Jeremy Clarkson
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From
February 2, 2008
BMW 120d Sport
Rating 
Verdict In a word, crap
The advertisements for BMW’s 1-series tell us that unlike any other family hatchback on the market it has rear-wheel drive. And that’s great. You can feel the benefits immediately. Even at normal, trundling-about speeds it feels more together than even the Focus, king of the front-drivers.
Now, here comes the but – with news of many problems that will leave you wishing, with all your heart, that you’d bought something else.
First of all there’s the styling. This BMW is just plain ugly. So what about the engine? Well, if you want any poke at all, and surely that’s the reason why you’re buying a BMW, you have to go for the diesel. It’s not a bad diesel by any standards, but come on. Where’s the fun in a car that sounds like a canal boat?
The worst thing about the 1-series is the pricing. For the top-of-the-range diesel you are asked to pay £20,700. Even if you show some self-restraint you’d be lucky to put a car like this on the road for less than £23,000, and I’m sorry, but you can have two hatchbacks for that.
I have been accused, in recent years, of having it in for BMW, and that’s why I’m choosing the words for my conclusion with even more care than usual. So here goes. The 1-series is crap.
Price when tested (Dec 2004) £20,700 Model discontinued
Engine 1995cc, four cylinders
Power 163bhp @ 4000rpm
Torque 250 lb ft @ 2000rpm
Transmission Six-speed manual
Fuel/CO2 49.6mpg (combined) / 152g/km
0-62mph 7.9sec
Top speed 137mph
After driving a 2002 BMW 316Ti (Compact) for the last 6 years, and comparing it to tthe "1" Series that supposedly replaced it. There is infact almost NO comparison. The Compact wins handsdown in every area!
The 1 Series is just water-down drivel, because the BMW Compact (BMW's entry car) was too good and too expensive.
If they had made the 1 Series even remotely as well as the Compact, it would not be so bad!
They should have stuck with trying to make the Compact more efficiently priced.
Robert, Kingston, Jamaica
in my eyes and the many that have purchased the 1 series, they are great looking cars, unique looking for sure ...but that suits me , boring and conservative looking like most of its competitors it certainly is not ...well done bmw! As for the diesel, mine has a tuning box and with 400nm out of two litres who gives a flying f*^# what it sounds like! Clarkson is a tool, the 1series is one of the finest chassis going the car handles like a dream, it is a drivers car, trouble is clarkson cant drive and there are many video's of him proving this to the world. I considered both Audi and golf gti but neither car came close to the little bimmer. the dsg box in the golf was fun though!
Greg, Sydney, Australia
Quite true the 1 series is truly ugly and thats bad enough without having a diesel version, I know people say that diesel cars are more economical and better for the environment which is true but I just couldn't live with the noise of the thing anyway if you want German reliability then buy a VW Golf or an Audi A3 (The Audi if you truly want a good badge) otherwise buy a Ford Focus, rear wheel drive is not a good enough reason to buy this car its just to ugly and no wonder Jeremy Clarkson has been acused of having it in for BMW there cars are all hideous.
Marc, Edinburgh, Scotland