New 114i and New M135

The new 3-Door hatch has gone live on BMWs UK website.

The new Entry Level BMW 114i ES starts at £17,300 Engine is a 102HP turbocharged 1.6L I4. Advertised 0-62mph is 11.2 seconds.

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesand...b-RjIx,00.html


Top of the range is the M135. Price starts at £29,995 on the road. The engine is a turbo charged 3.0L I6. Horsepower is TBC.

http://www.bmw.co.uk/bmwuk/pricesand...calSpec&isPGA=

I know cars sell for different reasons in Europe/UK. Still it is difficult for me to believe that people pay the BMW price premium for a car that takes 11.2 seconds to hit 62 mph. If you are going to buy a car with that level of performance, why not get a Honda with better reliability? N4S

Originally Posted by need4speed

I know cars sell for different reasons in Europe/UK. Still it is difficult for me to believe that people pay the BMW price premium for a car that takes 11.2 seconds to hit 62 mph. If you are going to buy a car with that level of performance, why not get a Honda with better reliability? N4S

I've driven in Europe a lot, and small engines are a blast to drive there. I had an Audi A3 rental with a 100 hp 1.6L engine - it was awesome, revved and sounded like a little race car and was great fun on the curvy roads.

Here in the US with all the straight bumpy roads and traffic lights, it would probably suck.

Originally Posted by need4speed

I know cars sell for different reasons in Europe/UK.

I was a little surprised to see the 114i. It exists for the £199/month advertised special and corporate fleets. BMW probably hopes to sell most customers at least a 116i.

11.6 is slow for a BMW but it depends on what you are cross shopping.

The entry level VW Golf S 1.2 TSI takes 12.3 seconds.


Least expensive Golf and 1 series that do 0-60 in under 10 seconds:

Golf S 1.4 TSI 122PS 6Speed £18,395. 9.5 Seconds
BMW 116i ES 136HP 6Speed £18,850. 8.5 Seconds

Originally Posted by Andrew*Debbie

I was a little surprised to see the 114i. It exists for the £199/month advertised special and corporate fleets. BMW probably hopes to sell most customers at least a 116i.

11.6 is slow for a BMW but it depends on what you are cross shopping.

The entry level VW Golf S 1.2 TSI takes 12.3 seconds.


Least expensive Golf and 1 series that do 0-60 in under 10 seconds:

Golf S 1.4 TSI 122PS 6Speed £18,395. 9.5 Seconds
BMW 116i ES 136HP 6Speed £18,850. 8.5 Seconds

First:

Second:

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N4S

Originally Posted by Chris90

I've driven in Europe a lot, and small engines are a blast to drive there. I had an Audi A3 rental with a 100 hp 1.6L engine - it was awesome, revved and sounded like a little race car and was great fun on the curvy roads.

Here in the US with all the straight bumpy roads and traffic lights, it would probably suck.

One of the best drives I have ever done was in the last generation European Ford Focus, 1.6 litres and less than 100bhp but with a rev happy engine, excellent steering and slick gear change. It was across the Yorkshire Moors (in the UK for those not familiar) on paved single-track roads (only wide enough for one car, although it is used by two-way traffic with passing places). Any more power and any bigger car would have been fruitless, as the tight hairpin turns and major "yumps" prevent any significant amount of power being put to the ground. Much air time was had! (enough that the battery was destroyed by the landings and had to be replaced with 5000 miles on the clock).

Different horses for different courses. Yet another reason I'm glad my ancestors came to the new world. N4S

Originally Posted by need4speed

Different horses for different courses. Yet another reason I'm glad my ancestors came to the new world. N4S

Just because cars like the 3-Cylinder VW polo diesel exist doesn't mean we are forced to buy them. I wouldn't buy the 114i either. I'm not sure if BMW hopes to capture A3 and Golf customers or if the 114i exists just to switch customers to the 116i.


I've driven a 116i 5-door. Not bad at all.

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America has low priced fuel and big powerful cars. UK has interesting roads and a better selection of cars that are fun to drive.






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Originally Posted by Andrew*Debbie

Just because cars like the 3-Cylinder VW polo diesel exist doesn't mean we are forced to buy them. I wouldn't buy the 114i either. I'm not sure if BMW hopes to capture A3 and Golf customers or if the 114i exists just to switch customers to the 116i.


I've driven a 116i 5-door. Not bad at all.

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America has low priced fuel and big powerful cars. UK has interesting roads and a better selection of cars that are fun to drive.






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The VAT tax alone is enough to discourage buying a car. From what I've seen of your raods most of our cars would not fit very well. On the other hand many of your cars would get run off the road for being too slow if driven here. As I said different horses for different courses. N4S