[BimmerGuyTX]

I flew up to Atlanta last week and drove my i8 back to Texas (over 800 miles) and it has been everything I expected and more. It was a comfortable drive, and is something I'll remember for the rest of my life. I read online before purchasing that it draws ALOT of attention but it gets waaaay more attention than I anticipated. At my first stop for gas in a small town in Georgia, there was a chick hanging out the back of a pickup truck taking pictures and multiple people coming to talk to me at the pump. Every time I stopped, the car got the same response. I met all kinds of people from truck drivers to punk rockers and they all seemed to flock to the car like flies on Sh**. One thing I found weird is that probably 90% of the people asked "how much" which I would never ask anyone. I've found that when I stop for coffee in Texas the clerk will just say "the coffee is on me" and when I go to a drive thru window for food they give me "extra stuff". I took it to the BMW dealer on Saturday for an oil change and brake fluid flush (still covered under maintenance) and I got better service there than I ever had as well (this is my 16th BMW and I have been there many times). They even hand washed the car for me. I am used to BMWs being kind of temperamental like a woman, but I think the i8 may be just a bit more than the typical ones. My last stop for gas on my trip, I forgot to close the gas cover and got a message on the dash to close it and not drive. I pulled over at the next exit (about 2 miles), left the car running, closed the gas cover, and got back in. The "engine" light was lit up orange and the car would not start (even after shutting it on\off a few times). I turned it off for about 5 mins and then started it again and it was fine. It scared me for a bit and I thought that I was going to have to get it towed. I have had no other issues with it since and I have driven it over 1400 miles. It will probably rub off, but I find myself trying to think of places to go or things I need to do just so I can drive the car. I've also had neighbors come over that have never spoke to me before just to see the car. I think that if a psychologist gets anyone that is lonely they should prescribe them an i8. Of course they will have to be physically able to get in and out of the hump. My last observation (I know I have been babbling on) is that the i8 seems to make people smile as soon as they see it.

[jcpca356]

After 40 months, I still share your enthusiasm. Have fun!

[MichaelJohn]

Yep, people love the car. I took mine to cars and coffe this weekend and even parked next to a McLaren the i8 got more attention. There was one guy who was really examining the doors very carefully so I asked him him if he wanted to see how they operated as I opened the passenger side. He said he already knew as he was the McLaren owner and he also had butterfly doors. I felt like an idiot.

[Maanpur]

Congrats. What color is your i8? It is really weird when people ask you the price however those are the people that really don't know anything about cars. Enjoy your i8.

[emmfive]

The car does get alot of attention. Right after I got it, I was stopped at a light behind a 918. A dad and his son beside me were taking pics of my car and giving me thumbs up, etc. I was pointing to the 918 but they didn't get it. That cracked me up.

[ericsi]

Like your post and still share your enthusiasm 3 years down the line.

[jmg]

That sounds like a lot of fun, 800 mike road trip in an iconic car!

[NGR]

I had a bizarre moment when in a supermarket car park, a couple of guys in a Toyota Supra Turbo taking pictures of my i8 and I was taking pictures of their now-classic Supra!

The i8 does draw attention, all so far has been very enthusiastic and positive.

[ChiTownM]

It does surprise how many people still don't know what the car is or that it has been around for nearly four years. Even at car meets. Enjoy it!

[ImGoingPlaces]

Nice post, everyone is asking me "how much" as well.

[Jason B]

Cool

[wanesso]

3 years of ownership and not a day has gone by that a photo (or several) are taken and people love to ask about the car--and you're right, makes everybody smile.....

[Jason B]

Question, when charging the car with the BMW cable you can’t seem to take the cable out until it’s fully charged when you’re at home in the garage plugged into an outlet. Is this true? What if he wanted to just charge it for 20 minutes and you’re in a rush, you have to wait till it’s fully charged?

[jojo]

You can take it out unless the car is locked.

[rarlyl8]

Congrats from the ATL.

[BeMyWife]

"what do you do for a living?"

The sensor in the gas cover/door can fail easily so if you see the error message again I would bring it to the dealer. They will replace the sensor no questions asked as this is a common problem for the i8