RE: Dealers confirmed for BMW i3 and i8
Discussion
Hmhm. Still confused by the i3. Everything looks ace on paper, but the elephant in the room: why a "Mega City" vehicle in the first place? In its home country at least, public transport is pretty good and cities have become so car unfriendly (parking costs, parking space, travel speed...) that its just not fun anymore to drive around. And how many flat dwellers have a driveway to park on with a plug to charge?
They don't call it that way, but it really seems to be a stockbroker belt car, made for the commuting needs of people living in what the Germans call "Speckgürtel"
. For that it is great and I salute BMW for taking the plunge *and* making it light and quick. But IMVHO it would be better to have that sort of commuting handled by efficient and pleasant to use public transport.
Going to be very interesting to see if the things sell. I'm less worried for the i8, that's going to work on looks and status alone.
They don't call it that way, but it really seems to be a stockbroker belt car, made for the commuting needs of people living in what the Germans call "Speckgürtel"
. For that it is great and I salute BMW for taking the plunge *and* making it light and quick. But IMVHO it would be better to have that sort of commuting handled by efficient and pleasant to use public transport.Going to be very interesting to see if the things sell. I'm less worried for the i8, that's going to work on looks and status alone.
Dischordant said:
i8 looks just like an Audi R8 to me with bmw lights on the front (not a bad thing).
That's one of those statements that makes me wonder what people see through their own eyes. If you mean they both have low slung super car looks then fair enough but... if you really think the i8 looks like an R8 with a different lights on the front then that's just plain wrong!!!The i8 looks fantastic but I struggle to see the market, makes a great halo car though. The i3 is just to expensive, surely you would just buy a 120d or 320d and pocket the change. Also what is the resale value of 2nd hand cars going to be when the batteries have been used? Surely there will be no resale value?
Also like with most new technologies, if you wait 5 years there will be a much better version of the i8 and i3 from other manufactures.
But some one needs to start this process of making these EV cars so they can actually develop, and become more usable.
Also like with most new technologies, if you wait 5 years there will be a much better version of the i8 and i3 from other manufactures.
But some one needs to start this process of making these EV cars so they can actually develop, and become more usable.
bagman13 said:
The i8 looks fantastic but I struggle to see the market, makes a great halo car though. The i3 is just to expensive, surely you would just buy a 120d or 320d and pocket the change. Also what is the resale value of 2nd hand cars going to be when the batteries have been used? Surely there will be no resale value?
Also like with most new technologies, if you wait 5 years there will be a much better version of the i8 and i3 from other manufactures.
But some one needs to start this process of making these EV cars so they can actually develop, and become more usable.
You kinda answered your own question there... also if you wait 5 yrs they'll be better versions of the i3 & i8 from BMW!!! Development, progress will not stop. Remember the first commercially available mobile phones? Look where we are now.Also like with most new technologies, if you wait 5 years there will be a much better version of the i8 and i3 from other manufactures.
But some one needs to start this process of making these EV cars so they can actually develop, and become more usable.
I agree they're be a limited market for the cars but they're not talking Fiesta production numbers.
Audi backed off their eTron projects... Good for BMW, sticking their balls out there and moving forward. It's all very well saying these cars need more range and be cheaper... Of course they do, but they have to start somewhere. The ones that are bought will be all part if the continued R&D.
Illogical
99% of people who would buy an EV would be looking to save money and have little interest in looking flash.
So LEAF at 1/2 the price of the i3 would be the choice.
So is the i3 a marketing bangle? or technology showpiece? or a marketing mistake?
am I'm missing something? or are there really buyers out there who will actually part with their hard earned money to make BMW richer and themselves poorer in the misguided belief they're making a difference? there are plenty born every day and bmw must believe if you put their badge on a turd some muppet will buy it.
EV's are going to be like LED TV's .... ie Pioneer are dead and forget about the high end manufacturers ... sell em cheap
99% of people who would buy an EV would be looking to save money and have little interest in looking flash.
So LEAF at 1/2 the price of the i3 would be the choice.
So is the i3 a marketing bangle? or technology showpiece? or a marketing mistake?
am I'm missing something? or are there really buyers out there who will actually part with their hard earned money to make BMW richer and themselves poorer in the misguided belief they're making a difference? there are plenty born every day and bmw must believe if you put their badge on a turd some muppet will buy it.
EV's are going to be like LED TV's .... ie Pioneer are dead and forget about the high end manufacturers ... sell em cheap
Pr1964 said:
So is the i3 a marketing bangle? or technology showpiece? or a marketing mistake?
am I'm missing something? or are there really buyers out there who will actually part with their hard earned money to make BMW richer and themselves poorer in the misguided belief they're making a difference? there are plenty born every day and bmw must believe if you put their badge on a turd some muppet will buy it.
Sadly the answer is 'yes' and worse still, there are plenty on this once reputable motoring enthusiasts site who would buy it. The technology isn't new, Nissan have been building the Leaf in Sunderland for ages now that does everything the i3 does. For all those who think The i3 is the magic answer to your transport needs, why have you not bought a Nissan LEAF? Marketing and badge snobbery... am I'm missing something? or are there really buyers out there who will actually part with their hard earned money to make BMW richer and themselves poorer in the misguided belief they're making a difference? there are plenty born every day and bmw must believe if you put their badge on a turd some muppet will buy it.
s off greenpeace. 
The Jolly Todger said:
I imagine a large proportion of these will be bought for use in London where driving one of those instead of a more traditional car will save you £10 per day, add on the tax saving and the fuel saving and it suddenly looks a lot better value. Not as good as a used Yaris or whatever but better than that MINI.
I can't see the justification for spending 35K on a city car for London.... I bought a Mini Copper D for that job; it is road tax free (99g CO2), free to drive into London and returns in excess of 60 MPG if driven with some sympathy when on a run....all for less than half the price of an i3I might be miles behind the times (apologies if I am) but if I had a 60 mile round trip to work and wanted an i3, how would I go about charging the thing? Would it be ok long term to charge it daily (or nightly I should say) when it constantly has between 20-40% charge remaining? Or would it be better to always do the 'fast charge' after I've put my toast on in the morning?
I know with many electricals you 'should' fully charge down the battery before re-charging to extend the life of the battery itself (even with li-ion ones) but that becomes a whole load more difficult if you're expected to do it in a car... unless you're remarkably good at estimating distances, hills, traffic, etc...
Anyone with an answer/a good stab in the dark?
I know with many electricals you 'should' fully charge down the battery before re-charging to extend the life of the battery itself (even with li-ion ones) but that becomes a whole load more difficult if you're expected to do it in a car... unless you're remarkably good at estimating distances, hills, traffic, etc...
Anyone with an answer/a good stab in the dark?
Pr1964 said:
Illogical
99% of people who would buy an EV would be looking to save money and have little interest in looking flash.
So LEAF at 1/2 the price of the i3 would be the choice.
So is the i3 a marketing bangle? or technology showpiece? or a marketing mistake?
am I'm missing something? or are there really buyers out there who will actually part with their hard earned money to make BMW richer and themselves poorer in the misguided belief they're making a difference? there are plenty born every day and bmw must believe if you put their badge on a turd some muppet will buy it.
EV's are going to be like LED TV's .... ie Pioneer are dead and forget about the high end manufacturers ... sell em cheap
Not quite right. The last bit is but the first bit doesn't take into account the 'early adopter' principle. Money isn't the driver at this stage. It's the desire. A principle seen more accurately in the gadget market as you allude to. 99% of people who would buy an EV would be looking to save money and have little interest in looking flash.
So LEAF at 1/2 the price of the i3 would be the choice.
So is the i3 a marketing bangle? or technology showpiece? or a marketing mistake?
am I'm missing something? or are there really buyers out there who will actually part with their hard earned money to make BMW richer and themselves poorer in the misguided belief they're making a difference? there are plenty born every day and bmw must believe if you put their badge on a turd some muppet will buy it.
EV's are going to be like LED TV's .... ie Pioneer are dead and forget about the high end manufacturers ... sell em cheap
People fall quite clearly into or outside this group. It's a human nature thing.
With EVs the enviro garble and economy piffle are simply smokescreens. Both will only come into play later in the cycle.
For example the two reasons I like the idea of an EV is firstly for myself the calm and quiet it offers for urban and suburban driving and secondly the simple fact that in the future, with enough take up, they will help make cities a little quieter and the air cleaner. Seeing as most people in the West live in this exact environment such a change would be a good thing for all.
DonkeyApple said:
Not quite right. The last bit is but the first bit doesn't take into account the 'early adopter' principle. Money isn't the driver at this stage. It's the desire. A principle seen more accurately in the gadget market as you allude to.
People fall quite clearly into or outside this group. It's a human nature thing.
With EVs the enviro garble and economy piffle are simply smokescreens. Both will only come into play later in the cycle.
For example the two reasons I like the idea of an EV is firstly for myself the calm and quiet it offers for urban and suburban driving and secondly the simple fact that in the future, with enough take up, they will help make cities a little quieter and the air cleaner. Seeing as most people in the West live in this exact environment such a change would be a good thing for all.
Yes agreed on low price items but cars at £35k will have a few early adopters.People fall quite clearly into or outside this group. It's a human nature thing.
With EVs the enviro garble and economy piffle are simply smokescreens. Both will only come into play later in the cycle.
For example the two reasons I like the idea of an EV is firstly for myself the calm and quiet it offers for urban and suburban driving and secondly the simple fact that in the future, with enough take up, they will help make cities a little quieter and the air cleaner. Seeing as most people in the West live in this exact environment such a change would be a good thing for all.
Maybe £35k is small change for some.
only time will tell if it's a flop strange things do happen.
gofasterrosssco said:
dingocooke said:
Carnnoisseur said:
The i8, should the specs prove accurate, are not just great to look at, but seriously capable also. However, I believe their looks would be improved if they colour coded them to one colour (not necessarily red btw).
s o d the electric nonesenseEdited by gofasterrosssco on Tuesday 21st May 15:16
Pr1964 said:
Yes agreed on low price items but cars at £35k will have a few early adopters.
Maybe £35k is small change for some.
only time will tell if it's a flop strange things do happen.
Don't under estimate the draw of the BMW badge Maybe £35k is small change for some.
only time will tell if it's a flop strange things do happen.
No one really wants a normal Nissan or Renault on their drive. People want BMWs.
More seriously, when a nice 1 Series, Golf or similar car is breaking £30k and most people just bung them on a monthly scheme or through a company then depressingly I don't see the price as that much of an issue. It may even be the case that it is a boon as afterall it will help to announce someone's wealth which is quite an important marketing tool in modern Britain and Europe.
I suspect there are also some noteable benefits through a company. The typical low tax cars available are pretty gutless and soul destroying. An EV actually brings something to that party, it is different and nippier around town.
My money would be on seeing more of these on suburban roads in 2 years time than possibly even most other EVs combined.
The test for me will be how quickly I see one parked on my street. I'm in a part of London that fills up quite quickly with the latest fad car from Minis, 500s to Evoques. It is also a very lefty area so quite a few G-Wiz's, Volts, Nice and Twizzy's. My gut feeling is that this will be the first EV that fits both of these groups, ie meets the demand of the left wing, trustafarian's partner desire for political smugness and also the latest 'tendy' car to be seen in.
The Prius never really made that leap into this sweet spot, like it did in the US, but I do have a suspician that this car may. No doubt helped by its association with its bigger brother as well as the brand.
DonkeyApple said:
Pr1964 said:
Yes agreed on low price items but cars at £35k will have a few early adopters.
Maybe £35k is small change for some.
only time will tell if it's a flop strange things do happen.
Don't under estimate the draw of the BMW badge Maybe £35k is small change for some.
only time will tell if it's a flop strange things do happen.
No one really wants a normal Nissan or Renault on their drive. People want BMWs.
More seriously, when a nice 1 Series, Golf or similar car is breaking £30k and most people just bung them on a monthly scheme or through a company then depressingly I don't see the price as that much of an issue. It may even be the case that it is a boon as afterall it will help to announce someone's wealth which is quite an important marketing tool in modern Britain and Europe.
I suspect there are also some noteable benefits through a company. The typical low tax cars available are pretty gutless and soul destroying. An EV actually brings something to that party, it is different and nippier around town.
My money would be on seeing more of these on suburban roads in 2 years time than possibly even most other EVs combined.
The test for me will be how quickly I see one parked on my street. I'm in a part of London that fills up quite quickly with the latest fad car from Minis, 500s to Evoques. It is also a very lefty area so quite a few G-Wiz's, Volts, Nice and Twizzy's. My gut feeling is that this will be the first EV that fits both of these groups, ie meets the demand of the left wing, trustafarian's partner desire for political smugness and also the latest 'tendy' car to be seen in.
The Prius never really made that leap into this sweet spot, like it did in the US, but I do have a suspician that this car may. No doubt helped by its association with its bigger brother as well as the brand.
We don't care for such thnigs on PH, but that may be the reality, certainly for the i3..
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