I Don't Understand The i8, What's Your OPPOinion?

"Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2" (pompei426)
04/30/2014 at 20:50 • Filed to: None

Prior to viewing !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I wasn't really a fan. Ya, it's sorta cool looking, but come on BMW. Anyway, after watching his video, I dislike the car even more. First off, no power slides, sorry, not a proper BMW sports car. Hell, not even a proper Harris review. Yes, I get it, we are shaping the future of the automobile, but this car just seems utterly useless.

Right now, for us Jalops/OPPOs, if we wanted/settled for a fuel efficient car, it would at least have to be useful (Read: Tesla or Volt). Then, you would have your nice weekend car. A fuel burning fun car. A 911, 4C, etc. The i8 is none of these. Not very practical and not very enjoyable. Yes, you will have tons of curb appeal, but that's where the excitement for this car seems to end, the curb. BMW has become a confusing brand and I, along with other BMW enthusiasts, aren't very excited about this new shift. Don't get me started on the i3, just don't. I was at least hoping the i8 would be something interesting. You know, a flagship that would crush all the others with the new and improved tech. Well, to me, it's not. Might as well call it a Space Age Prius. Yes, I went there. Under the sleek lines and carbon fiber, you have a hot rodded Prius. Hell, even the Toy has a 4 banger.

There is nothing wrong with an efficient vehicle that utilizes the best of what we have developed, but please BMW, make it interesting.

So, now that I've thrown my views out there, what are yours?

DISCUSSION (18)

Tom McParland > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 20:53

I respect it. I would like to drive it. I would not want to own it.

Brian Silvestro > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 20:54

It's in my dream garage actually. I almost put it instead of the 2002 in my top 5 most beautiful cars yesterday. It's the ultimate modern DD for an auto enthusiast.

Bandit > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 20:55

I like it and it makes me excited for the future. It shows the world that efficient cars don't have to be ugly. This is the best looking car BMW currently makes (outside of their race cars) and I can promise you that the first time I see one I will freak out.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 20:56

Its the first and only car that Ive ever seen that I would consider buying new, I think it's a pretty amazing piece of kit

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Brian Silvestro
04/30/2014 at 20:57

Really? Has to be because of the looks. I would much rather DD a Tesla.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Bandit
04/30/2014 at 20:57

I SAW ONE!!!! Well two actually I've seen a preproduction one decked out in camo and a truly gorgeous production one in blue and silver.

CAcoalminer > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 20:57

I hope they make an M version (i8M?) with wider, stickier tires, a larger engine bringing the power up to about 420-450 hp, and the carbon ceramics from the M5/6 (did anyone notice how tiny the stock ones were?). While I'm not in love with its styling, I do love how different and foreign it looks compared to ever other car on the road. Overall, I think it will sell well and hopefully prove that we can have super efficient vehicles that are still fun to drive.

Brian Silvestro > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 20:57

I really dislike the interior of the Tesla, even though it is a better DD.

catkam623 misses his 944 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 20:59

I like it for what it is: a step in the right direction, proving that hybrid cars don't have to be bland POS's as a car I'd buy I don't think it's worth the money. If they dropped the price to 85k or boosted the power to 450 I'd say np but now it's more a novelty item for rich ecofriendly gear heads.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Bandit
04/30/2014 at 21:00

I get that. It's a real looker, but Why couldn't they have but an TT I4 in there along with the electric stuff. Make the car efficient, but also the fastest in the lineup. It's going to be a tough decision in a few years when you walk into a BMW dealership. After a few years this styling will trickle down to other models. And I'm much rather have a M3 that's styled like that than a hybrid 3pot.

Jayhawk Jake > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 21:13

I like it a lot but it's ahead of its time, and I mean that in a good way.

Let's look at one of your own examples in Tesla. Tesla wanted to make electric cars for the masses. A few years ago that wasn't possible: who would buy a golf cart?! They can only drive 20 miles!!!

So how do you change people's minds? You bring out a car that's so radical it alters perspctive. Tesla drops the roadster, which at the time was crazy. An electric sports car! It changed people's perspective, it kept them from immediately dismissing the electric car. A few years later you'll find tesla sedans all over business parks and suddenly the idea of an electric car isn't crazy.

This is what the i8 is. It's a crazy car that uses all kinds of new tech in a shocking package to raise awareness. It's the future that BMW wants, and it's a bold way of showing that to the public. I love the tech in it, I would love to have one myself. Would you be better off if you bought an M5? Maybe, but it wouldn't be nearly as special.

Mochimaster > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 21:14

I think the BMW did a great job. They successfully made a sports car designed to stand out from other cars on the road, bringing acceptable performance figures (for the price), and at the same time have outstanding fuel efficiency and also acceptable practicality (it's a 4 seater with a Ferrari sized boot, I find that practical enough.)

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 21:16

I think it's pretty, and it's neat technology, but I wouldn't want to own one. In fact, I was #2 on the list at my local dealer, and took myself off because I became disinterested. I'm sure it's awesome, and I hope I get to drive one - but that's about it.

PS9 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
04/30/2014 at 21:34

The 'proper BMW sports car' is dead, and has been for some time. Sorry. The E30 M3 is not coming back, and you need to let it go. The BMW that brought us that is also dead, not coming back, and you need to let it go. The M2 will be as close as we will get to that, and even then, turbos, electric steering, flappy paddles and weight gain will be a part of the deal. Get use to it.

I don't really get some of your complaints. Is 'a hot-rodded Prius' supposed to be some kind of insult? Because a Prius that has all the advantages of a prius with none of the downsides - an uninteresting, character-less and unengaging driving experience coupled with a boring exterior appearence - sound like exactly what we need, and proof that the cars of the future will not exclusively be transportation appliances just because they must sip fuel in ways their ancestors could not.

This specific complaint makes 0% sense. Utility and fuel efficiency are not coupled in this way. If the i8 is useless because you can't fit a lot of people and stuff inside, then the GT86 is useless. The engine-where-the-trunk-is-supposed-to-be 911 Turbo is definitely useless. The 4C is also useless. People don't by sporty cars for usefulness, but this does not mean they're A-OK with poor fuel economy, or are not interested in cutting edge technology. Let me show you why the i8 must exist, why all of our planet's flagship supercars are now 'hot-rodded Priuses', and why even our race cars are starting to come with batteries.

Kinja'd!!!

We - everyone from the top of the high-performance automotive racing and supercar world, all the way down to the low level Corollas and city cars - have to do something about this. That 'something' cannot be 'stuff we already do' because that will not help us solve this problem. It also will not be 'something that makes enthusiasts happy' because - non-existent influence over the automotive industry aside for a moment - enthusiasts aren't going to care for anything that deviates from what they already know. New problems demand new solutions, which require new technology, which means large price premiums, limited quantities, exotic materials, teething problems, and somewhat experimental products, and experimental approaches to developing experimental products. the i8 embodies all of this and more.

So what do you want them to do? "Don't make the i8?" Not really an option; no research, no development, no technological progress, no solution to the coming problems. "Make a faster i8"? So you want them to charge $1m for it instead of $160k like the 918 and F70? Do you want normal people to have access to this technology, or not? If so, do we not have to start the price reduction and associated compromises somewhere? "Make a bigger, 4 door i8"? Maybe in the future, but shouldn't we first prove that all this new stuff can work as a product on the market today before expanding the line? "Make a not-a-hybrid i8"? BMW already makes plenty not-a-hybrid BMWs. Buy one of those instead.

Stef Schrader > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
05/01/2014 at 00:28

Man, that's gorgeous. I don't like the color schemes where it's like silver and black—it just looks forced and silly. This all-black one is.......mmm. Lovely.

Vi517, JDX Racing > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
05/01/2014 at 00:32

I love it, except for one thing. It delivers the performance necessary for a sports car, appears to be fun to drive, is somewhat practical, and is a hybrid, so you get all of the federal benefits for owning one (like access to HOV without a second passenger). It is definitely the future and one of the most exciting cars to be released recently. The problem I have with it is the price. Base price is $136,625. For that money, you can get a RS7, R8, or 911 GT3. If you want a German sports car, the only reason you should get this is if you want a hybrid. Until they can get the price down, traditionally powered cars will still be the best buy.

Conan > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
05/01/2014 at 03:36

Half the mpg but I would rather have the Trident Iceni all day in that price/performance range.

Kinja'd!!!

Yarks > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2
05/02/2014 at 19:36

Once upon a time, simplicity was the pinnacle of engineering. Now, it seems to be all about "how complex can we make a thing"...Maybe it's to keep the dealers/service centers in business.