ULP
18-01-2008, 09:05 AM
Once again we have been to Germany and, unlike any other country in Europe when you should hire the cheapest air-conditioned car you can, we ordered a BMW 1-series or equivalent from e-Sixt on account of the Autobahns.
Unlike every previous trip, we were not offered an upgrade from the chosen specification due to them having all the car from the class above booked-out at some time over our stay. Accordingly, we were handed the keys to a BMW 116i, which pleased me on a number of accounts. Firstly, I wanted to see if the qualities experienced in a rear-drive chassis could still come through in the basic model. Secondly, I wanted to see what the basic 1.6 petrol engine was like and thirdly, is there any room in these things...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/christodd1/IMG_3869.jpg
First impressions are generally positive. I won't describe the looks as this has been done to death, but on its plastic wheeltrims the 1er looks quite tidy (IMHO), in a basic-German transport machine sort of way. Others like 'Bling', I like 'Utilitarian'.
Putting the luggage in the boot is a cinch - the load area is quite long-enough although not especially wide this boot is not small by class standards - three good-sized suitcases would fit along with some squashy bags.
Getting in, though, gave me the first challenge. With the dashboard being quite far back in the car and the B-pillar is actually quite far forward of the front seat in its almost rear-most position; the net result is a lack of dignity when getting in and out as my considerable stature proved a challenge to get through the opening. Still, once in there the driving position (LHD) is excellent - I could have done with more rearward travel on the wheel as in the closest position it was only just comfortable. Mirrors adjusted and its chocks-away.
The 116i was already very run-in (showing 23,600km when I collected) which also meant it was not a recently introduced stop-start version (with 122bhp) but the slightly older engine which has 115bhp. Quite tractible at low-revs this engine is typical BMW 4-pot; not especially tunefull but has more guts than you expect and has a very clean pull from low-revs. The 6-speed gearbox is positive and crisp; this is how a gearbox should feel, Mr. Audi... The ratio's are well-chosen with 6th pulling about 3200rpm in top at 70mph meaning Autobahn driving is quite easy, only getting caught in this gear at 50mph-ish belies the relative lack of torque.
Dissapointingly, the engine becomes incredibly thrashy at 5500rpm, I had hoped it would remain smooth-enough to rev-out to the red line but no chance. Also, the speedo wildly over-read; 160km/h (100mph) came-up with 91mph on my tom-tom; it was always 10% out. Still, for cruising at an indicated 180km/h the 116i was more than up to the job. I averaged 9.6L/km on the trip readout which is 29.6mpg; quite shocking, but as I rarely dropped under 140km/h for 75% of the driving, with much of the rest being foot-down to get back there or driving around town then perhaps it's not so bad.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/christodd1/IMG_3866.jpg
No matter the road, surface or speed, the 116i felt incredibly assured; this is a peach of a chassis; unflustered by broken concrete Autobahn (whatever the Daily Fascist has you believe, there are crap roads in Germany too), solid as a rock at multilane speeds where you always feel in control and incredibly agile on rural roads, you can never get bored of steering this car - only one thing conspired against a full 10/10 and that's down to my sensory desires; a plastic steering wheel. Yuk. Leather is the only way to go.
This car appeared to be akin to the basic UK-spec version with only Air Conditioning and Front Fog lights lifting it. The cabin is austere and for me I'd have lighter interior trim inserts and the SE specification which comes with a few trinkets. Oh, and the C.d. player refused to return my Seal album; clearly it loves the vocal skills of a fantastic artist and was not keen to give these up!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/christodd1/IMG_3864.jpg
Other faults? Well, there was an awful grumbling front-left wheel-bearing, which was unexpected at such a low mileage but perhaps not a surprise given the appeal of flinging the car into a corner.
Oh, and rear seat space. My seat wasn't at the rearmost position (unusual but most welcome) but this didn't stop the rear footwell being a joke; legroom is ok-ish because the rear seatback base is quite long, but there is no footwell under the front seats. Clearly BMW consider this a compromise worth having for most of their customers but as I prefer the 1er to the 3er as a driving tool, this is still a compromise too-far. If we only ever carried three people, then we could live with it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/christodd1/IMG_3871.jpg
Unlike every previous trip, we were not offered an upgrade from the chosen specification due to them having all the car from the class above booked-out at some time over our stay. Accordingly, we were handed the keys to a BMW 116i, which pleased me on a number of accounts. Firstly, I wanted to see if the qualities experienced in a rear-drive chassis could still come through in the basic model. Secondly, I wanted to see what the basic 1.6 petrol engine was like and thirdly, is there any room in these things...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/christodd1/IMG_3869.jpg
First impressions are generally positive. I won't describe the looks as this has been done to death, but on its plastic wheeltrims the 1er looks quite tidy (IMHO), in a basic-German transport machine sort of way. Others like 'Bling', I like 'Utilitarian'.
Putting the luggage in the boot is a cinch - the load area is quite long-enough although not especially wide this boot is not small by class standards - three good-sized suitcases would fit along with some squashy bags.
Getting in, though, gave me the first challenge. With the dashboard being quite far back in the car and the B-pillar is actually quite far forward of the front seat in its almost rear-most position; the net result is a lack of dignity when getting in and out as my considerable stature proved a challenge to get through the opening. Still, once in there the driving position (LHD) is excellent - I could have done with more rearward travel on the wheel as in the closest position it was only just comfortable. Mirrors adjusted and its chocks-away.
The 116i was already very run-in (showing 23,600km when I collected) which also meant it was not a recently introduced stop-start version (with 122bhp) but the slightly older engine which has 115bhp. Quite tractible at low-revs this engine is typical BMW 4-pot; not especially tunefull but has more guts than you expect and has a very clean pull from low-revs. The 6-speed gearbox is positive and crisp; this is how a gearbox should feel, Mr. Audi... The ratio's are well-chosen with 6th pulling about 3200rpm in top at 70mph meaning Autobahn driving is quite easy, only getting caught in this gear at 50mph-ish belies the relative lack of torque.
Dissapointingly, the engine becomes incredibly thrashy at 5500rpm, I had hoped it would remain smooth-enough to rev-out to the red line but no chance. Also, the speedo wildly over-read; 160km/h (100mph) came-up with 91mph on my tom-tom; it was always 10% out. Still, for cruising at an indicated 180km/h the 116i was more than up to the job. I averaged 9.6L/km on the trip readout which is 29.6mpg; quite shocking, but as I rarely dropped under 140km/h for 75% of the driving, with much of the rest being foot-down to get back there or driving around town then perhaps it's not so bad.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/christodd1/IMG_3866.jpg
No matter the road, surface or speed, the 116i felt incredibly assured; this is a peach of a chassis; unflustered by broken concrete Autobahn (whatever the Daily Fascist has you believe, there are crap roads in Germany too), solid as a rock at multilane speeds where you always feel in control and incredibly agile on rural roads, you can never get bored of steering this car - only one thing conspired against a full 10/10 and that's down to my sensory desires; a plastic steering wheel. Yuk. Leather is the only way to go.
This car appeared to be akin to the basic UK-spec version with only Air Conditioning and Front Fog lights lifting it. The cabin is austere and for me I'd have lighter interior trim inserts and the SE specification which comes with a few trinkets. Oh, and the C.d. player refused to return my Seal album; clearly it loves the vocal skills of a fantastic artist and was not keen to give these up!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/christodd1/IMG_3864.jpg
Other faults? Well, there was an awful grumbling front-left wheel-bearing, which was unexpected at such a low mileage but perhaps not a surprise given the appeal of flinging the car into a corner.
Oh, and rear seat space. My seat wasn't at the rearmost position (unusual but most welcome) but this didn't stop the rear footwell being a joke; legroom is ok-ish because the rear seatback base is quite long, but there is no footwell under the front seats. Clearly BMW consider this a compromise worth having for most of their customers but as I prefer the 1er to the 3er as a driving tool, this is still a compromise too-far. If we only ever carried three people, then we could live with it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/christodd1/IMG_3871.jpg