The 2011 BMW 1M Vs. The BMW M3 - What Is Motor Trend Seeing That NO ONE Else Does?

They are as out of touch as the rest of the traditional media.

They just don't get it and it's no wonder all the mags are on the verge of collapse.

Their opinions are about as trustworthy and knowledgeable as a print newspaper restaurant review.

But then again, when in their history did they ever think like an actual customer or understand products with true soul?

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Oh please, sports car preferences are completely subjective. Look at the posters on this site: a good 30% will declare Lexus No.1 regardless of the point made - is that out of touch? Or the other 30% that believes Audi/BMW can do no wrong.

I don't fault Motor Trend at all - it's just an opinion, and to choose the M3 over the M1 is hardly a crime. As a matter of fact, the M3 has been chosen over a 911 and RS3 in other comparos.

They aren't nearly as out of touch as Autospies.

This has nothing to do with disagreeing with us Senorgato.

It's being in left field compared to the entire world on their impression of the 1M.

If you drove both you would agree the 1M has the true soul of BMW.

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Two different ends of the spectrum: PRICE AS TESTED $49,910 v. $84,277

I'd rather have the 1M.

here is my 2 cents on this. the whole article is subjective and just because someone may agree with you or not doesnt make him right or wrong. again opinion is opinion and here is mine. If there werent a price difference (and thats a big if) which one would you take or if the keys were on the table and you just had to take the set which one would you take. bottom line for me its the m3 all the way. first 95% of us on this site wont be able to drive the m1 to get the numbers they got cause its a manual so i dont believe that if you were in the street shifting the car 9 out of 10 races the m3 wins. second the argument that a manual is what "car guys" want is crap. its like saying a dj doesnt want an mp3 in his system. get over it manual is done. there was an advantage cause it was quicker back in the late 80s and early 90s but thats no longer the case and your car is going to be driven in traffic and MANUAL SUX trust me my m3 is manual I will never get stick again. yes its fun at the track but how many of us track our cars regularly. finally the m1 is ugly and lets say the numbers are slightly better which one do you really want. kind of like the evo driver saying he would really want the evo over the m3. deep down you know even if he can beat you he would really want the m3 because when you drive by people in the m3 you dont have to go fast to get an ahhhh. the best part of the m3 is you can go real slow and still look good. m3 hands down any day of the week and twice on sunday.

Ok maybe 95% of the people won't be able to drag the numbers out on stick, but that's not the point. I think the point is that it's fun trying to drag those numbers out, and it's not so much the argument that stick is dead. I still lace my shoes instead of velcro, not because it's more efficient or faster, but because i choose too. My chair doesn't have wheels because it's fine without them. I like stick for the driving. Not you, but many people on here argue that it's not the 0-60 or track times that make the car. Well if thats the case then why are we all in favour of DCT and the like if only for efficiency and speed? Stick is stick and paddles are auto, if people wanted an auto they should just say so, not try to hide behind the paddle shift theory. Hell, one day i may move to auto, but i will say that i'm getting auto. I won't say, "ya i bought the one with the dual clutch and the F1 paddles, you know, still wanted to drive a semi-manual". That's bogus, drive what you like and like what you drive. I like trying to get out clean shifts and hitting what the mags say my 0-60 should be. If you enjoy that get stick. if you want efficiency and best out of the box 0-60 and track times get DCT and the like.

And if they kill stick any time soon, all my new cars will be used cars...until i decide to give it up.

I agree with you on the M3, beast and lean. I agree with you on maybe switching from stick to auto, fair is fair. But i don't agree manual is dead, dead for what? performance and flair? certainly not dead for fun and engagement.

Anyone who forms an opinion based on Auto Magazines is a fool.

Meh! A few years ago I would've gotten really excited about these two cars...that is until the GT-R came out. And yes, IMO, it's worth the extra money to buy a coupe that has decent trunk space and will pulverize Munich's finest. These 2 M's are the equivalent of screaming Japanese against the almighty Godzilla.

Kudos, BMW, for having these two cars in your lineup!

Not to mention the new M5...yes, BMW has a hell of a lineup!

Guys, could you all contribute and buy me both? And an M5? And an X5M (for the family) and and X6M (for winter fun)...???? Please!

You know what is really funny... all the articles I've read regarding the 1M has given it the blessing of the new embodiment and the soul of the LENGENDARY E30 M3. This was as far as I can tell the only article that actually picked the new M3 over the 1M. So it's all good that it's just an opinion but when it seems your opinion seems to go against the popular beliefs you might have to take a step back and see if you your opinion was based on the ideology of what the M really stands for. Driving!!

and to the person who says manual SUXs... are you realllly serious... come on now... your placating to what technology is being thrown down our throat... how hard can it really be to shift for yourself... shoot if your happy having something shift for you in .0000000011 million of a second because it's better and faster then you then why do love driving... I'm just curious about that. Shoot next thing you know you'll be arguing the fact that it's okay for a computer to drive for you... then what you'll be saying "oh driving suxs too"? how far remove do people what to be from being connected to driving...

The M3 still pays homage to the original E30 with its high strung high reving naturally aspirated engine, however, with its size, bodywork etc, the 1M pays homage to the E30 in that respect.

The M1 (and 1 series) looks like a truncated sawed off runt. The belt line creates the illusion of a bath tub when you stand next to it. The interior space is far tighter than the 3 series with the rear legroom virtually non existant.
Much, much better to go with the 3 series if you can afford it.

M1 level of finish and quality does not measure up to the 3 series M3. Door panels, dash, seats, even the doors in the 1 series are cheapened up and sound less solid. It's simple, the 1 series is notably cheaper than the 3 series and BMW understandably has to reduce expense and detail on the 1 series.
Disregard the article. Go to a dealer yourself and you will immediately see the huge difference between the 1 and 3 series.