Like Ned in Recreation of Thrones, the vendor of right this moment’s Good Value or No Cube BMW sees winter approaching and needs to arrange. Meaning a 4WD instead of the Bimmer’s convertible high. Let’s see if we’re ready for its asking value.
A 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder is a tricky promote to a crowd that thinks the reply is all the time a Miata. That was the problem going through the vendor of the ‘Mister Two’ we checked out final Friday, and at a $11,495 asking, it wasn’t successful many converts. It didn’t win in our voting, both, taking house an awesome 85 % No Cube loss for its un-Miata-ness.
Again within the 12 months 1968, pop legend Harry Nilsson plaintively crooned, “One is the loneliest quantity that you simply’ll ever do.” Three Canine Night time took that music and made it well-liked with the crowds, operating all of it the best way as much as quantity 5 on the Billboard Sizzling 100. Being ‘One’ could have as soon as been a tragic sack’s lament, however that didn’t cease BMW from constructing a full line of 1 Collection vehicles, and these are enjoyable for every person.
This 2011 BMW 128i convertible is a type of, and never solely is it a decade newer than the Toyota MR2 Spyder we thought-about final Friday, nevertheless it’s additionally extra useful. It affords 4 seats as an alternative of two, has extra baggage house, and, with 228 horsepower on faucet from its 3.0-liter N52 straight six, it has virtually 100 extra ponies underneath the hood.
BMW launched the coupe (E82) and convertible (E88) editions of the 1 Collection as an homage to the 02 line of vehicles from the late ’60s and early ’70s. These vehicles share a platform with a line of three and five-door hatchbacks, however BMW correctly selected to not convey these to the U.S., the place they’d have needed to compete in opposition to the vastly higher VW GTI in a market that’s not all that eager on sizzling hatches anymore. The coupe and convertible, nonetheless, appear to be Shrinky-Dink variations of the three Collection, and plenty of folks love these.
In the present day, BMW nonetheless sells the 1 Collection as a hatch in markets exterior the States, however because of the firm’s shift in naming conference, the coupe model (the convertible isn’t any extra) has been spun off by itself and is now branded as a 2.
Our convertible is a 1, and we’re going to present it the once-over to see if we expect that’s a constructive quantity.
The E8x line was designed throughout the Bangle period, and that’s evident within the automotive’s swayback decrease door edge and pulled taffy headlamp design. The remainder of the automotive has an actual E46 vibe, and a lot of the design’s extra flamboyant facets are masked by this automotive’s black paint. That paint, by the best way, appears to be like to be in stable form and is well-paired with the intense silver Type 360 wheels. Atop all that could be a black canvas convertible roof that additionally appears to be like to be in glorious situation.
It’s the same story within the cabin, with no obvious points with the upholstery, trim, or switchgear. It’s in right here the place you’ll discover this E88’s get together piece, which is the shifter for the automotive’s Basic Motors-sourced six-speed guide transmission.
That’s an uber-rare possibility on these vehicles, making this a little bit of a standout. Every little thing else right here is aimed toward consolation and comfort, with energy home windows and locks, automated local weather management, heated seats, and a push-button begin.
In response to the vendor, mechanically, the automotive is ideal. It has just lately undergone a considerable spherical of vendor upkeep and repairs, masking a lot of the main ache factors. It’s not been a storage queen both, because it has accomplished 134,096 miles to this point, racked up by its two house owners.
A clear title tops off this little Bimmer’s excessive factors, and the vendor makes the added boast that that is the one guide 128i at present listed in California. We’ll must resolve if that sways us in contemplating the automotive’s $12,000 asking value.
What’s your tackle this 128i asking for that type of cabbage? Is {that a} truthful value for a uncommon and seemingly well-kept automotive sporting the blue and white Roundel? Or is that an excessive amount of for a mini Bimmer?
You resolve!
San Francisco Bay Space, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
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