101 Cars: BMW 2002

Automotive Lifestyle

101 Cars: BMW 2002

The I's Have It
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SPEED Staff | Posted August 04, 2008 Charlotte, North Carolina

How else could you chase down Triumphs and Alfas in a sedan? (Photo: MyBMWTii.com)

Long before all this fast and furious stuff, the original sport compact was ripping up back roads, echoing a sweet blat of exhaust against stone walls, and tripping lightly through the golden, sugar maple autumn. Redefining the "sports car," the BMW 2002 combined the German car maker's big 2-liter four with a light two-door dedan and instantly made the blue-and-white BMW roundel a motoring icon. The most fun you could have with a steel roof and 113 horsepower. But it wasn't the horsepower-to-weight ratio (still, it weighed only 2,290 pounds) that made the 2002tii special. It took almost 17 seconds to run the quarter-mile. It's wheels were tiny 13-inch stamped steep with 165/13 radials. The MacPherson strut front and semi-trailing arm rear suspension were nothing special. It was cramped for a sedan. But that perfect balance of engineering and karma made a car the same size as a Pinto worth its sticker price. Besides, how else could you chase down Triumphs and Alfas in a sedan? And grin the whole time.

Specifications
Engine: 2.0-liter SOHC inline four
Horsepower: 140 (tii)
0–60 mph: 9.0 seconds
Top Speed: 115 miles per hour
Price New: $4,286
Value Now: $12,000
BMW 2002 Photos

CLAIM TO FAME: Defined "sports sedan" for a generation

SOUNDTRACK: "On the Road Again" by Canned Heat

PERFECT PASSENGER: Bell bottoms and tie-dye whether on male or female

BEHIND THE WHEEL: BMW Car Club of America

DID YOU KNOW: The model designation means "2 liters, two doors, touring international, injection."

THE PERFECT DRIVE: From wherever you are to Lime Rock Park raceway

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