[kyrix1st]

I personally think it's a bummer given that the majority of people who bought 1 series before should've known its handling characteristic is largely thanks to the FR platform and they will surely miss it when they experience the typical FF understeer in the corner with the new one

I understand that FF gives more space+cheaper to manufacture+make ppl want to go for 3 series, but isn't this killing the one major reason to buy bimmer at the entry level? Would like to hear your thoughts.

[Bluewater328iT]

They offer it because Mercedes and Audi do it and get sales out of it. Lots of people buy SUVs because they like the looks, need or want the room, and sitting up high, and don't notice it is a lot heavier and clumsy and eats more gas. I always preferred small vans because they handled better and ate less gas than SUVs. I would have bought a BMW van if it was offered back in '98 when we bought our last van. I am a wagon guy now that my kids are grown and gone.

[davis449]

The BMW purist in me hates it, but they're in business to make money and this layout has proven successful for Audi for a long time and, more recently, for Mercedes. They have to play the game. Also, I'm not ever going to buy one, so...

[David70]

Agree with the above, it is a good business decision and most care more about the benefits of FWD like better use of space, less cost, better mpg over the ultimate handling of the RWD car. Someone considering a FWD BMW car and comparing it to a small CUV/SUV will think it has great handling. The vast majority of BMW owners will never experience anywhere close to the handling limits of their FWD or RWD car or care.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by Bluewater328iT

They offer it because Mercedes and Audi do it and get sales out of it. Lots of people buy SUVs because they like the looks, need or want the room, and sitting up high, and don't notice it is a lot heavier and clumsy and eats more gas. I always preferred small vans because they handled better and ate less gas than SUVs. I would have bought a BMW van if it was offered back in '98 when we bought our last van. I am a wagon guy now that my kids are grown and gone.

The thing is, people who buy BMW expect all the cars to be FR driven.. BMW got themselves up by advertising so! Given the chassis limitation, I doubt BMW gains much space by making it FF.

[overcoil]

My 2-cents of thinking I know more then I really do.

I have a 235 for the record, but I've been a passenger in Scirooco, GTI, Nissan Sentra SE-R, Acura R-Type and those cars on back roads were crazy. So I'm kind of a fan of front wheel drive.

I test drove a new X1 after test driving a 7-series and of course I hated the X1.

Now a woman at my gym just traded in her 4-series for a new X1, and this X1 was wild looking and for the urban enviroment and inclement weather - X1 is to me one of the nicest daily drivers.

[Chihuahua]

It's a money grab by BMW, plain and simple. They're willing to compromise integrity and history for the sake of making more money. sad.

[Beartato]

If they work that magic Ford did with the ST on the Focus platform (or even better) I think it's cool. I wouldn't buy one, but it's cool.

[The Wind Breezes]

Who cares? Very few people complaining about handling are really going to use the extremely marginal advantage of RWD, and definitely not on the street. The biggest different will be in max acceleration at low speed as the FWD will have noticeably less grip there.

Aside from that, it's all about driver skill and tires. And I've driven some FF cars that outhandled the stock 1 by a long shot, they were modified though.

[GuidoK]

A compromise for the masses. 80% has no clue of what you can do with a car apart from texting/facebooking behind the wheel.
BMW used to be thàt brand that made cars for that other 20%.
That time is slowly crumbling away. It's apparantly reciprocally proportional to their sales volume; that has exploded the last few years.


FWD design is getting better, but it doesnt give the feedback and balance in the steering that rwd gives.

[Law]

RIP

[CirrusSR22]

Eh, I enjoy driving my MINI Cooper S over ANY of my previous five RWD 3-series' (non-M).

[AGONXF30]

Originally Posted by Kyle B

It's a money grab by BMW, plain and simple. They're willing to compromise integrity and history for the sake of making more money. sad.

Who the f cares. It is an entry level econobox. Get over it. FF is great for many things. A proper FF will be just as fun as a FR set up. I have a GLI econobox and it is as much fun to toss as my 335i

[jpnh]

Originally Posted by Law

RIP

Thats hilarious

[kyrix1st]

http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/03/24/bm...think-its-fwd/

Big thanks to these drivers. lol

[brad850csi]

Once my C63 goes back I want to replace it with an M6 Coupe and a hatch or estate to retain some level of practicaly and for the missus to drive. Her requirement is manual or DCT and I'd like something with 6 or 8 cylinders. So that limits to either an M140i or a second hand 335i, 530d or 535i. Purely because the M140i is the only available hatch with both a 6 cylinder and RWD, it is the only hatchback in the world I'm interested in.

Maybe BMW could make a 2 series tourer with a lower roofline to pretend to be a hatchback or just sell minis as FF, but while I know I'm a niche case, having an RWD hatch gives BMW a significant step up, to the point where I won't even think of another brand.

[mpathic]

Regardless of drive end, what about keeping manual transmissions instead of propping up the used E60 E46 E39 E36 market by denying us an automatic in the the newer models?

No manual transmission = no sale to that 20% BMW is supposedly making cars for.

[bailyhill]

What exactly does FF and FR stand for? I know what FWD and RWD is.

Bailyhill

[Law]

Originally Posted by bailyhill

What exactly does FF and FR stand for? I know what FWD and RWD is.

Bailyhill

FF: Front-engine, Front wheel drive
FR: Front-engine, Rear wheel drive
MR: Mid-engine, Rear wheel drive (namesake of Toyota MR2)
RR: Rear-engine, Rear wheel drive

Extras:
FMR: Front Mid-engine, Rear wheel drive (Subcategory of FR; weight of engine sits behind front wheels/struts, i.e., Honda S2000)


The terms "FWD" & "RWD" are vague and only tell you the set of wheels that are driven.
Terms like "FR" are brief yet tells the reader the basic layout/architecture of the chassis (where the engine sits AND driven wheels).

[Gamb1t]

The old 1 series was ugly but what a great drive! I'm assuming the new one will be a supersized mini cooper? I'll expect similar degradation in driving dynamics like the f48 X1 from the e84.

BMW's calling card over the other German marques has always been its sublime dynamics. Thanks in part to fine tuning the FR architecture. Feels like this is slowly eroding away.

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

The old 1 series was ugly but what a great drive! I'm assuming the new one will be a supersized mini cooper?

Yes, it is built the same UKL platform as the MINI.

I owned an R50, and for a front drive car it handled very well. But in no way shape or form was it even close to any RWD BMWs I've driven/owned.

I currently own a 128i M Sport, the handling and steering feel on that car is absolutely fantastic.

It's sad to see BMW compromise its integrity for the sake of profits, but 'it is what it is' as they say.