Car and Driver’s short review of the BMW 128i convertible carries over many of the conclusions from its earlier tests of the 1 Series coupes: a lot to like and also a lot of money when heavily optioned. “As with any convertible, the conversion [from coupe] adds weight, cost ($4500), and complexity,” CD’s Tony Quiroga wrote in the June issue. “But after driving the 2008 128i convertible, we’ve decided BMW has nailed the fundamentals. Even in ragtop form the 1-series [sic] remains a highly desirable piece of machinery. Just take it easy on the options.”
The $1200 Sport package “sops impacts without upsetting the structure or its occupants … over all but the most beat-up roads.” CD testers got the 128i ragtop from 0-60 in 6.2 seconds with a six-speed manual and the “unflappable 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine we’ve raved so muc h about in the 328i.”
“The only thorn in this car’s side is the as-tested price of $40,800 [although] at a base of $33,875, the 128i convertible strikes as almost a bargain in light of the rest of the BMW lineup,” CD said. On the other hand, when the “135i convertible can be had for $39,875, our well-equipped 128i convertible makes even less sense.”
“Still,” the review concluded, “a 128i convertible with the sport package barely suffers dynamically compared with the coupe.”
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