The BMW I8 is probably one of the most iconic BMWs ever made. Launched back in 2014, it’s a car that looks like no other with its curves, its butterfly doors, and the awesome alloy wheel designs. The I8 has recently ceased production, but it still looks very modern indeed.
The main issue with the I8 was something that will benefit you massively on the used market. It’s depreciation, and just like any other luxury BMW this car’s value fell like a stock market crash. Now, these cars were almost $150,000 which is a heck of a lot of money. Nowadays though, you can get one for far less. I’ve seen some I8’s go for as little as $62,000 which is almost $100,000 less than the original MSRP.
The reason why the I8 depreciated so much, was because it was a confusing car. BMW marketed the I8 as this hybrid mid-engined sportscar that was ready to take on the 911 Porsche and Mercedes AMG GT. Yet, it had far less power than its competitors, less cylinders and it was very expensive. The I8 was truly ahead of its time, and I think BMW was hoping that other manufacturers would make a similar car to the I8 and spark a revolution. After all, they had done so with the X6. Unfortunately, that never happened.
The I8 was a very aerodynamic car with its carbon fiber monocoque and the center of gravity is also very low. Handling then was pretty good, but it could have been better if BMW fitted proper tires to the front wheels. The front of the I8 utilized economy tires which were not very good at all. You see, economy tires sacrifice grip and handling for better fuel efficiency. AC Schnitzer did address this on their tuned I8 by fitting wider proper performance tires to the front of the I8. This drastically improved overall grip and handling.
BMW also stated that the I8 originally would do over 100 mpg. That wasn’t so true since in the real world it was far less than that at around 35 to 40 mpg. Pretty good for a sports car but it made no difference over 100 mpg less than what was claimed.
But anyways, the I8 is a pretty cheap car these days. here’s why if you’re looking for a cheap supercar this one may just be for you.
For $62,000 Does Anything Else Turn as Many Heads?
If you want a car that attracts supercar levels of attention for real sports car prices, the I8 is the one for you. It looks like a UFO, and it sure will turn heads everywhere it goes regardless of whether it’s in a small town in Michigan or all the way in downtown Manhatten. No other car looks like an I8 at all, so it sure is a complete one-off.
For sure, you can have a new C8 Corvette for less, and that is a faster car. However, wait times for that vehicle are ludicrous plus the I8 has another trick up its sleeve which I will explain later. The I8’s design in comparison to the new C8 Corvette is very different. The Corvette may look very exotic but it isn’t unique as such since it has a lot of European influence. BMW’s I8 on the other hand is very unique with a complete one of one design.
Plus the doors on the I8 are so cool. Can you find any other car that is cheap (apart from a kit car) that has doors like the I8? I don’t think so. The doors make this car feel that extra bit special and luxurious.
It’s Pretty Quick.
The I8 may be powered by a tiny little 3-cylinder turbo from the Mini, but it still packs a punch. It has 228hp and 236 lb-ft of torque which is pretty decent, but not enough for a car like this. Hence why in addition, BMW has fitted a 129hp and 184 lb-ft of torque electric motor. In total, this car pushes out 357hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Later models did get an increase in electrical power, so they produced 369hp.
That may not sound like a heck of a lot of power, and the I8 wasn’t that light either at just over 1500 kg. More than its rivals. However, the instant torque from the electric motor coupled with the AWD system made this car very quick off the line. The I8 hits 60 in around 4.2 to 4.6 seconds depending on body style.
Flat out this car does 155 mph which is very quick. Plus around corners, this car is very fast indeed and the I8 does a quarter-mile time of 12.1 seconds.
Inside Its Nuts.
The interior of the I8 is beautiful. It’s full of sexy curves and the seats look so space-ship-like. The inside of the I8 just like the outside truly is one of one. Nothing else really compares. back in 2014, this car was just so ahead of its time and even today the interior is modern.
Most of the controls though such as the iDrive system are from other normal BMW models. So everything is quite easy to use. The rear seats are pretty much useless though they can fit an adult for occasional short journeys. All in all though, very comfortable indeed and build quality just like any other BMW is top-notch. This car is very much a grand-tourer and you could spend all day inside the I8 and not get tired.
In Comparision To Similarly Priced Other Cars
Other cars similarly priced to the I8 include cars such as the GTR Nissan, the Porsche 911, the Jaguar F-Type, the Aston Martin Vantage, the Maserati Granturismo, the Aston Martin DB9, and the Audi R8. The I8 may not be the fastest car out of all of these but it sure is the most unique.
Out of all these competitors, the I8 may just be the best pick. It may not be the fastest car out of all of these but the I8 is a great all-rounder. It’s comfortable, quick and very special indeed. Some may argue that it isn’t the best looking car out of all those other competitors but I do believe that it is the most special.
A 911 may be a better choice for an enthusiast, after all, Porsche has been building the thing for almost 60 years so they sure know what they’re doing. Plus the 911 is a Porsche rather than a BMW. However, the 911 has always looked a little understated in my opinion whilst the I8 looks more so like a poster car. If I wanted a full-on drivers-machine I would choose the 911 but the I8 being a BMW isn’t far off.
To Conclude.
The I8 is a supercar for silly money. It looks like a poster car, it’s pretty quick and the handling is top-notch. It is a very confusing car in the sense that it’s like a grand tourer, an eco-hybrid, and a supercar in one. Things like the economy tires at the front do not help with the identity of this car.
The I8 is a fantastic bit of kit and if you want the attention then this is the car to buy.