Object of Ridicule: i8, Z8 & NSX
Discussion
I have been a relatively passive participant in PH over the years but I often find myself at odds with others in relation to my car choices. So, originally, let’s say 30 years ago, I was met with abject ridicule for buying a Honda NSX instead of a new Porsche Boxster. I still have an NSX. Moving on a couple of decades I bought a BMW i8. While I rarely dared to poke my head above the parapet here with that one, this usually elicits moderate trolling of the “it should at least have a B58 six instead of a baby triple” variety. Well yes maybe but it wasn’t designed to do that. You wait. I am hoping my i8 will do the same as my NSX image wise - if I live that long that is.
Anyway, the third burst of derision is now likely as I have just bought a BMW Z8.
The first things I will hear are that for the same money I could have bought a McLaren 570S, a reasonable Series 2 E-type, and a very recent Golf GTi. ALL OF THEM! Yes, Z8 prices are still high despite the fact that most people don’t seem to know what they are about. I don’t think I do either. Except that they fall into that delicious (can I say delicious here) area where cars are works of art. Many might not agree but I think they look fabulous and are beautifully built. A bit like my NSX really - even with the long tail. And you know what? I quite like the idea that while it is wonderful (etc etc) I can still get it serviced locally and, while the Z8 tax does apply to parts prices st least I can still get them (for a 23 year old car). And that labour rates aren’t completely ridiculous (as they are for AM/P/F/McL etc).
More to the point I haven’t bought a garage queen (this is my usual trait) but a user. So I am going to use it, slurping 98 octane at 20mpg as the V8 trundles me along as the car acts as the b
d son of an E-type and a Cobra but with more modern driving characteristics. I am expecting it to handle like a dinghy but that’s not quite the point. As someone in the Z8 International club said “ if you are looking at a Z8 or a Ferrari or Porsche, for goodness sake don’t get a Z8!”. Not because the Z8 was intrinsically rubbish but because it’s not the same. You need to want one. Luckily there are loads of people over the world who treasure these cars. I hope to follow in their footsteps.
Anyway, the third burst of derision is now likely as I have just bought a BMW Z8.
The first things I will hear are that for the same money I could have bought a McLaren 570S, a reasonable Series 2 E-type, and a very recent Golf GTi. ALL OF THEM! Yes, Z8 prices are still high despite the fact that most people don’t seem to know what they are about. I don’t think I do either. Except that they fall into that delicious (can I say delicious here) area where cars are works of art. Many might not agree but I think they look fabulous and are beautifully built. A bit like my NSX really - even with the long tail. And you know what? I quite like the idea that while it is wonderful (etc etc) I can still get it serviced locally and, while the Z8 tax does apply to parts prices st least I can still get them (for a 23 year old car). And that labour rates aren’t completely ridiculous (as they are for AM/P/F/McL etc).
More to the point I haven’t bought a garage queen (this is my usual trait) but a user. So I am going to use it, slurping 98 octane at 20mpg as the V8 trundles me along as the car acts as the b
d son of an E-type and a Cobra but with more modern driving characteristics. I am expecting it to handle like a dinghy but that’s not quite the point. As someone in the Z8 International club said “ if you are looking at a Z8 or a Ferrari or Porsche, for goodness sake don’t get a Z8!”. Not because the Z8 was intrinsically rubbish but because it’s not the same. You need to want one. Luckily there are loads of people over the world who treasure these cars. I hope to follow in their footsteps.Fabulous. Strangely I was just thinking a couple of days ago how great a Z8 would be right now.
Never understood in period, waiting to be "discovered", which they surely will be, limited numbers, V8, mix of traditional and more modern styling cues.
Would have one no hesitation.
Congratulations.
Remember only dead fish go with the flow!
Never understood in period, waiting to be "discovered", which they surely will be, limited numbers, V8, mix of traditional and more modern styling cues.
Would have one no hesitation.
Congratulations.
Remember only dead fish go with the flow!
I'll admit that I don't really see the appeal of the i8, but I do kind of get it with the Z8, I still think they're not unattractive with the 507-inspired styling.
Took me too long in the BMW museum trying to work out why theirs had a UK plate, until I realised it was the Bond car!
How bad are they to run in terms of spares etc? Is it mostly common contemporary BMW componentry in the suspension etc, or are there some oddball unicorn parts that are impossible to get now? BMW have always been reasonably canny with reusing established mechanicals for the lower volume stuff.
Took me too long in the BMW museum trying to work out why theirs had a UK plate, until I realised it was the Bond car!
How bad are they to run in terms of spares etc? Is it mostly common contemporary BMW componentry in the suspension etc, or are there some oddball unicorn parts that are impossible to get now? BMW have always been reasonably canny with reusing established mechanicals for the lower volume stuff.
Edited by InitialDave on Thursday 16th July 23:48
TarquinMX5 said:
Object of ridicule? I can't see why, they're all superb cars, and a rare sight. Great choices, congratulations.
Totally agree - it says more them than you that you were targeted for having the excellent taste to buy an NSX. i8 are one of the few BMWs whose look I've liked in the last 40 years , and one of the others was the funky Z8 . I salute your taste, OP Edited by coppice on Friday 17th July 17:28
InitialDave said:
I'll admit that I don't really see the appeal of the i8, but I do kind of get it with the Z8, I still think they're not unattractive with the 507-inspired styling.
Took me too long in the BMW museum trying to work out why theirs had a UK plate, until I realised it was the Bond car!
How bad are they to run in terms of spares etc? Is it mostly common contemporary BMW componentry in the suspension etc, or are there some oddball unicorn parts that are impossible to get now? BMW have always been reasonably canny with reusing established mechanicals for the lower volume stuff.
I believe that the Z8s that featured in The World is Not Enough were replicas bodied in fibreglass by the film company with support from BMW rather than the genuine article (which did not then exist as filming was pre-Z8 production). That also made them easier to slice in two for 'that' scene. All that aside, I have to say that the Z8 is looking more and more desirable as time rolls on.Took me too long in the BMW museum trying to work out why theirs had a UK plate, until I realised it was the Bond car!
How bad are they to run in terms of spares etc? Is it mostly common contemporary BMW componentry in the suspension etc, or are there some oddball unicorn parts that are impossible to get now? BMW have always been reasonably canny with reusing established mechanicals for the lower volume stuff.
Edited by InitialDave on Thursday 16th July 23:48
Thanks for the compliments. I have to say I don’t get many derogatory comments about the NSX nowadays. It’s always incredibly positive. And it’s a delight to drive and be in. The i8 remains an oddity but it also nailed its brief perfectly. Which was of course deliver 911 levels of performance (albeit in that slightly off BMW way) by doing something different with propulsion. The i8 is also lovely to be in and so easy to drive - width aside. The Z8 is being delivered in ten days. I haven’t actually driven one - I can hear the OMGs straight away. But I fully expect it to be like a slightly larger version of my E89 Z4. In other words a bit of a barge and a woffly GT not a road racer. Not a great handler in other words but I was reassured by Harry Metcalfe saying recently in one of his vlogs that it was a lot better than he remembered it! Given that I am well past the yard arm (but not yet in the ground) this sort of meandering around at 6/10ths is perfect for me. I expect to like it and LH drive hopefully won’t bother me as it will be driven nearly always in Spain. To respond to InitialDave I understand that BMW said they would keep spares going for 50 years. Engine/gearbox apart it’s quite bespoke to z8 so they need to really. Some parts have been difficult to source but I have just bought quite a few trim parts off the shelf (in Germany) so things are available just pricey. And those that aren’t, the Z8 Club badgers BMW Heritage into making more…..
I've liked i8s since the first I saw one, in Piccadilly one evening. Amazing, intelligent design and the three cylinder engine sounds wonderful. So I eventually got around test driving one but found that getting in, and more particularly out again, just too much of a faff. But apart from that I loved it.
aeropilot said:
As always, buy what *you* want, not what others think you should buy.
has always been my mantra (either that or marching to the beat of a different drum).WRT OP... I think the Z8 is a stonking bit of kit, absolutely lovely (and sadly out of my price range). The i8 looks wonderful and is rather desirable. The NSX isn't for me, but I can 100% see why you'd want it.
Excellent choices there
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