God Help Me, I'm About to Buy an i3

Kinja'd!!! by "El-Verde" (el-verde)
Published 10/19/2017 at 12:05

No Tags
STARS: 5


I have a 7 month old, sold my 911 because it wasnt fun without her, and bought a Land Rover Disco II that ended up needing a new engine after 300 miles. Since I’m not going to spend 11k on a car worth 6k at best, its going to car heaven.

I almost bought a C63 AMGs coupe...but it just didnt feel right.

i3s are well under 20k now. My wife is “stay at home” and we have a 328xi wagon for longer trips or whatever. My commute is 5 miles each way, and theyre pretty fun! Talk me out of it.


Replies (56)

Kinja'd!!! "TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
10/19/2017 at 12:08, STARS: 11

The i3 is obsolete now. I’d look for an i5. If you want good framerate, look for an i7.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
10/19/2017 at 12:09, STARS: 5

Why talk you out of it? It’s a sophisticated, interesting, comfortable, efficient, and semi-fun commuter. I drove one once and loved it.

Kinja'd!!! "Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
10/19/2017 at 12:10, STARS: 1

Is that an iPhone? Hahahah I kid. Get a Mirage! Because: reasons. Cheap and basically disposable. Can be had new for the cost of a Disco II engine.

Kinja'd!!! "facw" (facw)
10/19/2017 at 12:12, STARS: 1

Whatever, quad-core i3 is a bargain. Vastly better performance over last gen for about the same price.

Kinja'd!!! "Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/19/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 2

But you have to look at it when you walk up to it.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:14, STARS: 1

Oh I have an i7 in the gaming PC...ROCKET LEAGUE AT MAX SETTINGS BRO

Kinja'd!!! "TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
10/19/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 0

4790k master race!

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
10/19/2017 at 12:15, STARS: 0

No, you want an ELR.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:16, STARS: 1

Yeah but then I have to drive a Mirage. I try to not be a snob, but I am a snob (see: 911). Also I work in finance so I have to at least look like I’m trying (the world is backwards)

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:16, STARS: 0

I actually think it is adorable.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:17, STARS: 0

Thats what I feel too! But maybe I’m dumb?

Kinja'd!!! "Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/19/2017 at 12:18, STARS: 1

I don’t think you live near me, so go ahead and buy it! For me, its appearance is its only detractor.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:19, STARS: 2

I DO want an ELR...but it does not baby or dog.

I forgot to mention the German Shepherd.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
10/19/2017 at 12:20, STARS: 3

So google aftermarket roof racks.

Kinja'd!!! "R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
10/19/2017 at 12:20, STARS: 0

Who quoted you $11k for a new motor on a D2?

Kinja'd!!! "Future next gen S2000 owner" (future-next-gen-s2000-owner)
10/19/2017 at 12:22, STARS: 1

You could put 22's on it......

Kinja'd!!! "Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
10/19/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 5

DO IT

Kinja'd!!!

Kinja'd!!! "MylesD" (mylesd)
10/19/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 1

Driven them a bunch via ReachNow network. SO much fun! Do it. Especially love the interior with the wood and two tone tan/grey seats.

Kinja'd!!! "Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
10/19/2017 at 12:26, STARS: 2

It’s a funky little hatch and if you commute 10 miles a day, an electric or range extended hybrid (I admittedly don’t remember what the little i3 has) is perfect. I would drive one as my commute is 30 miles a day.

Kinja'd!!! "Nibby" (nibby68)
10/19/2017 at 12:27, STARS: 0

no you want an i5 or i7

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:29, STARS: 0

Wut

Kinja'd!!! "So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky" (badams109)
10/19/2017 at 12:29, STARS: 1

I pretty much hate electrics and consider BMWs a money pit. That said the i3 is interesting, and the cheapest car you can buy with a carbon fiber chassis. Which is why i would own one as a commuter car if i didn’t have such a long commute, through metro Detroit, sometimes in the frozen hellscape we call winter, and also have to park outside year round. I guess what i’m saying is if it fits your life great, at least it’s not another boring prius!!

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:29, STARS: 0

Bada$$

Kinja'd!!! "LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
10/19/2017 at 12:30, STARS: 1

I was trying to figure out whether a baby seat would fit in the 911 (and having written that, I remembered how very large they are now), but now I see that you also want German Shepherd capacity.

Sad trombone for the 911.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:30, STARS: 1

Yeah thats the exact one I’m looking at, and agree.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:31, STARS: 0

Motor plus installation...the block in mine is garbage. Check out Atlantic British.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:32, STARS: 0

Fuck the Prius, right?

Kinja'd!!! "deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
10/19/2017 at 12:34, STARS: 0

Test drive a new Volt. I’ve been driving one for just about 5 years and it’s just amazing. Still puts a smile on my face every day. Overly critical people say bad things about the interiors or panel gaps or some shit, but I don’t see what they are complaining about and love mine. 40 miles all electric and no limitations gas backup, it’s really the only thing like it.

Kinja'd!!! "R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
10/19/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 0

Wow, i think I did mine back in 2010 for like 4-5k total

But I went through 4 blocks because they kept sending me bad ones.

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
10/19/2017 at 12:49, STARS: 0

Leaf?

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 0

Meh.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 12:57, STARS: 0

Haha, theyre fucked up vehicles. Even rebuilds here in SoCal run 8k+....3k just for head gaskets.

Kinja'd!!! "TomServo (Resides on the Satellite of Love)" (mk7silkblue)
10/19/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 0

A3 E-tron? My mother is looking at one, and I quite like it.

Kinja'd!!! "My citroen won't start" (lucasboechat)
10/19/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 0

No.

The new Range Rover Sport Hybrid. This is what you want.

Kinja'd!!! "Rico" (ricorich)
10/19/2017 at 13:14, STARS: 0

Whoa never heard of ReachNow and see that it’s in Brooklyn (why only BK??? That’s lame), how has your experience been?

Kinja'd!!! "Rico" (ricorich)
10/19/2017 at 13:15, STARS: 0

Do you have to open the front door in order to open the back door? When I was at the car show I couldn’t figure out how to open the back doors without first opening the front door. But I was only around the car for like 5 mins.

Kinja'd!!! "MylesD" (mylesd)
10/19/2017 at 13:21, STARS: 1

Yeah, it’s not crazy popular yet but it is in a few places - I’m in Seattle

It’s pretty cool - they have i3, 3 series, X1, Coopers, Clubmans (including S models). Ends up being the same as an Uber or Lyft ride and sometimes less.

Kinja'd!!! "El-Verde" (el-verde)
10/19/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 0

Nah im good.

Kinja'd!!! "Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
10/19/2017 at 13:26, STARS: 1

Yes.

The B pillar is ‘in’ the rear door, and the front door needs to sit against it for side impact, so the front door is covering the B pillar.

Kinja'd!!! "E92M3" (E46M3)
10/19/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 0

I wouldn’t mind having one, but I would fully expect them to keep plummeting in value. Better than a leaf, but also 2.5 times the price.

Kinja'd!!! "Rico" (ricorich)
10/19/2017 at 13:34, STARS: 0

I’m sorry but that’s just pretty bad design. What about during inclement weather? Seems silly to have to do that.

Kinja'd!!! "sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
10/19/2017 at 13:35, STARS: 0

Nah

Kinja'd!!! "Land_Yacht_225" (nadenator)
10/19/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 0

Chevy Bolt?

Kinja'd!!!

Kinja'd!!! "Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
10/19/2017 at 13:41, STARS: 1

I don’t understand the inclement weather angle, but in general, it’s for packaging. They needed to make this thing SMALL to keep weight down and extend range. To do that and trick people into thinking it’s normally sized, you need a unique door setup. It worked for the Element. Not so much the ION coupe and veloster.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
10/19/2017 at 13:47, STARS: 0

;)

Kinja'd!!! "So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky" (badams109)
10/19/2017 at 13:59, STARS: 0

It’s not a bad car, just boring. There are plenty of them out there already. Plus you can’t get them with a bamboo inlay in the dash which looks great in the i3, IMHO. Also James May owns one so you know it will match the flowery shirts you may or may not own.

Kinja'd!!! "Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre)
10/19/2017 at 13:59, STARS: 1

Does anyone make a roof rack with latch attachment for the car seat?

Kinja'd!!! "Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
10/19/2017 at 14:07, STARS: 0

I mean, it makes sense. I should also probably have some kind of vehicle that makes more sense for putzing around town. My commute is 6 miles each way, and then my second commute from my house to my gym 6 days a week is 3 miles each way.

Really the main thing that prevents me from getting something that plugs in to charge is that I rent my townhouse and it has a 1-car garage. There are power outlets in the garage, but no way to install a high-output charger. Plus my wife and I alternate who gets the garage each week.

Kinja'd!!! "Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
10/19/2017 at 14:22, STARS: 0

Not sure, but there’s always duct tape.

Kinja'd!!! "Rico" (ricorich)
10/19/2017 at 14:37, STARS: 0

I honestly didn’t think adding a door handle would require that much more room to the frame of the door/car. The inclement weather thing is more if it’s raining/cold out I don’t want to have to open my door to let someone in. I mean at least you don’t have to get out of the car like with a coupe.

What if I am the only person in the car and the person is trying to get in on the passenger side? They have to open the front door first to open the backdoor, just seems a bit clunky. Imagine if all cars started doing it that way, it would be pretty odd.

Kinja'd!!! "R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet" (r-saldana)
10/19/2017 at 14:40, STARS: 1

and to think its actually a Buick V8 from the late 60s.

Kinja'd!!! "Tekamul" (tekamulburner)
10/19/2017 at 14:57, STARS: 1

Yup, that would be clunky.

It’s not about adding the handle, it’s that the front door has to overlap the back, or it’s going to crumple in a side impact.

Kinja'd!!! "Rico" (ricorich)
10/19/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 0

Overall though I like this quirky little thing and the interiors are nice and comfy.

Kinja'd!!! "Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
10/19/2017 at 19:30, STARS: 0

BMW more interesting, but Leaf cheaper.

Kinja'd!!! "gmporschenut also a fan of hondas" (gmporschenut)
10/19/2017 at 22:23, STARS: 1

LS swap?

Kinja'd!!! "pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
10/20/2017 at 06:14, STARS: 0

Cavalier?