--
Ed Smith"I came into the world with nothing and I still have most of it"
"nopcbs" <GLitwinski@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:Vsxyj.4$PE2.3@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
am old enough that while I never owned a BMW 2002 when they were
actually
being made, like any good reader of Car and Driver reviews of the 2002, I
lusted after them a lot. Unfortunately, at the time I only had $3500 to
spend and 2002's were around $5000 with very few dealers, so I ended up
with
a Ford Capri 2600 (German made) that promptly dissolved away in the
Chicago
winters (lots of salt). Why I did not look for a used 2002 is a mystery to
me at this point, but I fear it would have dissolved away, too, so maybe
it
is better I did not get one in that environment.
Nevertheless, my respect for 2002's is quite high (sensible design, big
green-house, tasteful and simple styling, good, but not over-the-top
power,
even semi-affordable).
So BMW introduces the 1-Series hatch in Europe as a kind of son-of-2002.
And
while it looks nothing like the 2002 (this is the age of Bangle, alas),
one
can accept it as a spiritual off-spring...especially from the practicality
standpoint. Then they decide to send it to the US, but not as a hatch, as
a
coupe and now a convertible. Both slightly less ****ky off-shoots of the
3-Series and both seriously expensive and, let's face it, esthetically
very
challenged.
Now comes the really weird part. The automotive press goes ga ga over both
of them and I have no clue why. Worse they continue to compare the
1-Series
to the sainted 2002. At least as sold in the US, the 1-Series is the
antithesis of the 2002. The 1-Series is nothing more than 3-Series
(slightly) Lite, with worse handling.
I am no fan of the current 3-Series (vastly prefer my 2003 E46 zhp sedan),
but OK, it's the only 3-Series being made for now and until the twin turbo
engine over-heats and dies, it is very nice, so I can see people getting
them, but where is the attraction in the (non-hatch) 1-Series that costs
almost as much and looks even worse?
- GRL
While stationed in Germany (Bitburg Ab) in 1968-70, I was able to purchase
a
1970 BMW 2002 in 1970 before my rotation back to the states for $2500. I
found the car exhilarating, a 4 cylinder that could reach 100mph easily,
premium fuel but back then it was a lot cheaper and a lot of fun to drive,
especially on hilly, curvy roads. I only hope that the new 1 series
reaches
that level of price and performance. I was only able to keep my 2002 for
about 5 years. I had put about 180,000 miles on it, started selling life
insurance and travelling all over NY, upstate and long island the miles
piled up. It served me well and I never regretted anything about it,
especially the maintenance, solidd lifters and having the valves adjusted
every 6k. Ah the memories.
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