Arrived: Dec 2007
List price (including options): £30,835
Average economy: 40.4mpg
The BMW has been -
To every country in Britain and Ireland so far! Arriving just before Christmas, the little 1 Series was pushed into service for an extended stay in Scotland, where it battled with the weather and greasy roads, not to mention the muddy shoes of family and friends... Thankfully the leather is easy to clean! On such a long journey, the Coupé excels, especially when fitted with BMW's new twin-turbo diesel engine.
Since the holiday, we've driven the 123d through Wales and onto a ferry to Ireland, where it will spend a couple of months being put through its paces in inner city Dublin, which just so happens to be quite close to the fantastic (and challenging) roads in the Wicklow Mountains. Should be fun.
We're loving the -
Ride and handling balance more than anything else. At the Coupé's launch we realised that BMW had hit the nail on the head with the latest version of the 1 Series, endowing the car with a better ride quality than its hatchback siblings, yet without detracting from the car's inherent balance and agility. It is one of the best all-rounders on sale, easily soaking up thousands of motorway miles, and putting a smile on the driver's face when it turns twistier. It's not the only good thing to say either, as the engine is a gem, producing as much torque as the BMW M3 musters yet returning fuel economy figures commensurate with an economical super-mini. Oh, and for some reason, this car has the best gearchange of any BMW car in recent years.
But not so impressed by -
The lack of cruise control. I know it's a petty complaint, but with such a relaxing gait and competence on the motorway, the 123d really needs cruise control as standard. Another thing I've noticed is the narrow boot opening. The space for luggage is perfectly acceptable, but the opening itself is a little limiting. If I was being super picky I'd mention the presence of really bright red leather on our car, but its supple touch more than makes up for the colour.
We're looking forward to -
Spending time behind the wheel on some interesting roads. We're also on the look out for other examples on the road. The Coupé went on sale in November and we've yet to see one. Is it really that well kept a secret?
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