BMW 114i, would you?

[Vitorio]

Today on the daily commute i saw a number of new 1-series, and the occasional 114i billboard, which got me thinking. upon arriving at the office i checked and found out that a 114i (with optional alloys, debadged boot and various bits-n-bobs) could be leased for roughly the same money as my current focus company car, and the BMW would only be a few tenths off the mark 0-60 wise compared to my focus.

Now i realize that if anyone ever found out i drove a 114i, i'd be ridiculed endlessly, especially by all the 116i drivers who finally have someone to look down on, but realisticly 100hp with 180nm of torque would be more then sufficient for the daily commute.

So guys, would you consider a 114i over a ford focus/vw golf with roughly similar performance? obviously the BMW would be missing a few options at similar prive levels, but nothing major.

[iphonedyou]

Vitorio said:

Now i realize that if anyone ever found out i drove a 114i, i'd be ridiculed endlessly, especially by all the 116i drivers who finally have someone to look down on

[kambites]

I didn't even know it existed.

[Vitorio]

kambites said:

I didn't even know it existed.

Just to fill you in, it has the same engine as the 116i, a 1.6 turbo, but detuned from 136 to 102hp, still has 180nm at 1100 rpm or something ridiculous like that (i have to rev my 1.6 focus to 4500 rpm for a measily 160nm)

[JulianHJ]

I'd rather have the Focus. Or better yet, a second hand 135i

[CampDavid]

It's a lower power version of the 1.6i. Seems ok, however the point in a BMW is the drive. I had a 116i Msport on loan and to be honest, it wasn't very good.

[kambites]

If it's the same turbo, you could probably just get it chipped back up to the 116i's value?

[Codswallop]

I would rather go for a nicely specced Focus or similar over a boggo spec car bought just for the brand name.

[E38Ross]

personally, no. never.

[ewenm]

Codswallop said:

I would rather go for a nicely specced Focus or similar over a boggo spec car bought just for the brand name.

IIRC the Focus has more rear space and a bigger boot too.

[drophead]

Probably have a Mini One or something instead. Would be more fun to drive IMO. However if you needed the space and you get a good deal, why the hell not.

[pilchardthecat]

CampDavid said:

It's a lower power version of the 1.6i. Seems ok, however the point in a BMW is the drive. I had a 116i Msport on loan and to be honest, it wasn't very good.

i also had one as a loan car.... "not very good" is a huge understatement. Kia make better cars than that these days. BMW are going downhill fast.

[iphonedyou]

JulianHJ said:

I'd rather have the Focus. Or better yet, a second hand 135i

Hell, why stop at 135i. I'd rather have a Continental GT than a Focus.

[R12HCO]

pilchardthecat said:

CampDavid said:

It's a lower power version of the 1.6i. Seems ok, however the point in a BMW is the drive. I had a 116i Msport on loan and to be honest, it wasn't very good.

i also had one as a loan car.... "not very good" is a huge understatement. Kia make better cars than that these days. BMW are going downhill fast.

Works 320ed feels very cheap, considering how much you actually pay for them. I did like who it went though for a 2.0 diesel.

I would prefer a passat. Some people have the 170 tdi at work and its a nice car. Well specced too. The BMW has nothing.

[Face for Radio]

God no, I'm not one of those 'wrong wheel drive' idiots, so I'd happily take a Focus with a better spec!

100bhp in a 1,290kg car, sounds disastrous. The idea of twin turbos sounds nice though, but I bet that is going to tank the price when they're out of warranty and they start going pop.

[Captain Muppet]

iphonedyou said:

JulianHJ said:

I'd rather have the Focus. Or better yet, a second hand 135i

Hell, why stop at 135i. I'd rather have a Continental GT than a Focus.

You may want to play in my thread:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Debaser]

Vitorio said:

So guys, would you consider a 114i over a ford focus/vw golf with roughly similar performance? obviously the BMW would be missing a few options at similar prive levels, but nothing major.

I prefer RWD so yes, I'd have one.

[200bhp]

If it is simply a de-tuned 116 wouldnt a simple remap turn it into a 116 whilst maintaining the tax benefits?

[otolith]

kambites said:

I didn't even know it existed.

I didn't even care that it existed.

Still don't.

[StottyZr]

Vitorio said:

kambites said:

I didn't even know it existed.

Just to fill you in, it has the same engine as the 116i, a 1.6 turbo, but detuned from 136 to 102hp, still has 180nm at 1100 rpm or something ridiculous like that (i have to rev my 1.6 focus to 4500 rpm for a measily 160nm)

Nor did I. I guess its a similar idea to the 116d then, its simply a detuned 118d. If you remap a 116d, you go from 115hp-185 as the only thing missing between that and the 118d is a oil cooler. I'd expect the 114i will be similar, 102hp mapped to 160 anybody?

These "low powered" BMW's will be a great buy in years to come.