BMW
X1 / X2
forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Today's Posts
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums General BMW News and Cars Discussion What are your thoughts on new FF-based 1 series?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-04-2017, 08:26 AM   #1
kyrix1st
Colonel
kyrix1st's Avatar
2448
Rep
2,403
Posts

Drives: G87 M2; E92M3 MT&DCT; M3 euro
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: nyc

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2004 BMW Z4  [0.00]
What are your thoughts on new FF-based 1 series?

I personally think it's a bummer given that the majority of people who bought 1 series before should've known its handling characteristic is largely thanks to the FR platform and they will surely miss it when they experience the typical FF understeer in the corner with the new one

I understand that FF gives more space+cheaper to manufacture+make ppl want to go for 3 series, but isn't this killing the one major reason to buy bimmer at the entry level? Would like to hear your thoughts.
__________________
Pass me if you can.
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2017, 09:29 AM   #2
Bluewater328iT
Lieutenant
Bluewater328iT's Avatar
United_States
87
Rep
471
Posts

Drives: 2011 BMW 328iT
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New Rochelle, NY

iTrader: (0)

They offer it because Mercedes and Audi do it and get sales out of it. Lots of people buy SUVs because they like the looks, need or want the room, and sitting up high, and don't notice it is a lot heavier and clumsy and eats more gas. I always preferred small vans because they handled better and ate less gas than SUVs. I would have bought a BMW van if it was offered back in '98 when we bought our last van. I am a wagon guy now that my kids are grown and gone.
__________________
BMWCCA member since 1990
Mods: 330 intake, ECU reflash & tune, Magnaflow cat back resonator & muffler, BMW Euro airbox, tinted windows
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2017, 09:51 AM   #3
davis449
Captain
United_States
426
Rep
887
Posts

Drives: 2014 Audi SQ5
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: San Antonio, TX

iTrader: (0)

The BMW purist in me hates it, but they're in business to make money and this layout has proven successful for Audi for a long time and, more recently, for Mercedes. They have to play the game. Also, I'm not ever going to buy one, so...
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2017, 09:57 AM   #4
David70
Colonel
1754
Rep
2,835
Posts

Drives: 20 AM Vantage -13 Cadillac ATS
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Cincinnati, OH

iTrader: (1)

Agree with the above, it is a good business decision and most care more about the benefits of FWD like better use of space, less cost, better mpg over the ultimate handling of the RWD car. Someone considering a FWD BMW car and comparing it to a small CUV/SUV will think it has great handling. The vast majority of BMW owners will never experience anywhere close to the handling limits of their FWD or RWD car or care.
__________________
2006 Z4M Coupe - ZHP knob, stubby antenna, clutch delay delete
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2017, 11:50 AM   #5
kyrix1st
Colonel
kyrix1st's Avatar
2448
Rep
2,403
Posts

Drives: G87 M2; E92M3 MT&DCT; M3 euro
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: nyc

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2004 BMW Z4  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluewater328iT View Post
They offer it because Mercedes and Audi do it and get sales out of it. Lots of people buy SUVs because they like the looks, need or want the room, and sitting up high, and don't notice it is a lot heavier and clumsy and eats more gas. I always preferred small vans because they handled better and ate less gas than SUVs. I would have bought a BMW van if it was offered back in '98 when we bought our last van. I am a wagon guy now that my kids are grown and gone.
The thing is, people who buy BMW expect all the cars to be FR driven.. BMW got themselves up by advertising so! Given the chassis limitation, I doubt BMW gains much space by making it FF.
__________________
Pass me if you can.
Appreciate 0
      01-04-2017, 01:38 PM   #6
overcoil
Major General
3135
Rep
5,582
Posts

Drives: M235i 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (0)

My 2-cents of thinking I know more then I really do.

I have a 235 for the record, but I've been a passenger in Scirooco, GTI, Nissan Sentra SE-R, Acura R-Type and those cars on back roads were crazy. So I'm kind of a fan of front wheel drive.

I test drove a new X1 after test driving a 7-series and of course I hated the X1.

Now a woman at my gym just traded in her 4-series for a new X1, and this X1 was wild looking and for the urban enviroment and inclement weather - X1 is to me one of the nicest daily drivers.
Appreciate 0
      01-05-2017, 04:28 PM   #7
Chihuahua
Brigadier General
Chihuahua's Avatar
4531
Rep
3,378
Posts

Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7
Join Date: May 2012
Location: TBD

iTrader: (0)

It's a money grab by BMW, plain and simple. They're willing to compromise integrity and history for the sake of making more money. sad.
Appreciate 1
Law6427.00
      01-05-2017, 04:38 PM   #8
Beartato
Major
Beartato's Avatar
888
Rep
1,202
Posts

Drives: M235i
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Utah

iTrader: (0)

If they work that magic Ford did with the ST on the Focus platform (or even better) I think it's cool. I wouldn't buy one, but it's cool.
Appreciate 0
      01-05-2017, 05:26 PM   #9
The Wind Breezes
Lieutenant Colonel
919
Rep
1,848
Posts

Drives: 135i N55 DCT
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Who cares? Very few people complaining about handling are really going to use the extremely marginal advantage of RWD, and definitely not on the street. The biggest different will be in max acceleration at low speed as the FWD will have noticeably less grip there.

Aside from that, it's all about driver skill and tires. And I've driven some FF cars that outhandled the stock 1 by a long shot, they were modified though.
Appreciate 1
Chihuahua4531.00
      01-05-2017, 06:07 PM   #10
GuidoK
#buildnotbought
GuidoK's Avatar
14226
Rep
5,553
Posts

Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Tinkering in the garage

iTrader: (0)

A compromise for the masses. 80% has no clue of what you can do with a car apart from texting/facebooking behind the wheel.
BMW used to be thàt brand that made cars for that other 20%.
That time is slowly crumbling away. It's apparantly reciprocally proportional to their sales volume; that has exploded the last few years.


FWD design is getting better, but it doesnt give the feedback and balance in the steering that rwd gives.
__________________
Z4 3.0i | ESS TS2+ supercharger | Quaife ATB LSD | Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear | Schrick FI cams | Schmiedmann headers+cats | Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings | Vibra-technics engine mounts | H&R anti rollbars | KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates | Sachs race engineering clutch | tons of custom sh#t
Appreciate 0
      01-05-2017, 06:22 PM   #11
Law
Global Moderator
Law's Avatar
United_States
6427
Rep
2,309
Posts

Drives: E90 M3 6MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2011.5 BMW M3  [10.00]
2004 BMW M3  [10.00]
RIP

__________________
2011.5 E90 ///M3 | 6-Speed Manual | Slicktop | Jerez Black | Fox Red

E9x M3 Press/Media Archives Thread | S65-based Racing Engines Thread
Appreciate 4
pz6193340.00
jpnh1429.50
theriz407.50
John_01239.00
      01-05-2017, 08:08 PM   #12
CirrusSR22
Major
352
Rep
1,326
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Minnesota

iTrader: (0)

Eh, I enjoy driving my MINI Cooper S over ANY of my previous five RWD 3-series' (non-M).
Appreciate 0
      01-05-2017, 10:03 PM   #13
AGONXF30
Captain
AGONXF30's Avatar
United_States
339
Rep
889
Posts

Drives: 2012 335i S-Line/Melbourne Red
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Upstate

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyle B View Post
It's a money grab by BMW, plain and simple. They're willing to compromise integrity and history for the sake of making more money. sad.
Who the f cares. It is an entry level econobox. Get over it. FF is great for many things. A proper FF will be just as fun as a FR set up. I have a GLI econobox and it is as much fun to toss as my 335i
Appreciate 0
      01-05-2017, 10:25 PM   #14
jpnh
Brigadier General
jpnh's Avatar
1430
Rep
3,395
Posts

Drives: NA
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Law View Post
RIP

Thats hilarious

Appreciate 0
      01-06-2017, 03:17 AM   #15
kyrix1st
Colonel
kyrix1st's Avatar
2448
Rep
2,403
Posts

Drives: G87 M2; E92M3 MT&DCT; M3 euro
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: nyc

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2004 BMW Z4  [0.00]
http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/03/24/bm...think-its-fwd/

Big thanks to these drivers. lol
Appreciate 0
      01-06-2017, 03:44 AM   #16
brad850csi
Colonel
1329
Rep
2,359
Posts

Drives: 16 F13 M6 Comp
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Auckland, New Zealand

iTrader: (0)

Once my C63 goes back I want to replace it with an M6 Coupe and a hatch or estate to retain some level of practicaly and for the missus to drive. Her requirement is manual or DCT and I'd like something with 6 or 8 cylinders. So that limits to either an M140i or a second hand 335i, 530d or 535i. Purely because the M140i is the only available hatch with both a 6 cylinder and RWD, it is the only hatchback in the world I'm interested in.

Maybe BMW could make a 2 series tourer with a lower roofline to pretend to be a hatchback or just sell minis as FF, but while I know I'm a niche case, having an RWD hatch gives BMW a significant step up, to the point where I won't even think of another brand.
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2017, 04:57 PM   #17
mpathic
First Lieutenant
United_States
39
Rep
310
Posts

Drives: Z4 MCoupe,3.0Si R,E61 535xiT
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: California

iTrader: (0)

Regardless of drive end, what about keeping manual transmissions instead of propping up the used E60 E46 E39 E36 market by denying us an automatic in the the newer models?

No manual transmission = no sale to that 20% BMW is supposedly making cars for.
__________________
And you may ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile?"
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2017, 05:11 PM   #18
bailyhill
Private First Class
United_States
70
Rep
168
Posts

Drives: '20 X3 30e
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: NorthEast

iTrader: (0)

What exactly does FF and FR stand for? I know what FWD and RWD is.

Bailyhill
__________________
Current: "17 i3 REX; X3 30e
History: '67 911S, '72 MB 280 SE 4.5; '74 2002, E21 ('78 320i, E28 ('85 535i) , E36 ('90 325i), 6 Volvos; '14 ForTwo eDrive; '15 i3 REX, F31--'15 328 D Sportwagen; F25 LCI '16 X3 D
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2017, 05:18 PM   #19
Law
Global Moderator
Law's Avatar
United_States
6427
Rep
2,309
Posts

Drives: E90 M3 6MT
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2011.5 BMW M3  [10.00]
2004 BMW M3  [10.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by bailyhill View Post
What exactly does FF and FR stand for? I know what FWD and RWD is.

Bailyhill
FF: Front-engine, Front wheel drive
FR: Front-engine, Rear wheel drive
MR: Mid-engine, Rear wheel drive (namesake of Toyota MR2)
RR: Rear-engine, Rear wheel drive

Extras:
FMR: Front Mid-engine, Rear wheel drive (Subcategory of FR; weight of engine sits behind front wheels/struts, i.e., Honda S2000)


The terms "FWD" & "RWD" are vague and only tell you the set of wheels that are driven.
Terms like "FR" are brief yet tells the reader the basic layout/architecture of the chassis (where the engine sits AND driven wheels).
__________________
2011.5 E90 ///M3 | 6-Speed Manual | Slicktop | Jerez Black | Fox Red

E9x M3 Press/Media Archives Thread | S65-based Racing Engines Thread
Appreciate 0
      01-09-2017, 10:33 PM   #20
Gamb1t
Major
Gamb1t's Avatar
Canada
606
Rep
1,343
Posts

Drives: 330i,X1,Z4,Solstice GXP, RX-8
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Canukistan

iTrader: (0)

The old 1 series was ugly but what a great drive! I'm assuming the new one will be a supersized mini cooper? I'll expect similar degradation in driving dynamics like the f48 X1 from the e84.

BMW's calling card over the other German marques has always been its sublime dynamics. Thanks in part to fine tuning the FR architecture. Feels like this is slowly eroding away.
Appreciate 0
      01-10-2017, 11:47 AM   #21
Chihuahua
Brigadier General
Chihuahua's Avatar
4531
Rep
3,378
Posts

Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7
Join Date: May 2012
Location: TBD

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gamb1t View Post
The old 1 series was ugly but what a great drive! I'm assuming the new one will be a supersized mini cooper?
Yes, it is built the same UKL platform as the MINI.

I owned an R50, and for a front drive car it handled very well. But in no way shape or form was it even close to any RWD BMWs I've driven/owned.

I currently own a 128i M Sport, the handling and steering feel on that car is absolutely fantastic.

It's sad to see BMW compromise its integrity for the sake of profits, but 'it is what it is' as they say.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
3rd generation, front, new 1 series, wheel


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:36 AM.




u11
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST