Bring back the E30! Or will the 1 Series do?

[Chapel]

Ill save my opinions for when the car is a reality... not just a concept or 'spy render'
I have currently not seen any pictures of a true production car... just concepts, test mules, spy renders and other illustrations.

[Charlie]

I like the idea of the one series, it's the closest thing you're going to get to an "e30" type of car from BMW. Frankly, if you're looking for something lightweight and fun to toss around, you're not going to find it in a european marque, you'll have to look to the Japanese. The new Mazda three is looking like a hell of a car, good chassis, good suspension, relativaly lightweight. They're also talking about brining the Miata coupe over into the US if they get enough preorders. The Miata and MR Spyder are probably the most "e30" like cars out there today.

I say make an Isetta. I could use one on campus as long as it had heat and I could park in the motorcycle spots.

Mercedes is bringing the "smart" to the US in 2005, that's the closest you'll come.


I could dig one of those as a commuter car.

-Charlie

[Jarvis]

That convertible is not the production version of the upcoming 1-series... see the license plate? CS1 - the CS1 concept car, not the true 1-series.

[KenC]

http://www.bmwinfo.com/515.html

pictures of the 'real' 1-series

Charlie,
Lightweight and fun to toss around = Lotus Elise (and it's coming the US in mid '04)

http://66.139.73.25/pic1.jpg

[Jand3rson]

Mercedes is bringing the "smart" to the US in 2005, that's the closest you'll come.


I could dig one of those as a commuter car.

-Charlie

Dude, I would so buy one of those. They are so cool.

[Charlie]

Charlie,
Lightweight and fun to toss around = Lotus Elise (and it's coming the US in mid '04)

http://66.139.73.25/pic1.jpg

And 40+k with limited availabilty.

Don't get me wrong, I love the elise, but for 40+ large, there's a lot of cars I'd look at.

http://www.caterham.co.uk/

http://www.ginettacars.com/

-Charlie

[Erick]

Seriously, let's face it. The 1 series is the closest that we'll ever have of BMW building an e30. The 1 series IS the modern e30. It'll be small, lighter than the 3 series, and it probably wont have as much luxury as the 3 series, leaving some space for some performance :)

I dig the rear end of the 1 series, the front end needs some work. But as a car, I would love to have it as a commuter.

[rwh11385]

Seriously, let's face it. The 1 series is the closest that we'll ever have of BMW building an e30. The 1 series IS the modern e30. It'll be small, lighter than the 3 series, and it probably wont have as much luxury as the 3 series, leaving some space for some performance

:( Yeah, you're probably right. We'll see when they come out. As soon as they do, I really wanna test drive one.

Charlie,
Lightweight and fun to toss around = Lotus Elise (and it's coming the US in mid '04)

Dude! I love the Elise! Maybe pricey, but hella tight. Pardon my absolute lack of more mature adjectives. It's just cool, it [the old version with the Honda Type R engine] smashed a Mustang Cobra Type R in SCC.

I like the idea of the one series, it's the closest thing you're going to get to an "e30" type of car from BMW. Frankly, if you're looking for something lightweight and fun to toss around, you're not going to find it in a european marque, you'll have to look to the Japanese. The new Mazda three is looking like a hell of a car, good chassis, good suspension, relativaly lightweight. They're also talking about brining the Miata coupe over into the US if they get enough preorders. The Miata and MR Spyder are probably the most "e30" like cars out there today.

Sadly, you're going to be right. But you can't blame me for hoping/being curious, etc.

I have to absolutely agree on the RX-8. The car testers and reviewers are praising its low weight. I dunno about the rotary, we'll see how that works out. But yeah, that's the attraction of Honda and other Jap models......low weight....how heavy is a CRX? like 12 pounds? Anyway, sorry, but Miatas are kinda . Not like it isn't a performer, but I wouldn't want to be cruising in it. If you like RWD and sporty and light, 240SX's are tight aka Silvias......turbo SR20, RWD..... :twisted:

If the 1 series is anything like a Mini Cooper with RWD, weight and fun wise, it should be tight. Ya know what I mean. The Mini zips. Put ~190-200hp stock on the 2.0L 2700-2800 lb 1 series, that thing would be tight. Or ya know make it 2500lbs with 225hp (I mean 300hp) 3.0L! :twisted: Hmmmm.......the potential..........

Anyone know the weight figures on the 1? I can't find them. And I've only heard rumors of 2.0L 240hp M version.

FYI: reading this new issue of Roundel: "BMW motorsport P52B20 short-stroke (80x66 mm) motor delivers 268-272 bhp at 8,700 of the permitted 9,000 rpm....." Although, torque only reaches 165 ft-lbs @ 7,000 rpm, with usuable powerband starting at 2,500 rpm.

Just something to think about. Not that the motorsport engine is anywhere near what a reliable street engine would be able to make, but just the possibilities. I think they should beat 240hp out of the 2.0L just to piss Honda S2000 drivers off!

[Chapel]

http://www.bmwinfo.com/515.html

pictures of the 'real' 1-series

just more test mules and spy renders
Ive seen them all.

[Super Eta]

Holy crap those tail lights remind me of the ones on the new Acura RSX!

[Jamie Woodruff]

I would like to see someone license the design for the e24, 28, and 30. I agree with whoever said bmw's are too heavy now. Case in point:

My father has an e46 M3 cabrio, and my bro has a euro e28 535i. Yeah, the m3 is faster, but the 5er is actually lighter! This keeps the necessity for steering boost low, and the result is a much more 'connected' feeling with the road. And god bless the big-six M30.

So, someone should try to license their design and just build bare-bones replicas, like they do w/shelby cobras or something.

[Jand3rson]

Holy crap those tail lights remind me of the ones on the new Acura RSX!

Just one more reason why I don't like any new BMW. But I'm not getting into the Bangle war again, so I'm going to leave it at that.

[decay]

All I have to say...Golf MKII GTi over a MKIII, IV, or even that new one coming out.

oh hell yeah. :)

the weight difference there is actually bigger than e30 - e36; my 16v weighs just over 2000lbs (with some weight reduction). the two GTI-VR6's i owned? try 2800+...

& the new golf is crap. looks like a civic that some douchebag over at APC got to dry-hump for two hours. i just hope that 2-liter turbo 16v engine is still based on the same block.

[DrMcDave]

what about mcoupes they aren' that heavy are they...and you can get the m engines...whatever it may be i think they have s50,s52,s54.

thats what my next car will be and the price is getting reasonable on some of them.

[808BMW]

But yeah, that's the attraction of Honda and other Jap models......low weight....how heavy is a CRX? like 12 pounds?

Sub 2000 easily. To go faster, add lightness