[Hawaii i8]

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Guys I'm contemplating trading my 2015 M4 for a i8... Why? because the i8 just looks so good and it appears to have excellent sports car characteristics as well.

I'm not in any way sensitive to price, I'm not really that interested in saving gas other then I'd like to minimize spewing CO2 into the atmosphere if possible... So does it make sense to buy an i8 on looks alone?

I'm a long time Ferrari driver so I love high performance, road handling and sprite driving.. I don't track my cars as I have a shifter Kart that makes almost anything else seem tame on the track.... So Am I going to be disappointed with an i8?

Mush appreciate any guidance

[MalibuBimmer]

Keep the M4 and get an i8.

[Hawaii i8]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

Keep the M4 and get an i8.

Looks like thats the combo you have gone with :-) Is there a reason I should have both? I'm not sure I need another car which is why I was looking at a swap.

[hytek]

Every time you go out you'll feel guilty that you're choosing the i8 over the M4, and if you give in to your guilt, you'll be frustrated that you're not driving the i8. You'll be in constant agony.
It may be different if you went to the track, or needed to haul lots of things. Otherwise, I can't see myself driving anything else.

[shawnhayes]

The i8 is a fine car on looks alone, and is lower and more "sportscar" like than the M4.

It is never a disappointment on the road. The M4 is faster around a road course, but by very little and if the i8 had sticky tires I'm not sure it would be at all ahead.

I love mine.

Shawn

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

Keep the M4 and get an i8.

This.

I kept my E63 M6 which spews CO2 into the atmosphere and provides a visceral driving experience that the i8 cannot duplicate. They are different vehicles that behave is completely different ways, dynamically.

Keep the M4 and get an i8.

[MalibuBimmer]

As I've said in the past, the i8 is a string quartet, the M4 is a rock band. I like both, depending on my mood. Also, the M4 has real back seats -- and a real trunk (boot) -- when I have more than 1 passenger.

[jcpca356]

i8 is a supermodel, do her occasionally. Sell the M4 and get an older V8M3 for those moments when you miss old school

[rap427]

Only BMW people know an M4/3. The rest of the world do not yet know what an i8 is hence the fun of owning the future.

[garage queen 335is]

Keep M4 and get the I8
This is my combination

[Hawaii i8]

Originally Posted by garage queen 335is

Keep M4 and get the I8
This is my combination

Now thats a real M car :-) Fantastic!

[Hawaii i8]

Originally Posted by jcpca356

i8 is a supermodel, do her occasionally. Sell the M4 and get an older V8M3 for those moments when you miss old school

I miss my old V8 M3!!! I traded it for my M4 and to be honest it was a mistake, the new M4 lacks that visceral feel the the older cars had and it feels big on the road... Such a shame!

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by BigIslandM4

Guys I'm contemplating trading my 2015 M4 for a i8... Why? because the i8 just looks so good and it appears to have excellent sports car characteristics as well.

I'm not in any way sensitive to price, I'm not really that interested in saving gas other then I'd like to minimize spewing CO2 into the atmosphere if possible... So does it make sense to buy an i8 on looks alone?

I'm a long time Ferrari driver so I love high performance, road handling and sprite driving.. I don't track my cars as I have a shifter Kart that makes almost anything else seem tame on the track.... So Am I going to be disappointed with an i8?

Mush appreciate any guidance

That's a very reflective question, actually. I think I agree with most people on here who say, have both.

But it's odd, isn't it? There's not that much of a performance difference between the two. Although I get the point about four seats and a trunk.

I think it's our old petrolhead brains messing with us. It's withdrawal. I haven't seen my fuel dealer in over two months and I'm missing her.

I do watch my driving style in the i8 more consciously than I used to in my Porsche. And it does help to have another car, where that simply doesn't matter. I have my classics for that. But an M4 would do just fine.

[Hawaii i8]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

That's a very reflective question, actually. I think I agree with most people on here who say, have both.

But it's odd, isn't it? There's not that much of a performance difference between the two. Although I get the point about four seats and a trunk.

I think it's our old petrolhead brains messing with us. It's withdrawal. I haven't seen my fuel dealer in over two months and I'm missing her.

I do watch my driving style in the i8 more consciously than I used to in my Porsche. And it does help to have another car, where that simply doesn't matter. I have my classics for that. But an M4 would do just fine.

I guess I'm still resisting becoming a guy who thinks about driving conservatively all the time :-) For the whole of my life I've been a peddle to the floor sort of guy, I love cars especially fast cars, the noise the smells.... So I'm having a hard time accepting the reality of the new world we find our selves in. The i8 seems to bridge those worlds to some extend which is why it intrigues me. A Tesla IMO just looks so boring, I really admire its technology and performance but it looks like just another computer optimized design - I'm trying to avoid that decision :-)

[wanesso]

Originally Posted by BigIslandM4

I miss my old V8 M3!!! I traded it for my M4 and to be honest it was a mistake, the new M4 lacks that visceral feel the the older cars had and it feels big on the road... Such a shame!

Both is obvious if you can swing that ! I have no regrets keeping my V8 M3, I understand the difference there is with the M4, great car but lacks that feel you mention compared to the V8.....always first in my heart. But HOLY CRAP THE i8 is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL to drive, to look at, to be amazed at.......absolutely phenomenal car....

[Hawaii i8]

Originally Posted by wanesso

Both is obvious if you can swing that ! I have no regrets keeping my V8 M3, I understand the difference there is with the M4, great car but lacks that feel you mention compared to the V8.....always first in my heart. But HOLY CRAP THE i8 is ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL to drive, to look at, to be amazed at.......absolutely phenomenal car....

Good call keeping your V8 :-) I think I am smitten with the i8 :-)

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by BigIslandM4

Good call keeping your V8 :-) I think I am smitten with the i8 :-)

The i8 is the antithesis of a Ferrari. While I enjoyed the visceral sensation of a 4.3 liter V8 and the kart like handling of the 430, I learned a lot of things that I was less pleased with in owning an Italian sports car - reliability, practicality, cost of repair (constant front end carbon fiber repair due to low ride height) to name a few. After getting accustomed to its inherent characteristics, I relented to using it as a weekend car and eventually ended up trading them in since I did not get much use nor enjoyment out of them.

The i8 on the other hand, is not meant to deliver the track like sensation of a Ferrari nor is it meant to deliver top tier acceleration or track times for that matter. Instead, in my opinion, it is an amalgamation of several driving performance characteristics, all wrapped up into a concept car that BMW successfully brought into fruition. For me, BMW delivered a vehicle that is practical for my purpose. The i8 appeals to me on several fronts. It's: innovative (Emission friendly and energy efficient, evolutionary design and functions), practical (proper front end clearance for public roads, ever day drive, GT quality ride due to suspension and wheel base and sports car handling due to low center of gravity), non-Italian sports car temperament (maintenance and reliability issues). Also, the i8 seems to be less of an infringement to the public or can even be driven in a stealth like (e-mode) manner - it's less raspy and annoying when driven through residential and commercial streets. Specifically, I had two Italian sports cars a while back which, in my mind, produced rather sensational and intoxicating throttle notes. However, and to my surprise, I received a lot of comments (mostly negative - about 80% of the time) regarding their loud and obnoxious exhaust noise, even while driven in a non-aggressive manner. Having spent an extensive amount of time visiting London, I became all too familiar and painfully aware of where these comments were coming from. So in the end, I was looking for a sports car that I could enjoy while not making a nuisance on pedestrian laden public areas as well. The i8, in this case, with its piped in boosted throttle notes, solely for my personal listening pleasure, seems to fit my personal bill.

I recognize all of us have different expectations when it comes to the i8. However, nothing beats a test drive to determine whether it pushes all the right buttons for a purchase. Therefore, I highly recommend doing so before arriving at a final decision. Best of luck!

[Hawaii i8]

Originally Posted by yw

The i8 is the antithesis of a Ferrari. While I enjoyed the visceral sensation of a 4.3 liter V8 and the kart like handling of the 430, I learned a lot of things that I was less pleased with in owning an Italian sports car - reliability, practicality, cost of repair (constant front end carbon fiber repair due to low ride height) to name a few. After getting accustomed to its inherent characteristics, I relented to using it as a weekend car and eventually ended up trading them in since I did not get much use nor enjoyment out of them.

The i8 on the other hand, is not meant to deliver the track like sensation of a Ferrari nor is it meant to deliver top tier acceleration or track times for that matter. Instead, in my opinion, it is an amalgamation of several driving performance characteristics, all wrapped up into a concept car that BMW successfully brought into fruition. For me, BMW delivered a vehicle that is practical for my purpose. The i8 appeals to me on several fronts. It's: innovative (Emission friendly and energy efficient, evolutionary design and functions), practical (proper front end clearance for public roads, ever day drive, GT quality ride due to suspension and wheel base and sports car handling due to low center of gravity), non-Italian sports car temperament (maintenance and reliability issues). Also, the i8 seems to be less of an infringement to the public or can even be driven in a stealth like (e-mode) manner - it's less raspy and annoying when driving through residential and commercial streets. Specifically, I had two Italian sports cars a while back which, in my mind, produced rather sensational and intoxicating throttle notes. However, and to my surprise, I received a lot of comments (mostly negative - about 80% of the time) regarding their loud and obnoxious noise they made, even while driven in a non-aggressive manner. Having spent an extensive amount of time visiting London, I became all to familiar and painfully aware of where these comments were coming from. So in the end, I was looking for a sports car that I could enjoy while not making a nuisance on public roads as well. The i8, in this case, with its piped in exhaust boosted notes for my personal listening pleasure, seems to fit my personal bill.

I recognize all of us have different expectations when it comes to the i8. However, nothing beats a test drive to determine whether it pushes all the right buttons for a purchase. Therefore, I highly recommend doing so before arriving at a final decision. Best of luck!

Fabulous feedback, much appreciated!

[ChiTownM]

Another member here that kept my e92 gas guzzling M3 and added the i8. Both are so different, and I find myself driving the M less right now. Hand washed it on Labor Day and haven't driven it since.....that's how good the i8 is. I am now using it to commute daily which I hadn't intended on doing.....I do prefer the steering feel and engine/exhaust note on my M3 with a AA Signature Exhaust though.

[Hawaii i8]

Originally Posted by ChiTownM

Another member here that kept my e92 gas guzzling M3 and added the i8. Both are so different, and I find myself driving the M less right now. Hand washed it on Labor Day and haven't driven it since.....that's how good the i8 is. I am now using it to commute daily which I hadn't intended on doing.....I do prefer the steering feel and engine/exhaust note on my M3 with a AA Signature Exhaust though.

How does it do as a commute car?

[hytek]

I drive it everywhere. I went shopping today, and transported:
- 2x12 wine bottles
- 3x12 beers
- 1 Glenfiddich
- 1 Backpack
- 1 Child

There was still plenty of room left.

I... just like to stock up.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by hytek

I drive it everywhere. I went shopping today, and transported:
- 2x12 wine bottles
- 3x12 beers
- 1 Glenfiddich
- 1 Backpack
- 1 Child

There was still plenty of room left.

I... just like to stock up.

Love the shopping list. How much was the kid?