I test drove a BMW I3 yesterday...

"nermal" (nermal) 12/09/2014 at 11:34 • Filed to: None

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....and it leaves me with mixed feelings. According to my math, I am an excellent candidate for an electric car. I have a truck for use in snow, on longer trips, or hauling anything serious. The majority of my driving is short trips in "city" conditions, with a max trip of about 20 miles away on occasion. Finally, the free maintenance on my GTI expired, and the warranty is up on it this month.

The driving experience of the I3 in itself was something completely new. I drove the electric-only version. The first thing I noticed was the instant "throttle" response, and seamless acceleration. It was so strange how you just stomp the accelerator at a stoplight, and then you just kinda zoom up to about 50mph effortlessly. No shifting, no lag, just straight zooming. My favorite part about the way it drove was the way it launched when turning at an intersection - The rear end just squatted down and it zoomed around the turn.

Everything I've read mentions the aggressive regenerative braking when you let off the accelerator, and this is in fact the case. A bigger concern for me than "range anxiety" is "getting rear-ended anxiety" as a result of this. I hardly needed to touch the brakes, and after a few minutes to get adjusted it wasn't that bad. That said, there was a point where somebody in a beat up old Cavalier was tailgating me in a bit of traffic, and I was scared to let off the throttle pulling up to a light with them that close to my bumper. The I3 under no throttle is about the same as any other car with light-medium braking. I didn't want to hit the brakes either, as the brakes combined with the regeneration are equivalent to what I'd consider hard braking on a regular car. This made the experience a bit uncomfortable, as I wasn't sure the conditions that the brake lights would light up.

There was no noise from the drivetrain except for a slight whirrrrr that can be best described as a Jetsons car off in the distance. At a stop it was eerily silent. Wind noise was pretty bad though. I'd call the overall noise levels at best comparable to my GTI at 70mph, at worst a bit louder. The seats are best described as different. I wouldn't call them crap, but I wouldn't call them great either. Definitely a step down from the awesome seats in the GTI, but not the worst I've sat in.

I didn't get a chance to play with any of the cool toys, such as the auto parking or auto cruise control.

As far as pricing goes, their initial offer for a low-mileage lease was honestly crap, and surpising at that. If I go for a purchase, I can get $9,500 in tax credits ($7,500 federal and $2,000 state), as long as I get it in by the end of the month. At the same time, after some discussions, they have a '14 320i with a manual and m-sport package (but no xenons) that will work out significantly cheaper on a lease. Personally I've been anti-320i since it's launch, but after looking at one (but not driving it), it starts to make more sense.

I'm currently debating whether I want to pursue the I3 or 320i further, or go for one of two other routes (keep current GTI, or look at something else, like a new GTI). Regardless of what I personally do, I'm convinced that electric cars like the I3 are defintely the future. Once battery technology improves to the point that you can get 300 miles of range (for less than a $100k Tesla), we're going to see the popularity of electrics take off.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > nermal 12/09/2014 at 11:38

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Keep GTI, buy S2000.

nermal > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/09/2014 at 11:44

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Eh. Didn't think of that, but S2000s aren't really my thing. Too old at this point, too convertible-y, and I'm strapped for parking spots as it is.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > nermal 12/09/2014 at 11:46

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Keep GTI, attend Skip Barber racing school.

Jonathan Harper > nermal 12/09/2014 at 11:50

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Go for it. I really like the i3, and I initially really didn't think I would. Also, you needn't fear getting rear ended, the brake lights actually do come on even if your foot is not on the brake:

Jonathan Harper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/09/2014 at 11:50

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Have you driven an i3?

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > nermal 12/09/2014 at 11:52

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Apparently there will be a car with the i3 layout but that looks, you know, decent in the next year or so, if you can hold out. I think the tech is neat, but it's got a face only a Pontiac Aztec could love.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jonathan Harper 12/09/2014 at 12:14

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No sir. What do you think of it?

* just saw your response

Cherry_man1 > nermal 12/09/2014 at 12:14

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sell GTI buy GT500

ihm96 > nermal 12/09/2014 at 12:19

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I would buy the i3. I think they look pretty cool, plus you'd be owning a car thats on the cutting edge of technology. Then again I love manual so I myself would probably end up with the 3 series.

nermal > rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S 12/09/2014 at 12:21

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I think part of the appeal of the I3 is that it's part BMW, part electric car, and part road going spaceship.

As far as electrics go, the Leaf is definitely a better deal financially, but with that you're basically driving a Versa that had an electric drivetrain swap. Same with the E-Golf, it's just a Golf with an electric drivetrain.

With the I3 you feel like Commander Keen. The look and feel and sound, both exterior and interior, is all futuristic.

Jonathan Harper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/09/2014 at 12:22

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It drives much better than it looks.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jonathan Harper 12/09/2014 at 12:24

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Here are my thoughts:

Electric cars are only going to get better and cheaper, and will be the norm at some point in the future. Why be an early adopter? Why not enjoy some of the best analogue, internally-combusted, manually-shiftable automobiles for the time being, and then pick up an electric city car once millions of beta-testers have helped to make them, and the infrastructure to support them, significantly better?

And in general, I don't think it's the best use of funds to buy new cars (or lease them). Depreciation is my friend.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jonathan Harper 12/09/2014 at 12:25

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Well, that's not hard. =)

Jonathan Harper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/09/2014 at 12:28

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When you put it that way it totally makes sense. But my perspective is quite skewed given that I don't own any of the cars I drive and I'm always driving different stuff from both ends of the "sweet, sweet gas burning horsepower pumping V8s" to "uber efficient range extended plug-in EVs".

My comments generally revolve more around the drive itself and looking at the cars subjectively without the contrast of ownership or upkeep. That said, it's very easy for me to find reasons to like almost every car I drive.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jonathan Harper 12/09/2014 at 12:33

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As an enthusiast, I'm all about options. I love to see all the variety we have to choose from these days. I just hope that it will be this way for a long time, and that the government, safety regulators and insurance agencies won't work to take away the types of cars that I aspire to own one day.

GhostZ > nermal 12/09/2014 at 12:33

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It needs a coasting mode, from what I've read.

Jonathan Harper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/09/2014 at 12:37

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I totally agree.

thebigbossyboss > nermal 12/09/2014 at 12:47

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Oh sorry that was me in the Cavalier (just kidding, but I do drive a beat up Cavalier).

I didn't know the brakes on those things were so strong, I'll have to keep my distance when I see one. (so far haven't seen any).

I should go test drive an electric something, not because I want one but just to try out an electric car. Then again I've driven electric golf carts before.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Jonathan Harper 12/09/2014 at 12:48

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All true. It's a shame BMW didn't pay enough attention to the exterior design. Even having the hood come forward so that it doesn't have that weird protrusion and painting it body color would help.

nermal > Jonathan Harper 12/09/2014 at 12:54

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I'm in exactly the same boat - I really liked it, just not sure if it's for me yet.

Also, that video is incredibly useful. Glad to see ze Germans did their homework in that regard.

nermal > GhostZ 12/09/2014 at 12:56

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The thing is that there is a coasting mode, you just need to slightly let up on the accelerator to get it.
The calibration goes something like so:

Push on accelerator: Go faster

Maintain accelerator pressure: Stay the same speed

Let off just a smidge: Coast

Let off all the way: Drop anchor

nermal > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/09/2014 at 13:01

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I think you nailed it perfectly with this. In this case, you're looking at bleeding-edge technology in the paid beta tester segmet for the I3, and one of the last in a long line of traditional BMW sport sedans in the 320i.

As far as new vs used, I view cars as an expense, not an investment. The money spent on the right new car with incentives and warranties and included maintenance is worth it for the piece of mind of knowing what my expenses are going to be. I don't like surprises with regards to things breaking on my cars. Been there, done that. To each their own. :-)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > nermal 12/09/2014 at 13:29

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I guess I'd argue that the 320i is also more of a start than a finish, honestly. That car a generation back, with the NA inline 6, hydraulic steering, no auto start/stop etc. is more the end of that line. The 32oi is an attempt to move the small RWD sports sedan forward in a world of regulation that's increasingly stacked against it.

Peace of mind is a big deal, which is why I bought an extended warranty when I bought my '08 E90 M3. But I haven't had to use it yet, so maybe I shouldn't have... If I ever decide to move on, maybe my next car will be CPO.