[Zipforia]

I'm looking to get into either one of these two. I gather that there is bias towards i8 here, but wanted to see what i8 owners thought. Here are some of my "pro's and con's."

991.2 C2S
Pros
Great "real" engine sounds...although it's turbo now
Great handling
Sub 4 sec. 0-60mph with PDK and Sport Chrono pkg.

Cons
911s are kinda common
911s pretty much look the same
No feeling of exclusivity

i8
Pros
Out of this world design
Those doors....wow
Great mpg
Not many around...(although I've heard it's flooding the market recently)
Great lease deal vs. Porsche

Cons
No memory seats
No blind spot warning
No as fast as other $140k cars off the line

These are just my list of pros and cons. I'm sure some you will agree and some you wont, but it's just a list that's relevant to me. Nonetheless, I just wanted to get other's input. I'm coming from 2010 Audi S5, then 2014 X5 35ixDrive. Thanks for the input.

Z.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by Zipforia

I'm looking to get into either one of these two. I gather that there is bias towards i8 here, but wanted to see what i8 owners thought. Here are some of my "pro's and con's."

991.2 C2S
Pros
Great "real" engine sounds...although it's turbo now
Great handling
Sub 4 sec. 0-60mph with PDK and Sport Chrono pkg.

Cons
911s are kinda common
911s pretty much look the same
No feeling of exclusivity

i8
Pros
Out of this world design
Those doors....wow
Great mpg
Not many around...(although I've heard it's flooding the market recently)
Great lease deal vs. Porsche

Cons
No memory seats
No blind spot warning
No as fast as other $140k cars off the line

These are just my list of pros and cons. I'm sure some you will agree and some you wont, but it's just a list that's relevant to me. Nonetheless, I just wanted to get other's input. I'm coming from 2010 Audi S5, then 2014 X5 35ixDrive. Thanks for the input.

Z.

I think it depends on what you are looking for. I think every enthusiast should own a Porsche 911 at one point in their life. I haven't done so yet but it is on my bucket list. The closest that I came was when the delivery of my i8 was postponed for almost 3 weeks. I almost purchased a 991 Turbo S with center lock wheels and nearly all other bells and whistles. I digress.

Please keep in mind that the i8 also boast a sub-4 second 0-60 time as tested by both Car and Driver and Road and Track. The big difference in the i8 vs cars in this class is the performance above 100 mph. The HP deficit in the i8 shows here. Other than that, it is the equal in performance to most cars in it's class IN NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY situations.

The added bonus is the technology and the advanced drivetrain. Rather than simply thinking about accelerating and braking, you shift your though process to energy deployment, energy recovery, and general systems management. It is a great intellectual exercise. The added bonus for the general public, in my case, is that I actually drive a little less angry now! The constant F1 sound from my Tubi's entices one to greater speed and a little more aggression while driving. The effect of the i8 is a bit more soothing. Additionally, even though my M6 is heavily modded, I suspect that you would agree that the i8 is more comfortable than the 911 as a daily driver, ingress and egress aside.

Regarding the creature comforts...I generally don't care. I don't need memory seats as I am the only one who drives my performance cars.

You already covered all that need be said about the looks.

I hope this helps you.
Cheers-mk

[jcpca356]

991.2 C2S will depreciate like a rocket in the first 3 years

[YWGT3]

Two very different cars. One's built purposefully for track performance and for racing, whereas the other is for innovation, sports and daily driving. Take the 911T on the track and you'll appreciate its capabilities. Take it on the streets as a daily drive, it may become redundantly apparent that the ride quality comes at the expense of its superb handling, especially when driving over uneven roads and potholes.

The i8, though offering the look, performance and feel of an exotic sports car, carries forward a very different mission than the traditional sports car. The i8 is BMW's attempt to achieve the paradox of creating an everyday driving vehicle with low carbon emissions, high fuel efficiency and sports performance. Although I can tell you that the i8 offers drivers different driving experiences through its various drive modes (all electric, eco-pro, comfort, sports traction, sports non-traction), the description will not replace the experience of a test drive.

Speaking of test drives, I staggered my test drives with a series of cars on the same day before coming to an informed decision. I would recommend doing the same in order to immediately determine the inherent differences between the two vehicles.

[Zipforia]

Great points. Thanks, guys. I'll test drive both on the same day. I drove both, but on different days.

Z.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

I think it depends on what you are looking for. I think every enthusiast should own a Porsche 911 at one point in their life. I haven't done so yet but it is on my bucket list. The closest that I came was when the delivery of my i8 was postponed for almost 3 weeks. I almost purchased a 991 Turbo S with center lock wheels and nearly all other bells and whistles. I digress.

Please keep in mind that the i8 also boast a sub-4 second 0-60 time as tested by both Car and Driver and Road and Track. The big difference in the i8 vs cars in this class is the performance above 100 mph. The HP deficit in the i8 shows here. Other than that, it is the equal in performance to most cars in it's class IN NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY situations.

The added bonus is the technology and the advanced drivetrain. Rather than simply thinking about accelerating and braking, you shift your though process to energy deployment, energy recovery, and general systems management. It is a great intellectual exercise. The added bonus for the general public, in my case, is that I actually drive a little less angry now! The constant F1 sound from my Tubi's entices one to greater speed and a little more aggression while driving. The effect of the i8 is a bit more soothing. Additionally, even though my M6 is heavily modded, I suspect that you would agree that the i8 is more comfortable than the 911 as a daily driver, ingress and egress aside.

Regarding the creature comforts...I generally don't care. I don't need memory seats as I a m the only one who drives my performance cars.

You already covered all that need be said about the looks.

I hope this helps you.
Cheers-mk

Fully on board with everything you said. Except: how much 100+ mph driving vs. other cars have you actually done (or are you likely to do)? I happen to be German and live near Germany, so I pop over there every so often and let the car stretch its legs. Yes, a SL 63 AMG may pull a little harder through the triple digits. But (a) even in Germany, it's rare that you can really do that, (b) cars like the one mentioned lose half their power to their stability control systems, so it's kind of pointless, (c) most fast cars are limited to 250 km/h / 155 mph, (d) I've done a number of 200+ mile trips through Germany in my i8, and I was the fastest thing on the road each time - and the coolest. You don't come across 911 Turbos that want to race you every day.

So, in summary, the i8 is a very potent and highly enjoyable car in 99.9% of normal people's everyday driving situations. Just stay out of the the other .01% when you encounter them, and you'll be fine.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

Fully on board with everything you said. Except: how much 100+ mph driving vs. other cars have you actually done (or are you likely to do)? I happen to be German and live near Germany, so I pop over there every so often and let the car stretch its legs. Yes, a SL 63 AMG may pull a little harder through the triple digits. But (a) even in Germany, it's rare that you can really do that, (b) cars like the one mentioned lose half their power to their stability control systems, so it's kind of pointless, (c) most fast cars are limited to 250 km/h / 155 mph, (d) I've done a number of 200+ mile trips through Germany in my i8, and I was the fastest thing on the road each time - and the coolest. You don't come across 911 Turbos that want to race you every day.

So, in summary, the i8 is a very potent and highly enjoyable car in 99.9% of normal people's everyday driving situations. Just stay out of the the other .01% when you encounter them, and you'll be fine.

Thanks for the thoughtful response!

I understand what you are saying, in theory but in actual practice my M6 will destroy my i8 once we are above 70mph as well as once we are moving. The digs are simply traction events and the AWD is very efficient. And although the marked speeds on our interstates here are 70 and 75 mph in my area, the objective reality is that the traffic most often flows at 80-90 mph on the open roads. Additionally, we track our cars a fair amount and the difference would be glaring, if I trust my butt dyno.

Please keep in mind that I LOVE my i8!!
Even though it doesn't have the power to keep up in higher speed ranges, the chances of actually running into a car with superior power in a situation that can lead to an...encounter are minuscule.

Cheers-mk


P.S. I drive P500S, S6, DSC OFF as long as the roads are dry and the temp is above 45F. I am my own stability control!

[Zipforia]

I'm thinking of taking my car to the track as well. With that in mind, I lean towards the Porsche; however, when I compare the amount of time on the track vs. on everyday road, I lean towards the i8.

Z.

[chylld]

I tested both the 991.1 C2S and i8 late last year. I found the Porsche to be pretty horrible... heaps of road noise and the ride was pretty harsh, and the steering also felt very woollen. It was ultimately faster when pushed to 8-9 tenths, but below that the i8 was far more flexible.

Also the i8 made people look at the car. The 911 actually made people look away

Definitely test drive both yourself, but for me the i8 was the winner by a long shot. Also check out second hand McLaren 12C's, not sure about your market but down here in Aus they are all in the same ballpark.

[Zipforia]

Good call. I will look into used 12C. Thanks.

Z.

[kip1]

In my opinnion the i8 is more of a gt car, than the 911. It is quiet and comfortable compared to the carrera. The C2S will lose to the i8 in anything but a dry, clean, warm asphalt if the C2S has new tires, otherwise the i8 will take it thanks to 4wd. If you want to do serious track time, the i8 narrow tires will be a problem. When I changed from the Panamera Turbo to the i8, some corners I used to take full throttle in the Panny, the front end loses traction with oem tires, it feels like the front wheels bend under you, but that is only on the limit in s-corners. The i8 is more of an allrounder vs the Porsche, and then there is the consumption, about 10l/100km less fuel is burned! Good luck.

[chylld]

Thanks for sharing kip1. Is there any capacity to fit slightly (10mm) wider tyres to the i8? I run 225/255 on my Lotus Evora S and it tracks quite nicely.

[kip1]

I think you need to mod the chassis for anything wider to fit, atleast so far no one on the board has just fitted wider rear tires in the front.

[Zipforia]

Does racing tires come in standard i8 tire size?

Z.

[chylld]

Originally Posted by Zipforia

Does racing tires come in standard i8 tire size?

Z.

According to tirerack, only 2 sets come in 215/45R20 + 245/40R20:

BRIDGESTONE POTENZA S001 (max performance summer) (factory tires)
BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK LM-32 (performance winter/snow)

So the answer is no

There's nothing available if you add 10mm front and back (225/45R20 + 255/40R20)

Even assuming you could somehow fit wider tires, the closest match (<1% rolling diameter change) is 235/40R20 + 275/35R20, and there's nothing available in that combo either!

[Zipforia]

Thanks, Chylid.

Wish there were more options with i8.

Z.