RE: BMW i8 | The Brave Pill
Discussion
Mouse Rat said:
When launched I wasn't too keen to the styling, but now especially in a darker colour I really like them.
I like the power train. The concept is good so what we have is a Supercar available for £40K, which is cheep ish to run and would make a great commuter car.
What's frustrating is BMW (an other manufactures) have missed a trick. This was 8 years ago! This power train would of been ideal in something like a 4 series coupe.
Additionally, increased battery capacity to 20-30kwh, larger motor and using the 3 pot as a generator, eliminating all the additional drive train gubbings would make a excellent EV for daily use, removing charging anxiety.
Truth be known, I think they missed several tricks ...I like the power train. The concept is good so what we have is a Supercar available for £40K, which is cheep ish to run and would make a great commuter car.
What's frustrating is BMW (an other manufactures) have missed a trick. This was 8 years ago! This power train would of been ideal in something like a 4 series coupe.
Additionally, increased battery capacity to 20-30kwh, larger motor and using the 3 pot as a generator, eliminating all the additional drive train gubbings would make a excellent EV for daily use, removing charging anxiety.
Having invested what must have been many millions in the R&D of the i8 project, they should utilised the platform as the basis for a mid engined supercar.
On the basis the M1 remains lusted after by many to this day, a mid-engine BMW supercar could and most likely would have been a success.
Fitted with a drivetrain along the lines of Jaguar’s aborted 4 pot C-X75 drivetrain and clothed in slightly wider bodywork to enable the fitment of decently wide wheels and rubber, BMW could have built the ultimate M1 replacement...
Looks great in black sans the unnecessary and somewhat naff looking blue highlights :
Olivera said:
Not a fan of the i3 or i8 at all, with the former being a fugly wardrobe on wheels, and the latter being a 3 cylinder that embarrassingly pumps out fake sounds via external speakers.
I'm sure if you drove either your viewpoint would quickly change.My i3 is probably up there as one of my favourite cars.
Luke. said:
Olivera said:
Not a fan of the i3 or i8 at all, with the former being a fugly wardrobe on wheels, and the latter being a 3 cylinder that embarrassingly pumps out fake sounds via external speakers.
I'm sure if you drove either your viewpoint would quickly change.My i3 is probably up there as one of my favourite cars.
It makes it even even more amusing when 'noddys car' zipps off and leaves their "superior" car for dead :-)
Olivera said:
Not a fan of the i3 or i8 at all, with the former being a fugly wardrobe on wheels, and the latter being a 3 cylinder that embarrassingly pumps out fake sounds via external speakers.
Same as the fake sound systems on Maserati, Audi, Lexus, BMW M cars too i'm afraid, embassingly.Mr Squarekins said:
Same as the fake sound systems on Maserati, Audi, Lexus, BMW M cars too i'm afraid, embassingly.
Um no, that's why I explicitly said external speakers (not internal), which the i8 has under the rear bumper to pump out fake sound to the outside. It's an embarrassment akin to a Corsa driver with a V8 sounds ebay box.Max_Torque said:
I love the fact that some people seem to hate the i3 (the vast majority and pretty much anyone who's driven or owned one love them)
It makes it even even more amusing when 'noddys car' zipps off and leaves their "superior" car for dead :-)
there is likely not a BMW on sale that is not 'better' than my car - and yet I've not had even the slightest desire to purchase one. The i8 is, funnily enough, one of the most desirable but still I'd always be regretting the 3-pot (whilst screaming past my old car and not having to tank-up anything like as frequently)It makes it even even more amusing when 'noddys car' zipps off and leaves their "superior" car for dead :-)
Max_Torque said:
I love the fact that some people seem to hate the i3 (the vast majority and pretty much anyone who's driven or owned one love them)
It makes it even even more amusing when 'noddys car' zipps off and leaves their "superior" car for dead :-)
The i3 could be as fast as Concorde...and I still wouldn't be seen dead driving one though! Have you seen the state of it?! It makes it even even more amusing when 'noddys car' zipps off and leaves their "superior" car for dead :-)
The i3 ranks as the worst car BMW have ever made for me. The i8 isn't exactly my cup of tea either, but I'd be happy just looking at it all day though.
cerb4.5lee said:
Max_Torque said:
I love the fact that some people seem to hate the i3 (the vast majority and pretty much anyone who's driven or owned one love them)
It makes it even even more amusing when 'noddys car' zipps off and leaves their "superior" car for dead :-)
The i3 could be as fast as Concorde...and I still wouldn't be seen dead driving one though! Have you seen the state of it?! It makes it even even more amusing when 'noddys car' zipps off and leaves their "superior" car for dead :-)
The i3 ranks as the worst car BMW have ever made for me. The i8 isn't exactly my cup of tea either, but I'd be happy just looking at it all day though.
ratty6464 said:
interstellar said:
Nearly bought one this time last year but test drove it and the lack of lumbar support as they took it out to save weight had my back on bits in 30 mins.
Shame as I liked it a lot!!
Do they all lack lumbar support or was it an optional extra?Shame as I liked it a lot!!
If the lci one has it I would be buying one but I don’t think it does
glazbagun said:
I don't see why this is a brave pill at all. I know the engine had some issues in the mini, but compared to the bork potential of a 996, W12 engined Toureg, V10 M5, etc, surely an i8 doesn't even move the needle?
I assume that its the concern for the batteries out of warranty than the engine. But the useful post in this thread showed even they could be replaced for not big money. I am sorely tempted.
cerb4.5lee said:
The i3 could be as fast as Concorde...and I still wouldn't be seen dead driving one though! Have you seen the state of it?!
The i3 ranks as the worst car BMW have ever made for me. The i8 isn't exactly my cup of tea either, but I'd be happy just looking at it all day though.
The interesting thing about polarising design is that if enough people like one and buy one- which they did, given the long production run of the i3- then it doesn't matter in terms of sales if a large number of people don't. That's equally applicable to the MK2 Renault Mégane, which I think is hideous but sold in quite large numbers.The i3 ranks as the worst car BMW have ever made for me. The i8 isn't exactly my cup of tea either, but I'd be happy just looking at it all day though.
Given the nose of the i4, I don't think BMW are going to shy away from polarising designs soon. Commercially, I suspect it's worse to just sort-of-please more people.
I wonder if BMW might try a similarly brave city car with the MINI brand some day, though I doubt they will for a long time unless they can preserve MINI's carefully curated visual theme.
Olivera said:
Um no, that's why I explicitly said external speakers (not internal), which the i8 has under the rear bumper to pump out fake sound to the outside. It's an embarrassment akin to a Corsa driver with a V8 sounds ebay box.
Err, yes. Def. Audi and Maserati. The Maser speaker is even interchangable with the one on the i8.https://www.ghibliforum.com/threads/choosing-a-rep...
Edited by Mr Squarekins on Monday 2nd May 16:11
blearyeyedboy said:
The interesting thing about polarising design is that if enough people like one and buy one- which they did, given the long production run of the i3- then it doesn't matter in terms of sales if a large number of people don't. That's equally applicable to the MK2 Renault Mégane, which I think is hideous but sold in quite large numbers.
Given the nose of the i4, I don't think BMW are going to shy away from polarising designs soon. Commercially, I suspect it's worse to just sort-of-please more people.
I wonder if BMW might try a similarly brave city car with the MINI brand some day, though I doubt they will for a long time unless they can preserve MINI's carefully curated visual theme.
I think that with the i3 and the Teslas for example, it proves that even if the design is terrible(subjective granted) you can still sell a car in decent volumes if it is cheap to run like the i3 and Teslas are I reckon. Given the nose of the i4, I don't think BMW are going to shy away from polarising designs soon. Commercially, I suspect it's worse to just sort-of-please more people.
I wonder if BMW might try a similarly brave city car with the MINI brand some day, though I doubt they will for a long time unless they can preserve MINI's carefully curated visual theme.
The i3 and Teslas just aren't for me, but I certainly can't argue that they aren't a cheap way to get around though. However if they weren't cheap to run, then I don't think that anyone would buy them surely, because their designs are terrible to me.
It is great that we all like different things though, and it would be a properly boring world if we all drove around in the same car I reckon(although with EVs coming to the fore now those days won't be far off).
Not brave pill territory imho.
I bought mine new in March 2016 and, aside from being the cheapest car I’ve run in over 25 years, it’s so good at everything I need it for that I’m not rushing to change it. It’s not a sports or a track car, it’s an extremely capable, very comfortable GT cruiser that can, if required, pick up its skirt and sprint cross-country as quick as you’re ever likely to need.
It’s a proper 2+2, I’ve taken adults in the back but mostly the rear space is used for luggage etc. It still turns heads today and without a squeak or rattle it easily passes for “new”. Tech is just enough; full bluetooth and decent sat nav, HUD, LCD dash, funky interior lighting, all-round external cameras, remote App conditioning, “display key”, and a decent HK stereo.
It’s a lovely serene place to be, and ace at chewing up the A-road miles. It is wide, parking is trickier than it should be, but the dihedral doors only need 18” or so to fully open. Design I like, but not everyone else does, but lack of silly spoilers and dams give it an understated look, despite looking even now if its from the future. Can you tell I’m a fan?
Previous cars include: AM V8V, Cayman, C63, Elise, D4 S8, Celica GT4 and others so a right old mix. Its current stable mates are an ‘05 Outback shed, Panigale S and a CCM flat-tracker. It is the best car I have owned, and I plan to keep it for the foreseeable.
MONEY:
I bought mine new in March 2016 and, aside from being the cheapest car I’ve run in over 25 years, it’s so good at everything I need it for that I’m not rushing to change it. It’s not a sports or a track car, it’s an extremely capable, very comfortable GT cruiser that can, if required, pick up its skirt and sprint cross-country as quick as you’re ever likely to need.
It’s a proper 2+2, I’ve taken adults in the back but mostly the rear space is used for luggage etc. It still turns heads today and without a squeak or rattle it easily passes for “new”. Tech is just enough; full bluetooth and decent sat nav, HUD, LCD dash, funky interior lighting, all-round external cameras, remote App conditioning, “display key”, and a decent HK stereo.
It’s a lovely serene place to be, and ace at chewing up the A-road miles. It is wide, parking is trickier than it should be, but the dihedral doors only need 18” or so to fully open. Design I like, but not everyone else does, but lack of silly spoilers and dams give it an understated look, despite looking even now if its from the future. Can you tell I’m a fan?
Previous cars include: AM V8V, Cayman, C63, Elise, D4 S8, Celica GT4 and others so a right old mix. Its current stable mates are an ‘05 Outback shed, Panigale S and a CCM flat-tracker. It is the best car I have owned, and I plan to keep it for the foreseeable.
MONEY:
- Annual service is usually a few hundred, including the annual MoT
- RFL is zero, insurance is under £400 (56 yrs old, clean license)
- Annual BMW warranty is £950
- Fuel cost is tiny (51 mpg av since new, 20k miles in total)
- One set of rear tyres, original fronts. Original everything else (except door struts, which are replaced every two years).
- Had two “return to dealer” moments, one was a recall for a HV check and one for the (TADT) fuel pressure release issue.
- I paid full list (£115k) minus 10k BMW contrib, minus £5k gov contrib, minus 100% first year WDA (my LLP) so upfront was (net) about £60k (balancing charges apply). Deal was IF 36 months then a balloon that I cleared.
- Depreciation: N/A as I haven’t sold it but it has been fully-depreciated for tax purposes.
- What’s it worth? No idea, but a low mileage, fully factory-warranted, 1-owner, (almost) fully specced car in protonic blue with unmarked turbine wheels and a white/very light grey unmarked interior is a rare thing I would guess.
Edited by MrOrange on Monday 2nd May 18:12
Edited by MrOrange on Monday 2nd May 18:15
andyj007 said:
so buy thso for 40k battery goes in 4 yerars then what 20 kto replace?
electronics go, back to dealer for what min 5 k for some circuuits... ?
not saying thats what will happen , but these types of car scare me out of warranty
But wasn't everyone saying this was going to happen to Priuses over a decade ago? The exact same doom and gloom. Yet they seem to be trundling around with hundreds of thousands of miles on them. They use them as taxis and police cars, ffs!electronics go, back to dealer for what min 5 k for some circuuits... ?
not saying thats what will happen , but these types of car scare me out of warranty
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