BMW i3

[trils0n]

Just had my first i3 sighting somewhere near Menlo Park on Hwy 101; it was going in the opposite direction at speed with no headlights on :cursing: despite the rain here today.

The front's unmistakable and the car's raised profile made it very visible even over the concrete hwy divider. Was definitely distinctive. As I glanced at the back in my side mirror, for some reason, it immediately reminded me of Walter White's Pontiac Aztek in Breaking Bad

Think I saw the same i3 at the Woodside Rd exit this morning. Lights off. Was larger/boxier than I expected. The photos definitely show the most flattering angles.

 

[EarlyAdopter]

I wonder how many potential Leaf and i3 buyers ask "can it charge at Tesla Superchargers?"

 

[AEdennis]

I wonder how many potential Leaf and i3 buyers ask "can it charge at Tesla Superchargers?"

I think the danger is more new i3 buyers confused between CHAdeMO and CCS...

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

I wonder how many potential Leaf and i3 buyers ask "can it charge at Tesla Superchargers?"

A fair number of them, I'm sure. Not that many Tesla SCs - that are in between towns along highways - are even reachable given these cars' range.

There was that unfortunate incident when a lady was trying to plug her Leaf (?) in at the Hawthorne SC. Charging site apps may lead some people to such SC locations.

 

[dhrivnak]

I think it is more likely the Tesla owners lamenting they can't use the more than 600 CHAdeMO chargers in operation.

 

[AEdennis]

I think it is more likely the Tesla owners lamenting they can't use the more than 600 CHAdeMO chargers in operation.

The $1000 adapter will be out soon enough.

 

[stopcrazypp]

Well, that seals the deal. I am booking one now.

<looks around. No SAE charger as far as the eye can see and nothing planned either. Cancels reservation>

If the buyer is in California (likely the main market for the i3), there's 200 planned, so it definitely helps kick start some demand for those chargers.

 

[RobStark]

I think it is more likely the Tesla owners lamenting they can't use the more than 600 CHAdeMO chargers in operation.

Unlikely, since we wake up every morning with 200-270 miles of range. After SC who wants to use those slow poke CHAdeMo?

 

[Nin ja]

i have to admit, that the Telsa is probably the best EV out there. My comparison would be to Tennis. The Model S is steffi graf, the BMW I8 is chris evert and the karma is anna, the performance and looks i think match very well ;-)

 

[efusco]

Went to an i3 test drive event locally today. I'm completely underwhelmed. The media center on the high end model is very nice, but for $12k more than a Nissan leaf, that's some expensive badging for less room and similar performance.

 

[DuncanWatson]

Think I saw the same i3 at the Woodside Rd exit this morning. Lights off. Was larger/boxier than I expected. The photos definitely show the most flattering angles.

I think a lot of drivers of new cars get told that there is the nice auto light feature and then find out that you have to set the option in menus to turn on lights when the wipers run. I don't know why manufacturers make the default for that off but it seems to be the trend. I do get annoyed at lack of lights or turn signals in a lot of drivers but in the rain with a car with temp plates I give them a qualified pass.

 

[gregincal]

I think a lot of drivers of new cars get told that there is the nice auto light feature and then find out that you have to set the option in menus to turn on lights when the wipers run. I don't know why manufacturers make the default for that off but it seems to be the trend. I do get annoyed at lack of lights or turn signals in a lot of drivers but in the rain with a car with temp plates I give them a qualified pass.

I wonder if it's different in California, since it's the law that you have to have your lights on when the windshield wipers are on. I bet manufacturers added the feature for that reason, but only turn it on for cars sold in California.

 

[yobigd20]

I saw one on a truck here in NJ about a month ago...weird.

 

[RobStark]

Official EPA i3 BEV ratings.

124 MGE and 81 mile range

http://insideevs.com/bmw-i3-bev-official-epa-rating-range-81-mpge-124/

 

[Elshout]

Going to have a test drive May 17th and will report. Would agree that the range is not sufficient.

 

[DaveT]

Official EPA i3 BEV ratings.

124 MGE and 81 mile range

http://insideevs.com/bmw-i3-bev-official-epa-rating-range-81-mpge-124/

Hmmm, 81 mile EPA is just slightly better than a leaf. I'll be test driving an i3 at end of month.

 

[VintageMark]

My wife's i3 is due to arrive a month or two before my Model S here in the UK.

It is not fair to compare the cars, they are designed for very different purposes. I think the average commute here in the UK is something like 25 miles a day, my wife does 32 miles a day (16 each way) M-F and that's about it...

It is a very 'nippy' (7.1 to 62mph BEV) little commute car, the interior is nice enough and it looks a lot better in person than in pictures in my opinion...

Both great cars for different purposes...

- - - Updated - - -

And I should have said... we were hours away from signing the paperwork on a Leaf for my wife's commute car when we decided to do a double check and discovered the newly available i3...

In our opinion... not even close... the Leaf 'feels' like an ICE with electric added... the i3 feels and looks electric from the ground up...

And for us the financials were only slightly different... so it was a no brainer...

 

[RobStark]

Hmmm, 81 mile EPA is just slightly better than a leaf. I'll be test driving an i3 at end of month.

2014 LEAF is EPA rated at 84 miles.

 

[Electroman]

$600/month lease for a two door car that has a range of 81 miles on a good day ?

 

[ggies07]

Ha! These are the kind of commercials I want to see more of in the future.