BMW 1 series
 

Do any of you have one, or know anyone that has one?
It seems like a very nice car.

I love my truck, but it gets 14.7 MPG on the average, and the BMW 1 series would get me 21 or so in the city and 30 on the highway. It could also save me about $25 a month on monthly payments.

I am not sure I can live without my truck, but with gas right around $3.50 a gallon, it seems unreasonable for me to keep it considering I no longer race ATV's and dirt bikes.

I do not know a single person that has one, and considering it JUST came out, I wonder what the reviews of REAL people have on this car?

Re: BMW 1 series
 

Didn't you just buy a new car? You're getting another one now?

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=SmootSmack;436551]Didn't you just buy a new car? You're getting another one now?[/QUOTE]

The Camry was for my wife.
But to answer your question...yes. Why not? With gas prices through the roof with no relief in sight, it's hard not to consider it.

Like I explained in the camry thread, I have no problems paying car payments...we have nothing else to look forward to out here in this hell hole.

ps- my wife got promoted and got a sizable raise.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

Congratulations to your wife. I know nothing about the BMW 1 series

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=SmootSmack;436555]Congratulations to your wife. I know nothing about the BMW 1 series[/QUOTE]

The only thing I know about it, is that it's affordable. With the options I want, it will cost around $35k (msrp). With the 10k+ I have in (trade in) equity, I'd be financing only around 22-24k after negotiations.
If I financed 22k at 3.9% for 60 months, it would cost only $404 a month.
Not sure what BMW is offering, but my wife has a 786 credit score and I have a 740 meaning we are "well qualified" and will qualify for thier best offer. We got 1.9% on the Camry.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

If you're really concerned about gas prices why not look at a hybrid or a more economical car?

Re: BMW 1 series
 

I don't think Hybrids are the long term answer to our problems. Think battery costs will be a determinant.

The logic I don't understand is people spending $$$ to get better gas mileage.
Think how much gas you can buy for the money you're getting ready to spend. Now if just looking for an excuse to buy a car...then go for it.

I've seen people do some crazy things to save a little at the gas pump. Guess if it makes them feel better then that is all that matters.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=riggins44;436652]I don't think Hybrids are the long term answer to our problems. Think battery costs will be a determinant.

The logic I don't understand is people spending $$$ to get better gas mileage.
Think how much gas you can buy for the money you're getting ready to spend. Now if just looking for an excuse to buy a car...then go for it.

I've seen people do some crazy things to save a little at the gas pump. Guess if it makes them feel better then that is all that matters.[/QUOTE]

Well, we always buy a new vehicle every 3-5 years (i've had my truck for 4 years) we don't live in the city and don't need to drive a car into the ground due to the cost of living. Our Mortgage is only $490 a month, and our house is a very nice house in a good neighborhood. We don't do anything out here because, well, there is nothing to do but go get drunk, and I don't drink. So we end up leaving town a lot, and it takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Roswell, and 2 hours 15 minutes to el paso, and 2 hours 30 minutes to Lubbock. We spend a lot of time in our vehicles when we leave town, so we want it to be as nice as possible. So it's not all about saving MPG costs. Also, I've always wanted a Bimmer.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;436615]If you're really concerned about gas prices why not look at a hybrid or a more economical car?[/QUOTE]

Cause they don't offer the amenities in some cases, some others don't offer the space, and in most others they don't offer the muscle I need. I do say "need" cause I drive a lot faster than I should. There are only 2 lane highways out here in a lot of areas, and if you're driving 80 or 85 mph or higher (limits are 75) you need muscle to get around a vehicle slower than you, and a hybrid just doesn't make it. Unless it's a lexus anyway, but that is too pricey for me. I refuse to pay more than $39999 for ANY vehicle unless it's a Vette.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436658]Well, we always buy a new vehicle every 3-5 years (i've had my truck for 4 years) we don't live in the city and don't need to drive a car into the ground due to the cost of living. [B]Our Mortgage is only $490 a month, and our house is a very nice house in a good neighborhood. We don't do anything out here because, well, there is nothing to do but go get drunk, and I don't drink.[/B] So we end up leaving town a lot, and it takes 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Roswell, and 2 hours 15 minutes to el paso, and 2 hours 30 minutes to Lubbock. We spend a lot of time in our vehicles when we leave town, so we want it to be as nice as possible. So it's not all about saving MPG costs. Also, I've always wanted a Bimmer.[/quote]

I need to move to NM. It's a damn shame that I cannot stand the desert or the West Coast.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436659]Cause they don't offer the amenities in some cases, some others don't offer the space, and in most others they don't offer the muscle I need. I do say "need" cause I drive a lot faster than I should. There are only 2 lane highways out here in a lot of areas, and if you're driving 80 or 85 mph or higher (limits are 75) you need muscle to get around a vehicle slower than you, and a hybrid just doesn't make it. Unless it's a lexus anyway, but that is too pricey for me. I refuse to pay more than $39999 for ANY vehicle unless it's a Vette.[/quote]

I'm sure you already know this but if you're driving that fast you're wasting alot of fuel.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=angryssg;436661]I need to move to NM. It's a damn shame that I cannot stand the desert or the West Coast.[/quote]

Yeah seriously, hell my first dump of an apartment was $550/month.

I'd be on easy street with a mortgage that low.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

jsarno, I'd say pull the trigger and get one. From what I've read looks like
a nice car. I'm still in shock over a $490 mortgage.

After reading your response, I'd say your in good position to buy one. Then you can mark it off your bucket list.

Never been a bimmer person, but after my kids are gone I want a T-Bucket.
No good reason why, just do.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=angryssg;436661]I need to move to NM. It's a damn shame that I cannot stand the desert or the West Coast.[/QUOTE]

Problem is, like I stated, there is nothing to do. I'd gladly pay a 1200 or 1500 mortgage to live in an area that you could do something every day of the year. This place sucks, that's why it costs so little.
My house is right around 2000 sq ft, and when we bought it in 99, we paid a hair over 50k. (no typo) The market has since gone up...for instance the house is now worth around 125k, but that's because I've redone every room and totally renovated the kitchen with granite tops and put in a hot tub in the back yard.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;436666]I'm sure you already know this but if you're driving that fast you're wasting alot of fuel.[/QUOTE]

LOL...yeah, but if you're in a truck going 85-90, the MPG will go down to 14-16, in a car like the BMW, we're looking at the high 20's. It still saves me a ton of money per year. I can cut my gas consumption in half.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;436667]Yeah seriously, hell my first dump of an apartment was $550/month.

I'd be on easy street with a mortgage that low.[/QUOTE]

Our salaries aren't as high as they should be cause of where we live. For instance, my wife will make anywhere from double to closer to triple more than what she makes right now if we move to Denver or Phoenix. We are on a two year plan here starting in June, then we're gone and will cash in. Some times you have to do something you don't want to do to benefit your future.

I understand that my mortgage is amazingly low compared to across the country. Hell, my brother pays close to $4500 a month for his house outside of Boston. I find that as lunacy. But to each his own. He laughs at me cause we buy new cars all the time, but two brand new cars and our house costs a little over $1400 a month combined. He drives a 97 Grand Prix with 145k miles on it, and an 02 explorer with 150k miles on it. But hey, at least they are paid for huh? lol.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=riggins44;436668]jsarno, I'd say pull the trigger and get one. From what I've read looks like
a nice car. I'm still in shock over a $490 mortgage.

After reading your response, I'd say your in good position to buy one. Then you can mark it off your bucket list.

Never been a bimmer person, but after my kids are gone I want a T-Bucket.
No good reason why, just do.[/QUOTE]

I don't want to be a guinea pig though...I am hoping someone has one somewhere and I can get a first person review.
I've read all about it too...motor trend did a review of it that turned up pretty good, and car and driver did one too that was equally impressive. But we all know, reading something doesn't actually translate to actual use from a REAL person.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436670][B]Problem is, like I stated, there is nothing to do. I'd gladly pay a 1200 or 1500 mortgage to live in an area that you could do something every day of the year.[/B] This place sucks, that's why it costs so little.
My house is right around 2000 sq ft, and when we bought it in 99, we paid a hair over 50k. (no typo) The market has since gone up...for instance the house is now worth around 125k, but that's because I've redone every room and totally renovated the kitchen with granite tops and put in a hot tub in the back yard.[/quote]


Hell no, I can find stuff to do! I can shoot at beer cans or something. I would use all the money I save on mortgage to take vacations to places where there are more things to do.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=angryssg;436684]Hell no, I can find stuff to do! I can shoot at beer cans or something. I would use all the money I save on mortgage to take vacations to places where there are more things to do.[/QUOTE]

LOL...we take a cruise every year around January 30th (when my daughter died back in 04)...we just went to Hawaii...remember? In 07 we went to the Western Caribbean, in 06 we went to the Eastern Caribbean, in 05 we went to the Western Caribbean (different intinerary though). We are going to the Mexican Riveria (Cabo, Puerto Vallarta etc) in 09.

I do go to the shooting range, but that is free...well, it costs the price of bullets.
Seriously, you run out of stuff to do REALLY fast. You just don't understand until you live it.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436695]LOL...we take a cruise every year around January 30th (when my daughter died back in 04)...we just went to Hawaii...remember? In 07 we went to the Western Caribbean, in 06 we went to the Eastern Caribbean, in 05 we went to the Western Caribbean (different intinerary though). We are going to the Mexican Riveria (Cabo, Puerto Vallarta etc) in 09.

I do go to the shooting range, but that is free...well, it costs the price of bullets.
Seriously, you run out of stuff to do REALLY fast. You just don't understand until you live it.[/quote]


Oh I get it, believe me. I'll bet that once you have spent 4 years in Ludowici, GA you've essentially spent 4 years in Carlsbad.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

jsarno, what's so bad about the area you live in?

Are you literally in the middle of nowhere?

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;436658] Our Mortgage is only $490 a month, and our house is a very nice house in a good neighborhood. [/QUOTE]
Holy Crap! I need to move. I spend that much every month on gas and car insurance!

I work in Carlsbad(Ca). I'm 2 blocks from the beach, Weather is great year round, limitless things to do. Unfortunately, everything here is too damn expensive I can't afford to do anything! It's not like a flip burgers are In-N-Out, I'm an Engineer for a small company. I just can't afford to live here...


back on topic:
My boss is a BMW Fanatic(owned 5 in the last 3 years), He test drove the 1 series with 300 horses and he says he likes it better than his E46 M3. The power to weight differential makes it a fun car to drive and it doesn't have the hard suspension that the M3 has.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

I think that the Warpath is officially moving to Carlsbad. You wont be lonely or board anymore J.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

jsarno, for curiosities sake, how much does raw land cost? Like, per acre.

Back on topic a little; in good faith, I could never recommend a BMW to anyone who wouldn't sell it before the warranty ran out. Their reliability record is abysmal.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;436707]jsarno, what's so bad about the area you live in?

Are you literally in the middle of nowhere?[/QUOTE]

OH yeah...did you see my post about how far we are from Roswell / El Paso / Lubbock? Well, if you go east, you will go to a town called Hobbs. That's 86 miles from us, I am not kidding when I say there is nothing between here and there. There are mesquite bushes and desert, that's it. Same going north, there is a little town (about 10-15k population) called Artesia that smells like shit...literally cause there are dairy farms and an oil refinery plant. Artesia is 30 minutes away, then Roswell is 45 minutes beyond that. Beyond that is NOTHING until you hit Albuquerque (about 2.5 hours away from Roswell). If you go south / southwest, you better fill up in Carlsbad, cause there is absolutely nothing between here and El Paso, no gas station or nothing and that's like 2 hours and 15 minutes away.
So to answer your question, yes, we LITERALLY live in the middle of no where.
But hey, we are a tourist attraction!

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=jamf;436710]Holy Crap! I need to move. I spend that much every month on gas and car insurance!

I work in Carlsbad(Ca). I'm 2 blocks from the beach, Weather is great year round, limitless things to do. Unfortunately, everything here is too damn expensive I can't afford to do anything! It's not like a flip burgers are In-N-Out, I'm an Engineer for a small company. I just can't afford to live here...[/quote]

Yeah, Cali is way too expensive.


[quote]back on topic:
My boss is a BMW Fanatic(owned 5 in the last 3 years), He test drove the 1 series with 300 horses and he says he likes it better than his E46 M3. The power to weight differential makes it a fun car to drive and it doesn't have the hard suspension that the M3 has.[/QUOTE]

Wow, that's a good review. I wasn't thinking about getting the 135, I was thinking of getting the 128 (230 horses), but now I'll have to test the difference.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=cpayne5;436717]jsarno, for curiosities sake, how much does raw land cost? Like, per acre.

Back on topic a little; in good faith, I could never recommend a BMW to anyone who wouldn't sell it before the warranty ran out. Their reliability record is abysmal.[/QUOTE]

I am unsure of how much that is, I never looked into it, but I am pretty sure it's cheap. :D

I heard the opposite about BMW's. I heard they had great reliability. They have a 4 year 50,000 mile warrenty, and I don't usually keep cars beyond 4 years, so I am not too worried. haha.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=angryssg;436714]I think that the Warpath is officially moving to Carlsbad. You wont be lonely or board anymore J.[/QUOTE]

Come on out! I have a 61 inch TV and a great surround sound system...we can watch the games here and get piss drunk! haha.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436734]OH yeah...did you see my post about how far we are from Roswell / El Paso / Lubbock? Well, if you go east, you will go to a town called Hobbs. That's 86 miles from us, I am not kidding when I say there is nothing between here and there. There are mesquite bushes and desert, that's it. Same going north, there is a little town (about 10-15k population) called Artesia that smells like shit...literally cause there are dairy farms and an oil refinery plant. Artesia is 30 minutes away, then Roswell is 45 minutes beyond that. Beyond that is NOTHING until you hit Albuquerque (about 2.5 hours away from Roswell). If you go south / southwest, you better fill up in Carlsbad, cause there is absolutely nothing between here and El Paso, no gas station or nothing and that's like 2 hours and 15 minutes away.
So to answer your question, yes, we LITERALLY live in the middle of no where.
But hey, we are a tourist attraction![/quote]

So do you not live near any commercial areas at all? No shopping or dining?

Re: BMW 1 series
 

How did you end up in Carlsbad, jsarno?

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=jsarno;436737]I am unsure of how much that is, I never looked into it, but I am pretty sure it's cheap. :D

I heard the opposite about BMW's. I heard they had great reliability. They have a 4 year 50,000 mile warrenty, and I don't usually keep cars beyond 4 years, so I am not too worried. haha.[/QUOTE]

If you're going to sell it before the warranty expires, then go for it. How close is the nearest BMW dealership?

German cars are (generally) well engineered from a mechanical standpoint, but their electronics are usually trash.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436738]Come on out! I have a 61 inch TV and a great surround sound system...we can watch the games here and get piss drunk! haha.[/quote]


I just looked at a map. I would have to live roughly 3 to 4 hours away from Carlsbad if I were to move there.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436679]Our salaries aren't as high as they should be cause of where we live. For instance, my wife will make anywhere from double to closer to triple more than what she makes right now if we move to Denver or Phoenix. We are on a two year plan here starting in June, then we're gone and will cash in. Some times you have to do something you don't want to do to benefit your future. [/quote]

I hear ya on the whole cost of living thing. I had been living in little old Gainesville, Florida for the past 8 years before last summer. Prior to that I was 19 the last time I lived in the DC area, and that was under my parent's roof. The cost of living shock up here was the equivalent of getting kicked in the junk. My girlfriend and I both have good jobs up here earing significantly more than when we lived in the swamps of north central Florida, and yet I feel like we have less money every month.

Check out this cool cost of living calculator I found:
[url=http://www.bestplaces.net/col/]Cost of Living Comparison[/url]

This calculator estimates that it's 46.2% more expensive to live in DC than in Gainesville!! EESH!

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72;436739]So do you not live near any commercial areas at all? No shopping or dining?[/QUOTE]

Nope...and it depends on what you consider shopping and dining. There is really good shopping in El Paso and Lubbock. El Paso sucks though, a ton of crime there. Most everyone has to have bars on their doors and windows.
In terms of 4 or 5 star dining, you'd have to go to Lubbock. The best restaurants in Carlsbad are Chili's and Denny's. The best in Roswell is Cattle Baron and Red Lobster. The best dining is in Lubbock.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=GMScud;436762]I hear ya on the whole cost of living thing. I had been living in little old Gainesville, Florida for the past 8 years before last summer. Prior to that I was 19 the last time I lived in the DC area, and that was under my parent's roof. The cost of living shock up here was the equivalent of getting kicked in the junk. My girlfriend and I both have good jobs up here earing significantly more than when we lived in the swamps of north central Florida, and yet I feel like we have less money every month.

Check out this cool cost of living calculator I found:
[url=http://www.bestplaces.net/col/]Cost of Living Comparison[/url]

This calculator estimates that it's 46.2% more expensive to live in DC than in Gainesville!! EESH![/QUOTE]

I checked out the link. It costs 61.5% more to live in Boston (where I was born and raised for 22 years) than Carlsbad, NM (where I have lived for 11 years).

I also checked out the difference between Gainesville and Carlsbad, and it would cost 16.7% more to live in Gainesville.

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=angryssg;436748]I just looked at a map. I would have to live roughly 3 to 4 hours away from Carlsbad if I were to move there.[/QUOTE]

What town would you have to move to?

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=cpayne5;436740]How did you end up in Carlsbad, jsarno?[/QUOTE]

It's really a long story, but the short story is my wife was offered an HR Director position out of college, and we decided to move here for the experience. We came here on a 5 year plan, then 5 years came and went and every business wanted 7-10 years, so we modified it to 10 years. We almost left, but then this promotion for my wife fell in her lap (25k more a year) so we decided to stay for a couple more years to get this valuable experience. We have always made decisions with the long term value in mind (in terms of career).

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436928]What town would you have to move to?[/quote]


Las Cruces (SP?)

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[quote=jsarno;436562]The only thing I know about it, is that it's affordable. With the options I want, it will cost around $35k (msrp). With the 10k+ I have in (trade in) equity, I'd be financing only around 22-24k after negotiations.
If I financed 22k at 3.9% for 60 months, it would cost only $404 a month.
Not sure what BMW is offering, but my wife has a 786 credit score and I have a 740 meaning we are "well qualified" and will qualify for thier best offer. We got 1.9% on the Camry.[/quote]

[COLOR=black]I only have good things to say about BMWs. Once you own one and drive it all of the time, it will be hard to go back to an average car. This being a new model I might worry about computer glitches, but if you buy new that will all be covered under warranty anyway. BMWs really do give you the ultimate driving experience… there isn't anything else quite like them.[/COLOR]

Re: BMW 1 series
 

[QUOTE=angryssg;436941]Las Cruces (SP?)[/QUOTE]

That's basically a "suburb" of El Paso. That's where people live that are sick of all the crime in El Paso. That's about 3 hours from here. You'd be close to the White Sands too...interesting place. They were just testing missles there the other day and shut down the highways.

Las Cruces has a slightly higher cost of living than Carlsbad, but there is more to do, and you're only 30-40 minutes from El Paso and an international airport.