The BMW 1-series isn’t bargain
basement, but you get your money’s worth
To some, the BMW 1-series looked like the
runt of the litter. That was in 2004, when a hatch backed Bimmer was purely the
entry-level model. But it didn’t take long to become accepted, develop into a
range of its own and become Perma-Resistant to depreciation. Today, we’re quite
used to the boxy shape and pug-nosed snout, so it’s about time that we checked
out what’s on offer in the classifieds.x`
First, a wealth warning, because buying
into a 1-series can’t be done for a grand or two. Unless, that is, you don’t
mind damaged repairables or space travel mileages. Private 116is in ES spec
with about 100,000 miles on the clock are $5,250-$5,550 for the earliest ones.
There are lots of engine options, and the
1.6-liter petrol is a decent little starter unit that will return about 37mpg.
Enthusiasts will say that it needs to be worked hard, so you could trade up to
a 118i, as long as you have $6,750 to spend.
It
may be bottom of the ladder, but it is still a BMW
Then again, the 265bhp 130i is the
high-performance pick if you don’t care about economy. It’s a proper little
rocket, and a 2005 example is about $11,245 in M Sport trim. This has to be a
future classic; it should depreciate down to $7.5k eventually and then bob back
up again. A high-spec 2006 car is about $13,500 from a dealer.
Obviously, what everyone really wants is
diesel power for all that economy. Indeed, from 2007, the Efficient Dynamics
badge accompanied even better economy and lower emissions, and it accounts for
a price blip into five figures for the nicest examples.
The coupé also appeared in 2007, which
makes it a doubly significant year. The coupe still wasn’t pretty, but it was
definitely meaningful and it came with a bunch of serious engines. The 120d is
perky enough for most tastes and costs from $10,425, and a 2008 one is in the
$13,500 to $16,500 bracket. We can skip past the 123d to the 125i, which is
$21,000 for a 2009 car. Top of the performance tree is the 135i M Sport, which
will be about $26,250 from a dealer and is the closest in spirit to the quite
mad M Coupé.
In fact, if you want a 1-series, don’t kid
yourself that it’s all about the hatchback practicality when you can bag a
Volkswagen Golf for the same money. Far better to surrender to the Raw Appeal of
a big engine in a small rear-drive car that costs comfortably less than $15k.
A130i
M Sport offers plenty of punch for $11,250
Three that caught my eye
Hot coupé looks hot to trot
2008
135i M Sport coupé
This 2008 135i M Sport coupé has covered
69,000 miles and looks very presentable. Its 302bhp engine can fire it to 62mph
in 5.3sec. Claimed average is 33.2mpg. With full BMW history, there shouldn't
be any major issues. A dealer is offering it for $21,995.
Early two-owner 120i with FSH
2004
120i Sport
An early 1-series, this 2004 120i Sport
hatch has 85,000 miles on the clock. It has had only two owners and comes with
a full service history. It’s also HPI clear. This model is relatively quick,
frugal and enjoyable. A dealer has it up for $6,750.
$12k 116d still under warranty
2010
116d
If you’re looking to keep costs low, you
could opt for this 80,000-mile 2010 116d. Its claimed economy is 62.8mpg, it's
cheap to tax, it has a full service history and it's still covered by BMW’s
warranty. It’s on offer at a dealer for $11,995.
Don’t like those? Try these
Take your pick of Mk6 Golfs for $12k
Mk6
Golfs
If you’re just looking for a dependable and
practical hatchback, and you're not fussed about the BMW badge, you could opt
for the Volkswagen Golf. It's the default option, justifiably, for many.
Admittedly, the Golf doesn't offer quite as
engaging a drive as the BMW 1-series, but it's safe, spacious, comfortable and
refined.
With a budget of about $12,000, you’ll be
able to get your hands on a clean 2008 or 2009 Mk6 Golf with less than 40,000
miles on the clock. You’ll be able to pick from either three-door or five-door
models, as well as diesel and petrol variants.
Many will have the dependable 1.4 petrol
engine, which is a serviceable choice and won’t cost the earth to run. But if
you need more punch or economy, you can opt for one of the popular and common
2.0 TDI diesels. All come with a good range of kit.
Curves, DERV and verve from Alfa
Giulietta
When the heart rules over the head, you’ll
end up with something like an Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Ultimately, you might live
to regret it, but it’s more than likely that you'll end up with an
entertaining, stylish and uncommon hatch.
The Giulietta is offered with a range of
good engines. Basic Turismo versions are modestly equipped, so opt for Lusso
spec and up. Reliability isn’t too much of a concern, but the build quality can
be a little flimsy.
With $13,500, you’ll find a two or
three-year-old Giulietta with about 50,000 miles on the clock. It should have
plenty of life left in it and will probably feature Alfa’s 1.6 diesel which is
claimed to average 64mpg.
By no means is the Giulietta the obvious
choice, but it's an interesting car that offers ' L a little more verve than
the German alternatives.
And another thing
Dealer websites experienced dramatic growth
in mobile traffic last year. That’s according to digital service provider
Razsor, which said unique visits from mobile devices to the websites it
services grew from 320,000 to 1.6 million, year on year. The number of
consumers calling a dealer directly after having accessed a website from a
mobile device grew from 1000 to 17,000, so dealers had better get a bit niftier
about replying to emails, phone calls and texts.
