeatedly, but she was very much against it. Anybody here with teenage or young adult kids will know that if they're dead against something then there's really no persuading them. I also suggested a Mini, but she doesn't like those either. I thought a Civic would probably be a good buy, but when she looked at a few and test drove them she found them uninspiring. When she drove a 1 Series, she was hooked immediately, and I don't blame her.

As an owner of a BMW 320d, and a former owner of a 318i which had to be returned because of the dreaded 'limp mode' engine problems, believe me I am aware of the superiority of 4 cylinder diesels to their petrol counterparts. On the other hand, my next car will be a petrol model, probably a 330i. And it'll be an automatic - sick of pumping that heavy clutch in traffic.

But look, a 1 series may compare unfavourably in some respects to a Golf or a Civic or whatever, but it is, at the end of the day, a BMW, and you do get some enjoyment from that fact. Plus it has that nice rear wheel drive feeling. A 116i won't be powerful, or economic - the worst of both worlds. But she doesn't really do that many miles, and will be happy enough with the fuel consumption I reckon. Also I wouldn't want her driving a powerful car!

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by FieldingMellish

Thanks for all the responses, people. I'm quite surprised at the lack of partisan 'BMW or nothing' replies!

I had a Golf before I had my current BMW and I loved it. Many times did I eulogise the Golf as 'best in its class'. I suggested a Golf to my daughter, repeatedly, but she was very much against it. Anybody here with teenage or young adult kids will know that if they're dead against something then there's really no persuading them. I also suggested a Mini, but she doesn't like those either. I thought a Civic would probably be a good buy, but when she looked at a few and test drove them she found them uninspiring. When she drove a 1 Series, she was hooked immediately, and I don't blame her.

As an owner of a BMW 320d, and a former owner of a 318i which had to be returned because of the dreaded 'limp mode' engine problems, believe me I am aware of the superiority of 4 cylinder diesels to their petrol counterparts. On the other hand, my next car will be a petrol model, probably a 330i. And it'll be an automatic - sick of pumping that heavy clutch in traffic.

But look, a 1 series may compare unfavourably in some respects to a Golf or a Civic or whatever, but it is, at the end of the day, a BMW, and you do get some enjoyment from that fact. Plus it has that nice rear wheel drive feeling. A 116i won't be powerful, or economic - the worst of both worlds. But she doesn't really do that many miles, and will be happy enough with the fuel consumption I reckon. Also I wouldn't want her driving a powerful car!

Fair enough - she seems to have made her mind up and as you say - you probably have little chance of swaying her As a regular contributor to the 1 series forum, I can at least report that 1 series don't seem to suffer the problems encountered by 3 Series 2L petrol owners. My only advice would be to try and find a post facelift car. They really are a lot better in many ways. A nice 'Sport' is probably best. It's essentially an ES with better seats and alloys. Post FL you are looking at 48.7 MPG combined against 37.7 pre face lift so a massive difference in running costs.