ROUND THE BLOCK: 2008 BMW 128i
Categories: Round the Block
Written By: Isaac Bouchard
THE DRIVER: What fun! I thought. A compact BMW with all the inherent goodness of its larger siblings. I was at least partially right…
Yes, the 128i steers sweetly (thanks to RWD), and has the artful balance the fabled manufacturer is renowned for. Aside from that, I admit to being quite underwhelmed. Perhaps it was the price; at thirty-eight large, there are some awful attractive options. Maybe it was the hobby-horse ride, courtesy of the short wheelbase, and in spite a tire and wheel combo that looked anemic inside the bubbly styling.
Quality was fine, and the control logic was clean and intuitive in an old-school BMW manner. Yet the backseat was nigh on useless, even with my ‘vertically economical’ frame in front, and the test vehicle’s automatic did nothing but detract from the smooth strait six engine in front. And though aesthetics are a very personal matter, shouldn’t a sports coupe be sexy?
Perhaps a 135i model, with its turboed torque and sports tranny would have converted me, but as is, I can’t help but conclude the 1-series is too close in price to the svelte and usefully larger 3 to make much sense.
THE BROKER: Hard to tell here; sales have been brisk and lots of people seem enamored—it is an almost-affordable new BMW, after all. A less loaded example will probably hold value well, though there’s too much fluff here for my liking when trade-in time comes.
THE (ROCKY MOUNTAIN) MAN: Not cool, not practical, not fast. 135i Turbo or no.
PRICE AS TESTED: $38,325.00
