BMW 130i M sport. sickening performance at a sickening price
 

It's a cool car that I wish they would bring to the US, but I totally see why they haven't. It simply wouldn't sell here :( Anyone have an idea of how the A3 has sold so far? I have yet to see one on the road.

Sweet ride. I have read quite a few review from europe about it, and they all like it. Too bad it will never come here.

I dunno... there are cars like the Dodge Magnum, etc. Can't sell any worse than the "shoe" and they are bringing that back again...

im not sure on the numbers on the a3, but i see a lot of em in the DC metro area.
I think they are cool despite the American's general lack of enthusiasm over 'boutique hatchback wagons.'. Hopefully if they do well, stuff like the 1 series can make its way.

I test drove the A3 (not with the new 3.2t thats gonna get here this december) but with the smaller engine. Its peppy, but the clutch feel is like mashed potatoes and steering feel is soft. But its a fun car. It does top out around 30K though but thats with like 2 sunroofs and stuff. Im intersted to drive the 3.2T version of the A3 when it hits here.

the 3.2 is not a turboed version hence there is no T after the 3.2.... only the 2.0 is turboed to they call it 2.0T

and as for the A3 not selling.... well up here in canada they're doing prety well... i see one almost everyday.... they're mostly driven by asian but hey, i live in probally the 2nd largest asian populated area in canada... so i don't think the A3 will do bad at all...

wait. isn't this BMW 130M a FF car instead of the tranditional BMW FR????

the article says its RWD

that thing would never sell here anyway, not when you can have a magnum with a hemi for about 10-12 grand less, not to mention the 6 wagon, Subaru, etc. etc. 40 grand for a wagon is nuts. (even if it is a bmw, which are overpriced anyway)

true, but the magnum is also heavy, doesn't handle as well and only comes in auto (make a stick model DC!!!). There might be more market than you think...

I haven't seen one on the road either, only dealer lots. I think people need their SUVs since everyone needs to take their entire house with them any time they go to the mall. Plus, the road to the mall is a small, rocky and treacherous dirt road with near-vertical rock climbing. Can't climb rocks in a wagon. :hahano:

A3s so far are only FrontTrak, or FWD. Why drive a FWD Audi? Makes no sense. You might as well buy a VW. When they come in AWD to North America, then I'll be interested.

That being said, it's interesting to note that the A3 FWD is faster to 60, according to Audi, than the A4 2.0T, FWD or AWD. Power to weight ratio rules all...

Meh. It's about the same price/performance/practicality as the previous 330i w/performance pkg. Sure it's a nice car, but really nothing "sickening" about it.

Wake me when they use this platform/engine to make an attractive, lightweight coupe. (M2 perhaps?)

I really like it, but as said, it will never see our shores. By the way, why is it so damned heavy!?

What BMW needs is a good 25k entry car.

How is it slower than the E36 M3 while weighing about the same and with more power? Is the gearing garbage on this thing?

that's mfr claimed 0-60. Maybe they're being modest.

BMW typically is.

except the looks :thumbsdow

Reminds me too much of the old M3 Roadster Coupe. Looks like a sneaker with wheels.

2 years ago BMW said the 1 series would compete in the mid20K market, as ud expect with the number designation.

that damn thing would cost $42,000! no american in their right mind would pay that when an R32 gives u the same thing plus AWD for a ton less. 40,000 is is a ridculously high price point here in the US.. im sure its not quite as steep in europe.. not sure what the exchange rates and tarriffs add to it here.

i just know if i had 40K for a car it would not be a 1 series.

Yes, it would probably not sell well here, where we equate "premium" with "large" (some Porshce buyers excepted). I'd take it over an R32 in a hearbeat myself, but then I'm a RWD fan, and would rather own a BMW than a Volkswagen.

As for the packaging, I see it as an appealing combination of sports-car pedigree, luxury, and utility. Kind of like the RX-8, but with an obviously different execution. I suspect the build quality will be above that of our cars, however.

As for the A3, I don't know what the sales numbers are, but we have two here at my office (one SMG and one manual).

THere is no way it would cost 42 thousand dollars american. They're just converting the euro prices to USD, which is way out of line for every other model. If that were the case, a 330i would cost 50 thousand instead of 37. The car would probably be 32ish.

So, a potential alternative for the RX-8. Not a direct competitor, like the new 325, but an alternative none the less. How interesting.

I wish they'd sell it in the US... 130 starting at like $25k and this badboy at $32. I'd consider it.