RE: BMW i8: Delivery Miles

RE: BMW i8: Delivery Miles

Author
Discussion

09dfearon

35 posts

116 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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I've used an i8 for a day from my local dealer and I've got to say it was fantastic! Its actually a comfortable car that can be driven normally and without costing the earth to run. Granted if you are in the market to buy a car like this then fuel shouldn't be an issue but it still gives a great feeling when you look down and see you have averaged 80 miles to the gallon in a car that gets thumbs up and head nods everywhere you go! At that I could have got better mpg if I had tried. The interior is fine on the car but agree its not as mental as the outside but I personally think it would have been ruined if made too mental and would then have been slated for that instead. The drive is very different from other performance cars I've owned as there's no drama just plant your foot and its off! I can see what BMW mean when they say its the future of sports cars, I wouldn't compare this to v8s etc. as its completely different to run and drive. A 911 RS would be a better car if you want drama and the on the edge feeling but if you want a fast car with supercar looks that's more usable then this is the future.

PhantomPH

4,043 posts

224 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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nicfaz said:
Really not sure why you would pay £140k for this. If eco-bobbins is your thing, why not the new Tesla Model S P85D? Considerably quicker and a proper EV, not a hybrid.
This. All day long, this.

PhantomPH

4,043 posts

224 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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Zumbruk said:
nicfaz said:
Really not sure why you would pay £140k for this. If eco-bobbins is your thing, why not the new Tesla Model S P85D? Considerably quicker and a proper EV, not a hybrid.
Perhaps i8 purchasers don't want to spend any time on the hard shoulder of the M6 with flat batteries?
Yeah, I'm tired of seeing all those Nissan Leafs littering the hard shoulder. rolleyes

MyCC

337 posts

156 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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Simple, it's the car of the moment. For those that are cash rich they won't care that they are paying a huge premium. The fact they have one will be the most important factor.

Those who can, will.

Regards,

MyCC.

erics

2,659 posts

210 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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a few points:

  • the Tesla is a battery car and is seriously impaired by its range in real life and takes at least 2-3 hours to charge up. And you have to use a dedicated charging spot if you want a quick charge. Plus it looks totally bland and uninspiring.
  • the day when I did test drive the i8, my main sportscar was an aston v12 vantage. I put it for sale the day I came back from driving the bmw. It was that good.
  • I disagree with the tester's comments regarding the sound. It is very well done and you can elect not to have it at all when you are not in the mood. It is a very relaxing drive when you want it to be and a great, great car regardless of what powers it.
  • it is staggeringly fast. The combination of electric and petrol engine gives it a stronger immediate and in gear acceleration than the v12v. In real life at least. The power is so accessible.
  • Remember that its structure is made of carbon fibre and the amount of technology in the car is staggering. To me, it felt more special and more of an event than the Aston v12v I was driving at the time. At £100k, it is a bargain.
Each to their own, i put my deposit down 2 months ago and I strongly suggest to anyone to go and have a test drive and see for themselves..


Edited by erics on Thursday 16th October 12:40


Edited by erics on Thursday 16th October 12:53

MrGeoff

645 posts

171 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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Drove one a few months back. Honestly I appreciate the tech for what it is but I had more fun driving an M235i.

MyCC

337 posts

156 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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Have driven the i8 on behalf of a few clients and in summary it is not an outright sports car, but it offers a real duality of purpose. Relaxing, soothing even, when you want it to be and yet, it can still blast down the road at a fair old lick when the mood takes you. Throw in those space-age looks, CO2 emission & fuel economy figures and it offers a compelling ownership proposition.

Regards,

MyCC.

erics

2,659 posts

210 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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MyCC said:
Have driven the i8 on behalf of a few clients and in summary it is not an outright sports car, but it offers a real duality of purpose. Relaxing, soothing even, when you want it to be and yet, it can still blast down the road at a fair old lick when the mood takes you. Throw in those space-age looks, CO2 emission & fuel economy figures and it offers a compelling ownership proposition.

Regards,

MyCC.
Agreed, it is more gt than sportscar. Having said that, the bar set by current sportscars (991 gt3 / 458s) is so high!

I did throw the i8 around a fair bit though and it is light on its feet and responds well. It is really when you go to the limits of grip that it is not as pure as the aforementioned two cars.

I think of it as an alternative to a 991 c2s. It is not as nice as the porsche on the limit but its range of abilities is so much broader.

Mermaid

21,492 posts

170 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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erics said:
I think of it as an alternative to a 991 c2s. It is not as nice as the porsche on the limit but its range of abilities is so much broader.
yes

TimJMS

2,584 posts

250 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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I didn't find it that quick. In fact it wouldn't see which way my old GTR had gone. My day with it revealed 34 mpg and I fully fast charged it twice from my Schneider wall box! No great shakes. It either needs the latest M5 engine or the Tesla power train, not this technological cul de sac solution .

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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Mermaid said:
erics said:
I think of it as an alternative to a 991 c2s. It is not as nice as the porsche on the limit but its range of abilities is so much broader.
yes
Indeed. yes

And in terms of 'pose factor' you need to have something properly serious to turn more heads than an i8.

Ex Boy Racer

1,151 posts

191 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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There are massive tax advantages if bought as a company car. That's why it's popular

TheTalentedMr

221 posts

204 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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Tuvra said:
I know someone who has one on order. Has been offered £6k for his build slot (June), the main dealer told him that early build slots are changing hands for around £14k.

Oddly, the chap buying it claims hes paying £100k for the car and is getting £25k off the Government in some kind of grant because its a hybrid? Effecticley the car is costing him the same as an M6 (his words) confused
I'm afraid the guy is talking rubbish, the government grant is up to 25% of the value or a max of £5,000. If he was planning on getting £25K back he's about to get a nasty surprise!

I thought the i3 was lease only and you couldn't buy them outright? This gave customers confidence about not being responsible for the battery life expectancy. If so that's probably why there are none in the used car sales.

erics

2,659 posts

210 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
TimJMS said:
I didn't find it that quick. In fact it wouldn't see which way my old GTR had gone. My day with it revealed 34 mpg and I fully fast charged it twice from my Schneider wall box! No great shakes. It either needs the latest M5 engine or the Tesla power train, not this technological cul de sac solution .
A gtr is faster than 99.9% of the car population. So not exactly comparing apples with apples.
In terms of looks or car-romanticism, the gtr has nothing for it. Personally I would not be seen dead in one, it is way to big a car and the ride is atrocious.

Doshy

824 posts

216 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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TheTalentedMr said:
Tuvra said:
I know someone who has one on order. Has been offered £6k for his build slot (June), the main dealer told him that early build slots are changing hands for around £14k.

Oddly, the chap buying it claims hes paying £100k for the car and is getting £25k off the Government in some kind of grant because its a hybrid? Effecticley the car is costing him the same as an M6 (his words) confused
I'm afraid the guy is talking rubbish, the government grant is up to 25% of the value or a max of £5,000. If he was planning on getting £25K back he's about to get a nasty surprise!

I thought the i3 was lease only and you couldn't buy them outright? This gave customers confidence about not being responsible for the battery life expectancy. If so that's probably why there are none in the used car sales.
The 25k may be what he gets back off his first tax bill? I'm getting 12k off my first tax bill for buying an all electric i3.

mdianuk

2,890 posts

170 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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"Would you pay a £25K premium?"

Put it in perspective, £25k premium on a £100k car is 25%. No different than selling a £20k car for £25k if it is deemed rare or desirable. Those that can afford £100k can likely pay the premium, and likewise lower down the price range. If someone wants it bad enough, it will sell.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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Ex Boy Racer said:
There are massive tax advantages if bought as a company car. That's why it's popular
Also why i expect not many i3's are for sale. You need to keep them till the next financial year to be able to get the (massive) tax credits.

KTF

9,788 posts

149 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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jl34 said:
Why would you want to spend that ammount of money on a car that looks like it crashed into halfords?
Have you seen one in the metal? They look amazing and totally different to anything else available. I still wouldnt pay that much for one though.

thelawnet

1,539 posts

154 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
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MyCC said:
Have driven the i8 on behalf of a few clients and in summary it is not an outright sports car, but it offers a real duality of purpose. Relaxing, soothing even, when you want it to be and yet, it can still blast down the road at a fair old lick when the mood takes you. Throw in those space-age looks, CO2 emission & fuel economy figures and it offers a compelling ownership proposition.
At £100k+, the fuel economy is surely irrelevant.

PhantomPH

4,043 posts

224 months

Thursday 16th October 2014
quotequote all
thelawnet said:
MyCC said:
Have driven the i8 on behalf of a few clients and in summary it is not an outright sports car, but it offers a real duality of purpose. Relaxing, soothing even, when you want it to be and yet, it can still blast down the road at a fair old lick when the mood takes you. Throw in those space-age looks, CO2 emission & fuel economy figures and it offers a compelling ownership proposition.
At £100k+, the fuel economy is surely irrelevant.
Why?