James May on: his new BMW i3

"Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'" (otto-the-croatian)
08/31/2014 at 11:13 • Filed to: james may, electric, i3

Here on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

I love that he has one. And I love this article, I think it's wrong to assume that a car is not exciting or interesting or soulless just because it's powered by a different fuel and makes different noises. It's all about the driving experience, and how the car makes you feel.

Who knows, maybe in 20 years we'll get shivers down our spines when we hear the whine from an electric Lamborghini, and maybe we'll learn to differentiate it from a regular old Hyundai electric sound. After all, to non-car people, it's all just noise anyway.

DISCUSSION (14)

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
08/31/2014 at 11:15

something tells me he loves the way this car looks

ly2v8-Brian > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
08/31/2014 at 11:26

It isn't the power train, but the looks aren't my favorite.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
08/31/2014 at 11:27

An electric car used to be like Richard Hammond. You fed him some baked beans, and he carried on being another irritating Brummie bloke.

best line of the whole thing

mr2gud2u > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
08/31/2014 at 11:38

Maybe I'm my age but, I electric car do nothing for me

The i3 is just so ugly. I can't get pass that. I do sort of like the Teslas, but for me the sound of the engine has always been what's inspired me. The whine of an F40 at high rpm or the roar of a big block hemi is such a turn on. Without that sound its just a rolling appliance to me.

Jayhawk Jake > mr2gud2u
08/31/2014 at 11:48

Why does EVERY car need to be more than a rolling appliance?

That's sort of the point May is making here: the i3 is just an appliance, but that's not a bad thing. It's not pretending to be a supercar, it's just another appliance like an iPhone.

shop-teacher > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
08/31/2014 at 12:14

I do not fear the coming of the electric car, because torques.

syaieya > Jayhawk Jake
08/31/2014 at 12:28

I actually have to agree. There's nothing wrong with an appliance as far as kitchen ware and washer/dryer combinations. But as a car enthusiast it saddens me to see automobiles become like an appliance. I hold the thought that if you're going to have something that is going to be your second or third largest purchase in your lifetime, you should consider it more than just as something that gets you from A to B and possibly looks nice just sitting there on the same level a new toaster would.

I personally have a hard time thinking that the cars with less fit, finish, and feel like the little econoboxes are something that's worth getting just because they're cheap and disposable.

I can't imagine being able to get into those cars every morning, shutting that door, and thinking "Mmm, this is a nice place to be, I'm glad I bought this. All the grey and hard plastic do it for me." Just because I don't have to put as much fuel in it's pipette of a tank.

It's seeing that becoming more common though that makes it more and more obvious that people don't care. People don't want interesting or fun life choices. They want to sit in a bubble surrounded by bland, not feel anything and just get to where they're going.

novagirl > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
08/31/2014 at 13:13

Oh be still my heart! I know it's silly by I'm deinitely one of those girls with a crush on James May. Combine that with some awesome Eco Friendly vehicles and my heart is all a flutter.

Really tho I agree with OP about cars in the future. Right now it might seem silly and for sure the car may just be an appliance atm, but it makes sense to go electric for our future.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
08/31/2014 at 13:58

I don't mind hybrid/electric cars, but why do all of them that are affordable, look bad? If they made one that looked like an attractive CAR, not the same cookie cutter hybrid, it would make it look more appealing.

mr2gud2u > Jayhawk Jake
08/31/2014 at 14:12

Every car doesn't have to be a work of art that inspires us. There are lots of combustion cars that are unapologetically roller appliances, but inside is a pulsing combustion engine that make some sort of sound. Its might a the sound of a wheezing I4 turbo, but its something. I'm just giving you my opinion on electric cars. Maybe I'm just a dinosaur *shrug*

marshknute > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
08/31/2014 at 18:26

Am I the only one who not only thinks the i3 is gorgeous, but also wishes more cars would adopt that aesthetic?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > marshknute
08/31/2014 at 19:12

Yes, I think you are. It looks atrocious.

Honesty > Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
08/31/2014 at 21:21

He sold his 430 for a 458, still owns his old red Rolls Royce... Yeah, he can get away with owning an i3.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > marshknute
08/31/2014 at 21:42

I wouldn't say that it's gorgeous, but I like it. It's a tad overstyled, and I wish it was more like the E1 (below) concept from a few years ago, but I wouldn't mind driving one on a daily basis.

Kinja'd!!!