BMW 116i auto, ex japan. Inline four naturally aspirated 1.6L, rear wheel drive. Someone just asked me and i have never owned a BMW.
All I know is that this is the least complex car BMW will offer.
Someone asking on whether or not to buy from some other guy.
Anybody with driving experience on that thing? Is it too low for our roads? what other alarm would you raise on it?
This is just an opinion but I think never buy an entry level car from a luxury brand. That’s not their niche so you’ll be disappointed and I bet the parts and service will be overpriced. I bet they can find good japanese brands for the same price.
@ochithunder, hebu njoo.
you are completely wrong. this classes are very important for this car brands. They normaly try to make them as practical as possible to ensure than the entry level customers are satisfied and happy with them so that they then go to their higher class cars.
when you an A3 its should be convincing for you to upgrade to A4. when you use a 116i it should entice you to upgrade to a 3 series. when you use a golf it calls for an upgrade to like say passat or jetta. i hope you get the drift.
on other fronts if the guy could consider an A3 its a better car, the worlds best hatch back for the past 3 or 4 years.
I am assuming you are talking of the 2009 year version. Unlike the other premium entry level vehicles, this is not just a stripped down entry level version of the classic Beamer. It has some oomph to warrant some attention.
Pros
- The 4 cylinder twin scroll turbo engine gives barely suffecient power (con) for quick changeover from low gears but the torque is generous for its weight, so that means little issue overtaking while moving uphill carrying fat people (but don’t push it).
- Eco and sport button for town and performance driving
- quite an enjoyable driving experience, not drab at all. You can hold lower gears and rev to red line while enjoying linear power delivery…smooth transisning while trashing the engine about.
- Good fuel consumption 13 kmpl town na 16 kmpl highway and standard start stop system for fuel efficiency in slow traffic and traffic jams.
- corners well.
- decent interior.
- quality sound systen
Cons
- Run flats, I doubt they have spare tyres…
- Relatively stiff compared to the Golf and Audi A3
- No rear parking sensors, Bluetooth audio streaming, and other standard whistles in luxury vehicles.
- Tight space at the back
Our roads are getting better, one gets used to the low clearance and attacking bumps at an angle, planning your route…unless the car buyer lives in Eastlands or Syokimau where there are many poorly designed bumps.
For a good driving experience, this car is a very good option. I’d prefer the golf though, not the 1.4, maybe the 1.6 if we are looking at entry level hatches.
All BMW sedans are low. Tell them that. And there is nothing like the least complex BMW simply because it is the smallest! They are all the same, use the same technology, same ECUs. The only difference is the engine size and the options available on the different classes.
Most cars brought to this market are bone stock anyway, zero options included, most poverty specced used units. Then morons go ahead and bandy them as “fully loaded”.
The only thing I disagree with is this “best” adjective. There is nothing in this world that is “the best”. Someone slapped Rihanna for your information…if you get the drift.
aahaa… they never forget to say the car has an A/c and sound system.
which car in this century come without this two?
Mobius.
Peasants wajaambiwa poa…yaawa!
Ochi ni cunning walahi. Anakufunza kitu muhimu at the same time RKO inatokea out of nowhere.