BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205

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Fri 18 Jul 2014 09:30
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - Trilogy

www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/2-series/first-dr...w

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Fri 18 Jul 2014 11:51
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - Manatee

The article suggests BMW is trying to hit a lot of different targets with the same bullet - the volume C-segment hatchback sector, downsizers, the fashion for a "command" driving position, and "affluent middle class couples with a sporting bent".

If anything sells that, it will be the badge and the key segment is the image-conscious, unless as Autocar seems to think there is an advantage in being £3,000 dearer than a C-Max Titanium (before discounts).

BMW is primarily about image and the mythical purity of rear wheel drive:)

Can't see how this will benefit them long term, unless they think their old strategy is unsustainable for the mass market manufacturer.

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Fri 18 Jul 2014 13:23
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - HandCart

The spray-tanned tattooed pierced sheep won't care whether it's front, rear or 4 wheel drive as long as it can haul itself up onto the kerb on the zigzags outside the school, and up to the top of the Barratt homes cul-de-sac. They'll lap it up.

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Fri 18 Jul 2014 14:00
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - daveyK_UK

It looks average at best, similar to the 1 series which is at best an average hatchback.

People who buy average cars for premium prices due to a badge are simply daft.

If I was in the market for a large fast estate, a 5 series is an excellent choice

If I was in the market for a fast handling mid saloon, the M3 is an excellent choice

If I am in the market for a mid size MPV the 2 series looks like a average vehicle with little to no value for money.

If I was in the market for a small c-segment hatchback, the 1 series would be way down on my list.

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Mon 21 Jul 2014 17:44
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - Sulphur Man

Side-on, it looks near identical to the Honda FR-V, but without that car's inspired packaging.

As a family man, I find BMW's PR for this car a bit condascending..Active Tourer, aimed at families with "active lifestyles" they say.So active, that they need a wide, tall car like this to fit them in, BMW?

Slightly farcical that a 218d Active Tourer can be had in M-Sport trim.....for an extra £3K

That said, beating BMW up about this car is blinkered, with runts like the Merc B-Class and Audi Q3 already out there. They want a slice of that action too. Never mind the brand values, feel the bottom line.

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Mon 21 Jul 2014 18:38
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - craig-pd130

That said, beating BMW up about this car is blinkered, with runts like the Merc B-Class and Audi Q3 already out there. They want a slice of that action too. Never mind the brand values, feel the bottom line.

The 'premium' German manufacturers seem to be falling over themselves to hit new market niches. In fact, I'm not sure if the niches actually exist ....

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Mon 21 Jul 2014 18:41
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - Avant

Handcart is right - it'll surely sell, as a Qashqai-with-a-badge. I don't know how lively the three-cylinder petrol engine will be, but I think there is a forthcoming 220i which will be worth a look.

Even then, careful buyers may still think that any of the Qashqai / C-Max / Golf SV / Picasso will do just as good a job for less money. I would certainly choose any of those in preference to a Mercedes B-class.

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Mon 21 Jul 2014 20:45
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - daveyK_UK

IMO (and I test drove most of them all expect for a Verso),

the best proper MPV (By proper I mean designed to be an MPV, not one of the van MPV's) is the Kia Carens.

Its a very impressive package in the 2 trim, feels very well put together, lots of kit, drives fine.

A real shame the local Kia dealer is part of arnold clark, enough of a reason to walk away.

If I was in the market for a car like MPV, the Kia Carens would be my first choice.

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Tue 22 Jul 2014 13:42
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - davecooper
Just means that every other car on the road will be a BMW, Audi etc. Quite happy to shy away from the so called prestige brands for a bit of individuality.
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Sun 3 Aug 2014 19:48
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - Happy Blue!

Very interesting to read the road test by Andrew English in the DT on Saturday and the one by David Ross on this site.

AE effectively said it was OK, after a long article with much criticism and yet gave it 4 stars. DR could barely find anything to complain about and contradicted AE on several occasions.

Hmmm......as it is the type of car I can see myself driving once I no longer need seven seats, it will be interesting to compare the facelifted C-Max, Golf SV, Citroen C4 Picasso and the BMW 2 series in terms of comfort, driving quality, value for money and overall feel.

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Sun 3 Aug 2014 20:16
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - daveyjp
I hope the photographer was lazy and didn't bother dropping the rear seats properly as I would expect a completely flat floor.
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Mon 4 Aug 2014 13:19
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - skidpan

Having read the report on this site http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/bmw/bmw-2-series-active-tourer-2014-road-test/?section=prices and in some other mags I will be making my own mind up about the car with a view to possibly buying one. Appears to fulfill our needs perfectly and the 218i turbo petrol looks like the perfect engine for both town use and touring.

Having had a 1 series for 5 trouble free years during which the running costs were surprisingly low (lower than any Ford or Nissan we have owned) and the residual value was surprisingly good I cannot see any good reason to avoid this as a potential purchase.

But the one difference between myself and most posters on this forum is the simple fact I am not anti BMW.

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Mon 4 Aug 2014 20:03
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - daveyK_UK

Having read the report on this site http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/bmw/bmw-2-series-active-tourer-2014-road-test/?section=prices and in some other mags I will be making my own mind up about the car with a view to possibly buying one. Appears to fulfill our needs perfectly and the 218i turbo petrol looks like the perfect engine for both town use and touring.

Having had a 1 series for 5 trouble free years during which the running costs were surprisingly low (lower than any Ford or Nissan we have owned) and the residual value was surprisingly good I cannot see any good reason to avoid this as a potential purchase.

But the one difference between myself and most posters on this forum is the simple fact I am not anti BMW.

I am not anti BMW I am anti paying a premium for a badge

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Mon 4 Aug 2014 21:46
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - alan1302

I am not anti BMW I am anti paying a premium for a badge

So is there a premium for the badge? What car equivalent tis there that's an equivalent that you don't have to pat for the badge?

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Mon 4 Aug 2014 23:18
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - groaver

Having had a 1 series for 5 trouble free years during which the running costs were surprisingly low (lower than any Ford or Nissan we have owned) and the residual value was surprisingly good I cannot see any good reason to avoid this as a potential purchase.

A market increasingly saturated with BMWs and Audis won't be able to sustain their traditionally good residuals forever though.

Ford Mondeos might start to hold their value!

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Tue 5 Aug 2014 00:58
BMW 218d Active Tourer SE - unrefined - £24,205 - Avant

I think that for the most part the posts above are pro-VFM rather than anti-BMW.

It may well be that extra quality and 'drivability' will be found to justify the 2-series's price premium (which in fairness isn't all that great) over the competition from less premium badges - I personally will keep an open mind, not least because my car is only 8 months old.

When the time comes it could well be on the short list, although it won't be the diesel which so far is the only one I've seen road tests on. Tests of the 218i and forthcoming 220i will be of more interest.

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