German Car Zone

It's not that ugly, you're exaggerating.

True, not ulgy just very dull. Visually it doesn't have an edge over the Golf unless the car is kitted with the M-package. The coupe is a different story though it's very appealing. Inside there is very little eye candy, a bit too sedated. But the car is old and should be replaced in 2011 sometime and I wish for the new car to have more character like any other BMW, rather than having a "detuned" design in order not to leech sales from the 3er.

So, you think that a base 116i and base Golf VI, "Trendline" look the same? I mean, when compared to Golf, 1er doesn't offer anything special? Drove a 1 series million times, owning Golf for 3,5 years already... No, not right. There's a big difference, especially inside...

Sure 1 series looks great with M package, but so do both GTI & R32...

It's logical that we both expect better design of his successor, but this one is doing pretty fine, sells like crazy without stealing sales to 3er, despite being "ugly"...

I only like the fact that 116d has 2 liter Diesel engine and BMW did not dedide to build a lawn mower 1.6 diesel engine.

All in all, I don't like the fact that everyone is now looking at CO2 emissions and all car companies are forced to downsize motors

No matter how efficient the 4 cylinder engines in BMWs will be, I will always consider them as inferior, maybe I am too traditional and can't put up with the current situation, but I treat all the 4-pot BMWs not as the real BMWs. At least in the USA they still offer only real Bimmers.

For me the real Bimmer has 6 inline pots (or more ) under the hood. It will be a main criterium for me when looking for a next Bimmer in sometime.

Great little car.

It's a shame that most of the clueless bastards out there hear the name "116d" and immediately think this is an underpowered POS.

Yeah Luw, for crying out loud. My car isnt ugly. I get comments on the streets from random people that my car looks good. I also get looks from others while driving my car. The car is still more intresting to look at than A3 and Golf. A3 and Golf looks dull and they are everywhere.
You may not like the car but "ugly"? come on, thats strong word.

"BMWs have probably never been beautiful, but they have always been handsome."

I read this once in a BMW Car in of the articles. And since then I couldn't agree more. One usually doesn't buy BMW because of their design (which is sometimes superb and timeless (3er Coupe E46 LCI, new Z4, 6er E24)) but because of driving characteristics, perfect suspension, motor performance, premium quality etc.

The 1-series hatch is, without a doubt, the best looking (and in many cases one of the most expensive) car in the Golf segment. This engine will help with some great low-cost sales.