10-18-2012, 11:35 PM | #1 |
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Dumb review by Road and Track
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/drives/2013-bmw-x1
It keep comparing the X3 saying it's better and only small in price different. "And for the price of about a dozen venti Lattes at Starbucks each month - and $1050 -you could have an X3." Really?? This is a review? Sound more like a car salesman pitch! Yea for another extra dozen lattes and another $1050 I can have a X5 too! It is $6000 different and it may not be a lot for the writer but it is some money for most. And what about the cost of fuel (he mention 24/34 for the X1, 19/25 for X3)? How many lattes are there? "But it’s not as substantial feeling as the X3" ... of course! You are in a heavier car! What if I want something sporty feeling? I like X5 too and it is a nice car but as a professional car reviewer you can't compare a car with something that's totally in different class! This is so amateur! |
10-19-2012, 04:29 AM | #3 |
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Money was not the issue when I ordered my car. I initially looked at the X3, before landing on the X1 because it seemed a better car for me, price not being taken into consideration. Full honors to my car dealer (Gengras BMW West Springfield, MA) for not trying to upsell me and instead making the customer walk out satisfied and happy.
If I had wanted the extra cargo space instead of extra agility, I probably would have ended up with an X5, not the X3. But I already have an SUV for that. |
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10-19-2012, 07:09 AM | #4 |
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I rarely have more than one passenger in my car. I plan to keep the rear seats down most of the time so I can haul my bike and other stuff. The X1has as much cargo space as I need by doing that. I chose the X1not because of price: I could afford the X5. I liked the fact that fuel economy makes the X1 more environmentally friendly. And it's more fun to drive, IMO, than the X3. It's not all about bigger to me.
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10-19-2012, 08:16 AM | #6 |
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What a stupid article!! They didn't even review anything and made it sound like the X3 was the same price as an X1. What a joke. The X1 is significantly less expensive than an X3 and in xdrive28i trim has significantly better performance. R&T screwed the pooch with this one.
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10-19-2012, 08:18 AM | #7 |
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If someone was to come to me and say Ill give you this brand new x3 fully loaded for your x1 Id say kiss my A$$$
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10-19-2012, 10:20 AM | #8 |
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Calm down people!
The reviewer touched on something that bugged me about the X1 (didn't stop me from getting one) and BMW in general - the ever-increasing dimensions of their vehicles over time. We had an X3. Nice SUV - too big for me. I wanted something smaller and faster. Then came the X1 - a LITTLE smaller and a LITTLE faster. Since I don't live in Europe, but still want a BMW with some cargo carrying capacity, that is what I am stuck with. I have an E82 135i built on the E9X platform, just like the X1, and that is still too big as far as I am concerned. While it's great that the technology is there to make them lighter and faster while still making them bigger, I wish they would concentrate on making them smaller while being just as safe (and small and fast). |
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10-19-2012, 10:23 AM | #9 |
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Weight difference is huge, the Sdrive is about 3,570 and the X3 is about 4,100. That's like having your 3 best friends ride around with you. Even the Xdrive is substantially lighter close to 400 lbs difference.
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10-19-2012, 11:14 AM | #10 | |
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For example, the instruction manual is very specific in stating -- twice -- that it must only be driven on paved roads. It's more like a jacked up 3 series touring than the X3 crossover and X5/6 SUV. And all fun to drive, unlike the people carriers. |
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10-19-2012, 11:20 AM | #11 | |
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Yes, the power-to-weight ratio of the X1, and particularly the 28s and 35i, is higher than on most BMWs except M-class. Which is part of what makes it such a fun car to drive. |
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10-19-2012, 11:22 AM | #12 |
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Personally I wanted an X3 as I think it is better built, more modern and more comfortable. I gave one to my wife for a weekend to test it, she really liked it but she tought it was to big, so I went for an X1 (as is will be her car) - at least i did put the more powerfull engine on the order.
The price was not the matter, neither was the sportiness, its just that for her everyday business it is more suitable. Also she thought the X3 would be to pretentious for her age. |
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10-19-2012, 11:41 AM | #13 | |
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Funny thing is that the X1 is indeed just a station wagon pretending to be a SUV, and I suppose that is exactly why I bought it. Even though that is essentially what I need, the stigma of the station wagon is still too strong for me to buy one. But, disguise it as a SUV and I'm all in... |
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10-19-2012, 12:59 PM | #14 | |
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The association with the name is probably why BMW is going to call the 3-series wagon a "sports wagon". I prefer the British term: Estate Car. |
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10-19-2012, 02:35 PM | #15 |
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My car's build sheet listed the body style as a "wgn", which I'll take over the "SAV" marketing-speak any day. Wagons are much cooler.
And it'll be interesting to see the next reviews by Car & Driver, Motor Trend, Automobile, Inside Line, etc. as they were all pretty positive on their first drives. |
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10-19-2012, 02:49 PM | #16 |
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The "experts" always tell you to never negotiate a car purchase based on payments. And here Road and Track is tell you to ignore the total cost and buy based on payments. Stupid.
The only advantages listed for the X3 are #1- it has 10 cubes more cargo space, #2- it is visually more impressive (it is bigger), #3- it feels more solid. Nothing about driving characteristics being better. So $6K more buys you a bigger car. If you want a bigger car then by all means, spend the $6K. If you don't need the space and want better handling you are an X1 customer. |
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10-19-2012, 03:19 PM | #17 |
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The OP had it right in the thread title. It was kind of a dumb review. I like articles that tell it like it is, but this one seemed rushed and tried too hard to have a different spin that didn't work.
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10-20-2012, 03:01 AM | #18 |
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at my office I park between a x3(2.0d) and a 520d other cars in carpark include x5, 125i 325 coupe, now we all pass the keys around and all have said they would prefer the x1 with the 8 spd from the 520d or the X5.
It handles better, accelerates better (mine is the 23d) and uses less fuel, as many have said money isn't the reason why a lot of us bought the x1 nor the reason its very popular world wide. Other reviewers also bag out build quaility, but i have driven far worse that cost more. Also the resale value in Aust is rated higher then the X3 ... in fact the moter magazines rate the x1 as the highest retained value over 3 years of all bmw's So mr reviewer ... save a bit buy an x3 .... nope .... looking forward to upgrading mine to a 35 version at some stage (probably 2 years time) |
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10-21-2012, 08:12 PM | #19 |
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That's a terrible review. I have to tell you folks that I'm always skeptical with most reviews I read. I'm especially skeptical of the ones in magazines that receive huge revenues from the car companies in the form of advertising.
So a plausible scenario Is the following: a writer for Road and Track or one of the other car magazines is invited to a cocktail party for the introduction of a new model car. He's wined and dined by car manufacturer's executives. Maybe there are some females there who flirt with the writer and it's a fun day for the writer. He gets to test drive the new model, eat some high quality food and hang out with some powerful people and beautiful women. In the meanwhile the advertising department at R&T has already collected money from the car manufacturer for advertising- lots of money. Do you think it's possible that the writer may be influenced by the goings on that day? Do you think that it's possible that the advertising department who's going to place an ad in the very same magazine or electronic version of the magazine that the writer's review will appear may have some influence over the writer? Do you think that the writer would like to be invited back to an event in the future and is concerned that if he's too critical he won't be? I'm involved in marketing, and also in politics. The unethical ways people conduct themselves AT TIMES is very disappointing. I absolutely don't think my scenerio is the norm, but I KNOW it can happen. I mostly rely on Consumer Reports for car reviews and secondly on people on these forums. You people are great! I love all the back and forth and objective and subjective commentary based on your love and research. Full disclosure, I'm a Republican, but I think the geeky, liberal, pink panty wearing guys who used to get their lunch stolen every day in high school, losers at Consumer Reports who couldn't get laid with a wad of 100 dollar bills at a whorehouse, are much more reliable than all the other car magazines combined. And the liberal women who work at CR who wear comfortable shoes and aren't even attractive enough for those same guys are equally reliable. They don't accept any advertising and that's all you mostly need to know about them. Oh, and they have a state of the art testing facility and buy all the cars they test secretly. LOL, I truly look forward to your replies. Last edited by Bmwlvr60; 10-21-2012 at 08:26 PM.. Reason: Typo |
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10-27-2012, 10:56 AM | #20 |
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DUMB review!
Not everyone looks at the price difference (honestly, even if the X1 was more expensive, we will buy it over X3), or the cubic feet in the trunk. For some people, a smaller car is a better choice for their needs. I always thought that buying a bigger car than your needs is just a waste of money, more weight to cary, bigger gas consumption, more to wash, more to wax... We wanted something smaller, X1 was not available in North America, test drove 3 times X3. My wife has always the same answer: Nope! Too big! We decided to wait for the X1. She is in love now, she even said she will never buy something else, this is the car she feels and love, next one will be also the X1. From my point of view, which is more technical and performance wise, I think this car is sporty, practical and full of fun. Really. |
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