BMW i8 or Tesla Model S?
Discussion
I love a V8/V10/V12 as much as the next guy and I'm not sure if these two cars are bedroom wall poster cars but of the new cars currently on sale, these are probably the two that I am most intrigued to drive.
Despite their "normal" cars being well above average in terms of handling and their motorsport/performance-car heritage, BMW have never really made a successful sports coupe/supercar but there have been some great attempts (I would love a white 840Ci/850CSi - very Miami Vice)!
This must be frustrating when Audi nailed it first time back in 2007!
Whether you like the looks or not, the i8 certainly has presence and with 4 seats, a semblance of practicality. BMW's mpg figures may be overstated but you still have the potential for sports car performance with supermini running costs too.
Tesla have also created an interesting machine. In accelerative terms, it's very fast and in one fell swoop, they have created a large saloon from scratch with as much cachet as a Jaguar or anything German. I expect this is the new "it" car in Hollywood circles. If this were to be run as a taxi/luxury private hire vehicle, the savings in running costs are potentially huge and with two boots, there's loads of luggage space too. All things being equal, why would you even bother buying a diesel over one? Unfortunately, the price is considerably more than your average 4-pot diesel though!
I would happily run either as a daily but probably the more exotic looks of the i8 over the handsome but slightly anonymous-looking Tesla would probably win out for me. I still have a slight issue with lack of "character" though. A Tesla beats a 4-pot diesel Jag/BMW/Mercedes/Audi no question but although the i8 is a fantastic daily proposition, do I want to own one more than something similarly priced with a "proper" engine (F-Type, V8V, Granturismo, R8, AMG GT etc). Sadly, the answer would have to be no.
Despite their "normal" cars being well above average in terms of handling and their motorsport/performance-car heritage, BMW have never really made a successful sports coupe/supercar but there have been some great attempts (I would love a white 840Ci/850CSi - very Miami Vice)!
This must be frustrating when Audi nailed it first time back in 2007!
Whether you like the looks or not, the i8 certainly has presence and with 4 seats, a semblance of practicality. BMW's mpg figures may be overstated but you still have the potential for sports car performance with supermini running costs too.
Tesla have also created an interesting machine. In accelerative terms, it's very fast and in one fell swoop, they have created a large saloon from scratch with as much cachet as a Jaguar or anything German. I expect this is the new "it" car in Hollywood circles. If this were to be run as a taxi/luxury private hire vehicle, the savings in running costs are potentially huge and with two boots, there's loads of luggage space too. All things being equal, why would you even bother buying a diesel over one? Unfortunately, the price is considerably more than your average 4-pot diesel though!
I would happily run either as a daily but probably the more exotic looks of the i8 over the handsome but slightly anonymous-looking Tesla would probably win out for me. I still have a slight issue with lack of "character" though. A Tesla beats a 4-pot diesel Jag/BMW/Mercedes/Audi no question but although the i8 is a fantastic daily proposition, do I want to own one more than something similarly priced with a "proper" engine (F-Type, V8V, Granturismo, R8, AMG GT etc). Sadly, the answer would have to be no.
cerb4.5lee said:
Neither cars interest me because the noise an engine makes rates very highly for me so the Tesla is out(although appreciate its mega quick at accelerating), I am a BMW fanboy but I don't really get the i8 but I applaud BMW for trying it.
I suppose if I was five years old both cars would have a massive appeal because obviously they are the future but having grown up listening to noisy V8 engines and the like these cars just end up leaving my flat.
Even if my numbers came up I wouldn't consider them and I feel sorry for the future pistonheaders as there wont be much to get excited about when it comes to cars.
I get that. The proliferation of very fast, efficient but ultimately soulless turbocharged 4-pot petrols and diesels in new cars already concerns me. I'm sure the new Golf R/Focus RS/A45 AMG are all fantastic cars but I have more "want" for their inferior, slower but more characterful predecessors (R32/5-pot Focus RS etc). I know the F30 M3 is a 6-pot but I want an E90 M3 badly. An F30 M3? A very quick car no doubt but not so much.I suppose if I was five years old both cars would have a massive appeal because obviously they are the future but having grown up listening to noisy V8 engines and the like these cars just end up leaving my flat.
Even if my numbers came up I wouldn't consider them and I feel sorry for the future pistonheaders as there wont be much to get excited about when it comes to cars.
Yes. That makes sense. It's just a hypothetical though. I'm not buying either in the near future. 
One could also argue that the i8 allows you to drive something that looks more interesting and exotic than other vehicles that would cost similar money to run though but then if you paid 100k for a car, maybe that's not such an issue... At least the environmentally-conscious Hollywood celebs don't have to drive Priuses any more though!
One could also argue that the i8 allows you to drive something that looks more interesting and exotic than other vehicles that would cost similar money to run though but then if you paid 100k for a car, maybe that's not such an issue... At least the environmentally-conscious Hollywood celebs don't have to drive Priuses any more though!kambites said:
Tesla for me.
I just don't see the point in the BMW - if I'm going to have a sporty car I want something light which for the moment means an internal combustion engine driving the wheels.
I think it's about 1500kg. I know that's not Elise/Caterham light but compared to similar vehicles, is that really that heavy these days? My Civic weighs 1300kg.I just don't see the point in the BMW - if I'm going to have a sporty car I want something light which for the moment means an internal combustion engine driving the wheels.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 25th November 16:30
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