Ok...What is up with people belly aching about the price of the 135??

[Pac-Man]

Apparently people think its too expensive...How do they figure?

Here in Canada a 335 is like 52K (and nobody is complaining about that)...the 135 is estimated to come in at 42-43K CAD. You get the same engine, more performance and not much less luxury if at all in a 135 AND you save 10Gs.

Even if I use US prices you are saving 5Gs; which is still somewhat significant when you are spending 35-40k on a car.

You are getting more for less. How is that too much? :iono:

[Robert]

Because most people think M > 7 > 5 > 3 > 1 and if price gap between series is less than 10k then it's too much. Model designation is a bigger price differentiator than features.

[d3syd]

I'll be paying around US$68,000 on the road for mine here in Oz! What good is complaining? Either I don't buy it, leave the country, or accept it.

Have to have the car, love this country, so I chose the last option....:iono:

[ichiban]

1. The 1er is a brand new series in NA, so it's less recognizable to the general public.
2. The 1er has less interior room (most significant in the rear leg room).
3. The 3er looks better than the 1, even though this is completely subjective, it has been brought up many times. (I personally think the 1er has the best looking front end.)

There's more to a car than performance.
The people on this forum represent a small amount of BMW owners. Most people buying these cars are status driven and in their eyes, a 3 series is better than a 1 series.

[ZAMIRZ]

Becuase to a lot of people (mostly feeble-minded people, but people nonetheless) smaller automatically = cheaper. I don't know if you guys remember, but SOOOOOO many people were up in arms about the price of that chintzy little english car with the Toyota motor aka Lotus Elise when it was released. It wasn't until people realized it is the sub-$100K street-legal racecar bargain that they started to sell like hotcakes.

[d3syd]

The 335i coupe is US$22,500 more than the 135 coupe here. I was originally interested in the 335 coupe, but a timely review in a local newspaper of the 135 made me change my mind. I'd save a bundle of money and get a faster, more fun to drive car. I don't need the space as I have a SUV for that, so I am delighted with my purchase. For now.... patience.

PS. I still think the 3 coupe looks more elegant, but the 1's looks has really grown on me. 335 = Elegant/sporty, 135 = sassy/sporty

[SA135i]

Originally Posted by ichiban

Most people buying these cars are status driven and in their eyes, a 3 series is better than a 1 series.

Well if they are so status driven let them buy the 3er then = less 1ers on the road which will add to being part of a select few (the 1ers cult club), and also hopefully I can get my car sooner :biggrin:

(Now if only BMW would send more 1ers out to deep dark Africa.)

[Rephlex]

Just to cheer you up here are some European price comparisons;

I was wondering why all of you Americans drive those insane 130i and 135i's... So I took some time to make a comparison between the prices.

Car: basic 135i coupé without options:

Price in USA: 36.150 USD = +/- 24.545 EURO

---------
Price in Belgium (Western Europe): 41.250 EURO = +/- 60.700 USD
Price in Germany (country of origin!): 38.950 EURO = +/- 57.361 USD

Price in The Netherlands (rofl): 51.149 EURO = +/- 75.409 (this is due to an extra luxury tax, poor b**tards).

---------
Here in Belgium you will have to pay an extra one-time tax after purchase (the so called registration) of 5.000 EURO = +/- 7.370 USD
+ the annual tax of about 586,32 EURO = +/- 863 USD
+ the annual full insurance (the obligated insurance and extra full) for a 28year old male without any previous accidents, of 2.582 EURO = +/- 3.812 USD.


So basically when I want to buy a 135i coupé without options it will cost me, just to get it on the road, a WHOPPING: 49.418 EURO or about 72.745 USD

So before you guys even think about calling us Europeans pussies with our 118d and 120d )))

Someone explain this to me (except the weak USD)... I'm getting sick

(Taken from this forum thread on babybmw by DaHollow)

[Pac-Man]

Originally Posted by ZAMIRZ

SOOOOOO many people were up in arms about the price of that chintzy little english car with the Toyota motor aka Lotus Elise when it was released. It wasn't until people realized it is the sub-$100K street-legal racecar bargain that they started to sell like hotcakes.

Well I dont think people had issue with the price just because the Elise was small. Many were thinking... "How does a glass fibre car with a celica engine in it add up to 40K US let alone more than a the price of a celica for that matter?"

...of course most didnt understand how expensive its chassis was...a simple idea but expensive to make; those glues they used are expensive as hell.

Not only the performance aspect but I think what may be an even bigger reason why they sold was because it gave the "regular man" extra ammo in the bars; He could walk up to a hot chick and ACTUALLY be able to say... "I own a LOTUS!" hehe

WTF I hijacked my own thread .... back on topic.

I think the 135 is one of the best deals going today in the wonderful world of automobiles

[asv]

The endless price complaints are do to the fact that people really have nothing to compare it to, except the 3-series or AWD Japanese "boy racer" non-luxury vehicles.

So instead of coming to the conclusion that a 300hp BMW for 35k is an insane value, people bitch about the lack of a million options, and compare it to vehicles that do not have a comparable feature-set.

[Yoot1]

BMW's cost more because the parts they use to build them cost more. That's basically true for most cars since they must succeed in a competitive market.

I think the 135i is a great deal, at least in the US. Great engine, brakes, chassis balance, suspension, steering, and luxury for $35k. And that includes 4 years of free maintenance. How could anyone complain?

[drew2002]

Originally Posted by Yoot1

BMW's cost more because the parts they use to build them cost more. That's basically true for most cars since they must succeed in a competitive market.

Well, that's a factor, but I think that in the case of BMW, and especially the 135i, there bigger factors are that 1) It's a BMW and like it or not, people will pay more whether it be just for the name, or all the intangibles of balance, road feel, etc. that they can dial into their cars. 2) There's really not much competition in this segment-small RWD performance coupes. 3) Cars cost more to build in Germany than in other countries, due to labor laws, etc.

For those for whom the 135i is too expensive, I think the 128i with a 6 speed would probably be quite adequate in most types of driving. I mean 0-60 in 6 seconds isn't anything to sneer at. If not, you'd probably get a better value on a CPO'd 330 or 335.

[Convertible]

Originally Posted by Rephlex

Just to cheer you up here are some European price comparisons;

I was wondering why all of you Americans drive those insane 130i and 135i's... So I took some time to make a comparison between the prices.

Car: basic 135i coupé without options:

Price in USA: 36.150 USD = +/- 24.545 EURO

---------
Price in Belgium (Western Europe): 41.250 EURO = +/- 60.700 USD
Price in Germany (country of origin!): 38.950 EURO = +/- 57.361 USD

Price in The Netherlands (rofl): 51.149 EURO = +/- 75.409 (this is due to an extra luxury tax, poor b**tards).

---------
Here in Belgium you will have to pay an extra one-time tax after purchase (the so called registration) of 5.000 EURO = +/- 7.370 USD
+ the annual tax of about 586,32 EURO = +/- 863 USD
+ the annual full insurance (the obligated insurance and extra full) for a 28year old male without any previous accidents, of 2.582 EURO = +/- 3.812 USD.


So basically when I want to buy a 135i coupé without options it will cost me, just to get it on the road, a WHOPPING: 49.418 EURO or about 72.745 USD

So before you guys even think about calling us Europeans pussies with our 118d and 120d )))

Someone explain this to me (except the weak USD)... I'm getting sick

(Taken from this forum thread on babybmw by DaHollow)

Nice!!

Our (FINLAND, Northen Europe) price's are even higher.

135is 55 700€ = 81 834,44$
120d 35 600€
123d 41 600€

The more car pollutes the higher is the tax.

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by ichiban

The people on this forum represent a small amount of BMW owners. Most people buying these cars are status driven and in their eyes, a 3 series is better than a 1 series.

Amen to that!

[sirploppy]

Originally Posted by asv

The endless price complaints are do to the face that people really have nothing to compare it to, except the 3-series or AWD Japanese "boy racer" non-luxury vehicles.

So instead of coming to the conclusion that a 300hp BMW for 35k is an insane value, people bitch about the lack of a million options, and compare it to vehicles that do not have have a comparable feature-set.

I agree. I seems people who are complaining were expecting this car to be priced like a BMW version of a Civic because if it's size. An economy budget car. Not at all what it is.

[Yoot1]

Originally Posted by drew2002

Well, that's a factor, but I think that in the case of BMW, and especially the 135i, there bigger factors are that 1) It's a BMW and like it or not, people will pay more whether it be just for the name, or all the intangibles of balance, road feel, etc. that they can dial into their cars. 2) There's really not much competition in this segment-small RWD performance coupes. 3) Cars cost more to build in Germany than in other countries, due to labor laws, etc.

I think you are referring to differentiation and the case that BMW's appeal to you. Product design comes down to the basic facts that the market sets the price and we all pay the same for raw materials (assuming we buy the same amount). So differentiation is what separates most products in any competitive market.

Generally brand name counts more when it comes to market dominance, and advertising cost contributes significantly to the COS. But when it comes to cars, it's mostly product differentiation that sets them apart.

[drew2002]

Originally Posted by Yoot1

I think you are referring to differentiation and the case that BMW's appeal to you. Product design comes down to the basic facts that the market sets the price and we all pay the same for raw materials (assuming we buy the same amount). So differentiation is what separates most products in any competitive market.

Generally brand name counts more when it comes to market dominance, and advertising cost contributes significantly to the COS. But when it comes to cars, it's mostly product differentiation that sets them apart.

Ahh of course...product differentiation. I would have used this phrase, but I didn't want to confuse anyone unfamiliar with it Seriously though, after reading up about this concept on the Wiki, I think this is exactly right: The more that BMW can differentiate their 1-series cars, the less price sensitive people will be and the less they're likely to x-shop with other cars.

[ChrisK]

I think the people having problems with the prices are not past BMW owners. If they were, they would know better than to expect a $29 135i. It's a BMW. This car will be faster and have better brakes than the e46 M3 for less money.

No complaints here.

[hellrotm]

Easy: Their clueless.

[menotakoala]

Mr T says "If you gotta problem with the price then find another car FOOL!"

[128er]

iAy Dios Mios! Why did you start this??!!