Here’s Why The BMW i8 Flopped

I go over all the reasons why the BMW I8 wasn’t a huge success
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00:00 Intro
00:26 Butterfly Doors
01:01 The Hood
01:34 Getting To The Engine
02:50 Interior Not “Exotic” Enough
03:26 Backseat Insanity
04:32 Failed Compromises
05:50 Skinny Tires
#bmw #cars #exotic #supercars #i8

[@michaelc2254]

You have completely missed the boat on this. First of all, getting in and out is not an issue. Enter butt first, then swing your legs in. Getting out - one leg out, then push yourself out with the other leg. Olympic gymnast? Hardly. I am 72 years old and I get in and out as easily as as a normal car without even thinking about it and so does my wife. The back seats are very useful for storage, and can be used for passengers for short distances. Having space back there is way better than having nothing. I find the 20+ mile electric range very useful for local drives and I have done many without starting the gas engine at all. As a result. I get 50+ mpg overall, and I plug it in to charge - I rarely change using the gas engine. You get more range by plugging it in. As for power, the electric torque is instant and it’s plenty quick. 420 ft lbs of torque is a lot for the car’s relatively light weight. In 2015 Road & Track and Car and Driver tested the i8 at 3.8 and 3.6 seconds to 60 mph respectively. That’s quick enough for me. I love that it’s fast AND efficient. Not to mention that there is nothing on the road that looks like it. The car has character, is fun to drive and I think the interior is just fine. I have owned many perfomance cars over the years, and I have an electric car in the garage that is faster, but the i8 is still my favorite.

[@leegould8743]

Thanks for posting an older owners perspective. I am currently dreaming of this car but was worried about some of the negative feedback. Your take on living with this car has really helped. Now just need to save up!

[@shelbynamels973]

So you are married to a woman still limber and agile. Good on you, mate.😁😉

[@michaelc2254]

Thanks for the comments guys. I am probably not your typical 72-year-old. I used to be a competitive cyclist and I still ride regularly and exercise religiously. I weigh the same as I did in college 50 years ago - 6’ and 150 pounds …well I used to be 6’ until I started shrinking!😀 My wife is 69 and she was a competitive ice skater and runner - she stays in shape as well. She still teaches ice skating on the side (we both work full-time because we want to, not because we have to). We are doing as much as we can to put off the inevitable as long as possible. Regarding the i8 - we recently took a trip to Lake Tahoe (we live in the SF Bay Area) and the car got over 40 mpg overall on a 400+ mile drive and it was a joy on the mountain roads around the lake. I have owned the i8 for 6 years and I still look forward to driving it.

[@Nafis_____]

@@michaelc2254 sir i'm a 18 years old boy from Bangladesh and this is my dream car. i'm seriously addicted with this car, i spend half of my day watching i8 videos. In my country, i think there only 3 or 4 unit of i8 and cost double from US with tax . i wish i could afford one or at least take a picture with one . have a safe drive sir and forgive me for my poor english.

[@KidGamer2002]

That's amazing to hear brother. I'm glad you lived a great life and you're still having a good time! God bless. Young business owner here, looking to make the i8 my first sports car purchase in the near future!@@michaelc2254

[@shelbynamels973]

To anybody complaining about the backseats in these types of cars, you have to realize that's a tax dodge. In a number of countries a car has to seat four in order to qualify as a business vehicle. Cars in the six-figure range ( which the MSRP of this car was) usually don't get sold but leased thru a business entity, with the cost treated as a tax write-off. So in order to keep this sales aspect alive, the car has to officially offer seating for four, even if two of them are midgets.

[@Gadne92.5]

Just like in Porsche 911 has always had and no one is complaining about those.

[@LegendaryTru]

Owned mine for a few years now and I still get all kinds of reactions. I put a 360 camera on mine and tuned it up so it’s faster than the norm.

[@thinline8504]

LMAOOO DAMN RIGHT.. car is still beautiful ... I live in the wealthiest town in the US ... all I see are 200K plus cars... however, when I see an I8 MY HEAD IS STILL SNAPPING.. it's such a beautiful car. would I buy one HELLLL NO.. aint touching a BMW. I sold my Mercedes after a year of owning it...

[@LegendaryTru]

@@thinline8504 I have an AMG CLA45 and I will say I like the way my Benz drives compared to the i8……I drive the i8 to work and special occasions. The Benz is for having fun and racing. I’m gonna put my 360 camera on my Benz next time I ride out…

[@LegendaryTru]

@@thinline8504 the sound in my AMG is way better than the sound and sensation I get from the i8…..my i8 is still a better looking car but performance wise. AMG hands down

[@Ravi-did-it]

Interesting, I own one and use it as a daily driver….and I absolutely love it. Getting in and out isnt difficult and I’ve NEVER hit my head once. If I were to critique anything I wish the battery had been larger capacity. But it works pretty well for my local commuting. The back seats are actually extremely useful when rarely need to transport 4 ppl whereas most supercars have zero chance.

[@Gadne92.5]

Exact my thoughts! I used mine as my daily driver, only car. During "summer season" I drove over 10k miles until winter (and road salt) came and had 0 issues with the car. The battery could be larger (capacity) but for that you'll need to get the "LCI" model, 2018 onward. They can actually make around 50km / 30ml in real life driving conditions. Only thing I agree with the reviewer is the interior. Its way too much like BMW 3 or 5 -series from that era and yeah, much plastic - way more than they used much cheaper 911 at the time for example.

[@firstlast9813]

Still want one

[@koopapro]

Me too but you gotta remember to keep 10k in cash to the side for random maintenance or have really good warranty

[@tecno8335]

Just here to say the I8 is iconic and never flopped they just stopped making it 😊

[@datacipher]

Yeah why they’d stop making this mega hit?? 🤔

[@lewis7515]

- they stopped making it, *because* , practically nobody bought it. Ie: it flopped.

[@Czechbound]

*New Subscriber* : That was great content, filming and editing. You're very good at presenting to camera. I guess they put the back seats in to make it more insurance friendly ( a 4 seater attracting a lower insurance quote than a 2 seater sports car ). I love these things. But with only a 7 year warranty on the battery, I'd be terrified of having to spend $15,000 ( I guess it must be that much ) on a replacement battery. Maybe when their worth only $25,000 it would make sense as if the battery went, total cost of $40,000 for such a great car could be digestible. All the best and greetings from Prague CZ

[@danielbarton6434]

Hello. Great video. Thanks for sharing man. I have owned 3 porsche 911s (I still own a 2018 GTS) and I'm on my second i8. I loved my first one so much that I bouth a 2019.So, more or less everything you said in this video is wrong. Sorry to say, because I like your videos, but... a couple of facts if you don't mind me sharing.. 1. It's quick. As quick as a base Audi R8 and 911 when it came out. Caur and Driver got 3.6s 0-60. I get 4 dead on my AiM on flat roads with all stock. Last time I checked that was around the same as Mercedes GT, Aston Vantage etc. Door sills are high, but it takes a day to learn, plus opening them are, in fact, easier (and need no more space) than normal doors. On a hill they are a massive advantage. Interior, compared to what car for its age? Bentley, Aston? yes more leather but the tech. kills them. Back seats? Male adults, no. Children yes, shopping yes, medium suitcase - yes! Looks? 10/10, ride? 10/10. Fuel economy, for a car that goes 0-60 in sub 4 s ... I'm driving mine right now with 63 mpg! You DON'T have to drive in sport to charge. You can charge anywhere, including at home. It's like you don't know what e-hybrid cars are. Thanks for the video, but as a car guy who loves petrol cars and manuals, this is my favorite car. Would I be wrong saying you went into this video looking for clicks? I wish that wasn't your job but I guess that's the internet. Anyone out there who is looking at an i8, I'm a 911 GTS owner, former owner of M5, AND Aston Martin Vantage 2011, and I promise you, if it were down to my 2018 Prsche GTS, as brilliant as it is, I would choose the i8 with a gun to my head.

[@kentmaf]

You totally hit the nail on this one, actually many people say negative things about the i8 without owning one.

[@Gadne92.5]

Only thing this i8 really lacks is the *real* petrol engine "note" or sound. That's literally only downfall of this car, at least for me. I've owned "997" 911 and Ferrari 360 among other things and for overall experience I'd choose this anytime: Really cheap to own / run / maintain / insurance / tax bracket ... All these are so huge things in Europe that average US viewer would never believe. The electric motor gives *instant* hit when pressing gas pedal, there's literally Tesla like initial acceleration. Super cars with petrol engine will never give similar "instant hook" kind of feeling, not even Nissan GT-R. I cant describe it, feels like your acceleration pedal would have direct contact to tyres. All the normal driving, accelerations up to ... 40-50mph you'll smack much faster / bigger horsepower cars in their face. 4 wheel drive, electric motor -> the thing just hooks. Car looks really good even its well over decade old styling, the shape is originally from late 2000's! And I bet no one believes but its actually quite engaging to drive "sports car" or "super car" in city center, suburbs etc. areas with total silence. It will turn more heads than your average boy racer in a VW GTI type of exhaust note.

[@BabacarJDiop]

🤣🤣 the seat back kills me sorry I was laughing a lot watching your face and trying to making it😂

[@prolific2111]

If they put a V10 from M Sport greatest sports car of the decade. The roadster is still a beauty

[@Booking35]

He's wrong the BMW owners spent a lot of time making that car and working at company's is actually a way to get money that's why it costs $150.000

[@kentmaf]

Owned one for 4 years now and we have a garage full of electric and gas vehicles. The i8 is something different and unique not a flop.

[@Mysteryboy0007]

whats ur 2 fav car tho?

[@krakrakakakakahah241]

YES! I got my eye on one. The i8 is nearing the bottom price these coming years so I see it as an investment (as long as I don't crash it) because that price will go up. I have seen it with multiple cars that I had my eye on like the Opel Speedster and even the Fiat Coupe. That 20 miles is more then enough for me for daily commute since I live in Holland. Driving this car you need to see it as party. Getting in getting out is trick you need to learn and you are forced to be a gentlemen all the time because you got to give your lady a hand. Parking this car is difficult since the doors can't open when you are in a tight spot. But the love, happiness and the big small that never leaves your face this great forever give you is worth every penny. The model will never get out of date... I got to have it... Like Tony Stark said: 'Buy it. Store it. I need it...'

[@lknanml]

2+2 Design means lower insurance and adds if you really need too you can haul 4 people which can end up being the last "pro" on the list for someone to purchase the car. Otherwise it would have just been for storage and well.. Why not make it into the least useful space for humans but still a space for humans.... I've often thought about buying one. I might next year as the price has gone low enough to add it to the fun car for a year or two list.

[@TravisFabel]

Its interesting to see the perspective of someone that has never owned a sports car (or 2+2)... he doesnt know how to get in it. He doesnt understand how manufacturing works. He doesnt understand mid engine accessibility... I think the boat BMW missed is that they marketed to people like him instead of a more appropriate target audience.

[@datacipher]

The coping in the comments is hilarious. 😂

[@steventhepig3173]

Wait he's SERIOUS?

[@gabaknegocios]

you forgot to mention the speaker and the sound of the engine

[@MrDahkilla]

4:05 lol

[@Djpaul-lo1px]

To say a lot of this is “reaching” would be an understatement....

[@R0TB]

hey keagan where's your pal jordan peele? lmfao

[@TonyNguyen-xe8fl]

Owned i8 for a few years still loving it. Over 60k miles no issues.. fingers crossed..

[@CambodiaShareFeeds]

absolutely on your idea.

[@magicmike1122]

To the ones like me that really love it, now we get to buy them for 50 cents on the dollar!

[@user-ul8oq4hn9n]

If it had a v8 it would have made it

[@mentsu.3308]

Is most of this video satire? How is driving more aggressively to recharge the battery counter-intuitive? The kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and the greater the input the greater the output. But then again I guess you must grasp what common sense is before understanding whether things are intuitive or not. Secondly, most of your scrutinies paired up with your backhanded compliments go to show how much of an uncouth reviewer you are. This car is iconic and your palate is simply not suited towards the caliber of that of the i8.

[@lertub]

Click bait

[@JPNox]

If this interior is not exotic enough, which cars would you say have exotic interior? I must say I kinda like it The other car I was thinking about is Ford Mustang and its interior (before 2024) is super dated, i8 looks like a spaceship cockpit in comparison

[@Gadne92.5]

Too much BMW 3/5 series stuff, nothing "special", nothing super car alike. And really cheap feeling plastic, not even "premium" feel. The much cheaper Porsche 911 at the time had much less plastic and the plastic in it was more "quality feel". I used to own one.

[@mujionomujiono6954]

Mobil yang keren. Tapi sedikit warna biru di mobil itu begitu mengganggu. Akan lebih baik jika dihilangkan

[@user-li5cf7hj8h]

They made these cars for rappers

[@Atomicpasi]

Sorry, you have no idea what you're talking about!! You didn't really understand the car or the concept behind it!!

[@AminduUmayangaKule]

It's a nice car🔥❤

[@shevshev3390]

Did he say bmdaddiw?

[@miguelj23]

He sounds like Kermit the frog

[@Agostinho86]

Imagine buying a 150k car and being worried about reaching the engine 😂 I want to enjoy the car. Let the mechanic enjoy the engine

[@grahamtricker4103]

No wonder you only have 826 subscribers. BMW have sold over 20,000 i8's which for a hand built carbon fibre car is good so I am not sure why your video is about it being a flop. Its also had amazing reviews around the world, so all I can say is "don't give up your day job!"

[@CookieCurls]

This is a parody right?

[@zooteraudio]

Don't give up the day job. You haven't got a clue.

[@DaBeast1012]

you honestly do not know cars and much about the i8

[@user-ep1vm7oh6c]

Hater!!

[@user-io1qk7lj7u]

Who made this guy a car reviewer..he looks like a brain but yet can't figure out how to get in..lol..obviously he's never owned a cool car

[@robertdavis5714]

It is funny to watch people get in and out. However, this car is a copy of a F1 Car, small engine in rear driving rear wheels and elec. motors driving front wheels. Is why I like this car.