Which body style would you buy, if it were available?

[OBS3SSION]

To try to give BMW a barometer reading of what we would like to see here in the US, let's show them which configurations of the new 1 series we would likely buy. I'll make this multiple choice, because some households wind up with more than one car, or because some people have a hard time deciding which to get until the last moment. Please answer as accurately and honestly as possible. It will do us no good if BMW reads this information and the answers are bogus.

[Motown328]

I take any 1er they ship over here.......

[DaveH]

In my opinion, BMW-NA should consider highly the utility of the 5-door hatch for this market. Past sales experience with the unsuccessful 318i hatch should be noted but with an added caveat- Americans have changed. The American culture has shifted towards multiple use vehicles such as SUVs and now, smaller vehicles such as the Scion, Element and Vibe are highly popular, ugly as they are.

With the smartly styled 1-series 5-door , BMW has, in a sense, a niche all to themselves for the time being. Research reported by Crain Communications' publications has shown that the Scion, Element and Vibe are more often purchased by the mid to late 30's family; not the "teen set" as was their original intent. By having a high-line and stylized 5-door hatch, available to these folks at a good price point, BMW-NA would have this market to themselves. This target market can afford a BMW. The only other car with cache and style would be the Golf 5-door hatch. Unfortunately, the Golf 5-door is underpowered and wrought with quality control issues.

The American market is flooded with 2-door coupes. Another 2-door will not create the sales as your other product lines. Take for example the 3-series, I recall from sales figures that the sedan far outsells the coupe version. Why? Utility. I would love to drive a coupe but I need the 4 doors.

My message to BMW-NA is simple:
1) Keep the quality control high. Electronic gizmos are nice if they are reliable. Please do not add content at the expense of reliablilty. Many of these buyers will be first time BMW owners. A broken car makes for poor JD Powers scores and even worse sales.
2) Use higher quality materials in the the interior (a big problem with the 318i)
3) Do not underpower the base car (150 Hp minimum)
4) Offer an M version or if possible, an I-6 engine for those like myself who would buy the higher priced performance package.
5) Don't play the American market too safe. Those who try and fail can always learn from their mistakes. What did you learn from your failure with the 318i? Now fix it and come back..

my 2 cents

[andy_thomas]

In my opinion, BMW-NA should consider highly the utility of the 5-door hatch for this market. Past sales experience with the unsuccessful 318i hatch should be noted but with an added caveat- Americans have changed. The American culture has shifted towards multiple use vehicles such as SUVs and now, smaller vehicles such as the Scion, Element and Vibe are highly popular, ugly as they are.



While this may be a general trend, for BMW it goes in reverse, and its US range is diverging from RoW. Look at the entry-level 3; it used to have a 1.8L engine, then 1.9, then 2.3, now 2.5. And a few on this board think the 2.5 is a bit of a limp-wristed pinko :). Yet the entry-level cars in other markets retain their small capacities, despite substantial increases in weight.

I can envisage an almost entirely different line for the US which shares little with the European line - bigger six-pot motors for the US market, smaller, perhaps force-fed four-pots for European markets, and a mix of the two for smaller market like Australia, Asia-Pac etc. There is plenty of negative feeling towards a small, cheap BMW four-cylinder *amongst BMW's target customer base*, and IMHO BMW simply doesn't need to go there.

[DaveH]

Correction:

I just read this:
BMW won't bring 1 Series hatch to U.S.; Audi hatches A3 plans

By AUTOWEEK

It’s no Mini
We’re not sure how they explain the Mini, but BMW blamed the alleged U.S. aversion to hatchbacks for the German automaker’s position that the entry-level 1 Series won’t come to the United States until a sedan or coupe body style is developed. A spokesman for BMW said the company hasn’t changed its mind that the 1 Series five-door hatch, which launches this fall in Europe, won’t come to the States as a hatch. We’ll see the 1 Series in late 2005 as an ’06 model, most likely as a sedan.

Audi hatches plans
Meanwhile, a new version of the Audi A3 hatchback will definitely come to North America, Volkswagen has decided. After years of considering the old model for duty in the States and Canada, the company has decided the new five-door version of the upgraded VW Golf will work in North America. The three-door we are not expected to get is on the road in Europe already. The five-door we get isn’t due here until mid-2005. Look for the 1.8-liter turbo four and the 3.2-liter V6 to power U.S.-model A3s.

The 4-door will only be an inch smaller than the E46. Do we need this? Why import a sedan that doesn't add anything to the product line offering? I like the I-6 idea, just do it with a 5-door hatch. Why let Audi have all the initial sales?

Get some cojones, Tom Purves (CEO of BMW-NA). Leaders lead, they don't follow.

[OBS3SSION]

It's almost as though a 1er sedan will be a replacement 3er sedan, as the 3er will be closer in size to a 5.

Now hear this, BMW: If my lease runs out and there is no 1er hatch/wagon in the states, and the Audi A3 is... you've got a very good chance of losing one more customer. While I only drive German cars, I've got 3 other brands to choose from that will give me what I require. And what I require is a sporty car with utility, and is in the right price range ($30Ks).

[Chris90]

Can you add an option for "any of the above?" I'm sure BMW NA is only considering like 2-3 of those options, so I don't want to waste my vote!

[Chris90]

The 4-door will only be an inch smaller than the E46. Do we need this? Why import a sedan that doesn't add anything to the product line offering? I like the I-6 idea, just do it with a 5-door hatch. Why let Audi have all the initial sales?

Get some cojones, Tom Purves (CEO of BMW-NA). Leaders lead, they don't follow.

Yeah, but the E90 is like 3-4 inches longer than the E46, so they won't overlap.
I agree though, bring us a coupe and a 3 or 5 door hatch. Just put in a 180 hp+ inline six and US buyers will be all over it. After all the 184 hp 325 is BMW's top seller right?

[Motown328]

In my opinion, BMW-NA should consider highly the utility of the 5-door hatch for this market. Past sales experience with the unsuccessful 318i hatch should be noted but with an added caveat- Americans have changed. The American culture has shifted towards multiple use vehicles such as SUVs and now, smaller vehicles such as the Scion, Element and Vibe are highly popular, ugly as they are.
. Why? Utility. I would love to drive a coupe but I need the 4 doors.



You got it. This whole "no 1er because the 318 was a sales failure" is complete B.S.

First off, the 318 was a part of the 3er-line, so everyone compared it to the other 3ers......so naturally it was the ugly stepchild. The 1er will be it's own brand, so to speak, a wholely different design (unlike the 318) and geared towards BMW die-hards and those who don't find the 3er and up appealing.

Why do you think Geo failed (besides they were total shyte)? Because the brand NEVER separated itself from Chevy.

Now....why do you think Acura is making a killing as rebadged Hondas? (besides they are good quality autos?) Why Lexus, not Toyota? Why Scion, not Toyota? Why Infiniti, not Nissan?

That's why the 1er will be a success (besides it's a great auto) and also why the comparisions to the 318 are like comparing apples to oranges. "Well, they both have hatches?!?!?!!!!" Yeah, and bunnies and rats have similar teeth.........

:mad: :tsk: :dunno:

[KatanaPilot]

wow, I'm surprised by the voting results so far.
I would've expected more people to want the 4-door versions. At this point, the 4-door is the least popular.

If BMW only wants to bring the 4-door model over to the US, then it tells me their marketing folks really don't know what they are doing.

For me, I probably will buy a 1-series in a few years if BMW brings the 5-door hatchback version over.

[Chris90]

wow, I'm surprised by the voting results so far.
I would've expected more people to want the 4-door versions. At this point, the 4-door is the least popular.

If BMW only wants to bring the 4-door model over to the US, then it tells me their marketing folks really don't know what they are doing.

For me, I probably will buy a 1-series in a few years if BMW brings the 5-door hatchback version over.


I think the current opinion is the US will get a 2 door, not four door, plus a convertible.
Although a 2 door would be my last choice, I'd probably still buy it if it's the sportiest BMW. Or I'd wait for the M2 which I'm sure will also be a coupe.

[blueguydotcom]

///M 2 door convertible would be perfect. say about 30-35k.

[Chris90]

///M 2 door convertible would be perfect. say about 30-35k.

I've not heard anything about an M2 convertible, just the M2, and a 2 series conv.
i'd guess a loaded 2 series coupe will be around $28-30k, so an M2 maybe $35k, and an M2 conv closer to $40k. Still want one?

[WILLIA///M]

///M2

[Maverick]

I can't see any reason why a 5/4 door 1er can't come to US. Look how many Golf and Jettas are sold here. Isn't the Golf meant to be its main competitor?

[blueguydotcom]

I've not heard anything about an M2 convertible, just the M2, and a 2 series conv.
i'd guess a loaded 2 series coupe will be around $28-30k, so an M2 maybe $35k, and an M2 conv closer to $40k. Still want one?

If it's lighter than my ZHP and sporting as much or more power, the answer is yes. My current car was 43k msrp.

I desperately want an uber-fast, rwd convertible with at least 2+2 seating. Not many options there.

[toshweir27]

I'd take a "M" 3-door hatch any day! I've also always wanted an Audi S3.

[operknockity]

I wish BMW would bring any of the hatchback versions over here. Back when I was looking for a new car, I was seriously looking at the Lexus IS-300 SportCross, which was their hatchback version. The killer for that path was that at the time, the SportCross was not available with a stick. (How to you call something a SportCross but not have it available with a stick :dunno::dunno::dunno: ). Late the following year they finally became available with a stick, but it was already too late for me. And, the sales critter that I was dealing with said that he had heard the same complaint from a lot of prospective buyers! So it does seem that there is a decent market for the hatchback version to start with, and bearing the BMW roundel, it would likely start attracting some folks that might otherwise pass one up.