1 Series M in the Market

The 1 Series M has few direct competitors. With its 2+2 seating and $47,000 starting price, the Audi TTS is in the same ballpark, but its performance trails the 1M's, and you can't get a manual transmission. The new 2012 Audi TT RS comes exclusively with a manual transmission and all-wheel drive, and it boasts zero-to-60 times closer to 4 seconds, but it costs almost $10,000 more.

All the same, the 1M seems a car for BMW fans, but I wouldn't buy it without first testing the 135i and M3. If you're OK with the small size, the 135i will deliver nearly as much fun off a racetrack, and the M3 is more versatile. It's also thirstier, rated at 14/20 mpg with a manual transmission versus 19/26 mpg for the 1M and 20/28 mpg for the 135i. Whatever you do, act now, because the 1M will be sold only as a 2011 model.

    See also:

    Self-leveling headlights
    The self-leveling headlights feature adapts the light distribution to the contours of the road. The light distribution is lowered on hilltops to avoid blinding oncoming traffic and tilted in depr ...

    Automatic deactivation of the front passenger airbags
    The occupation of the seat is detected by evaluating the impression on the occupied seat surface of the front passenger seat. The front and side airbags on the front passenger side are activate ...

    Vehicle equipment
    All standard, country-specific and optional equipment that is offered in the model series is described in this chapter. Therefore, equipment is also described that is not available in a vehicle, e ...