i8: hero to zero. What went wrong?

[Vroomer]

Shortly after launch these cars were trading at a massive premium and there was a long waiting list. Now it seems you can buy a low-mileage car less than a year old for 30% off list.

What went wrong?

[Thermobaric]

Combination of new shiny thing not being so new anymore and marmite styling I guess.

[037]

I was never sure who the target market for these was.

[MitchT]

Vroomer said:

Shortly after launch these cars were trading at a massive premium and there was a long waiting list. Now it seems you can buy a low-mileage car less than a year old for 30% off list.

Same pattern as most halo models from many marques for as long as I can remember. Basically the "I want to be the first to be seen in one and will pay silly money to ensure it happens" supernova burning itself out.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

MitchT said:

Vroomer said:

Shortly after launch these cars were trading at a massive premium and there was a long waiting list. Now it seems you can buy a low-mileage car less than a year old for 30% off list.

Same pattern as most halo models from many marques for as long as I can remember. Basically the "I want to be the first to be seen in one and will pay silly money to ensure it happens" supernova burning itself out.

Also, BMW cleverly had the ability to increase production over and above the usual means so when the car was initially a hit they decided to ramp up production. The problem comes with supplier agreements that dictate a continuation of production numbers-once ramped up they had to sell as the production line couldn't be slowed due to stockpiling of parts.

[Mr Tidy]

I can't help thinking they should have made 2 versions of it.

Much as I love the looks of them, I wouldn't pay that sort of money for a car that looked so good with just a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo in it!

Double the cylinder count (at least) in a 2nd model and then it might have some appeal - a sort of modern day M1!

[anonymous-user]

The I8 spider launches next year. It will be interesting to see if it follows a similar pattern.

I was at my local BMW dealer yesterday enquiringly about the next Z4 and asked how i8 sales were going. He said that there were initially large waiting lists but as soon as second hand models came onto the market at 40% below list, many people cancelled orders and moved to the used market.

[CanAm]

Mr Tidy said:

Much as I love the looks of them, I wouldn't pay that sort of money for a car that looked so good with just a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo in it!

Nail. Head. Hit.

[ClaphamGT3]

037 said:

I was never sure who the target market for these was.

Dollar millionaires who want this week's trinket

[anonymous-user]

CanAm said:

Mr Tidy said:

Much as I love the looks of them, I wouldn't pay that sort of money for a car that looked so good with just a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo in it!

Nail. Head. Hit.

BMW lent me one for four days recently. It's an awesome car to drive - fantastic acceleration, frugal if you want, relaxing and exciting when you want and those doors!

I'm still a 6/8/10 cylinder kind of a guy but at the right price I think the i8 is a great proposition.

[creepy coupe]

Mr Tidy said:

I can't help thinking they should have made 2 versions of it.

Much as I love the looks of them, I wouldn't pay that sort of money for a car that looked so good with just a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo in it!

Double the cylinder count (at least) in a 2nd model and then it might have some appeal - a sort of modern day M1!

This exactly ^

[nickpan]

It should have had Tesla like acceleration and been 100% electric.

Instead - it falls between two chairs. Doesn't benefit from the "perks" of driving electric but neither does it have a petrol engine to be proud of.

A nice experiment none the less.

[HerrSchnell]

037 said:

I was never sure who the target market for these was.

Fans of the motion picture Tron and those two french lads called Thomas and Guy Manuel who like robots a lot.

A very narrow demographic for sure.

[Wills2]

New car in depreciation shocker!

[Speed addicted]

CanAm said:

Mr Tidy said:

Much as I love the looks of them, I wouldn't pay that sort of money for a car that looked so good with just a 1.5 litre 3 cylinder turbo in it!

Nail. Head. Hit.

Exactly. When it was newly released I was in my local dealer buying parts for my aging 6 series, and the receptionist was telling me how good it was on fuel. I explained that if I was buying £100k cars my last worry would be MPG!

Stick a tuneful V12 or a V8 in it, even a straight 6 would do. Imagine how much faster it could be if you got rid of all the electric stuff completely!

[Vroomer]

If you were just after speed and a big engine, you'd buy an M6.

[anonymous-user]

Vroomer said:

If you were just after speed and a big engine, you'd buy an M6.

So what are you after if you buy an i8?

[MrOrange]

REALIST123 said:

So what are you after if you buy an i8?

Honestly. Something just a bit different to the regular fare. I've had mine for 18 months and never once have I wished I had more power, or a V8. But I do agree it's not to everyone's taste, and that suits me just fine.

[Pothole]

037 said:

I was never sure who the target market for these was.

Rich nerds ready to graduate from their C1?

[anonymous-user]

MrOrange said:

REALIST123 said:

So what are you after if you buy an i8?

Honestly. Something just a bit different to the regular fare. I've had mine for 18 months and never once have I wished I had more power, or a V8. But I do agree it's not to everyone's taste, and that suits me just fine.

Fair enough but it's a lot of money to be a bit different.....