Inside Line: BMW 1-Series vs. Audi A3 vs. Mercedes A-Class.

[Yannis]

Conclusions

The 2006 BMW 1 Series is great to drive, but it's too flawed in too many areas to be a great car in this category. It's also prohibitively expensive: a sensibly equipped 1 Series costs 3 Series money, which makes it almost irrelevant. The 130i M Sport pictured here retails for over £30K (about $50K U.S.), which is madness.

The 2006 Mercedes-Benz A-Class has much to commend it. It's spacious, practical and impressively versatile. This is no sports car, but it's a pleasing drive and the cabin quality in the second-generation car is much improved. It's not impossible to imagine this car doing well in the U.S., especially in metropolitan centers. The sandwich structure really works and it looks different enough to have some fashionable appeal.

The 2006 Audi A3 is arguably the best all-round proposition for a buyer in this category. It's more engaging to drive than the Mercedes but much less compromised than the BMW. It also has the best cabin and Audi's image has skyrocketed in recent years.

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[Just_me]

Im sold on the 1er, in fact its one of the best designed bimmers lately imo


I know my priorites
"For most customers, choosing a winner will depend on their priorities."

[Carbon]

Originally Posted by Just_me

Im sold on the 1er, in fact its one of the best designed bimmers lately imo


I know my priorites
"For most customers, choosing a winner will depend on their priorities."

Yeah but with all the shortcomings that people point out (like Clarkson about the trunk space and interior room and stuff), you might as well just get a 3 series instead.

[Just_me]

Originally Posted by Carbon

Yeah but with all the shortcomings that people point out (like Clarkson about the trunk space and interior room and stuff), you might as well just get a 3 series instead.

I know the RWD steal trunk space and interior room but rather that than a FWD 1-series.
Yes I would probably choose a 330i instead but then I will miss the extra fun but thats okey.

[warot]

For that price, I'd rather get a 325i... or even a 323i. That's just way too much money for a small hatchback.

Overall, if I had to pick out of the 3, it would be the Audi. It's in between the Benz and the BMW... Although way too ridiculously expensive IMO.

[Matt]

Id just rather get the R32 golf than any of these cars (which is probably similar to the A3)

[Carbon]

In this case I'd rather have the BMW if you take into account the engines they got. The A3 had a 148 horsepower 2.0 liter n/a while on the Bimmer they tested the full out 130i M sport package. Seems kind of imbalanced even though the A3 still won.

[Giannis]

If i had to choose between those three cars, i would definitely go for the Bimmer, speaking of my heart. It's truly beautiful. As for the engine, i'd probably go for the 116 or better for the 118 since, 1.8l is enough for a car of its size and still remains under 25000eur. Since money matters here.

[cawimmer430]

They said the same thing about the A-Class as I did in my reviews! They're copying me!