Thoughts on the BMW i8?

Next in a series of threads on cars I am not likely to ever buy (re: previous C7 thread), I was pondering the BMW i8.  Partly because I keep seeing a Roadster model in the dealer showroom window during my commute (base price: $163K ).  I see them on the road once in awhile, but they don't seem to be very common. 

However, the depreciation on these appears to be massive - like over 50% in just a few years.  A quick search on Autotrader nets a ton of them for under $70K and usually less than 20K miles.  Some even less than 10K.  I even see a handful for under $60K, with some miles on them.

So what gives?  

Don't know but I know you can hack them to have the exhaust sound like different cars when it's played through the car. I love the way they look too

I don't know anything about them, but they're cool and I think you should just embrace this midlife crisis thing and get a Viper.  I know you're out of space so I'll store it for you 

Really though, I would imagine that "what gives" is the standard BMW depreciation with an added side of wow this thing is complex how do I fix it?  Can a regular BMW dealer even fix it?

I think it all depends on how you frame it.

The price, mid engine configuration, carbon fiber construction and looks all scream performance exotic, but the performance doesn't really seem to back it all up: It runs 0-60 in 3.8/ 1/4 mile in 12.4/ 'Ring time of 8:19.8, etc.

That's all respectable, but plenty of other cars will do that or better for the 60-70k that these sell for on the used market, and most will offer more capability or require fewer sacrifices as well. (A new Camaro ZL1 does those feats in 3.5s/ 11.4/ 7:29.XX and has a backseat, trunk, and full warranty for that money.) So I think you'd have to put up with a lot of stoplight warriors in this thing because it would attract a lot of attention and it seems like it should be fairly racy.

Now, 'Ring times and 0-60 isn't everything, so the other angle is the tech/green halo car angle. If you want to be seen in something that's cutting edge and expensive while being fairly fuel efficient then it can be a good option. Except cutting edge moves pretty fast, so at this point it's more like sort of cutting edge. But it's still a reasonably quick car that looks super exotic and gets 70+mpge. There are many other PHEVs for WAY less on the new/used market that will give you similar or better fuel economy with actual usability. My Fusion PHEV seats 5, has a trunk (although smaller than regular Fusions) and blends in to traffic like any other car. No unwanted attention from law enforcement, stoplight warriors, or people assuming that I'm wealthy because I'm driving something that cost as much as a house when new.

I guess you'd have to be a very specific buyer to be in the market for one of these. You'd have to really value looks and tech over performance and functionality. For the same money, you could have more functionality and better tech/greenie cred in a gently used Model S.

Cool car, but it's a gadget for technophiles first and a sports car second, like the new NSX. That's not an inherently bad thing, but if you're looking at dollars vs performance, it's not a good deal in that area. The other factor it has going against it for us peasants is that the maintenance costs don't decrease along with the street price, and it is a massively complicated vehicle with some frighteningly expensive parts.

Its biggest performance weak point is those skinny LRR tires. If you could fit some wide sticky meats on one (I have no idea whether there's room), perhaps with harder suspension if necessary, it would be a helluva lot faster, although MPGe and range would obviously go through the floor.

I think they're really cool looking, but I'd be afraid of the "creature comforts" tech already being obsolete. I've seen a few around me, and I'm always nervous for them. They look like they'd disappear in some of the potholes I see them buzzing around. 

Aren't they a hybrid to? What's the battery cost/replacement/life like? What about charging? Not that lack of charging stations has had an affect on Tesla, as I regularly see several around here.

I like they way they look too.  Briefly thought about getting a used one as a commuter,  so I can use the good parking at work.  

GameboyRMH said:

Cool car, but it's a gadget for technophiles first and a sports car second, like the new NSX. That's not an inherently bad thing, but if you're looking at dollars vs performance, it's not a good deal in that area. The other factor it has going against it for us peasants is that the maintenance costs don't decrease along with the street price, and it is a massively complicated vehicle with some frighteningly expensive parts.

Its biggest performance weak point is those skinny LRR tires. If you could fit some wide sticky meats on one (I have no idea whether there's room), perhaps with harder suspension if necessary, it would be a helluva lot faster, although MPGe and range would obviously go through the floor.

They are 215 front and 245 rear tires.  Not wide by supercar standards, but not crazy narrow.  TireRack shows two options from Pirelli and Bridgestone, both are 280TW "Max Performance Summer" tires, so not exactly LRR tires.  Are you thinking of the i3?  I agree those are comically narrow when I see them driving around. 

We have "green" parking spots at the office as well, although no charging stations yet.  Technically, my E85-capable minivan qualifies to park in them. 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:

I don't know anything about them, but they're cool and I think you should just embrace this midlife crisis thing and get a Viper.  I know you're out of space so I'll store it for you 

 

That is my suggestion as well. The biggest thing is the sill. There is no easy way in and out of this car period. The convertible is better but unless you are an Olympic limbo champion your not getting in and out gracefully. Also your passenger cannot wear a skirt as my wife has said without showing everything off each time you get in and out. 

neat technology... i'd be concerned to own one where all the parts are so specialized and it's a carbon tub. 

 

I'm a pretty big fan of the i8. Yes, there are a lot of faster cars out there, but there aren't any faster cars that get 40mpg. Sure, a Model S or 3 can go quicker and use less gas, but those aren't exactly low-slung mid-engined cars and they are 4000lbs and up (the fastest 3 is 4000lbs).  The i8 is a very unique case. It's a semi exotic looking, fairly fast, highly efficient mid engined carbon fiber car with gull wing doors. I don't think it has any single knockout stat but if you want the specific combination of things it is, it's literally the only game in town. 

I get the concern about repairability and all that but at least with a carbon tub you always have a backdoor. Do any serious damage to the tub and your insurance will pay you all the money to get something else.  I'll personally start worrying about repairability when they get cheap enough that owners aren't A: buying extended warranties with them or B. paying someone else to repair it anyway. They are definitely not that cheap yet!

wearymicrobe said:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:

I don't know anything about them, but they're cool and I think you should just embrace this midlife crisis thing and get a Viper.  I know you're out of space so I'll store it for you 

 

That is my suggestion as well. The biggest thing is the sill. There is no easy way in and out of this car period. The convertible is better but unless you are an Olympic limbo champion your not getting in and out gracefully. Also your passenger cannot wear a skirt as my wife has said without showing everything off each time you get in and out. 

 

^^^ This. Try to go sit in one for giggles. Unless you are small (-5 ft 6 in) and limber, this car is a major pain to get in and out of. It's bad enough, that I don't think the average +50 year old customer that's rich enough to buy one would be able/willing to live with that.

I'd totally rock one of these if they ever get down to Cayman money.

I've sat in one, it seemed nice.

It's not a screamer, but a tamer mire expensive car for actual use. How often do you really need to get to 60 faster than this?

Personally, I'd rather shop a jag f type.

wearymicrobe said:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:

I don't know anything about them, but they're cool and I think you should just embrace this midlife crisis thing and get a Viper.  I know you're out of space so I'll store it for you 

 

That is my suggestion as well. The biggest thing is the sill. There is no easy way in and out of this car period. The convertible is better but unless you are an Olympic limbo champion your not getting in and out gracefully. Also your passenger cannot wear a skirt as my wife has said without showing everything off each time you get in and out. 

 

Hard to tell from the picture,  but is it wider than the sill in a c4 vette?  

My neighbor has one. I wouldn’t buy one unless you like the looks, I think my M3 is faster. 

The sill is very wide and the way the door opens doesn’t help. 

I love how they look.  There is at least one near me racking up a lot of mileage commuting to Manhattan regularly so they can’t be too bad to live with 

My opinion is that it has greater potential that is held back by being a hybrid. I suppose if you think you're going to drive on the autobahn for hours at high speed (and need the range that the gas engine provides), maybe it makes sense. If not, just make it a full EV and ditch the hybrid setup. If there were a viable way to do that, then I think it would be a fun car to own. FWIW, I've only had my i3 for a few months but I've become a fan of carbon fiber EVs. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hnJWCyyTaYU

That’s all I have to say about the i8.  

In reply to AnthonyGS :

Its bad, but not that bad. It would’ve helped if he did not have the seat all the way forward. 

Slippery said:

My neighbor has one. I wouldn’t buy one unless you like the looks, I think my M3 is faster. 

The sill is very wide and the way the door opens doesn’t help. 

Any time I see the two tone paint scheme from behind, all I can see is a black car giving birth to a white 911

In reply to STM317 :

Great,   now I will too.  

STM317 said:

Slippery said:

My neighbor has one. I wouldn’t buy one unless you like the looks, I think my M3 is faster. 

The sill is very wide and the way the door opens doesn’t help. 

Any time I see the two tone paint scheme from behind, all I can see is a black car giving birth to a white 911

CANNOT BE UNSEEN. Thanks for that.

^^^ They look best in black

I spent some time with an i8 at Lime Rock. It feels special in a way few cars do. And I’m sure it will become a classic, like the M1 before it.

Sure, many modern high-performance sedans will be faster. But there’s nothing more exotic you can have in your driveway for $80k used. 

STM317 said:

I think it all depends on how you frame it.

The price, mid engine configuration, carbon fiber construction and looks all scream performance exotic, but the performance doesn't really seem to back it all up: It runs 0-60 in 3.8/ 1/4 mile in 12.4/ 'Ring time of 8:19.8, etc.

That's all respectable, but plenty of other cars will do that or better for the 60-70k that these sell for on the used market,

This really is the golden age of performance, when a car that does 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds is considered just respectable.