vs. 128i
 

Two small-ish, 2 door, RWD, "rear seats", NA cars.
The 128i is heavier, but still sporty.
A used one would be close in price to a new 86.

http://vlane.com/img/chrome/10782.jpg

BMW vs Subaru & Toyota.

128i
- Expensive Parts
- Expensive Everything
- EURO Car? Expensive everything! :D
- BMW Status
- 230 HP.
- More Luxuries.

FR-S/BRZ
- 200 HP
- JDM? Cheaper parts!
- Lighter
- Toyota / Subaru

That aside; I would rather see myself in a BRZ/FR-S, they look more sporty, and it just appeals to me more than a 128i (plus the satisfaction of a brand new car); if I go into the 1-series area I wouldn't be satisfied;

135i
1M

In the terms of the two biggest factors that will cause people to cross shop these two cars (price and performance), this is a pretty pointless comparison because the price and performance of the two cars are vastly different.

The markets for the cars are way different as well

yeah, if I were to cross shop the FR-S today it'll be against the Hyundai Gen Coupe..
The BMW 128i is more often cross shopped with an Audi TT.

and Yes German parts are expensive .. thats why I want to trade in my ride before 30K

Well, sure, part prices are...relevant? idk. But, an Audi TT isn't even close to the same caliber of car. The 128i and 86 are both RWD and fun to drive. The TT will drive around the course for you. I don't really have a point, I just know that my short list includes 128i, 86, Z3 coupe and...? The genesis does not interest me at all. The Mustang, although the best of all domestic (US) muscle cars does not interest me at all. I just want something that is as small as possible yet can haul around myself, a friend, my dog and my bike / other stuff. And that I can take to the track and have fun with.

I can see why you are cross shoping these two. but the 128i will have much better low end torque with peak torque at 3500RPM, while the FRS will have torque up high at 6600rpm. Different feeling and quicker than the FRS. the FRS hopefully will be very responsive and climb RPM quickly to make up for it tho.
Just test drive both and let us know what you think.

will the 128i really be in the low-mid $20k range? I figured it would be closer to $30k.


The 1 series looks absolutely ridiculous to me. Am I the only one that feels that way? It screams girl car to me (no offense to the girls). It just really looks like something rich college girls would drive.

I'd buy a 10 year old 3 series before I bought a 1 series.

Agreed, im partial to the 330ci myself, but they have the same engine in them which is pretty dam good for what it is.

If you had a choice between the FR-S and a 1 series why the hell would you choose the 1 series unless all you care about is the badge and picking up dumb women who see the BMW badge and automatically drop their pa...oh I see

Lots of people think the 1 series looks ridiculous and I'm not going to even try to defend it's looks. I'm more of a "what the car can do" person than a "what the car looks like" person.

The FR-S is still the front runner, I just like playing out the other possibilities. Panty dropping abilities do not matter to me in the slightest. I use my amazing charisma to accomplish that :P

Vastly? Price yea sure, performance not really. Just for comparison, 3200lb/230ps is 13.9lb/ps, 2700/200 is 13.5lb/ps.