ZM versus i8

While I respect every one’s view, the majority of posters who say it needs a bigger ICE have never driven one. The whole idea was to have a car still weighing 1.5 tonnes yet producing the same power as a comparable 911. It did. It was never a supercar nor was it meant as a direct competitor to a R8 (supercar looks, big V8). Putting a bigger heavier motor in would have made it much heavier/bigger or just replicated the same old formula (R8). BMW was far cleverer and the car stands apart because of that. I am a petrolhead as you all are (look at what I profess to still own) but the i8 is superb. The fact that owners repeat buy and hold on to them speaks volumes. I accept though there will always be those who say “buy a Mustang etc” and who will never get it. The idea of this post was to talk about cars which do the same thing from different standpoints
 
CliveN said:
While I respect every one’s view, the majority of posters who say it needs a bigger ICE have never driven one. The whole idea was to have a car still weighing 1.5 tonnes yet producing the same power as a comparable 911. It did. It was never a supercar nor was it meant as a direct competitor to a R8 (supercar looks, big V8). Putting a bigger heavier motor in would have made it much heavier/bigger or just replicated the same old formula (R8). BMW was far cleverer and the car stands apart because of that. I am a petrolhead as you all are (look at what I profess to still own) but the i8 is superb. The fact that owners repeat buy and hold on to them speaks volumes. I accept though there will always be those who say “buy a Mustang etc” and who will never get it. The idea of this post was to talk about cars which do the same thing from different standpoints
Click to expand...
I fully underdstand your sentiments and no I haven't actually driven one.
My opinion is I suppose based on 'gut feeling' and the fact that it didn't connect with me in any way. I have been a passenger in other cars and got out thinking 'I'd love one of these'. But in the i8 it didn't happen. But then I did have 30+ Capris over the years and run the local branch of the owners club, so my car sense probsbly isn't the best. :D
 
The i8 and the i3 were very advanced for their time.

I do like the i8, but I've always thought the interior was a bit of a key down on a car like that. The seats should be better and the steering wheel isn't to my liking.
 
I get it. Of course. I have always had a downer on ALL of the other big German marques so I can’t complain. Indeed, I like “outlier” cars. In the 90s got an NSX (very i8 ish - big tech, light weight, reviewers loved it, nobody bought it) and then when that went to car heaven I got a Z3MC in PY/dark kiwi) as it was so “out there”. Colour combo sounds terrible; looked fantastic, didn’t handle though and it was clear it came out of a budget roadster. Now of course I have an i8 (as NSX above) and the Z4MC (handles better and is far better built than the Z3). The i8 interior is a very nice place to be in and I am glad isn’t doesn’t try too hard to be a Lamborghini etc. and I have a Roadster that has different seats which are far more like my Z4M’s.
 
I love the looks of the i8, but not the interior. Can't comment on performance as only driven them within the dealership grounds. I was gutted when a mate that had one sold it before I could get a drive.
Getting in and out is a pita with the sill being higher than the seats, but I'm sure there is a technique to it.
It is still a head turner on the roads today imo.
 
CliveN said:
I wanted to have a debate! And to get it touch with Mr Tidy…… I love the ZM. The i8 and Z4MC aren’t comparable and I am lucky to have both and to savour the difference. We live in a very anti driving world right now and we should applaud anything which shouts “driver” whatever it might be.
Click to expand...

Well I must start by thanking you for persevering Clive. :thumbsup:

I saw you had sent me a message on another forum, but even when I tried to reply I could still only see about the first 10 words of your message so any reply would have been pretty meaningless. :(

Soon after the i8 went on sale I saw one near Bracknell (BMW UKs home at the time) and thought it looked fantastic, so I did a bit of research and TBH the 3 cylinder engine with that level of tune worried me somewhat. I've driven a couple of 3 cylinder Minis and really didn't like the dieselly soundtrack or lack of torque at low revs - and maybe BMW agreed as the Cooper S got 4 cylinders!

I agree entirely that nobody is likely to have an i8 and a Z4M on the same shopping list, they are aimed at two different types of buyer. In any case they are at different price points too. The cheapest i8 I found on Autotrader has 96K miles recorded and is up for £27K and while it is years newer than my 93K mile MC it's around twice the money. In reality I don't think the i8 had any direct rivals when it was launched, although other sporting Hybrids have been released of late.

If I was going to double my budget my MC would have to go and I'd probably be looking for a manual R8, Cayman S, 911 or possibly F-Type because I want to stick with ICE cars as long as I can, and given the location of my garage in relation to my house I'd struggle to charge from a 13A socket without creating a trip hazard for my neighbours so any fast-charger wouldn't be an option.

One day I may end up with an EV, but given my age it is likely to be one I can use on the pavement. :lol:

But it must be great to have the choice of Z4M or i8.

Hopefully a bit more detail makes what I posted elsewhere make more sense.

Iain.
 
Thank you for responding Iain. I saw you and thought debate was necessary - and all in the best possible taste! Funnily enough I don’t consider the i8 to be an EV - it’s just another nice car. I am glad that it has an ICE. I don’t like proper EVs at all for all sorts of reasons real and imagined. And I intend to keep our little Fiat 500 until I can no longer drive. No more new (post 2022) nanny state cars for me unless I have got to the stage where I actually need it to drive me around….
 
Apologies if I didn't make the distinction clear, but for me an i8 is a Hybrid - definitely not an EV!

:friends: (hopefully) :thumbsup:
 
I8 is meh, econobox mini engine makes it feel low rent and very impractical too. Do it properly and get an R8, preferably with a v10 :evil:
 
Adam D said:
I8 is meh, econobox mini engine makes it feel low rent and very impractical too. Do it properly and get an R8, preferably with a v10 :evil:
Click to expand...

At least the i8 has rear seats. OK, they're rear seats in the same way as a 911 or MG BGT, but you can get shopping on them.

I went to look at one last year as an alternative to the MC - it sold an hour before I got there. Then 2 weeks ago I took Ann to see an E-tron GT RS, missed that by 2 hours as well :( How can spending money be this hard?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom