So this past weekend we had our local autocross school (and as a personage of vast experience and gravitas I brought the trailer and administered the event). After watching all the students get better throughout the day I was feeling restless so when we had a few minutes for instructor fun runs I jumped in my buddies STR NC for a couple of passes. Not bad, I liked the power compared with my NA. Much heavier and less grip though.
But then, since I'm a ride whore and generally friendly guy, I bummed a drive in one of the students' cars. A 2015 BMW i8. A $147,000 super-hybrid three cylinder turbo. First run on a very short teaching course I was a half second faster than I had been in the NC Miata.
Impressions from the car are: cool doors hinged at the A pillar. Huge sills to slide over getting in and out. Very complicated to start, set up, program, etc. Turbo lag is very real when it feels like that's what the electric part of the hybrid system should be doing its part. The A pillar is big when you're trying to see cones. And a huge amount of pull when the turbo hits, the owner said he dragged it and went under 12 seconds in the quarter.
Overall, a very cool/expensive/complex car that would be more at home on a track than an autocross pad.
Vigo
PowerDork
6/13/16 10:26 p.m.
As odd as it is, I think it's the car i most want in the 'brand new low 100s' bracket. 
And remember folks, you can get that engine in the Justacooper (sans hybrid gear).
One passed me on the road a couple months back. I was surprised it was able to handle the minefield that is SW PA highways. It was really attractive in black.
That turbo lag... predictable 80's lag or bizarre "I'll never kick in the same place twice" 90s lag?
In reply to revrico: predictable 80's style lag. Which is weird as you'd think that the electrics would cover for the laggy bits.
revrico wrote:
One passed me on the road a couple months back. I was surprised it was able to handle the minefield that is SW PA highways. It was really attractive in black.
That turbo lag... predictable 80's lag or bizarre "I'll never kick in the same place twice" 90s lag?
I've owner pretty much every one of the big turbo sportscars of the 90s and I have never experienced the "never kick in the same place" lag.
Maybe just bad driving, maybe custom parts. I remember rides particularly in a 3000gt being extremely unpredictable, at the time it was attributed to lag, as I'm older and more experienced, I'd point the finger at a tuning problem. I've never had good luck with 90s cars, they've always behaved weird for me.
I just looked, there are 2 for sale semi locally. I almost want to put on a suit, shave, and see if I can test drive one.
Holy E36 M3, the same dealer that had/has the Hennessey Venom
