The F20 has been panned by many BMW fans for its exterior looks while being universally praised for it’s interior. And while we can understand the reaction, it’s slowly but surely starting to look better each time we see it. And BMW UK is making sure that continues with this latest video of the new 118i five door finished in black with a nice set of alloys.
To be honest, this is a very personal question I’ve been wrestling with for over a year. From the moment my purchase of a low mileage Alpine White E46 M3 with the competition package fell through (the owner had second thoughts of selling it) I’ve been consistently telling myself to patiently wait for the 1M. Knowing the people behind the car and knowing Dr. Segler’s history at MINI (and notably his involvement in the GP) I had a hunch it would be something special for both what it is and what it’s not. The notion of being unique because of the simplicity of it’s offering and dedication of purpose appeals to me more than a mass market type of car such as the M3 (in either of the latest generations). Mass market not in the strictest since but certainly more so than the manual only 1M.
But then there’s the S54 under the hood of the E46 M3 and my mind goes fuzzy again. So I’m bringing this question to all of you. We want opinions. Whether they be clicks or an elaborate thesis in the comment section.
Over a week ago we broke the news that the 1M will only be available with a manual transmission. Since that time BF and online forums have been debating what that means for the car and sales. We feel confident it’s a good move given the nature of the car, the way it’ll be marketed and the amount of production. But we want to hear from you. Given BMW’s limited development time, which transmission would you prefer to see in the 1M?
As enthusiasts we are elated that BMW and ///M are creating a product that should in theory get closer to our ideal driver’s car- the 1 ///M. Here at BimmerFile we love the concept of this work in progress. Both staff and readers have been following the progress and speculation of this much anticipated model almost with religious fervor. All of the information we have acquired from sources have painted a fairly decent picture of what this future model will bring in terms of performance and how it will be priced somewhere in the mid forty thousand dollar range for a base car.
The pricing makes us wonder a bit as to what demand such a vehicle would have. In the speculated price point there will be many similarly priced cars fulfilling the same needs. Some of these competitors will either be new or slightly used. That begs the question: What would you buy for $45k? The model years of the choices in the poll take into account that the 1 series ///M version will not appear stateside until after March of 2011 as a 2012 model year from what we are hearing.
The ultimate question for the modern BMW enthusiast; manual or DCT? That’s the question we get asked from readers more than any other these days. With the dual clutch DCT not only faster than the manual but also more efficient, it’s hard to make a case for rowing your own gears without being a bit sentimental. But that’s exactly what we are here at BF. We appreciate the satisfaction that comes with blipping the throttle and matching revs and the feedback and control you get with a properly sorted manual gearbox. But we’re not going to rehash the debate right now. That’s for you to do in the comment section. Instead we’re just going to give you a platform to tell us what you prefer.
BimmerFile is dedicated to bringing you the most interesting news, links and reviews related to the BMW brand and it's vehicles.
We believe in the old school BMW ownership experience. We believe in garage nights with a six pack and some friends. We believe in 2002s, in E30 M3s and E34 540s with the 6 speed. We believe in progress in both design and engineering but we haven't lost sight of what made the brand and its products great all those years ago. And yes, we believe in the manual transmission.
We long for the days of the wave and for the days of roll-up windows. Yet we love the gadgets on the inside and the xenons on the outside.
In short, we can't get enough of BMWs. This is BimmerFile.
Sections: BF Poll, F20 1 Series Jul 28th, 2011 7 Comments 
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