I was invited to the new BMW X5 preview, but instead I got Unicorn pancakes.

"superdave847" (superdave847) 01/26/2019 at 14:23 • Filed to: Autohaus BMW, BMW i8 Roadster, BMW X5

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Full disclosure: I apologize at the outset if you clicked this post looking for photos of the 2019 X5. I did not take any. It’s nice, but my camera was more interested in the i8 Roadster. And I was more interested in the M2.

At the beginning of the month, Autohaus BMW in St. Louis sent me an invitation to check out the new X5 in exchange for a $1,000 credit toward my next car purchase. So I took my family to look at the SUV.

I hadn’t seen the new X5 before. It’s nice. My wife likes it. It follows the same design cues as the redesigned X3 and looks smaller than the current model.

But I really like the i8 Roadster. I know its not in the league of the cars it competes with at the price point, but in person it really looks incredible. I apologize that I didn’t take photos of the M3s, M4s, M2, and new M5.

BMW also had pancake art for kids, so my toddler had a Unicorn pancake. I thought this was nice and she loved it.

The rear seems really large considering the size of the engine. In person, this rear looks larger than my friend’s rear engined Ferraris.

AestheticsInMotion > superdave847 01/26/2019 at 14:47

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That's an impressive pancake

DipodomysDeserti > superdave847 01/26/2019 at 14:48

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My BMW dealer has a Ferrari and Lamborghini delership attached to it. Having seen a bunch of these cars next to each other in person, they all look pretty close in width. I think the fact the i8 is shitting out a Porsche makes it seem bloated.

Thanks for reminding me. My dealer sent me an invitation for free breakfast if I check out the new lineup. Little do they know I’ll never buy a modern BMW again.

superdave847 > DipodomysDeserti 01/26/2019 at 14:54

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Agreed on the i8. Alone it looks cool, but next to a 911, 458, or Hura cá n it looks awkward. It should be priced by the Tesla S.

Now unlike you, I would buy a modern M2 or M3 in a heartbeat. And I’m planning to.

Future Heap Owner > superdave847 01/26/2019 at 14:56

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I now feel ashamed in retrospect for every time I’ve made a three blob pancake  “Mickey mouse” and called it pancake art. That is seriously impressive.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > superdave847 01/26/2019 at 15:00

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Annika is such a pretty name. If we had a child on the horizon I’d consider that name pretty strongly.

And a 2015 i8 is now something like 70k or less, now. Not my personal bag, but I did take a second look at that price.

superdave847 > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely 01/26/2019 at 15:03

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Thanks! My family is Norwegian and my wife’s is Finnish, so we looked for ethnic names. Our son was named Henrik.

I agree that at 70k, it starts to look like a good investment. I’m curious to see what the Audi and Porsche EVs are priced at.

Rico > superdave847 01/26/2019 at 15:38

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The thing I’m most impressed with is the unicorn pancake, that’s amazing lol.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > superdave847 01/26/2019 at 16:51

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There is a part of me that definitely wishes I could be Scandinavian. One of my closest friends has cousins in Norway and I'm dying to see what's over there.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > superdave847 01/26/2019 at 20:18

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I am a big fan of the i8, especially the roadster, save for 2 things.

1: the price, new it is way up there, used it may seem like a value, but I still can’t even afford to pay attention to $ 60K +. The most expensive daily driver I have ever even considered is half that... and here in flyover country, that is a generous figure for an annual salary, not an affordable figure for a secondary car.

2: mechanical inaccessibility and BMW’s reputation for expensive out-of-warranty costs of ownership or repair.

I really wish i8 were made out of metal and plastic, rather than Carbon Fiber, and started with an MSRP under 40K for a PHEV with a small turbo engine, 1o-20kwh  of battery, and an electric motor.

superdave847 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 01/26/2019 at 21:49

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I’m also in flyover country, right? I live in Missouri.

Personally, as a driver who has bought BMWs and driven them up to 200,000 miles, I think the maintenance costs are more reasonable than most people say. If you’re a car guy with basic know how and a trustworthy independent shop for post-warranty repairs, they are not bad. On my current 335i, I had the Carmax warranty until 120,000 miles, which was awesome.

For a ny issue (in total: I had an ignition issue, a tire sensor, and my windshield washer pump) , I took it to Autohaus, received great work, a nice loaner, and couldn’t be more pleased.

But, I agree with you on the costs of the i8. It has no business costing more than a base 911. If I were buying a two seater, I would buy an Alfa Romeo 4C every time for a quarter of this money.

superdave847 > Future Heap Owner 01/26/2019 at 23:01

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You’re ahead of my pancakes skills!

superdave847 > Rico 01/26/2019 at 23:01

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It was super cool

boxrocket > superdave847 01/26/2019 at 23:45

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Now I want a Blue Note pancake...

hmm, where’s all my food coloring...?  

superdave847 > boxrocket 01/26/2019 at 23:50

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We’re Chicago fans, living in enemy territory, so I kept my mouth shut.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > superdave847 01/27/2019 at 07:44

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And I’m still a Ducks fan, to go along with my 949 phone number , despite living just a couple of miles south of Enterprise/Scottrade Center for the last 6+ years. I haven’t been over to watch the Blues play, but I have gone to the lounge area at The Hill Cigar Co. to enjoy a smoke and a drink and to watch hockey on their big-screen TVs.

I do miss the perks and dealership invites that come along with owning a nice German car. The dealers back in SoCal took very good care of me even though my cars were a little older. I haven’t spent much time visiting the BMW, Porsche, or Mercedes dealers out here, with the exception of stopping in with a friend to pick up his wife’s CPO 328i after service. I do love my Mazda and am pleased with the dealer, but there is certainly a difference in the way you get treated when you spend $50K+ on a car vs. $18 K...

boxrocket > superdave847 01/27/2019 at 09:10

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Guess I won’t invite you to a hockey game at Enterprise Center then ;)

In seriousness, though, ( if you’re not native) welcome to St. Louis! I’m a lifelong resident, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask.

I actually want to get up to Autohaus soon. Apparently they have a McLaren there.

superdave847 > boxrocket 01/27/2019 at 09:57

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We moved here from Chicago in 2014 & bought a house in Shaw. We love it here.