BMW 128ti 2021 review - the best FWD hot hatch you can buy?
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Date: 2022-04-11
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Comments and reviews: 10
John
I have had my car for almost 8 months now. It is a slightly sharper drive than my old Mk7. 5 GTI Performance, and it feels like a higher quality product overall. Everything you touch is just made from better materials, from the steering wheel, through all the dashboard plastics and controls to the seat coverings. The engine is stronger than the Mk7. 5 GT Performance as well, but not so much that it makes much difference in most driving conditions. The fake engine noise it better than the Golf's, that was awful. However, I switched it off in both cars anyway. The torque converter auto gearbox is both better and worse than the VAG DSG in the Golf. It's smoother at town traffic speeds, and when parking. However, it is definitely slower on the upshifts, and even more so on the downshifts, at speed compared to the VAG DSG. However, the paddle shifters are better simply because they are larger than the stubby things in the Golf. Plus, the gearbox does not change unless you want it to when in manual mode, unlike the -Mother knows best- VAG DSG. So, driving in manual mode is actually more fun in the 128ti. The ride is interesting compared to the GTI. It's firmer overall, which could annoy some, and does annoy me at times. It is likely perfectly suited to smooth German roads, less so to bumpy UK ones. However, the suspension is quieter than the Golf's, as it doesn't crash over potholes in the way my GTI did. Fuel economy is also interesting. Before E10 arrived, I was getting significantly more MPG compared to the GTI. I managed over 50mpg in ECO Pro mode on an A road drive last August. However, I rarely see above mid-30s since E10 and the colder months arrived. Be interesting to see how that might improve with the arrival of spring and hopefully warmer weather.
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I have had my car for almost 8 months now. It is a slightly sharper drive than my old Mk7. 5 GTI Performance, and it feels like a higher quality product overall. Everything you touch is just made from better materials, from the steering wheel, through all the dashboard plastics and controls to the seat coverings. The engine is stronger than the Mk7. 5 GT Performance as well, but not so much that it makes much difference in most driving conditions. The fake engine noise it better than the Golf's, that was awful. However, I switched it off in both cars anyway. The torque converter auto gearbox is both better and worse than the VAG DSG in the Golf. It's smoother at town traffic speeds, and when parking. However, it is definitely slower on the upshifts, and even more so on the downshifts, at speed compared to the VAG DSG. However, the paddle shifters are better simply because they are larger than the stubby things in the Golf. Plus, the gearbox does not change unless you want it to when in manual mode, unlike the -Mother knows best- VAG DSG. So, driving in manual mode is actually more fun in the 128ti. The ride is interesting compared to the GTI. It's firmer overall, which could annoy some, and does annoy me at times. It is likely perfectly suited to smooth German roads, less so to bumpy UK ones. However, the suspension is quieter than the Golf's, as it doesn't crash over potholes in the way my GTI did. Fuel economy is also interesting. Before E10 arrived, I was getting significantly more MPG compared to the GTI. I managed over 50mpg in ECO Pro mode on an A road drive last August. However, I rarely see above mid-30s since E10 and the colder months arrived. Be interesting to see how that might improve with the arrival of spring and hopefully warmer weather.
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Jeremy
The Golf GTI doesn't have any german competition in my eyes, since all the competitiors do a really poor job of marketing their cars haha. Everybody knows what a GTI is, what the heck is a 128ti or an A250? Never heard of that, doesn't excite me or anybody. Mini Cooper does a good job with it's Cooper Works and yeah you might consider them German at this point, after all BMW bought the rights to the John Cooper Works name in 2007.
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The Golf GTI doesn't have any german competition in my eyes, since all the competitiors do a really poor job of marketing their cars haha. Everybody knows what a GTI is, what the heck is a 128ti or an A250? Never heard of that, doesn't excite me or anybody. Mini Cooper does a good job with it's Cooper Works and yeah you might consider them German at this point, after all BMW bought the rights to the John Cooper Works name in 2007.
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jay
Nice and aggressive looking. I actually like the red decal, stands out from the rest. Plenty of power in the front wheels. There is not much to hate. People are gonna be bitter because the m140i is a beast and they don't make cars like that anymore but we should only compare this car to the rest of the new cars in it class. Not bmws fault it's the climate.
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Nice and aggressive looking. I actually like the red decal, stands out from the rest. Plenty of power in the front wheels. There is not much to hate. People are gonna be bitter because the m140i is a beast and they don't make cars like that anymore but we should only compare this car to the rest of the new cars in it class. Not bmws fault it's the climate.
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Steve
Ok! Firstly the grill says don't buy me! Secondly it's only auto says? I'm not interested in driving! Thirdly I'm not going to buy! Even though its not bad looking from any view other than the front! It seems to go well and lastly I really like BMWs! Please get this right.
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Ok! Firstly the grill says don't buy me! Secondly it's only auto says? I'm not interested in driving! Thirdly I'm not going to buy! Even though its not bad looking from any view other than the front! It seems to go well and lastly I really like BMWs! Please get this right.
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Harman
Given the exorbitant price, rather abhorrent grille (what was BMW thinking) and conventional ho-hum slushy box, one could instead get a Hyundai i30 N hatch with its wonderful DCT 8-spd, and basically pull 5. 2s 0-60. Almost a whole second quicker than BMW's claimed 6. 1-
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Given the exorbitant price, rather abhorrent grille (what was BMW thinking) and conventional ho-hum slushy box, one could instead get a Hyundai i30 N hatch with its wonderful DCT 8-spd, and basically pull 5. 2s 0-60. Almost a whole second quicker than BMW's claimed 6. 1-
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1theblacksheep
I got 30% off on this car and I-m really interested in buying it, the only problem for me is this awful sticker and red things. So I'm wondering if get a normal 120i instead of that just because of it. SUper Sad
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I got 30% off on this car and I-m really interested in buying it, the only problem for me is this awful sticker and red things. So I'm wondering if get a normal 120i instead of that just because of it. SUper Sad
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Matthew
So does this have stiffer suspension still from the M sport model? I-m looking to test drive the 118i m sport but constant reviews and seems to be the only negative to have firm the ride is? My back is concerned -
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So does this have stiffer suspension still from the M sport model? I-m looking to test drive the 118i m sport but constant reviews and seems to be the only negative to have firm the ride is? My back is concerned -
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Jasbo
Me & my 16 year old son love watching your car reviews especially the 5 worst things about this car. you should do a compilation video of all the best ones. oh and love those trousers, very daring. -
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Me & my 16 year old son love watching your car reviews especially the 5 worst things about this car. you should do a compilation video of all the best ones. oh and love those trousers, very daring. -
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Marios
Great review as usual. Really like the look of this car. I'm actually on the verge of ordering one in black. In honest opinion could this be a daily driver & is the suspension overly firm?
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Great review as usual. Really like the look of this car. I'm actually on the verge of ordering one in black. In honest opinion could this be a daily driver & is the suspension overly firm?
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Sabroe
BMW are really on another level lately when it comes to making the most boring cars in the world! They have stiff compertition from Mercedes but damn they're doing a good job!
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BMW are really on another level lately when it comes to making the most boring cars in the world! They have stiff compertition from Mercedes but damn they're doing a good job!
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