CALLING ALL i3 AND i8 OWNERS

'What they are missing?'  that sounds rather condescending!  The Daily Telegraph did not even manage to drive from London to Brighton in an i3 before they had to use the expensive optional auxiliary PETROL engined generator - otherwise their wonder car would have ground to a halt beside the road, and on arrival they could not find any charging points!

Keep your over-priced, over-complicated, and over-sold fashion accessories - I am more than happy with my eighteen-year old Z3, which I can mend!  Perhaps we should have a meeting to show what YOU are missing, and maybe offer you a tow home . . .

No thanks John - I do not need or want four seats, and when your i8 is, like my Z3, eighteen years old it will probably have had several expensive failures, made more expensive because 'We do not support that unit any more, but . . .'  not to mention the inability of any BMW dealer to handle even basic electrical problems.  They will of course replace electronic modules in the hope that it may cure the problem - and if they do not effect a cure they will still charge for it!

I would certainly not buy a new type of car where there seems to be no important information available - for example, what is the projected (or hoped for) battery life, and how much will a new one cost?  Here in France, Renault charges extra for the battery - every year, as it is only leased -  like paying extra for an engine in a normal car!  How much do the various control modules cost to replace, or has BMW established a support system for them?

Against that background a comparativly simple car is a far better bet, unless you can afford to keep replacing an almost-new car to stay abreast of new technology.  Fine for those whose cars are basically paid for by their company or the taxman,  but not such a shining example for us common folk.  No - I will keep my old car and enjoy it - and save a lot of money in the process!  

If you need a tow, you know where to come!

PS:  I do not own a smart phone, and use my old Nokia about once a year . ..


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 18 Apr 2016 at 8:15am

Ho ho the i8 rrp 106,310 to 116,305 . How many club members own one? This is a little like the situation some of the Alpina owners have, that the owner is judged on the price of the car originally.

Apart from the fact the i8 seems to depreciated like a baby falling off of Everest what is the real interest. Is it I have one because I can, I have one to be different, its an elitist car in the context of the majority of owners in this club that I have met. It almost makes me wish I still had my 500 pounds E39 523i just to be an equal member. Its a minority interest item.