[Diver]

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bmw...4-12-13?page=1

Perhaps a contrarian view, but an interesting read, none the less.

"If you want to save the planet, take a bus. If you want to buy the best car you can, don’t compromise and pretend that your extravagant purchase is actively helping the planet."

Yeah, I know that isn't how i8 owners view it.

[MalibuBimmer]

Old news. This was discussed at the beginning of the month here: http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1065511

[Diver]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

Old news. This was discussed at the beginning of the month here: http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1065511

It appears the article was briefly discussed, however you have linked to another thread that contains a link that goes only to some photos of the i8 but does not appear to contain the text of the article. Although I am not certain, I believe Marketwatch may have added some new material to what was supplied by Autoweek. At any rate, I believe it is significant that the business press picked up the issue.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by Diver

It appears the article was briefly discussed, however you have linked to another thread that contains a link that goes only to some photos of the i8 but does not appear to contain the text of the article. Although I am not certain, I believe Marketwatch may have added some new material to what was supplied by Autoweek. At any rate, I believe it is significant that the business press picked up the issue.

When I click on the link I provided I get photos and the story:

BMW’s take on the hypercar of the future

ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: I don’t say this for the sake of being a contrarian, but the 2014 BMW i8 is not the car of the future -- no matter how hard it tries to be precisely that. Or maybe it is the car of the future, which would be very bad news for cars.

For a moment, let’s attempt to ignore the i8’s exterior. Once you snake your way inside, you’ll find an interior that’s nice. . . .
. . .

There's also a contrary view by another Autoweek editor:

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Graham offers an exceptionally well thought-out critique of the i8 above, and I won’t argue with any of his points. They’re all valid, but they leave out one completely unexpected trait I discovered in the i8 -- something I haven’t felt in a BMW product in years.

Emotion.

That it took the digitized, hybridized, motorized spaceship that is the i8 to inject some personality into a BMW says something about the brand. Maybe the engineers were so busy trying to figure out how to make the thing they didn’t have time to design out all the quirks. It’s not perfect, and that somehow makes it far more endearing than a 6-series. . . .
. . .

So "Marketwatch" just published the hit piece. It added nothing but subtracted the opposing viewpoint.

[Diver]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

When I click on the link I provided I get photos and the story:

There's also a contrary view by another Autoweek editor:

So "Marketwatch" just published the hit piece. It added nothing but subtracted the opposing viewpoint.

The link did not work for me, perhaps I have too many security extensions in my browser.

Is there a rational reason why you want to make a federal case out of something you could have easily ignored?

[MalibuBimmer]

I guess I am amused at the schadenfreude some posters display when they find a gotcha.

So, thanks for pointing out, for the second time in less than a month, an article that slags the i8.

[Diver]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

So, thanks for pointing out, for the second time in less than a month, an article that slags the i8.

I think there is a bit more to it, which is why I quoted a particular selection of text from the article. My understanding is the i8 is a sales success for BMW, with long order backlogs. Not every automotive journalist likes every car.

You drive an i8, as long as you are happy with it, what difference does it make what Autoweek thinks? Most automotive journalists own 12 year old Accords, that makes them an expert, right?

[rap427]

It is always interesting to read their comments. As someone will have the opinion that any and all new cars are deficient for one reason or another, yet of all the manufacturers I have seen BMW of being accused of winning too many competitive trials year after year hence the accusation they are in somebody's pocket. The comparison market is getting tougher and tougher for these guys so at some point they will go after the lug nuts.