X1 BMW X1 drives: autocar, carmagazine etc etc

[Betty Swollocks]

I've just picked up an Audi A3 Sportback for a week. It's a base model and is NOT an S-line, but the interior is as good as my M3. Puts the 1 Series interior to shame and it's actually cheaper. I'm not a huge fan of Audi's and I think their interior design and layout is behind that of BMW, but the quality of the A3 materials is superb.

 

[Zafiro]

Puts the 1 Series interior to shame and it's actually cheaper. I'm not a huge fan of Audi's and I think their interior design and layout is behind that of BMW, but the quality of the A3 materials is superb.

I disagree completly and I've driven the A3 several times and it doesn't put the 1-series interior to shame.
I own a facelifted 1-series with M-package and the interior isnt below those A3's I've driven. Buttons and levels are high quality and the interior is well-built with no gaps and I also prefer the interior layout over A3. Christ dude, what 1-series did you drive? Puts to shame, give me a break.
BTW I suggest you take a look inside the new Audi A4. There you can see the interior in fact is worse than previous A4.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I disagree completly and I've driven the A3 several times and it doesn't put the 1-series interior to shame.
I own a facelifted 1-series with M-package and the interior isnt below those A3's I've driven.

Here's the flaw in your argument straight away. The M-package isn't standard is it?

Buttons and levels are high quality and the interior is well-built with no gaps and I also prefer the interior layout over A3. Christ dude, what 1-series did you drive? Puts to shame, give me a break.

More than one actually. The 1 Series feels cheap in standard form.

The reason I brought this up in this thread is that people are saying the X1 is a 'base' BMW and therefore people shouldn't expect high quality. Well the A3 sat outside proves this theory to be incorrect. As for the layout compared to the 1 Series? I'm not even commenting on that because that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about.

BTW I suggest you take a look inside the new Audi A4. There you can see the interior in fact is worse than previous A4.

Erm...I have absolutely no idea what the new A4's interior has to do with this. I'm talking about trim quality in the A3 and how an entry level car doesn't have to mean poor materials. Unless you're trying to make this an Audi v BMW debate. In which case I'm firmly in the BMW camp.

 

[braaf]

Betty, don't forget that Audi use VW money to come up with those nice interiors. Besides all this talk about base model quality interiors it's all about your own perception and what works for you and in that case to quote you "In which case I'm firmly in the BMW camp"

 

[martinbo]

The A3 does have exceptional interior quality. Interestingly it's far better than that of the B8 A4 - clearly indicative of the downgrade in interior quality experienced in all makes of cars these days.

The Audi is a member of a huge VW/SEAT/SKODA family of cars which enables cost distribution across various models using a common platform. The A3 also sports a distinctly FWD platform which is cheaper to engineer than a RWD platform.

I can make all the excuses I like for the lower rung X1 model - no one's really going to care. The plain and simple fact is that there is a global trend toward downgraded interior plastic quality for all manufacturers.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Personally, I'd take the X1 over pretty much any car in it's category. In all honesty, in many cases (for me) the X1 almost makes the current X3 redundant. I wonder how the next X3 will differentiate itself?

 

[martinbo]

I wonder how the next X3 will differentiate itself?

By being much bigger (than the X1), having better quality (obviously), more off-road capability and having more powerful engines.

 

[NarutoRamen]

By being much bigger (than the X1), having better quality (obviously), more off-road capability and having more powerful engines.

Bigger? Check. Better Quality? Debatable. More Off-road capability? Compared to What? X1? May be. Compared to something like Jeep or 4-runner? Hell no.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Besides all this talk about base model quality interiors it's all about your own perception and what works for you and in that case to quote you "In which case I'm firmly in the BMW camp"

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

And of course it's my own perception.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

Personally, I'd take the X1 over pretty much any car in it's category. In all honesty, in many cases (for me) the X1 almost makes the current X3 redundant. I wonder how the next X3 will differentiate itself?

The X1 is far from a substitute for the new X3. It's not even a substitute for the current X3. It comes across as a normal car on a raised platform. Not to criticise it for that. Some people only need that, and that's fine. But in real life it's barely an SUV.

 

[martinbo]

Of course it'll be better quality - you'll see. The new X3 will banish its predecessor's poor quality rep forever (at least this is what I'm anticipating).

Off-road ability is inversely proportional to on-road ability. Jeep and 4-runner? Rubbish on road. So new X3's offroad ability will be geared to lifestyle types who want to explore unpaved roads and not traverse the Rubicon.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Of course it'll be better quality - you'll see. The new X3 will banish its predecessor's poor quality rep forever (at least this is what I'm anticipating).

Off-road ability is inversely proportional to on-road ability. Jeep and 4-runner? Rubbish on road. So new X3's offroad ability will be geared to lifestyle types who want to explore unpaved roads and not traverse the Rubicon.

I don't think the FL'ed X3's interior quality is that bad. It's no 7er but it sure as hell ain't bad.

Jeep rubbish on road? I'll give you that. 4-Runner rubbish on road? I don't know what you have driven, but it's far from rubbish on road. Sure, it's no driver's car but then again it's based off a truck. It's very comfortable on long drives and can pretty much take you anywhere short of a Humvee.

 

[martinbo]

Compared to an X3 - which is quite pleasant to drive quickly - a truck-based anything with a live axle is rubbish on black top. At least the way I drive.

 

[NarutoRamen]

Compared to an X3 - which is quite pleasant to drive quickly - a truck-based anything with a live axle is rubbish on black top. At least the way I drive.

I wouldn't drive a truck like a car, and if I needed to then I'd just drive a car.

 

[martinbo]

Or an X1. Or a Forester Turbo. Or an ML63 AMG. Or a Cayenne. Cars that prove SUVs with a modicum of multi-road ability can still be good to drive too...

 

[braaf]

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

And of course it's my own perception.

What I is mean for people who really love their BMWs and people who love driving BMWs the "so called" low rent plastic (compared to what?) in between the seats will not matter.

 

[Mr Robert]

I think the new X3 will be quite close to the first X5 in terms of size...

 

[NarutoRamen]

Or an X1. Or a Forester Turbo. Or an ML63 AMG. Or a Cayenne. Cars that prove SUVs with a modicum of multi-road ability can still be good to drive too...

Sure, they are good on road, but not X10 better than something like a 4-runner. But that is my issue. If you're buying an SUV for the way it handles, isn't that the wrong reason for it? People should be buying SUV's for it's utility factor not how much faster it is compared to another SUV. That's like buying a Porsche for it's trunk space.

I'm not arguing that something like an X1 or X3 isn't good on the road. They're great and can handle really well. All I'm saying is just because it's German, or made by a premium car maker, don't put down other SUV/SAV like they will fall apart at the first sign of a corner or something.

 

[Mr Robert]

Here's the flaw in your argument straight away. The M-package isn't standard is it?

But the interior is the same, bar the seats and wheel...

 

[Betty Swollocks]

But the interior is the same, bar the seats and wheel...

So the seats, the steering wheel, not to mention the gear lever, the headlining.

I think these items take it just above feeling cheap. The A3 I'm driving at the moment has no options and it feels more 'premium' than a standard 1 series, and certainly on a par with an M Sport version.

When I picked the hired A3 up, I had a choice between that or a 116i. I went to look at them both and even though the 1 Series was newer, it looked and felt SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than the A3, yet both were absolutely standard cars with virtually no options. When I looked at the price of both cars new, I was amazed to find the A3 was a lower price.