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What is it?

It’s the cheaper, four-pot petrol version of BMW’s smallest cabrio, the 120i Convertible.

We drove this car’s six-cylinder cousin, the blue-and-white propeller’s 125i drop-top, back in January, and it attracted an impressive four star verdict. That car had Munich’s award-winning magnesium 3.0-litre petrol six under the bonnet though; now we find out if it stands out as clearly with a lesser 2.0-litre petrol four-pot doing the donkey work.

What’s it like?...Read the full article

I don't move in BMW circles so I'm probably not qualified to comment but hey, let me say in my bigoted way that if I drive a diesel I can't bear to put down the window let alone the roof; all that clatter and smoke.  And only poseurs drive convertibles.  And most BMW drivers don't appreciate their commitment to engineering excellence (which frankly most non-petrolheads would dismiss as nerdish).  So what we have here is Autocar recommending car for badge obsessed and vain motoring ignoramuses too tight or joyless to buy a petrol engine.  Wonderful.

Note to self: don't post while drunk.

Having seen both cars in the metal the 1 series is far prettier than the a3 cab, and is far better to drive in my humble opinion. Personally i don't mind diesels and find the the 2.0 petrol pretty seriously gutless in comparison. The 4 pots are better i'd say.