[bluecrabby]

Consumer Reports just posted new half-hour video talking about the new BMW X1

[tex2670]

she seriously didn't know to push ((P)) for PARK????

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by tex2670

she seriously didn't know to push ((P)) for PARK????

don't really blame her.... I did something equally dumb...

several years ago, I drove the BMW X3 for the very first time. I sat in the Hertz lot for several minutes trying to figure out how the shifter and parking brake worked. Up until that point, I had only driven Mercedes and Lexus cars and suvs since 1996.

[Rags2Rags]

Originally Posted by tex2670

she seriously didn't know to push ((P)) for PARK????

Thanks OP for sharing the vid.

((P)) is pretty much the universal parking break icon these days I have to have to agree with her about that part. I don't know why they couldn't just put "Park" on the little lever, why have an extra button for it?

As for the other stuff in the vid, I found her to be hypercritical of everything. I guess that's why they have a bunch of people testing stuff. I wouldn't want just a bunch of gearheads writing car reviews.

It was interesting to see them mention the ride stiffness. We've had the same degree of opinions here on the forums so I guess it really comes down to personal preference. Having said that, there seems to be a lot factors that could affect that such as tire size and/or if they have the M-Sport package with the different suspension, etc.

Meh, who knows... everyone's a critic. :-)

[Fumus]

Originally Posted by bluecrabby

Consumer Reports just posted new half-hour video talking about the new BMW X1

Crabby great video! I did really enjoy.

The female reviewer takes the very critical approach unnecessarily on pretty much every aspect of the vehicle. I think by all accounts this a great small SUV, to complain about not understanding how to park, stiffness of the ride or low arm rests is nit picky. This is just words and conjecture to fill up a podcast.

I’ll have some first hand experience very soon.

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by Fumus

Crabby great video! I did really enjoy.

The female reviewer takes the very critical approach unnecessarily on pretty much every aspect of the vehicle. I think by all accounts this a great small SUV, to complain about not understanding how to park, stiffness of the ride or low arm rests is nit picky. This is just words and conjecture to fill up a podcast.

I’ll have some first hand experience very soon.

I have one complaint.... the new X1's roof is too high and and has too much headroom. It makes taller folks look short in the driver's seat. I'm 6'2 and I have at least 4 or 5 inches above my head. I asked the salesman to take a picture of me from the outside of the X1. It made me look short.

This British reviewer is 6'3"(just 1 inch taller than me) has the same 34-inch inseam as me. Look at how short he looks... my picture makes me look even shorter than that.

[FlashMonkey929]

The whole thing about the parking brake was annoying. If she just spent a minute or two looking at the console, it's easy enough to figure out. Turning off the car would also have worked, I can't believe she sat there with her foot on the brake till someone came around. Even if turning off the car didn't automatically engage the parking brake, if she was on a flat surface I doubt the car would have rolled unless she shifted to neutral. And her gripe about the shift toggle, it's basically a shifter without the knob part. It operates the same as my 4 series, with the exception that the parking button is located on the console rather than on the knob. After that comment it was hard to take her seriously.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by bluecrabby

I have one complaint.... the new X1's roof is too high and and has too much headroom. It makes taller folks look short in the driver's seat. I'm 6'2 and I have at least 4 or 5 inches above my head. I asked the salesman to take a picture of me from the outside of the X1. It made me look short.

This British reviewer is 6'3"(just 1 inch taller than me) has the same 34-inch inseam as me. Look at how short he looks... my picture makes me look even shorter than that.

Get a Mini Countryman (or Clubman); problem solved!

[Speedbird71]

“Too much headroom”. Something said by no sane human

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by tex2670

Get a Mini Countryman (or Clubman); problem solved!

too bad cars and trucks are no longer body on frame these days.... don't like the car? simply do a body swap.

back when I was in high school many, many, many years ago, my chemistry teacher was a brilliant teacher, but a nutjob when he worked on his trucks. He swapped his old 1970(?) Suburban's body to a 1960s(?) Ford truck frame. For a "better" grade, a bunch of us went to his house and helped during one summer.

[Speedbird71]

Originally Posted by tex2670

Get a Mini Countryman (or Clubman); problem solved!

Am 6’2 and have had 3 MINIs, including a 2 seater Coupe (awesome car). Never a headroom issue in those. But yeah, way to get BMW experience in a tighter package.

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by Speedbird71

Am 6’2 and have had 3 MINIs, including a 2 seater Coupe (awesome car). Never a headroom issue in those. But yeah, way to get BMW experience in a tighter package.

I've always wanted to get a Mini since I was a kid.(the original Mini, that is)

by buying the X1, I'm killing two stones with one bird... BMW with a taste of Mini...or something like that.

[Speedbird71]

Originally Posted by bluecrabby

I've always wanted to get a Mini since I was a kid.(the original Mini, that is)

by buying the X1, I'm killing two stones with one bird... BMW with a taste of Mini...or something like that.

You got chocolate in my peanut butter…

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by Speedbird71

You got chocolate in my peanut butter…

I assume that you're a Star Trek fan as well?

Am I the only one who thinks that the X1's center armrest/console looks like it's ripped off from NCC-1701E?(or inspired by it)

[TGTBTU]

So, in conclusion and according to these 3 (“doctor”) included, the X1 is an SUV that leaves much to be desired.

Translated, this means BMW will sell crap loads of X1s. I am patiently waiting for the X1 M35i and will order one as soon as they become available.

CR, thanks for your expert advice.

[Fumus]

Originally Posted by bluecrabby

I have one complaint.... the new X1's roof is too high and and has too much headroom. It makes taller folks look short in the driver's seat. I'm 6'2 and I have at least 4 or 5 inches above my head. I asked the salesman to take a picture of me from the outside of the X1. It made me look short.

This British reviewer is 6'3"(just 1 inch taller than me) has the same 34-inch inseam as me. Look at how short he looks... my picture makes me look even shorter than that.

LOL... humble brag away.

[Fumus]

Originally Posted by TGTBTU

So, in conclusion and according to these 3 (“doctor”) included, the X1 is an SUV that leaves much to be desired.

Translated, this means BMW will sell crap loads of X1s. I am patiently waiting for the X1 M35i and will order one as soon as they become available.

CR, thanks for your expert advice.

Same same, will look to get into this and trade up next year (if I like it). I wonder when they'll give the X3 platform an update.

[CHSBoater]

I based my purchase of a 1976 Plymouth Valarie on CR. Close to worse car ever. Since then, I've given weight to Car and Driver reviews, plus my own experience. Conclusion, CR is good for evaluating dishwashers, but not cars.

[saws]

Complaining about things that owners will figure out quickly (like parking button) and nitpicking about low hand rest for back seat, undermines the real concerns they raised, like harsh or stiff ride and also hesitation from stop.

Looks like CR will have this X1 for a few thousand miles and wondering if they will change their opinions after driving for a few more weeks/months.

The stiff suspension is of special concern to me. Noticed their X1 had 19" wheels so maybe that makes it stiff...

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by saws

Complaining about things that owners will figure out quickly (like parking button) and nitpicking about low hand rest for back seat, undermines the real concerns they raised, like harsh or stiff ride and also hesitation from stop.

Looks like CR will have this X1 for a few thousand miles and wondering if they will change their opinions after driving for a few more weeks/months.

The stiff suspension is of special concern to me. Noticed their X1 had 19" wheels so maybe that makes it stiff...

I do like how they have "real" people reviewing cars/SUVs.... instead of most car magazines or other reviewers who often act like they are experts and know everything about cars.

Speaking of reviews, I noticed that Motor Trend's review showed 0-60mph time of 5.4 seconds... half a second faster than BMW's own specs.... I wonder how accurate that is. Will have to attempt it when I test drive the X1 for the 4th or 5th times on Tuesday.

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by saws

Complaining about things that owners will figure out quickly

This is classic CR. I had a subscription for years, and I generally trust their reviews and reliability data. But this is one aspect that I always hated about CR -- they don't ever acknowledge that once owners get used to something like this, that there will be no issue.

The car I replaced was a '14 328. It took me all of 3 days to understand iDrive and the controls. And once I did, it was like 2nd nature and super easy and intuitive. CR never acknowledges that.

Originally Posted by saws

The stiff suspension is of special concern to me. Noticed their X1 had 19" wheels so maybe that makes it stiff...

The suspension wouldn't be any different 18" vs 19" wheels. But the 18" have a bigger sidewall, which may absorb bumps better.

I like the stiffness of my X1 with 19" wheels - it's exactly what I would have wanted. Personally, I'm not looking for a softer ride.

[bluecrabby]

Originally Posted by tex2670

she seriously didn't know to push ((P)) for PARK????

I can't say that I'm surprised.... check out what these M3 owner have been talking about here... about lack of P button not knowing how to put the M3... (thread started 5 years ago and they were still talking about it as of September 2022)

https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1349570