RE: BMW i8 | PH Carbituary
Discussion
Interesting comments on here regarding the i8... I've put my money on a roadster and so far really happy and enjoying the car, early days yet I know.
Having also had a very nice Boxter GTS a few years ago the price I paid for this, both bought new, is comparable but both different cars.
Looking forward now to having a quite rare car for the next couple of years, it’s quite a thing to drive around with the roof down through town in silence.
Great to read most owners/users have been happy with their experience.
Having also had a very nice Boxter GTS a few years ago the price I paid for this, both bought new, is comparable but both different cars.
Looking forward now to having a quite rare car for the next couple of years, it’s quite a thing to drive around with the roof down through town in silence.
Great to read most owners/users have been happy with their experience.
Hungrymc said:
Mr Tidy said:
Sad in a way, but BMW seemed to lose interest in it as there was very little development done.
The first time I saw one I thought it looked fantastic, and still does IMHO.
But I would never have paid that sort of money for one (always assuming I could) with a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo engine - it was sh*t in a Mini Cooper so I doubt it would be any better in an i8, even with some piped sound!
I just wish they had made another version that was petrol only, with something like an S85 V10. That might have generated more demand which may have prolonged it's life, or at least generated higher sales.
I think the i8 was aimed at a very different target, it was a step towards a future sports / GT that was efficient and capable of zero tailpipe emissions in town etc. The efficiency wasn't just the power train, it's the carbon tub, thinner Tyres etc. it wasn't a direct competitor to R8s and 911s as it was giving people an option to move towards a more efficient sporty car.The first time I saw one I thought it looked fantastic, and still does IMHO.
But I would never have paid that sort of money for one (always assuming I could) with a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo engine - it was sh*t in a Mini Cooper so I doubt it would be any better in an i8, even with some piped sound!
I just wish they had made another version that was petrol only, with something like an S85 V10. That might have generated more demand which may have prolonged it's life, or at least generated higher sales.
As a concept, I think it has better legs than full EV (at the moment and for the near future while the EV infrastructure is weak). No range anxiety, some attributes of ICE, a genuinely good drive in a sporty GT sense.
Just because there are more traditional super car / sports cars that have more performance and drive better at 9/10ths doesn't make the i8 bad or pointless.
I imagine BMW pulled the plug as they're so expensive to make with the early tech carbon tub etc that they're ultimately hard to sell and make any money on..... Shame as it was a really interesting concept and a car that drove so much better than the spec sheet suggests.
Slippydiff said:
Better ?
Though as a GT Porsche owner you’ll most likely appreciate the Motorsport credentials of BBS’s finest :
Hardly in the spirit of what BMW were trying to achieve I know, but it really should have had the bi-turbo V8 from the M5/6 shoehorned in amidship and a stonkingly big electric motor between the front wheels ...
I liked the Schnitzer treatment, Just enough without ruining it. I’d get rid of the wing possibly. With a delivery mileage coupe available for around 70K, maybe even less in the current climate, I’m sure Schnitzer could be knocked down too so you could possibly have a brand new one for not much more.
Edited by gigglebug on Friday 20th March 10:02
gigglebug said:
Oh yeah, your right. All the others I’ve seen have had a small carbon wing on the back which looks a little odd. The original owner of this one must have had better taste.
The ones with a small carbon wing on the back is a BMW option:£625
Aerodynamic Bodykit
The Aerodynamic package consists of a two-piece front splitter and rear spoiler.
Not many have this...
gigglebug said:
As nice as that is, I cannot help but ask myself why someone would pay all that money for a car - PLUS £38k for mods - then only do 1k miles in 3 years.All the while taking a c.£60k hit.I ran one of the earliest i8s, taking advantage of the long since lost tax benefits high end PHEVs. I ran it from new for 18 months and 12k miles and took a BIG hit when I sold - but was compensated by the tax benefits in my company.
Agree with other comments that the interior was too '3 series' for a £120k car and out of touch with its kerb presence.
It was certainlty not a car that you could keep under the radar, my wife hated the doors and its overall flashyness.
I found the drive usually great, but was suprised by the powertrain a few times when 'pushing on', the manufactured sound was a bit irritating, so got myself a Ferarri FF as a replacement to rememebr what a car should sound like.
BMW do seem to have retreated from the postion that this car gave them in the emerging world of PHEVs and advanced materials, which is a shame.
Agree with other comments that the interior was too '3 series' for a £120k car and out of touch with its kerb presence.
It was certainlty not a car that you could keep under the radar, my wife hated the doors and its overall flashyness.
I found the drive usually great, but was suprised by the powertrain a few times when 'pushing on', the manufactured sound was a bit irritating, so got myself a Ferarri FF as a replacement to rememebr what a car should sound like.
BMW do seem to have retreated from the postion that this car gave them in the emerging world of PHEVs and advanced materials, which is a shame.
BlueJensen said:
I ran one of the earliest i8s, taking advantage of the long since lost tax benefits high end PHEVs. I ran it from new for 18 months and 12k miles and took a BIG hit when I sold - but was compensated by the tax benefits in my company.
Agree with other comments that the interior was too '3 series' for a £120k car and out of touch with its kerb presence.
It was certainlty not a car that you could keep under the radar, my wife hated the doors and its overall flashyness.
I found the drive usually great, but was suprised by the powertrain a few times when 'pushing on', the manufactured sound was a bit irritating, so got myself a Ferarri FF as a replacement to rememebr what a car should sound like.
BMW do seem to have retreated from the postion that this car gave them in the emerging world of PHEVs and advanced materials, which is a shame.
Thats how you do it, go from 3 cylinders to 12! 55mpg to about 12mpg also!Agree with other comments that the interior was too '3 series' for a £120k car and out of touch with its kerb presence.
It was certainlty not a car that you could keep under the radar, my wife hated the doors and its overall flashyness.
I found the drive usually great, but was suprised by the powertrain a few times when 'pushing on', the manufactured sound was a bit irritating, so got myself a Ferarri FF as a replacement to rememebr what a car should sound like.
BMW do seem to have retreated from the postion that this car gave them in the emerging world of PHEVs and advanced materials, which is a shame.
i loved my i8, but it was no replacement for 12 cylinders, congrats you're doing life right!
PhantomPH said:
That would involve watching Shmee...
Ha ha, I thought that would be the response from some! I can just about tolerate him personally, not that I watch his videos religiously, he does at least go over all of all the details and in general asks the questions I'd want answered. Yes there are probably others I'd choose to watch if push came to shove but I don't mind him as an alternative opinion.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff