Terrible i8

Zed Five

Senior member
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/BMW-i/1.5/Derby/3908295-606094748-3497229.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

I'm still looking at these.... .. but not this one. Agggghhh! :o
 
Zed Five said:
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/BMW-i/1.5/Derby/3908295-606094748-3497229.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

I'm still looking at these.... .. but not this one. Agggghhh! :o
Wish I hadn't followed that link... my eyes may never recover...

OTOH, having sat in an i8, I don't think I'd ever have one - the cills are so high, there's no particularly graceful way of getting in & out... out being especially awkward
 
PerryGunn said:
Zed Five said:
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/BMW-i/1.5/Derby/3908295-606094748-3497229.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

I'm still looking at these.... .. but not this one. Agggghhh! :o
Wish I hadn't followed that link... my eyes may never recover...

OTOH, having sat in an i8, I don't think I'd ever have one - the cills are so high, there's no particularly graceful way of getting in & out... out being especially awkward

I know what you mean, but there's just not much around that floats my boat at the moment. I will probably sit it out to see what the z5 is like, but i8 prices are dropping to tempting money and the silver ones are quite nice.
 
Zed Five said:
PerryGunn said:
Zed Five said:
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/BMW-i/1.5/Derby/3908295-606094748-3497229.aspx?srcmdc=se_na_re_

I'm still looking at these.... .. but not this one. Agggghhh! :o
Wish I hadn't followed that link... my eyes may never recover...

OTOH, having sat in an i8, I don't think I'd ever have one - the cills are so high, there's no particularly graceful way of getting in & out... out being especially awkward
I know what you mean, but there's just not much around that floats my boat at the moment. I will probably sit it out to see what the z5 is like, but i8 prices are dropping to tempting money and the silver ones are quite nice.
You'll probably be able to put up with it if you really like the car, but the wife/girlfriend will never be able to wear a short skirt/dress if you take her out in it - unless she's an exhibitionist, that is...
 
I am surprised how the values are coming down. I still think they are horrible looking considering the cost.

From what I can gather, they don't handle that well either.

H.
 
Straight line depreciation which does not seem to level anywhere soon. It was never a contender for me when new, even though it was almost the same cost as the car I finally bought.
 
You should try and wangle a test drive of one, that will cure you. It's lovely inside (once you manage to get in), the toys are awesome - totally sold on the heads up display for starters. And it is staggeringly fast - in sport with 500bhp the instant torque from the electric motor(s) is breath-taking. But it lacks any sort of soul at all. You know that the engine noise is fake, and you can't 'feel' the engine - for me that killed it. It needs a V8, at least, and sadly that will never happen.
 
Oh dear ! An already very silly car made to look even more ridiculous. It's a shame ! :thumbsdown:
 
Says a lot about the car, that it's too sophisticated to wear a brash suit like that.

VehicleImage.axd


Would look great on an 918 though, much more of a boys toy :D .

65411481-porsche-918-spyder-prototype-2012-1600-08.jpg
 
It's colour confused! Too messy.
Just had a look at the tyre sizes, 195 front and 215 back! Almost bicycle tyres!
 
Bing said:
You should try and wangle a test drive of one, that will cure you. It's lovely inside (once you manage to get in), the toys are awesome - totally sold on the heads up display for starters. And it is staggeringly fast - in sport with 500bhp the instant torque from the electric motor(s) is breath-taking. But it lacks any sort of soul at all. You know that the engine noise is fake, and you can't 'feel' the engine - for me that killed it. It needs a V8, at least, and sadly that will never happen.

For a start that i8 looks 'orrid in the OP link!

My old man actually owns one as a daily, I have driven it many times and am a passenger very regularly. Interior is gorgeous as you said, his is black with ivory white leather, I'd buy it alone just for that! Turns lots of heads, get comments at petrol stations, had a fair few photos taken at Good Wood FOS when we parked in the Super Car Paddock (although I did debate that it shouldn't really have been there :wink: ).

Performance is impressive but never staggering (it's only 356bhp btw, not 500bhp?). On paper and the road it is very similar to my lightly modified 35i with similar peak torque, BHP and power to weight ratios. The i8 is however in a class above in all other respects (straight line performance to one side) and handles very nicely. They've done well to get the little 1.5l 3 cyl to sound deep and meaty but ultimately its pretty clear it's a manufactured noise.

I do love the car but not sure its where my money would be at their current price.
 
I was going off what the chap who had it - and let me drive it - said, which was obviously bollocks :lol:

That's not a lot more than my car, but it certainly felt a lot faster. Just didn't feel like a sports car. The one I drove was black with cream, I liked the look.
 
Bing said:
I was going off what the chap who had it - and let me drive it - said, which was obviously bollocks :lol:

That's not a lot more than my car, but it certainly felt a lot faster. Just didn't feel like a sports car. The one I drove was black with cream, I liked the look.

Fair do's, the total output is lower than you'd expect but peak torque is something like 420lb-ft.

It's the electric motor that gives it that kick, it really does rocket off the line with no fuss and a real sense of urgency. At 40mph on kick down you loose the benefit that insta-torque gives you and it starts to feel a lot more in line with cars with similar output. Certainly not a slow car but it's no super car killer!

I'd post up some pics but work have me in today for the grave yard shift!
 
OP - that design wouldn't be out of place in the 1970s. Being a child of that era, I quite like it . . .

Didn't say it would be my choice for daily transport though . . . a little too psychedelic! :lol:
 
Driven the blue version with white interior and it looks great but make sure you have a double garage for it and park well away from other motors or you will have trouble opening the doors. The size of it is quite surprising.

Not worth the money at the moment but suspect it will come down further once the Z5 is an option
 
pvr said:
It was never a contender for me when new, even though it was almost the same cost as the car I finally bought.
I've always thought this too and if you have that sort of money to spend the 911 has to be the go to option for me.

I think the i8 probably works if you already have a 911and other exotic motors and you just fancy something a little different.
 
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