Those that know what is best for us promised us that this shape and this car would grow on us.I see one pass the other way each morning and I have grown from disliking it to really hating the thing with a passion.Looks like something Herman Munster would drive.Suppose I should be smiling at the fact that some fool actually bought it

Think I agree with that magazine headline"The cars Bangle spannered" BMW can truly sell people a badge on a thing and make it'desirable'

I don't like the styling either, but I can see that rwd is a unique selling point.

Mind you, at the prices they're charging, it'd have to have gold tyres and a diamond-encrusted sunroof.

One lives round the corner from me, seen it every morning since before the TG reports etc...

Hate to say this, but it's grown on me and now I really like it!

(overpriced compared to a golf though!)

(overpriced compared to a golf though!)

And that really IS saying something!

So what if it's rear wheel drive anyway?

It's not like that makes much of a difference for 99% of everyday driving.

Honestly I quite like its looks, wouldn't own one, but wouldn't have the chance at that price!

Roll on the M version with 100+ bhp/ton

I personally am a big fan of Bangle's work the 5 series is gorgeous IMO, however the 1 series is just too diluted.

And I love the boot of the 5 series I don't care what anyone else thinks.

So what if it's rear wheel drive anyway?

It's not like that makes much of a difference for 99% of everyday driving.

Wasn't the Talbot Alpine the last RWD hatchback before BMW 'reinvented' the concept? I think Chevettes might have been RWD too. I think Vauxhall have dropped RWD altogether now (maybe not in the Omega?)' date=' and Talbot don't even exist any more. Nature's way of telling you something, methinks.

In the words of Sesame Street:

'[i']One of these kids is doing their own thing,[/i]

'One of these kids is not quite the same...'

I reckon it's just a gimmick (as does everyone else by the looks of things )...

Alpines were front wheel drive, but the Chevette was indeed rear.

Alpines were front wheel drive, but the Chevette was indeed rear.

I think he meant 'Sunbeam': they were definitely rwd. Especially the Lotus version...

That's why you still see them being rallied, shame the supply of RWD "normal" cars is drying up and so many are moving onto 205's \ corsa's etc..

A rwd hatch is great idea, but it needs enough power to actually make it fun!!

A rwd hatch is great idea, but it needs enough power to actually make it fun!!

I'd hardly call the 1-series a hatchback, though. Sure, the rear window is attached to the boot lid, but that's about it IMHO. I guess what I'm getting at is that for a 'small' car, it ain't very small...

But for a BMW, it is....

(only thing is, it's priced at mondeo sector!)

Nature's way of telling you something, methinks.

Yes, the buying public would rather have cheap cars with big boots, rather than something which is nice to drive...

Rob.

Wasn't the Talbot Alpine the last RWD hatchback before BMW 'reinvented' the concept? I think Chevettes might have been RWD too. I think Vauxhall have dropped RWD altogether now (maybe not in the Omega?), and Talbot don't even exist any more. Nature's way of telling you something, methinks.

I think the Monza, Manta, Calibra, Senator, Carlton (Lotus Carlton mmmmmmm! ), and Omega were all RWD as far as I remember......... I believe Vauxhall now have a couple of RWD cars - VX220 and Monaro?

Chris

nope.too ugly and expensive.put it next to the stunning 6 series and surely people can see the 1 looks like a an old boot.Never thought about rear wheel drive as a selling point that would bother most car purchasers today.might be wrong but i cannot see potential or existing owners going into a BMW showroom thinking bout anything but what toys does it have and thats a nice propellor on the front( 6 buyers apart of course!)

Its as ugly as hell... and way overpriced.. People buy it because of the badge..

RWD.. = scary if you've learnt to drive in a FWD car..

Learnt to drive in a Mini ( not the BMW inspired rubbish )..

1st car was a Mini 1000.. which I blew up two diffs and taking 1 engin

with it....

I was lent a 1.3 Talbot Sunbeam...

Going around a roundabout slower than I could in the Mini.. had me facing sideways towards the central reservation...

Thats the problem now that 99% of learners actually learn in FWD cars

and then buy a RWD car and don't know how to handle the difference...

Any way give me quattro drive any day over FWD or RWD...

Dazz

I think the Monza' date=' Manta, Calibra, Senator, Carlton (Lotus Carlton mmmmmmm! ), and Omega were all RWD as far as I remember......... I believe Vauxhall now have a couple of RWD cars - VX220 and Monaro?

Chris[/quote']

The Calibra was awd or fwd, but never rwd. It was basically a Cavalier.

The Calibra was awd or fwd, but never rwd. It was basically a Cavalier.

I stand corrected!

Chris

Any way give me quattro drive any day over FWD or RWD...

I'd say RWD is the "nicest" balance when making progress, rear engined moreso....

My past two "spirited" cars were FWD, I'm currently trying 4wd and will probably go RWD next now I am closer to understanding the finer points of oversteer... fancy something very light, atom 120's are quite cheap.

Need to replace the octy with something very sensible (diesel MPV most likely) then look at toys.

i like the one series, nice to look at. the 6 series though! god man did a dog bite your eyes out, hatefull thing

Yes' date=' the buying public would rather have cheap cars with big boots, rather than something which is nice to drive...

Rob.[/quote']

I'd sort of disagree with that. The (non-enthusiast) car buying public would rather have something with the 'right' badge on it rather than something that drives well. The current Ford Focus & Mondeo drive very well, but most people would rather have an Audi A3 or A4, which don't drive so well.

Take Skoda, for example. Our cars are built from pretty much the same components as Audi or VW (and cost less). But, most people would take the Audi first, then the VW, then the Skoda. No?

Take Skoda, for example. Our cars are built from pretty much the same components as Audi or VW (and cost less). But, most people would take the Audi first, then the VW, then the Skoda. No?

Well, yes, but that's more about badge snobbery rather than design trends...if someone was looking to buy an Audi A3, would they rather it was as is currently incarnated, or with a smaller boot, RWD,

I love these car debates, there a great read