BMW i8

[mjheathcote]

Only seems like a year ago that it was launched, but nearer four.
The depreciation is heavy!
They can be had for £50K now, and not with high miles either.
I wouldn't have one as a toy, but would you have one as a daily driver?
Always thought they were a 2 seater, but actually a 2+2, so there would be the possibility the kids could be crammed in the back!

 

[iainw]

Only seems like a year ago that it was launched, but nearer four.
The depreciation is heavy!
They can be had for £50K now, and not with high miles either.
I wouldn't have one as a toy, but would you have one as a daily driver?
Always thought they were a 2 seater, but actually a 2+2, so there would be the possibility the kids could be crammed in the back!

One of my best friends from work has one. He got it contract hire via the NHS. Back seats are actually ok. If you are a petrol head though- it’s awful. I chose a GTs over it and I would again. They play the engine noise through the stereo for god sake. The only good bit is the low running costs as you can charge as you drive- and there is good tech. But give me a NA V8 any day

 

[mjheathcote]

I just can't believe the depreciation, it's a carbon fibre/aluminium chassis car, not pressed steel.
Those who bought new must be gutted!

 

[iainw]

I just can't believe the depreciation, it's a carbon fibre/aluminium chassis car, not pressed steel.
Those who bought new must be gutted!

Totally agree. And they have released a roadster now too starting at 120! Who is buying these cars?

 

[Andyk]

I drove one and loved it. The mixture of that electric power and engine made it feel bloody quick. Yes the noise is fake but that didn't bother me. The interior I thought was stunning and a very lovely place to be. The theatre if the shape and those doors just added to the experience and the driving position was perfect. The rear seats were a bonus and my two boys fitted in perfectly. It handled really good but the one lasting impression was the take up with a stab of the loud pedal. Very addictive....... As a everyday car that has Supercar looks it's a great proposition and as you say now they have lost 50% of their original price makes them even more attractive. I would have one as an everyday drive if I had the readies. Looks will divide and some will not like it because it's 'fake' sound and it's a BMW but if none of that is an issue for you drive and enjoy. I can see why it may be the future.

 

[mjheathcote]

Regarding the fake sound, was actually quite shocked that the engine cabin noise in my BMW 140i is fake!
It is very realistic however!

 

[Andyk]

Lots get hung up on that. For me it's about how the car drive, looks and handles and the i8 is a very special car for 50k.....Some pipe the real sound in the cabin so you can hear it better some are fake.

 

[iainw]

Regarding the fake sound, was actually quite shocked that the engine cabin noise in my BMW 140i is fake!
It is very realistic however!

How can that be? It’s not remotely loud unless the windows are open in sport mode- and even then without an exhaust upgrade it’s not really noticeable. There is certainly no additional noise in my cabin.

 

[iainw]

Lots get hung up on that. For me it's about how the car drive, looks and handles and the i8 is a very special car for 50k.....Some pipe the real sound in the cabin so you can hear it better some are fake.

Don’t get me wrong - I was seriously looking to get one befor the GTs as there were some really good deals about. The doors and sense of occasion were especially attractive. For 50k as you say - like for like, its not a bad all round deal. Guilia Q.V., Low mileage MC Shift, M3 would be other options, but the envinromenal angle and low mpg may attract some

 

[Andyk]

No agree Iain, in this day and age the i8 is the start of a change that petroleum heads don't want to but it s how we are going. BMW quote huge MPG for the i8 but in reality I've not heard of anyone getting anywhere near it. For me from your list the i8 and GT S are the two that have a greater sense of occasion and if I was adding one as a daily drive for me it would be the i8. Never thought I would say that about a hybrid And I probably wouldn't have until I drove one.

But back to reality as my wife needs a new car before I can even think about a toy. She has a 2001 BMW 325i.....85k on the clock but it's time to change. Looking at a Fiat 500X as some decent 0% deals on them. Weighing up a new car on PCP or spending around 8/9k on a used car so no monthly loan.

 

[zagatoes30]

Depreciation has been epic and they are a lot of tech for the money. Not for me but I can see how they could tempt you

 

[Wanderer]

I had a Tesla S for a day when I was living in Copenhagen, it was seriously fast, but completely silent, but worst of all despite the leather luxury interior it felt cheap and not at all well made. Bloody low too, you kind of get into it, and sink down into the floorpan Those of us tall lads (I'm 6'4") of an age wouldn't like it day in day out.

Straight after I handed it back I saw I Lambo parked up at Kungens Nytorv and decided I was going back to an Italian warts and all and eventually got the QP. It's not as fast but it's nicer inside and better built.

And I'm not sure about economy, I researched Tesla ownership and this guy in US keep a record of the electrify he used and it was a fair amount, not 18mpg petrol league but not free as people seem to be told. Superchargers free in DK tho.

Here's the Lambo I saw at Kungens Nytorv, idea of the model....

 

[hoyin]

Nice aventador!

Didn’t realise the i8 had dropped so much.

But what is the range on it? I didn’t realise it was a 2+2.

Even for £50k I don’t think I would get one. Maybe when it drops to £30k I might think about it for a couple of mins.

I have heard similar about the Tesla as well. That they are not well made and feel cheap inside. I see a lot of them and the panel alignment on the outside is pretty shocking. I guess it is to be expected - they are a tech company not a car company.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wanderer]

Nice aventador!

Didn’t realise the i8 had dropped so much.

But what is the range on it? I didn’t realise it was a 2+2.

Even for £50k I don’t think I would get one. Maybe when it drops to £30k I might think about it for a couple of mins.

I have heard similar about the Tesla as well. That they are not well made and feel cheap inside. I see a lot of them and the panel alignment on the outside is pretty shocking. I guess it is to be expected - they are a tech company not a car company.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I saw lots of them in CPH, reason being at the time Danish government didn't tax full-electric car imports, normal car import tax is a whopping 180%, so even a decent spec Euro-box is 50/60k Sterling, making the Tesla cheap. Even saw a few as taxis, and super-chargers everywhere, free.

When I left they'd started taxing them at 20%, rising year on year, which it a portent for what will happen here, all on electric, no tax, tax time! And Super Chargers not free anymore in DK.

 

[Andyk]

Nice aventador!

Didn’t realise the i8 had dropped so much.

But what is the range on it? I didn’t realise it was a 2+2.

Even for £50k I don’t think I would get one. Maybe when it drops to £30k I might think about it for a couple of mins.

I have heard similar about the Tesla as well. That they are not well made and feel cheap inside. I see a lot of them and the panel alignment on the outside is pretty shocking. I guess it is to be expected - they are a tech company not a car company.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Range of just the electric motor isn't great but using both its just like a normal car.....I had a ride in a Tesla at Llandow...Bloody fast but it was weird as the only sound was the stones hitting under the wheel arches....didn't like it.....Plus when using mad mode it only took about two laps and then wouldn't give full power. Felt there was still some way to go before it would be a fossil fuel replacement. Think that's why the i8 appeals as petrol engine and electric working in harmony to get the best of both worlds.

 

[outrun]

It’s hideous. The design is all over the place and it was grossly overpriced to start with so the only way was down. It’s there to showcase technology and tick a green box but there is no excuse for the way it looks. Massive missed opportunity, it could have been great tech packed into an m1 style body and making something very cool but instead they went all left field.

 

[lifes2short]

give me a petrol guzzling combustion engine anytime, normally aspirated, turbo charged and/or supercharged, you can keep the Duracell cars, what I would be interested to know is how long are the batteries supposed to last in these things and wouldn't they cost an arm and 2 legs to eventually replace???

 

[mjheathcote]

How can that be? It’s not remotely loud unless the windows are open in sport mode- and even then without an exhaust upgrade it’s not really noticeable. There is certainly no additional noise in my cabin.

That's interesting, with mine there is a real growl when booting it, and the volume changes when flicking between comfort and sport...how I realised it was fake! You can buy a bypass loom to remove the noise altogether, or have it 'coded out' (not by BMW) or, made louder! by default in sport the volume is set at 3/5, apparently the earlier M135i was default at a louder max 5/5.
I've the standard exhaust and now that the car has done 15K there are a few overrun pops and bangs.

 

[Wanderer]

What's next? V8/12 howl coming through the ICE in a 1.0 Yaris?

 

[iainw]

That's interesting, with mine there is a real growl when booting it, and the volume changes when flicking between comfort and sport...how I realised it was fake! You can buy a bypass loom to remove the noise altogether, or have it 'coded out' (not by BMW) or, made louder! by default in sport the volume is set at 3/5, apparently the earlier M135i was default at a louder max 5/5.
I've the standard exhaust and now that the car has done 15K there are a few overrun pops and bangs.

I thought the sport button just affected the valves and gear ratios - what happens on yours when the stereo is off?!