BMW i8

[Just a Reader]

Same goes for "lap time". Going to some special circuit and pressing it to the bottom is not much different from "never pressing the accelerator pedal more than 1/2-way down" - lap times are irrelevant. i8 and MS are not racing cars, they are "civil cars" made for public roads. i8 may have the looks for some (not for me) but not much more than that.

Plenty of people take their sports cars to the Ring. You need no racing license to drive there. Not too impressive to see the tailpipes of some old Escort RS there when you are supposedly driving such a badass car yourself.
I don't believe that the P85d is a bad car or that its acceleration isn't extremely impressive, but some Tesla fans are extremely selective in their criteria of what constitutes a great car.

 

[WarpedOne]

Some other people may take the MS to the 'mud challenge' and get stuck in the mud.
It says nothing about the car and plenty about those people.

Horrorz, Model S is no good in mud, therefore it cannot be named a great car!

 

[JRP3]

I don't believe that the P85d is a bad car or that its acceleration isn't extremely impressive, but some Tesla fans are extremely selective in their criteria of what constitutes a great car.

It's a good thing none of the Tesla detractors use selective criteria, such as performance on a race track....

 

[Just a Reader]

Tesla fans are always happy to compare the S and the D to performance cars like the M5, the AMG E 63 or in this thread to the i8. It's therefore entirely legitimate to ask how the Teslas perform on the track.

 

[dsm363]

Tesla fans are always happy to compare the S and the D to performance cars like the M5, the AMG E 63 or in this thread to the i8. It's therefore entirely legitimate to ask how the Teslas perform on the track.

They compare the acceleration, not track times. Acceleration is a real world usable metric for merging, taking off at a stop light....etc. in the US at least I don't think you'll find too many highways where going over 80mph is legal. Germany isn't representative of the entire world's driving style. The fact that the Model S P85D can be mentioned in the same breath as a McLaren F1 says a lot about the Model S. Full track speed at 155mph is not something most people use. Yes, the Model S will likely never be the ideal track car. We aren't saying it is. The i8 certainly isn't either. It looks like it should be but isn't.

 

[chickensevil]

Tesla fans are always happy to compare the S and the D to performance cars like the M5, the AMG E 63 or in this thread to the i8. It's therefore entirely legitimate to ask how the Teslas perform on the track.

Look man, all I was getting at was that it is a shame that BMW can't offer a REAL competitor to the model S. I want there to be some good alternatives but the i8 just ain't it. I am actually quite excited for the Detroit electric because although it is going to be far too expensive it seems like a legitimate counter to the roadster. If the i8 was trying to compete with the roadster or the Model S, it falls short on many fronts and track times ain't one of the ones I am talking about.

The "thing to buy" if you want to take a car to the track all the time is actually a Miata of all things. I was really shocked to hear about how so many people are ditching their BMWs and Mercedes and such for a Miata. So if we really want to hate on cars and their terrible "track times" let's throw out a rather cheap car that is likely to run laps around both cars!

- - - Updated - - -

Point is of you are buying EITHER car for the sole purpose of taking it to the track and coming off as a BA, then you are very stupid with your money and totally doing it wrong. Neither car (Model S or the i8) was designed for that so your shouldn't be surprised when you come up a little short.

 

[JRP3]

Tesla fans are always happy to compare the S and the D to performance cars like the M5, the AMG E 63 or in this thread to the i8. It's therefore entirely legitimate to ask how the Teslas perform on the track.

The point is you accuse "Tesla fans" of using selective comparisons, while you do the exact same thing.

 

[Lloyd]

I saw an i8 sell for $205,000 yesterday! At these prices, BMW will likely wake up to the EV demand!

 

[chickensevil]

I saw an i8 sell for $205,000 yesterday! At these prices, BMW will likely wake up to the EV demand!

Dealership extortion? I am very glad I didn't have to fight anyone for a fair price on my model s!

 

[M67v]

The BMW i8 is a Tesla wannabe FAIL! Let me tell you why.
Don't get me wrong, the i8 is a beautiful car. But so is the Tesla. The BMW has scissor doors, but then again, the Tesla has retractable door handles. Both pretty cool.
Here's where the BMW is a lot worse than Tesla. First of all, you can't take your i8 to the Tesla Supercharger, let alone get a Fast Pack Swap.
Second, the BMW still uses gas. Not only is that a hard for Die-hard Tesla fans (like me, who doesn't have one as we speak, but will hopefully get one in the future) to get over, but combining gasoline, and electricity costs together really doesn't help you save.
Also, Tesla's touchscreen rocks. BMW's I-DRIVE sucks. Need I say more?
The BMW, despite having certainly less interior room than the Model S, the BMW is SLOWER than the Tesla Model S P85, and the i8 is no way faster than the P85+ or ​P85D for that matter.
The BMW only goes 15 miles on electric power, and an additional 315 miles on gasoline.
Finally, the i8 is frickin expensive! The i8's starting price is a whopping $135,700! Meanwhile, a Tesla Model S P85D AWD with just the Tech Package with Autopilot, is $109,920 before the federal tax credit, and the Tesla would cost way less than the BMW in the long run.
What's more, the Tesla is a better car than the i8 in every single way! Styling is debatable. Otherwise, the Model S is superior to the BMW i8.
Even if the i8 was cheaper, I still would buy the Tesla.

 

[Mr X]

Tesla fans are always happy to compare the S and the D to performance cars like the M5, the AMG E 63 or in this thread to the i8. It's therefore entirely legitimate to ask how the Teslas perform on the track.

The Tesla accelerates quicker than literally every car using no gas. Acceleration is what matters, not top speed. M5/AMG's use and waste gas to accelerate slower. Real world is what matters, not the track.


Model S is more efficient, better looking, and just better in every category than every other car that exists. Cant consider any other car because all other cars are below its level. Its simple to understand, if you have a brain and use it.


And Koenigsegg Founder Drives Tesla Model S: Better than a BMW M5 - autoevolution


/any argument

 

[Right_Said_Fred]

Thank you. But it doesn't mean much if we do not know how many kWh's were used during those 1200 kilometers. Can you give us an update on the total distance covered, liters of fuel used and kWh's used?

 

[Zextraterrestrial]

How much are I8s selling for? I was just at BMW in norcal and they have one for $249,999.
it used to be 299,999.i was a little shocked. would waaay rather have 2 P85Ds or just one even.
I laughed quite a bit. Dealership seems to be the way to go(if you own it!)

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

My wife's org's SVP - who owns a Roadster and an MS too - at Salesforce.com just got gifted an i8 by Benioff for a successful product launch recently. Nice bonus!

 

[Dchint]

Tesla fans are always happy to compare the S and the D to performance cars like the M5, the AMG E 63 or in this thread to the i8. It's therefore entirely legitimate to ask how the Teslas perform on the track.

I had the pleasure of driving on the Autobahn a few years back while visiting a friend....it was anticlimactic. Most of the drivers aren't driving much over 70/80mph if at all...only rarely did I see a car even hit 100mph....just because you CAN drive as fast as you want doesn't mean you do...so this track business is BS. If you want to talk track times, then there's plenty of cars made for that....

 

[nwdiver]

I had the pleasure of driving on the Autobahn a few years back while visiting a friend....it was anticlimactic. Most of the drivers aren't driving much over 70/80mph if at all...only rarely did I see a car even hit 100mph....just because you CAN drive as fast as you want doesn't mean you do...so this track business is BS. If you want to talk track times, then there's plenty of cars made for that....

.... are you sure you were on the right part of the Autobahn? I think most of it has a speed limit now... I drove from the Neatherlands to Austria and IT... WAS... A.... BLAST! Probably won't get to do it again but driving >100mph on the highway legally was A LOT of fun. On multiple occasions are car would pass me like I was sitting still WHILE I was driving ~100mph!

 

[SwedishAdvocate]

Mostly favorable as I remember it.

 

[Realist]

3500 km.

The last 1500km I have been using the Sport Mode more often. It’s just too much fun hearing that “fake” 3 cylinder roaring and punching with the help of it’s electric motor up front. This car is fast. Very very fast. You can have 500hp+ supercars for that money but the i8 is just right there in terms of speed. There’s instant torque EVERYWHERE. 180-250 kph in one gear happens so quickly. The acceleration out of slow speed zones is deeply savage. I honestly think that in the real world it murders a P85+. No contest. P85D different story though…….

Handling……..You get used to it. You learn to play with it. Don’t try to brake into corners too late and too hard like in a standard sportcar. The i8 can’t do that. Instead take it easy and then touch the accelerator gently with the rear ICE engine taking control and giving you a nice and controllable slide. You can get it sideways and the electric torque in the front helps you out. You can play with it due to it’s low grip levels. It’s no race car and a 911 Carrera S destroys it on a track. But it is a lot of fun. It’s indeed very adjustable, if you get it right. It is indeed entirely different to anything I have driven before.

Drawbacks. I don’t like the pure EV mode because the poor traction from the skinny tires means all that torque just doesn’t arrive on the ground. That’s a shame because performance through town is adequate. I have been driving around villages without using the slightest amount of gas. But it’s honestly not that engaging.

 

[svp6]

I think the i8 is gorgeous, and I did consider before ordering the p85d. The biggest problem is supply - my dealer told me that 2015 is already sold out - I suspect that is why the dealers can command that huge premium - talking about the dealership protecting the consumer debate . Styling is fabulous, and if it was made by Tesla we would all be a little less critical of it perhaps:wink:. The other issue is getting in and out of it. Unless you are very fit, this is going to be a problem. Also I could not see myself not getting my suits dirty going over the high door sills. But do I love the looks? Absolutely.

 

[andrewket]

I love the look, and the interior. Tesla wins everything else. I don't want a hybrid. I want a BEV. Add to that the markups based on the lack of supply...