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View Full Version : Took some pics and a Test ride in a 120i...

ricastm8
03-22-2005, 06:04 PM
There's this event called Automovile Week that's held at a small track. Basically you can ride shutgun with an amateur driver in any of the cars the have present. They take you once around a test cource consisting in very tight corners two short straights a longish right hand sweeper and then into a series of tight S's and chicanes. The drivers push the cars hard and even do stupid things midcorner to try to induce over/under steer so you can realy feel the dinamics of the cars.

Well I took a ride in a 120i with 6speed stick shifter and sport suspension. I was impresed with the pull from the little engine (You have to consider this particular place where the even is held is at 2500m above sea level 8200ft!!) but even so it had good power accelarating fast in the straights and the best thing, ofcourse, is how the little thing sticks to the pavement... :thumbup: this guy was jerking the wheel midcorner and the car just went the way he pointed. We weren't going that fast but I was well impresed.

As for the car itself, The more I look at it the more I like it, specially in darker colors like the sparking graphite pictured below. The interior is not as classy nor did it have the quality as my 320's, at least IMO, but good overall.

And now for some pics:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/photos/data/500/5987120i_sport_frente.jpg
http://www.bimmerfest.com/photos/data/500/5987120i_sport_lateral.jpg
http://www.bimmerfest.com/photos/data/500/5987120iA_SG.jpg
http://www.bimmerfest.com/photos/data/500/5987120iA_plata.jpg

The two first pics are from the 120i with sports package and the other two from 120iAs

Ricardo
Huezo
03-22-2005, 06:59 PM
I am from Mexico and I also test drove a 1-Series (Well, my dad drove, I still don't have a license) and it was awesome. We took it for a spin around the city and I was impressed with the handling. Engine Power seemed adequate even with an automatic transmission.

The only thing stopping me from getting one is that there are no BMW dealerships in my city. The closest one is a 3 hour drive away and then back. I think its rather inconvenient to drive 6 hours for an oil change or to have it fixed if it ever needs to be. Another thing, if for some reason it got involved in a crash, wouldn't it take a long time to have it fixed in Mexico?

Its an awesome little car. :D
Gabe
03-23-2005, 01:06 PM
I sure wish I could get my hands on one to check out. I am a big fan of the styling, and would love to experience one up close and in the flesh. Thanks for the pics and the write up!
Kaari
03-23-2005, 06:31 PM
The two first pics are from the 120i with sports package and the other two from 120iAs

Ricardo

Good pics-
If I may suggest - use some filters to get the haze out of the pictures- It'll make them more sharp- and true in colors-
I have filtered one of your pictures for you to see the difference. GoodLuck.
:thumbup:
Kurt Martin
03-23-2005, 09:15 PM
I want one of these to go with my M coupe! Dang!

Can I just buy one in Mexico and bring it back up here? My dealer can work on it, right? :dunno:

Kurt
LDV330i
03-23-2005, 10:01 PM
I want one of these to go with my M coupe! Dang!

Can I just buy one in Mexico and bring it back up here? My dealer can work on it, right? :dunno:

KurtEven if you ignore the EPA and DOT issues. parts may not be available. The motor is not used by any US market BMW's.
swchang
03-24-2005, 02:50 AM
Never realized how much it looks like a Golf until I saw those pics. Wow.
Patrick
03-24-2005, 04:14 AM
I want one of these to go with my M coupe! Dang!

Can I just buy one in Mexico and bring it back up here? My dealer can work on it, right? :dunno:

Kurt

If you do, buy the 120d - it is a fun car!


.
ricastm8
03-24-2005, 01:01 PM
If you do, buy the 120d - it is a fun car!


.

But there are no diesels in Mexico :dunno: . We only get the 120i and soon the 130i :D

Kaari:

Thanks for the tips the pic does look sharper, I'll try it next time.

Ricardo
Andm99
03-24-2005, 05:29 PM
These "real" pictures make the 1 Series look very appealing. Hope we get the coupes here in the US, looks to be a cool little soul-successor to the 2002.
Warot
03-27-2005, 12:05 PM
It looks even better in real life, trust me. One amazing color that I suggest is Titansilver. It looks amazing on the 1er. :thumbup:
bmw325driver
06-04-2005, 07:48 AM
Wow... I really want to move to Mexico now. You get the european model BMWs and all the great cars that exist in Europe but don't come to Canada/USA. I like that Seat Ibiza in yellow. I drove one of them over here in the UK... and they're amazing in the Cupra model. The Leon Cupra R is really hot and the one I drove had leather/alcantra sport seats, sat-nav with TV function... things that usually are only found in high-end large cars. I wish we could buy that kind of thing over here.

When will North Americans finally embrace small and sporty cars!?!?!?