I have the 116d (non ED) and had a 116i as a courtesy car recently and was surprised when I first got in the 116i how pokey it was. Then when I got my car back, I was surprised at how pokey mine was.
I'm convinced it's all in the mind!
Plus I sometimes drive from my home in Manchester (UK) to see my parents in Torquay (UK) - just over 270 miles all motorway, and when I arrived with 67.4 mpg on my computer (admittedly back in the summer) you cant beat that feeling of smugness over our petrol-burning brothers
My opinion - petrol is only for the rich and famous.