i8 as daily driver for 17k miles a year, bad idea?
Discussion
I have a hunger for a semi supercar (cant afford a proper one)!!
Was considering a R8 Special Edition at £58k below. love the combo and the look but the lack of 4 seats and petrol costs being high puts me off a bit. ( I know cars like this arent supposed to have 4 seats) but It will be my daily driver and wont be that practical for 17k per year.
https://www.caffyns.co.uk/audi/used-car-details/us...
In light of this I should probably keep my 340i Touring but I really want something a bit special on the drive which leads me to the i8. Very different, running costs good and I think its looks awesome..... and it has 4 seats which helps me out as we have a mini interstellar who is 9.
Am I mad, can I live with it doing that many miles? I love the technology too so can forgive its quirks and maybe you cant compare it to anything I don’t know.
Anyone use one for big miles? I am considering this one.
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201710029881867?...
Before anyone says buy a 911 I have been there before, this is more about whether I can do 17k in a i8 for a couple of years.
Thanks in advance.
Was considering a R8 Special Edition at £58k below. love the combo and the look but the lack of 4 seats and petrol costs being high puts me off a bit. ( I know cars like this arent supposed to have 4 seats) but It will be my daily driver and wont be that practical for 17k per year.
https://www.caffyns.co.uk/audi/used-car-details/us...
In light of this I should probably keep my 340i Touring but I really want something a bit special on the drive which leads me to the i8. Very different, running costs good and I think its looks awesome..... and it has 4 seats which helps me out as we have a mini interstellar who is 9.
Am I mad, can I live with it doing that many miles? I love the technology too so can forgive its quirks and maybe you cant compare it to anything I don’t know.
Anyone use one for big miles? I am considering this one.
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201710029881867?...
Before anyone says buy a 911 I have been there before, this is more about whether I can do 17k in a i8 for a couple of years.
Thanks in advance.
wilwak said:
I have one and it eats up the miles no problem at all. Very comfy.
Some folk have problems getting in and out depending on agility and build. I’m a medium build 6ft 3ins and have no problems.
The boot is tiny.
It’s like driving a car from the future!
sounds positive. what actual mpg do you get?Some folk have problems getting in and out depending on agility and build. I’m a medium build 6ft 3ins and have no problems.
The boot is tiny.
It’s like driving a car from the future!
Have you driven both yet?
I had a day in an I8 and 20 minute test drive in a very similar R8 to the one you looked at. I enjoyed the R8 but missed the tech of a modern BMW and I'd also be frustrated that it's not the top pf the range (but thats probably just me)
I'm trying to make the man maths work for the I8.
I had a day in an I8 and 20 minute test drive in a very similar R8 to the one you looked at. I enjoyed the R8 but missed the tech of a modern BMW and I'd also be frustrated that it's not the top pf the range (but thats probably just me)
I'm trying to make the man maths work for the I8.
hajaba123 said:
Have you driven both yet?
I had a day in an I8 and 20 minute test drive in a very similar R8 to the one you looked at. I enjoyed the R8 but missed the tech of a modern BMW and I'd also be frustrated that it's not the top pf the range (but thats probably just me)
I'm trying to make the man maths work for the I8.
Good man,keep going. I can’t buy the r8, it doesn’t work for me although I love the look. I haven’t driven the i8 yet but will do in a week or so as currently away.I had a day in an I8 and 20 minute test drive in a very similar R8 to the one you looked at. I enjoyed the R8 but missed the tech of a modern BMW and I'd also be frustrated that it's not the top pf the range (but thats probably just me)
I'm trying to make the man maths work for the I8.
Edited by interstellar on Sunday 3rd December 11:32
Test driving an I8 next week to see if there is any danger of one replacing my Evora as a daily driver.
I do find the I8 styling a bit fussy, but I am interested to see what the performance is actually like and how it handles especially on the Cotswolds B roads which Re my stomping ground.
I do find the I8 styling a bit fussy, but I am interested to see what the performance is actually like and how it handles especially on the Cotswolds B roads which Re my stomping ground.
blueg33 said:
Test driving an I8 next week to see if there is any danger of one replacing my Evora as a daily driver.
I do find the I8 styling a bit fussy, but I am interested to see what the performance is actually like and how it handles especially on the Cotswolds B roads which Re my stomping ground.
I think you will be disappointed although I haven't drive it. From what I have watched and read it wont drive like your Lotus on B roads but if you like the tech that's what might sway you.I do find the I8 styling a bit fussy, but I am interested to see what the performance is actually like and how it handles especially on the Cotswolds B roads which Re my stomping ground.
Chris Harris review here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5I6xuhNgVg
I had one for 4 days in the summer and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The doors are pure drama and the performance is more than you need. The only negative for me was the fact that the lovely V8 sound it makes is synthesized and played through the speakers. The rear seats, along with the front boot, do allow for adequate luggage for a week I would imagine (depending on your female partner
).
The doors are pure drama and the performance is more than you need. The only negative for me was the fact that the lovely V8 sound it makes is synthesized and played through the speakers. The rear seats, along with the front boot, do allow for adequate luggage for a week I would imagine (depending on your female partner
).Smokey32 said:
R8 or I8? This is pistonheads mate..........
R8 every day of the week. You gotta be a right poser to want to spend over 50k on a 1.5 cylinder.
Although I really enjoyed the i8, as posted above, I really would put my money into a lovely big ICE over an electric right now.R8 every day of the week. You gotta be a right poser to want to spend over 50k on a 1.5 cylinder.
I had a V8 R8 for a year and the noise was addictive.
garyhun said:
Although I really enjoyed the i8, as posted above, I really would put my money into a lovely big ICE over an electric right now.
I had a V8 R8 for a year and the noise was addictive.
I dont disagree but the mileage I need to do and the fact it has two extra seats makes it a no brainer for me.I had a V8 R8 for a year and the noise was addictive.
I say that without driving it yet but as usual both the dealers I have contacted havent come back to me after the first contact - they really are rubbish at sales these dealers!
interstellar said:
garyhun said:
Although I really enjoyed the i8, as posted above, I really would put my money into a lovely big ICE over an electric right now.
I had a V8 R8 for a year and the noise was addictive.
I dont disagree but the mileage I need to do and the fact it has two extra seats makes it a no brainer for me.I had a V8 R8 for a year and the noise was addictive.
I say that without driving it yet but as usual both the dealers I have contacted havent come back to me after the first contact - they really are rubbish at sales these dealers!
No wrong answer here really.
interstellar said:
I have a hunger for a semi supercar (cant afford a proper one)!!
Was considering a R8 Special Edition at £58k below. love the combo and the look but the lack of 4 seats and petrol costs being high puts me off a bit. ( I know cars like this arent supposed to have 4 seats) but It will be my daily driver and wont be that practical for 17k per year.
https://www.caffyns.co.uk/audi/used-car-details/us...
That R8 looks gorgeous!Was considering a R8 Special Edition at £58k below. love the combo and the look but the lack of 4 seats and petrol costs being high puts me off a bit. ( I know cars like this arent supposed to have 4 seats) but It will be my daily driver and wont be that practical for 17k per year.
https://www.caffyns.co.uk/audi/used-car-details/us...
Lovely wheels.
And manual!
So, my test drive wasnt exactly what I expected.
For a manufacturer who wants to show off the tech I was disappointed to pick it up with zero miles on the electric range (the sales guy said he had just driven it in, he could have at least driven it in sport mode and charged it). I was also given this large chunky bmw key which on researching on the internet I found out its a smart key and has loads of info on a small screen.
I couldnt work it out as yep you guessed it the battery was flat. This is of course more of a reflection on the dealer not the car but it was annoying none the less.
The car looks stunning and drives well. I liked the doors and the engine is clever but it wasnt for me. For real world driving the range is at best poor. I was expecting 20-25 miles on electric but I never got it above 11. This seems a bit pointless as you cant really go very far without driving it in sports mode to keep it topped up.
For now its not for me, I have heard the next gen i8 will have a 200 mile range which makes it a much better prospect.
For now I am back looking at R8’s. Torn between a later 2012 special edition car (link above) or a earlier V10, budget. 55k max.
For a manufacturer who wants to show off the tech I was disappointed to pick it up with zero miles on the electric range (the sales guy said he had just driven it in, he could have at least driven it in sport mode and charged it). I was also given this large chunky bmw key which on researching on the internet I found out its a smart key and has loads of info on a small screen.
I couldnt work it out as yep you guessed it the battery was flat. This is of course more of a reflection on the dealer not the car but it was annoying none the less.
The car looks stunning and drives well. I liked the doors and the engine is clever but it wasnt for me. For real world driving the range is at best poor. I was expecting 20-25 miles on electric but I never got it above 11. This seems a bit pointless as you cant really go very far without driving it in sports mode to keep it topped up.
For now its not for me, I have heard the next gen i8 will have a 200 mile range which makes it a much better prospect.
For now I am back looking at R8’s. Torn between a later 2012 special edition car (link above) or a earlier V10, budget. 55k max.
Edited by interstellar on Thursday 28th December 20:05
That’s a shame!
When I had mine for 4 days, the guy who dropped it off was great - spent time talking me through stuff and I had about 11 miles of electric which I soon charged up in sport mode.
The new i8 has a much larger electric range apparently but of course you won’t be able to pick up a used £60k one!
When I had mine for 4 days, the guy who dropped it off was great - spent time talking me through stuff and I had about 11 miles of electric which I soon charged up in sport mode.
The new i8 has a much larger electric range apparently but of course you won’t be able to pick up a used £60k one!
At least you found out!
Glad you managed to get your 24 hour test drive sorted. Despite having an email from BMW offering me that, the best my local dealer could come up with was 'a couple of hours, then longer if you agree a deal and leave a deposit' apparently BMW UK are happy with that.
I might get onto them over the weekend to arrange what they actually offered me
I'm half tempted by an R8 too, decisions decisions...
Glad you managed to get your 24 hour test drive sorted. Despite having an email from BMW offering me that, the best my local dealer could come up with was 'a couple of hours, then longer if you agree a deal and leave a deposit' apparently BMW UK are happy with that.
I might get onto them over the weekend to arrange what they actually offered me
I'm half tempted by an R8 too, decisions decisions...
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