Like Ned in Recreation of Thrones, the vendor of immediately’s Good Value or No Cube BMW sees winter approaching and needs to arrange. Meaning a 4WD rather than the Bimmer’s convertible high. Let’s see if we’re ready for its asking worth.
A 2000 Toyota MR2 Spyder is a tricky promote to a crowd that thinks the reply is at all times 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 profitable many converts. It didn’t win in our voting, both, taking dwelling an amazing 85 p.c 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 track and made it common with the crowds, operating all of it the best way as much as quantity 5 on the Billboard Scorching 100. Being ‘One’ might 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 body.
This 2011 BMW 128i convertible is a kind of, and never solely is it a decade newer than the Toyota MR2 Spyder we thought of final Friday, but it surely’s additionally extra purposeful. It presents 4 seats as an alternative of two, has extra baggage area, 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 properly selected to not carry these to the U.S., the place they’d have needed to compete towards the vastly higher VW GTI in a market that’s not all that eager on scorching hatches anymore. The coupe and convertible, nevertheless, appear like Shrinky-Dink variations of the three Collection, and plenty of folks love these.
At present, BMW nonetheless sells the 1 Collection as a hatch in markets exterior the States, however as a result of firm’s shift in naming conference, the coupe model (the convertible is not 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 offer it the once-over to see if we predict that’s a optimistic quantity.
The E8x line was designed through the Bangle period, and that’s evident within the automobile’s swayback decrease door edge and pulled taffy headlamp design. The remainder of the automobile has an actual E46 vibe, and a lot of the design’s extra flamboyant points are masked by this automobile’s black paint. That paint, by the best way, seems to be in strong form and is well-paired with the intense silver Type 360 wheels. Atop all that could be a black canvas convertible roof that additionally seems to be in glorious situation.
It’s an analogous 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 social gathering piece, which is the shifter for the automobile’s Basic Motors-sourced six-speed handbook transmission.
That’s an uber-rare possibility on these vehicles, making this a little bit of a standout. Every part else right here is geared toward consolation and comfort, with energy home windows and locks, automated local weather management, heated seats, and a push-button begin.
In line with the vendor, mechanically, the automobile is ideal. It has not too long ago undergone a considerable spherical of seller upkeep and repairs, protecting a lot of the main ache factors. It’s not been a storage queen both, because it has accomplished 134,096 miles so far, racked up by its two homeowners.
A clear title tops off this little Bimmer’s excessive factors, and the vendor makes the added boast that that is the one handbook 128i at present listed in California. We’ll need to resolve if that sways us in contemplating the automobile’s $12,000 asking worth.
What’s your tackle this 128i asking for that form of cabbage? Is {that a} honest worth for a uncommon and seemingly well-kept automobile 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!
Assist me out with NPOND. Hit me up at [email protected] and ship me a fixed-price tip. Keep in mind to incorporate your Kinja deal with.
