BMW i8 Review are in...

[hoganscrogan]

Autocar meh... Autoexpress yay!

I want one, however I will need to work harder to upgrade from the i3!

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/i8/86776/new-bmw-...
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/i8/first-d...

The Autocar review in particular seems to miss the point of this car in my opinion, and is not particularly illuminating. Lots of talk of "using weight transfer to give the steering authority on turn-in" etc. overall the review sounded a little hackneyed to me.

Autoexpress seemed to 'get it' but again not tons of detail.

I await pistonheads take on this vehicle.

BTW: CARS older 'first drive' review seems much more comprehensive and detailed, although I'm not sure if this was a production version they drove.
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results...

Edited by hoganscrogan on Monday 28th April 14:28

Edited by hoganscrogan on Monday 28th April 14:30

[aponting389]

CAR magazine said:

Like a Formula 1 racer, the body is made of carbonfibre and the engine sits behind the driver, but the i8’s mill displaces just 1.5 litres in capacity and is bolstered by an electric motor.

so... like a Formula 1 racer then

Edited by aponting389 on Monday 28th April 15:00

[AnotherClarkey]

Autocar seems to have seriously lost its way - it is like they just write it to impress themselves with no attempt to imagine how a varied customer base might approach a given car.

They may like to think that that they are an 'enthusiasts' magazine but others do it much better and Autoexpress (I can't believe I am saying this) is much better as a weekly rag.

If I had £100k to spend on a car I would far rather spend it on an i8 than any of the usual suspects. I really get the sense that we are at the start of a new stage of motoring. Cars like the i8, Tesla S, 918 and P1 are at the vanguard. Most other stuff just isn't.

[hoganscrogan]

You've crystallised my discomfort with the writing perfectly. The 'roadtester' as a person seems to becoming more and more of a caricature. Obsessing over the tiny, nuanced handling characteristics on the limit of vehicles in extremis seems to be the only measure that counts (I know the i8 is meant to be a sportscars). I really do feel like I'm reading a cut and paste review sometimes,

AnotherClarkey said:

Autocar seems to have seriously lost its way - it is like they just write it to impress themselves with no attempt to imagine how a varied customer base might approach a given car.

[anonymous-user]

For me, i don't really even start to compare the i8 with say a conventional 911. Not really the same thing at all, despite both being "sports cars"! I also suspect that BMW are being clever, and not making the car too "sharp" in terms of performance and handling is going to appeal to the first customers of this car (surely, the current 6 series GC customers etc!) and that it also gives them plenty of room to maneuver for later years (in terms of facelifts, LCIs etc!)

[ORD]

I've lost all faith in car reviews recently . I have test driven a few cars that are almost literally nothing like how they are reviewed - so little focus on what actually makes a difference in the real world...like "is the cabin a pleasant place to be?"; "does the engine sound pleasant when caned"? rather than "how does it respond to a dab of oppo when understeer transitions to oversteer at the limit of absolute grip?". Often I just think "Are we dealing with 2% differences in handling characteristics of shopping cars now?".

It is particularly absurd when dealing with family hatchbacks that will never see more than 3000rpm, but is a bit tiresom even in relation to sports cars.

[hoganscrogan]

ORD said:

Often I just think "Are we dealing with 2% differences in handling characteristics of shopping cars now?".

That's what is is, and the manufactures have got sucked in. 'Ring times and feel on a standard Citroen are not really relevant to 99.99% of buyers. How big the door bins and interior works are, surely a talented journalist can write entertainingly about this!? Would make a change from the seemingly endless 2 dimensional handling dribble.

PS My favourite all-time interior design was the Renault Espace v2/3 - such door bins as I have never seen since!!
PPS And the worst driving/pedal position I have ever experienced, left foot braking was the only option, I pity anyone driving a manual! Things like this we need to know

Edited by hoganscrogan on Monday 28th April 17:44

[Terminator X]

This looks like it might hit the spot too:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-2563...

TX.

[hoganscrogan]

The Tesla is great, had a quick spin in a friends in LA and was very impressed.

[Beefmeister]

Well the one reviewer I actually trust and enjoy watching/reading has driven it, and it gets a big thumbs up.

Chris Harris' video:

http://youtu.be/l5I6xuhNgVg

[hoganscrogan]

What I like about Chris' s reviews is really well demonstrated in that video, he try's to get under the skin of the whole package. Design, engineering, handling and market. There is a reason he can afford all those cars, people want to hear what he has to say!

[ORD]

It's still far too much money, isnt it?

The ticket price makes mpg, environmental taxes etc completely irrelevant. Why would someone with that kind of money to spend on cars not still buy something with a flat-six, V8 or something else gorgeous and noisy?

Not yet, BMW, not yet. Get to £50k and we'll talk!

[RumpleFugly]

I like it. Futuristic looking without being cheesily space age.

With regards to price, lots of people seem willing to splash 70k + on a specked up Tesla S so I think a sports/GT car at that level should do well.

[TimJMS]

Meh. Hybrid schmybrid. Best of both worlds or the worst?

I've no doubt its a superb motor car, but I'll pass. Very pretty though.

[lukeyman]

I saw one going north on the M1 yesterday!