BMW 130i



There is an urge this week to test drive this car not because Mr. David the repulsive forum member poke a stick up my backside and say I was wrong, nor the fact that Jeremy Clarkson in his Top Gear show claiming this new BMW is a bad car and not worth more than a Volks Wagon; but because the bloody sexy voice of the reception operator who called me and asked for Dr. Taka.

Enough said, I am coming baby

Too bad that I was stuck with my stunning Mrs Taka for the whole day . Well, I was not disappointed… the reception did look stunning as I imagine (5’11”, brunet with straight long hair, long sexy legs, slim torso….) Yes I gave her an elevator. …. Oh yes, then I said Dr. Taka here to looking at the 130i. Then she organised some salesmen to serve me … Psstttt..

Ok back to the car. It is a good looking car. To be honest, it was parked in a corner so I cannot get to the back easily. The front is stunning, every bit of the German’s effort for sex appeal to increase its population (read here). It is so vital for the leading German car manufacturer to save the race and enter new era of the German finest.

I am sure I have to agree with Clarkson in some ways. This fast hatchback is more like a 20-in-1 toy that I can buy in the Vic Market. Let me show you what it has. Yes it has a slick design. It is solidly built and stylish looking interior. It also has a gadget of keyless engine start: You plug the space age remote control key card thingy into the dash. It is more like you do with a flash drive and your computer. Push the Engine button and wah la…. WHAT A THING! What a show off! It is more like to show your friend – “watch this!” And you fire the engine and it goes! Hurrah! And you shut it off with the same Engine button. Then… guess what … another of your good mate arrived and missed the show. Then you have to fire it up again! That is a good way to waste your petrol, quite frankly. There are more goodies inside. There is a good stereo, easy to reach buttons, a sat nav with menu option as seen in a M5 (minus the 500ps power boost option of course), a suede small steering wheel which give you an excellent feeling, and a 8 way adjustable sport seat that can even adjust how the side support hugging your love handles. What a great concept! The seat only comes with Boston leather, the a slight lower quality than you can option for in the 3 series and Z4.

The model I test drove had the works; 18 inch wheel which is an option - $1,250, mirror package (auto downward tilting of mirror during reverse) which is an option - $480, Metallic Black sapphire paint - $860, Sunroof - $2,750, heated seat - $680. So all up, this car has more bonus than Paris’ DVD.

Powered by an in line 6 cylinder engine with high 10.7 compression ratio, it does rev to 7000rpm for a good 195kW of power and 315 Nm of torque. And it does feel like a 195kW car (thanks Mazda san ). Every bit of the engine crank make a good noise after 4000rpm, and it sound like an electric motor below 3000rpm – brilliant. The power deliver as linear as you can draw the power curve with a ruler. Absolutely awesome! Well it is as much as an engine as the 3.0L in other BMW models though.

The gear is smooth and to the point. However, when you try to drive hard and shifting to 3rd to 2nd then problem arises. You see, the reverse slot is left to the 1st and 2nd; rather than the sensible position of being to the right of 5th and 6th. When I tried to move from 3rd to 2nd and try to heel … heel … heel toe. I just find it a little bit hard to get in to 2nd.… wt… so embarrassing.

The suspension is soft and comfortable and it does have good mid way stability and power delivery out of the corner. I just wish there is a better turn in. There is a mini second of delay of the car front moves after the steering wheel motion. The salesman bravely commented that “well it is something that should get use to”. I want to delay a lot of things in life: marriage, babies, mortgage, ejaculation…. But not this please! Another thing is the stability control. BMW states that there is a button in the top of the dash labelled DTC. Push this button will “give you a sportier style of motoring, by allowing a defined degree of wheel slip. And, DSC will only intervene in critical situations”. To be honest, it does not do a thing – it does not let me out in a loose. Mrs Taka did not feel any loose ends and she is the one that smacks me for doing such a manoeuvre and it is just not allowing me to. Well. I can switch it all off, but what is the point of having a traction control of either too much too aggressive or nothing? The only thing I say is it does not jerk the car by applying brakes like my RX-8. Maybe it is due to the 205/40-18 run flat tyre. I am not a fan of the run flats, and maybe I never will.

Mrs Taka made the assessment of the rear space. She commented that it is too clammy. No room to move for a skinny 162cm lady. Also the boot is useless anyway, even they did not fit any spare because they are having the run flat tyres. No it is bigger than the one in a Mini, but its dimension is in the odd side: It cannot fit a guitar, a pram, an electronic keyboard, or more than 2 pieces of luggage. It is not even a grand tourer, a family car or a yuppie’s car. You cannot even make love in the back seat, talking about the German population crisis….

Over the coffee break, the Taka family discussed the car. Who could buy this car I wonder. A young girl Mrs Taka suggested. But I think a young girl will prefer the 6 speed automatic with a smaller 2.0L engine with the same styling and nearly as much gadget for $20K less. A girl appreciate performance, like Kall, for instance. But I am sure those will prefer the 2.5i Z4!? A guy, I am sure they will not buy a girlie car.

So who could pay money for this car? I may be a middle aged professional with a bald patch that cannot bear to drive a convertible and who has no friends, boring and like to tour around in the city only.

Quite be honest it will be a hot car in Hong Kong. Since most people have money to spare and love small cars. It will be a upclassed Mini Cooper S and there will be parts for it.

In a modification perspective, you only need a Bilstein, firming up the front end, get a better tyre and do a custom lock for the reverse – like the STis; and it will make a great track car

Also:
Top Gear Review BMW 130i VS VW R32

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IJ3NUOBY

 

I have to agree with the Topgear review - an entirely impractical car... On a personal level they look ugly - incomplete even....

 

Ditto......your missus has some style Mr T.

 

entertaining review but I couldn't view the vid.

 

Funny thing, great concept, but its no match for the 8.

yet they'll have a handful of sales, cause...It's a BMW.

Sheer driving pleasure...Oh please.

 

Video of TopGear view of this 130i

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IJ3NUOBY

Wait for the countdown of the seconds and there is an ad coming out. Close the ads and there is a link under it.

 

any other good downloads on that site that you know taka? ...or was that one just for us

 

I made the clip and upload it on that site. So it is just for you

 

That smilie face with the wide open headlight eyes makes the car look like Thomas the Tank Engine.

 

I reckon the the fat c, the fat c, the fat c, the fat controller would love this thing!!

 

...god bless you for that!!!

 

Repulsive huh? Drop dead.

Although the more I look at the car, the more I agree that I was seduced by the engine. Say what you like about styling (and I think 'Mez has hit the nail on the head there ) and impracticality - that is one sweet engine.

 

You smell has...

I have to agree with you there. I love the engine but the other does not go together very well... I would love to have one, but I just won't use my money to pay for it...

It will be a great company car. Can I put a red dot on it and be a courier car ? I don't mind being a courier for a month LOL.

 

So who'd buy the car? Certainly not my wife, who hates the look of the 1 series full stop. Certainly not my advertising accounts director daughter - she's more a 325 coupe person. I'm not even sure that middle-aged, bald patched, boring, friendless convertible haters will either (God, I'm glad I'm not middle-aged or have a bald patch, although boring and convertible-hating I'll own up to). But I think that Taka is right - it's a great car for Hong Kong.

 

Great review taka...had me giggling

I agree, the design is just a bit frumpish for me -- reminiscent of the Pulsar hatch

 

Hmm, you know what the funny thing is about this whole 130i thing that I started - how damn picky we've become since the advent of niche car marketing.

How many times did you think growing up that some small cars would be excellent fun if only the manufacturer put out a version with the bigger engine that it was using in bigger models (or just more power). Hell, back in the day it was a huge hoot - I'm not ashamed to 'fess up to thinking SLR's were a lot of fun. And remember the original Pug (sorry 'Mez) and VW GTi's - not a bigger engine sure (I think) but more power that extracted the most out of the chassis. I mean, how many cars are on the market today that are underpowered given what their chassis can manage.

So we can all carp about looks and how big the boot is but I'll give this to BMW - at least they're prepared to stuff bigger, fantasic engines into their smaller cars and let us decide whether we want them or not.

 

and Torana's with V8's

 

That's what I meant - oops, sorry - should have said SL/R!

 

That's exactly what it looks like - thanks Timbo it has been bugging me for a couple of days..

 

Remember the A9X?

I had a drive of a genuine one when my bigger brother was into Aussie muscle cars (he had an XA GT with a mildly worked 351). This thing was owned by a mate of his and wasn't a copy.

Hoo boy, did that thing go. Great buckets of torque and stuck like poo to a blanket (for the time).

Speaking of faster small Holdens, that VXR Astra thing might be fun - 177kw (sound familiar) but 320Nm. Hello torque steer! Estimate is under $45K.

As I said elsewhere, there will always be some who just want a rotary and love the 8's shape but the marketplace for cars with over 170kw that sell for the 8's price or thereabouts is starting to hot up.

 

heh heh, I just had to dredge this up again.

Taka, check out page 42 of the February issue of Motor.

Now that's something we'd both love to test-drive. However, at $210,000, think I'd buy a 911 instead.

 

The GT I saw, but Yes a 997 S is much nicer.
The Taka curse has set in....

I got a letter from the BMW that I can have the car for "test drive" for a day. Should I call them for 9th March ?