[fishpond]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

From a "regular person's" perspective the R8 is a car i stop for. Hell I will even chance them down high speed lane as long as I can follow (or if in heavy traffic). The i8 may break necks but the R8 still turns heads especially people who can recognize its presence even under a tame color

The R8 may well receive a different response in the US but my comments are just based on my own experience with the R8 here in London.... Aside from the noise factor, I felt completely invisible!

In fact the only conversation I had when out and about was when someone asked if it was the new Audi TT - which I actually found hilarious!!

The R8 V10 is certainly faster and holds it's value much better the i8, but if I was actually considering one, personally I think I would just buy a Huracan.

[JasH]

I completely agree. R8 is just a poor second choice to a Huracan, and is virtually invisible in the UK.

i8 depreciation is another story of course. Appalling in the UK, and bad enough to put me off buying another BMW in future. All caused by oversupply of cars into the UK, so BMW entirely to blame.

[antzcrashing]

Originally Posted by JasH

I completely agree. R8 is just a poor second choice to a Huracan, and is virtually invisible in the UK.

i8 depreciation is another story of course. Appalling in the UK, and bad enough to put me off buying another BMW in future. All caused by oversupply of cars into the UK, so BMW entirely to blame.

If R8 is invisible in UK, I dont want to live in the UK, sounds terrible

[orion1977]

Originally Posted by evanevery

Thats nice (your mileage), but that's not what the average driver is seeing (30-39 mpg). See here for C&D's "Real World" tests:

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews...-driver-page-3

Its going to depend directly on what your average distance is between charges and the i8 doesn't offer much pure EV range...

30-39 is when you have both motors and the generator on. But if you e-drive most of the time, you can hit 70 mpg easily.

[drlonline]

Originally Posted by orion1977

30-39 is when you have both motors and the generator on. But if you e-drive most of the time, you can hit 70 mpg easily.

And with the LCI updates, the e-range is now 30+ miles (based on my every day experience), so running more on e-Drive alone is much more doable.

[orion1977]

There's irony in this forum.

You have one camp that says the i8 is overpriced, then you have another camp saying the i8 in underpriced b/c of depreciation. Which is it?

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by orion1977

There's irony in this forum.

You have one camp that says the i8 is overpriced, then you have another camp saying the i8 in underpriced b/c of depreciation. Which is it?

Its pretty consistent... New = Overpriced, Used = Overly depreciated (from a sellers perspective).

Buy a used one!

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by drlonline

And with the LCI updates, the e-range is now 30+ miles (based on my every day experience), so running more on e-Drive alone is much more doable.

If you bought an i8 to run in pure EV mode, I think you bought the wrong EV...

[drlonline]

Originally Posted by evanevery

If you bought an i8 to run in pure EV mode, I think you bought the wrong EV...

I bought the i8 so I can run it in both EV and Sport modes since it's my DD. No reason to burn fuel when I'm running errands in town, so the EV mode suits that perfectly. When I'm ready to have fun in the mountains, I switch to Sport mode. It's great to have both capabilities in one car.

[Maxxsirrah]

Originally Posted by evanevery

If you bought an i8 to run in pure EV mode, I think you bought the wrong EV...

you seem to have a real downer for some reason on anyone that uses the car efficiently, especially charging it and using it in EV mode. One might think that perhaps in fact you might be the one bought the wrong vehicle as you do not use it as it has been designed to be used. It is the dichotomy that makes the i8 such a compelling proposition for me.

But hey, if you're happy burning fuel then what can I do?

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Maxxsirrah

you seem to have a real downer for some reason on anyone that uses the car efficiently, especially charging it and using it in EV mode. One might think that perhaps in fact you might be the one bought the wrong vehicle as you do not use it as it has been designed to be used. It is the dichotomy that makes the i8 such a compelling proposition for me.

But hey, if you're happy burning fuel then what can I do?

I didn't buy the i8 to run in pure EV mode - I have a Tesla for that... I, in fact, am running the car the way it was intended (combined mode).

It seems ironic that folks both say what great mileage they are getting when running in pure EV mode yet almost in the same breath say they think its best used for combined operation...

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Maxxsirrah

you seem to have a real downer for some reason on anyone that uses the car efficiently, especially charging it and using it in EV mode. One might think that perhaps in fact you might be the one bought the wrong vehicle as you do not use it as it has been designed to be used. It is the dichotomy that makes the i8 such a compelling proposition for me.

But hey, if you're happy burning fuel then what can I do?

I'm honestly not trying to dis the i8. (I bought one...)

The i8 (to me) is a technological marvel. Its fun to drive, great to look at, and is fairly efficient.

When folks say its a great EV - I think they are kidding themselves. When they say its a great performer - that's not particularly accurate either.

The i8 is not particularly great at anything (except maybe appearance). Its not a great EV. Its not a great performer. But that's not the point.

The i8 is exactly the sum of ALL its features - its an engineering work of art - and that is what makes it special!

[orion1977]

I think anything that hits 50-75 MPG is great efficiency. You don't have to have it on performance mode all the time. Performance wise, it's faster (and better looking and more efficient) than most Aston Martins, and the first generation base R8. The first base R8's torque is a measly 318 lb ft.

[Msizzle]

im trading in a gen 1 base v10 R8 on Thursday for a 16 I8. I know my R8 is faster but with the huge bump in TQ and the fact that its instant i think around town the I8 will feel faster. Obviously when able to stretch its legs the R8 will shine, the song the v10 sings is marvelous!! Looks wise and interior tech the r8 is not even close. Before the R8 i had a 700+whp M6, the r8 was damn near half and i enjoyed the r8 way more. i found my self enjoying nights out and afternoon rendezvous with the wife way more often. For what i will be using it for i think the I8 fills role no problem. I could careless about the fuel economy so whatever i get i get. I got a 5200 mile 16 and I'm paying in the 80's, Everyone always says you can get X car, I can't think of one that checks all the boxes of the I8 for that price.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by orion1977

I think anything that hits 50-75 MPG is great efficiency. You don't have to have it on performance mode all the time. Performance wise, it's faster (and better looking and more efficient) than most Aston Martins, and the first generation base R8. The first base R8's torque is a measly 318 lb ft.

I've been driving my buddies i8 and love it. At first i thought it was just another GT car, like a SL, or whatever, but was pleasantly suprised that it's more sport than grand touring which is very cool. One of my other cars is a S2000 and I can say this handles great. IF it didn't have that carbon chassis, that would be the case. Again, pleasantly surprised that is very FUN to drive.

Originally Posted by Msizzle

im trading in a gen 1 base v10 R8 on Thursday for a 16 I8. I know my R8 is faster but with the huge bump in TQ and the fact that its instant i think around town the I8 will feel faster. Obviously when able to stretch its legs the R8 will shine, the song the v10 sings is marvelous!! Looks wise and interior tech the r8 is not even close. Before the R8 i had a 700+whp M6, the r8 was damn near half and i enjoyed the r8 way more. i found my self enjoying nights out and afternoon rendezvous with the wife way more often. For what i will be using it for i think the I8 fills role no problem. I could careless about the fuel economy so whatever i get i get. I got a 5200 mile 16 and I'm paying in the 80's, Everyone always says you can get X car, I can't think of one that checks all the boxes of the I8 for that price.

That's not a bad deal. Laser headlights? Rare option. What color? And was your R8 a gated shifteR?

[evanevery]

The i8 Roadster is one of the few EV convertibles available. That is a major factor of what sold it for me. (I traded in my M6 Convertible on the sale). I already had an EV sedan.

It looks like Smart is releasing a Convertible EV this fall but it only has a 57 mile range (but then you are DONE - no ICE)...

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by evanevery

The i8 Roadster is one of the few EV convertibles available. That is a major factor of what sold it for me. (I traded in my M6 Convertible on the sale). I already had an EV sedan.

It looks like Smart is releasing a Convertible EV this fall but it only has a 57 mile range (but then you are DONE - no ICE)...

Oh nice! M6 conv is pretty quick. You had an I8 coupe too?

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Jason B

Oh nice! M6 conv is pretty quick. You had an I8 coupe too?

Nope. The coupe never "called to me". My M6 was my summer, fair weather, toy - so the i8 Roadster replaces it nicely!

[Epirali]

I have a question for those of you who have driven the i8 Roadster. How is the road noise when the top is closed compared to the i8 coupe (first gen)? I am very curious specially from those who have driven the original coupe regularly.

Thanks.

[zagaboo]

BMW Maidstone have a roadster in donnington grey for £99995. Maybe my early prediction that they'd be £90K by Xmas will hold

[fishpond]

Originally Posted by zagaboo

BMW Maidstone have a roadster in donnington grey for £99995. Maybe my early prediction that they'd be £90K by Xmas will hold

Indeed - I think you are correct.

Also I just checked and BMW UK are offering £10K deposit contribution on the Roadster already!!! Give it a few months and that will likely increase to ~£20k contribution as they did with the Coupe a while back...

[JasH]

Sadly unsurprising. December will see massive discounting on the Roadster.

I'd have considered swapping to one in December when its v cheap, but really don't want to lose the rear seats.

It would be a pointless for me to have another 2 seater.