RE: BMW i8: Spotted

[jamesbilluk]

Thanks Quite excited to see the car. As soon as the OH said she liked them in comment, I scuttled off to auto trader /PH classifieds immediately!

After speaking to Sytners, it's a 1 owner car which is nice to know.

Edited by jamesbilluk on Sunday 7th April 13:47

[Shnozz]

MCRMCR said:

Test drove one recently as the depreciated value looked so attractive, as noted in the article. Many positives but, when I thought about it, the most impractical car I have ever driven. Getting my feet through the narrow slot left by the dihedral doors and over the wide sill required my body to be more flexible than a circus contortionist and then the luggage space is so woeful that I wouldn’t have been able to stow my circus props. Ok, it’s a sub-supercar and so could be argued that practicality is secondary but then why have a performance-compromised hybrid in the first place? Falls between the proverbial two stools …

I only have a single underground parking space at my apartment and the concern is being able to park it in a normal width space and be able to open the door and exit/enter the car.

I enquired with the local BMW dealer about a short test drive to include a quick run to my property (its less than 2 miles from the dealer) and despite assurances of a follow-up call, I never heard from them again.

[andy97]

cib24 said:

Hmm...i8 vs. R8 V8 manual vs. left field choice of Alfa Romeo 4C (with the alignment sorted).

The i8 is quite appealing but you can't really take it on a track day with those little tyres can you?

I am really trying to justify another “interesting” car at the moment for driving pleasure but long term cost of ownership is an issue - reliability, servicing costs, depreciation etc etc

I have been thinking of an early R8 for high days and holidays, particularly as I think future depreciation (classic status?) may be low but can’t quite justify yet! Just started thinking about an i8 as an alternative - the difference is that I would probably then use it as a daily, and maybe try and buy a used one, but as a company car. I have an X3 for load lugging and towing. I assume that i8 depreciation still has a way to go though.

How much driving pleasure is there in “normal” driving? I very much doubt I would track it but my commute is about 10 miles on a twisty ish A road (with some annoying speed limits in part and a very short village traffic calming bit) and I will want to drive it just for fun, as well as the occasional 100 mile trip to either Bristol (via motorway) or Norfolk via the A47. What are they like in stop-start traffic, too?

I had been thinking of the R8 as a “future classic” and would plan to keep it for a long time. I would have to change my mindset for an i8, I suppose. Probably is a future classic, but not in that category for 20 years!

May have to test drive one.

Edited by andy97 on Friday 31st May 07:40

[cidered77]

Was recently undertaking my favorite hobby of planning for the next car, or the car after the next one (got to love autotrader app before bed) ...... but looking at values of these today plus looking at total cost of ownership, and they start to look a very very interesting prospect.

My daily driver commute is about 6 miles each way (no, i wont ride a bike before anyone suggests); i do about 7k a year between commuting and longer motorway trips to circuits. No need for track days as I go racing.

So when you add up reasonable servicing costs, zero tax, probably 50mpg plus if i assume all weekly commutes are EV only.... it's only really depreciation left to go. and really- can these go much lower? Carbon tub, still looks good, still quick, billionaire doors, comfortable.... that's a hell of a lot of car for the money. And beyond the spreadsheet - it's a great car, by all account.

I think this thread alone might have some clues - you have so much "institutional bias" against anything unknown or progressive/new. You'd be forgiven for thinking the battery explodes after 8 years! whereas in reality it slowly degrades likely in a not dissimilar way to a car slowly degrades over time. At at some point, there is a replacement. Which maybe 8-10k now, but fast forward 6 years and it'll be a cottage industry and half that. I just sold my E46 M3, and there are several massive jobs you need to do to keep them alive that represent a large proportion of their value when they add them up, for example. And despite that i think it's the fear of the unknown/fear of obsolescence that turns people away , and pushes thoses values lower still.

And then you have more and more people it seems thinking like me that hang on, that's a 100k near-supercar build in carbon for 40 grand thats just a few years old, that costs bugger all to run and you can put the kids in the back if you need to. Yeah it's got a 3 cylinder engine - but get used to it, the world is changing and ICEs are only getting smaller...

This wasn't on my radar a week ago, but absolutely is now... going to watch values for the next 6 months with interest...

[jjr1]

I bought mine last week.

Paid 47k for a 16 pate with 18k miles.

So far I am loving it. It feels light and rides really well. It has a perfect balance between a GT car covering huge distance in comfort and a sporty car on the twisty bits. Mid range acceleration is great. Mine has done 35 mpg whilst I have used it but then it tends to be in sport most of the time.

I had thought long and hard over what to buy as I had sold my M4 and just wanted something different. I already have a Boxster S so a 911 was out of the question as it would have been too similar.

Running costs should be low and it will be just the depreciation to worry about but it has already fallen to less than 50% of its list price so hopefully that will slow.

[moffat]

I had an i8 on an extended 72 hour test drive.

It's good and bad at the same time. I love the looks, the doors, the tech and the sense of occasion driving it, electric mode was a laugh too, but the engine is lacking (1.6) in aural pleasure and for me it needs 420-450bhp to really work.

It's also useless when it comes to practicality, and for used money I'd much rather have a used V8 R8, 911, C63 Coupe or similar. I just don't think it's enough car for the money.

I did drive fantastically well and I've not driven a more sorted and fun BMW.

So mixed feelings overall.... not a great second car and not a great only car!

[cidered77]

moffat said:

I had an i8 on an extended 72 hour test drive.

It's good and bad at the same time. I love the looks, the doors, the tech and the sense of occasion driving it, electric mode was a laugh too, but the engine is lacking (1.6) in aural pleasure and for me it needs 420-450bhp to really work.

It's also useless when it comes to practicality, and for used money I'd much rather have a used V8 R8, 911, C63 Coupe or similar. I just don't think it's enough car for the money.

I did drive fantastically well and I've not driven a more sorted and fun BMW.

So mixed feelings overall.... not a great second car and not a great only car!

Can you expand on why not practical? I can see that the luggage space is limited, but for my needs as long as i can fit a small suitcase, racebag and helmet bag in boot and rear seats then that's most needs sorted. I can see that getting in and out is a pain too. But otherwise, looks like it should be very relaxing and easy to drive -visibility looks OK, got all the parking gubbins, fully auto if you want, don't need to go to the petrol station much if most of my commutes are EV..... what else should i be worried about?

[anonymous-user]

cidered77 said:

moffat said:

I had an i8 on an extended 72 hour test drive.

It's good and bad at the same time. I love the looks, the doors, the tech and the sense of occasion driving it, electric mode was a laugh too, but the engine is lacking (1.6) in aural pleasure and for me it needs 420-450bhp to really work.

It's also useless when it comes to practicality, and for used money I'd much rather have a used V8 R8, 911, C63 Coupe or similar. I just don't think it's enough car for the money.

I did drive fantastically well and I've not driven a more sorted and fun BMW.

So mixed feelings overall.... not a great second car and not a great only car!

Can you expand on why not practical? I can see that the luggage space is limited, but for my needs as long as i can fit a small suitcase, racebag and helmet bag in boot and rear seats then that's most needs sorted. I can see that getting in and out is a pain too. But otherwise, looks like it should be very relaxing and easy to drive -visibility looks OK, got all the parking gubbins, fully auto if you want, don't need to go to the petrol station much if most of my commutes are EV..... what else should i be worried about?

I've got a feeling he never meant to type that. The front boot along with the rear seat storage space makes it just as practical as a 911 and far more so than an R8. When I had a 4 day loan I felt I could easily do a 2 week trip with Mrs G.

[Chris1712]

garyhun said:

I've got a feeling he never meant to type that. The front boot along with the rear seat storage space makes it just as practical as a 911 and far more so than an R8. When I had a 4 day loan I felt I could easily do a 2 week trip with Mrs G.

The i8 doesn't have a front boot I thought? Big scoop and an electric motor sat there?

I'm mighty tempted like everyone else here, but it's really difficult to predict future values. BMW have the GFMV at 25k in 3 years for a 2016 car which seems a bit low to me, considering 14 plates are hovering around that 40k mark still and I think in general attitudes towards hybrids will change in that time.

A 16 plate feels like the sweet spot to me, ~45k with BMW warranty and will have that battery warranty until 2024.

[MrOrange]

Chris1712 said:

BMW have the GFMV at 25k in 3 years for a 2016 car which seems a bit low to me,

Holy mother of Mary. Thats 75% depreciation in 6 years. I’m just not going to sell mine, simple as that.

[cidered77]

MrOrange said:

Chris1712 said:

BMW have the GFMV at 25k in 3 years for a 2016 car which seems a bit low to me,

Holy mother of Mary. Thats 75% depreciation in 6 years. I’m just not going to sell mine, simple as that.

themoneycalculator's online depreciation calculator (found it reasonably accurate, but only known about it for a year or so) - puts a 2015 model worth 45k as 33k after 3 years and 18k miles. Which feels more realistic.

A carbon tub supercar with crazy doors and 50mpg? surely at some point the common sense kicks in and the snipers like me seeing a massive bargain start to stabilize prices.

[Chris1712]

cidered77 said:

themoneycalculator's online depreciation calculator (found it reasonably accurate, but only known about it for a year or so) - puts a 2015 model worth 45k as 33k after 3 years and 18k miles. Which feels more realistic.

A carbon tub supercar with crazy doors and 50mpg? surely at some point the common sense kicks in and the snipers like me seeing a massive bargain start to stabilize prices.

Honestly I think that's already happening. Earlier in the year there were plenty of 16/66 plates between 44-47k, they seem to be trending up now? There's even a couple over 50k!

[swisstoni]

Only downside I can see is the next i8.

Unless it is a total munterwagon (admittedly well within BMWs ability) it might make the current one seem a bit sad technologically.

Having said all that, rare BMWs tend to do quite well with depreciation.

[jjr1]

Boot space is woeful but I have just thrown overnight bags on the rear seats and it has plenty of room for that.

Getting in and out is easy for me as paradoxically being tall, means my legs go over the sills, so no clambering. I did used to own Elises which were trickier due to the lower roof height.

[Chris1712]

https://www.cameronsportscars.com/used-vehicle-det...

This has sold in just a few days, very different to the market just a couple months ago!

[anonymous-user]

Chris1712 said:

garyhun said:

I've got a feeling he never meant to type that. The front boot along with the rear seat storage space makes it just as practical as a 911 and far more so than an R8. When I had a 4 day loan I felt I could easily do a 2 week trip with Mrs G.

The i8 doesn't have a front boot I thought? Big scoop and an electric motor sat there?
.

I'm going senile . I meant the hatch at the rear., DOH!

[Court_S]

I really like there - I still think they look good, but are quite colour sensitive (I personally hate the copper colour but love the white). They seem special being relatively rare yet the running costs don't look horrendous.

I'd snap one up in a heartbeat.

[OddCat]

I like these - but why are most of the either in dull colours or that ubiquitous bright blue ?

Where are all the red ones ? They look amazing in red. Mind you, it's exactly the same with Aston Martins.....

[finlo]

OddCat said:

I like these - but why are most of the either in dull colours or that ubiquitous bright blue ?

Where are all the red ones ? They look amazing in red. Mind you, it's exactly the same with Aston Martins.....

Just parked nexr to a white one at the local B&Q.

[BERNEV]

There is lot on here about the why's and wherefore's of the I8. I thought I'd add my take. The BMW I8 is different and I like that in a car. I have always bought odd cars and some have made a sizeable return. But, I knowingly didn't buy the I8 as an investment. However, I think I got a good deal. With the I8, I purchased a fully-loaded one year old Roadster with 1300 miles for well under £80000. Expensive yes but still £56000 less than the original book price (with extras). At this price it is something of a bargain. I have accepted that depreciation will continue to be a big issue but reconciled myself that the same thing afflicted my NSX when I purchased it those many years ago - it went down to £25000 at one point. Luckily I keep cars for ages. But why the I8 rather than a new NSX or a 911/Vantage? Well, the NSX is still too expensive and it has never really appealed - perhaps because I have never seen one in the flesh. But it's still too expensive. 911s are great, sure, but I find them (and all Porsches) dead dull and common frankly and they suffer the same instant obsolescence issues as all new product unless you buy a limited edition halo model. I did see that I could have bought a ten year old (or so) 997 Turbo or even a Gallardo for the same money but felt the running costs would be huge and the potential for abuse/ridicule/keying would be excessive. And the Vantage/DB9 just seemed stone age, particularly the interior. More to the point, for me, the concept of huge speed, particularly on UK roads, is receding fast as the key discriminator; i would rather have a swift drivable car. I also wanted a car with a twist and looked a million dollars. I think the Roadster does that. The fact that it has a MINI engine was a a concern for me when I first went in the car but within 5 miles that was a thing of the past. The whole drive was exceptional. I can't think of a better car to take to Spain or even to sit in a traffic jam in the UK. It just makes everything else feel old despite being a 5 year old design. And this coming from a self-confessed technological luddite - I didn't buy it for the hybrid/eco nature at all but actually I am rather pleased it is. Sure, it is slower than its competitors and it does less pure electric than a Tesla and we all know that it will be eclipsed by others in a matters of months. But, I would argue that, for £80k for a demonstration mileage nearly new car, it is brilliant with both kerb and driving appeal. Similarly, while it will become obsolete, others will market cars that look identifiably similar to their predecessors so as to not to scare the horses (the Tacan still looks like a 911 with four doors etc). I really don't think BMW will make the I8 replacement quite so wacky looking - the I8 will be one-off. Perhaps not as good but the first and that is always treasured when thinking long term. So my feeling (like with the NSX which again was a left field choice for me in 1998) is that the car will become iconic. I am keeping money aside for new batteries aside in 10 years time.....And I have bought a few squashy bags....