M6 vs i8

[Francoandlinda]

Been toying with swapping out my M6 with something else. Seen a nice i8 at the dealer today. Can anyone who has driven both shed some light in the comparison. Are they fast? Will I get the same excitement as the M6?

[spikespiegel]

Simple answer to both your questions, NO

[Flying Ace]

if speed and quickness is your concern, you will be disappointed with the i8. It's a 370hp car on 3500 lbs. To this in perspective, its in the performance category of a Nissan 370Z or a BMW M2

[mjposner]

I am 6' 1" and 215, and getting in and out of the i8 was a chore.

[Flying Ace]

but I guess, both the M6 and i8 are GT cars. That's a valid comparison

[BMWDriverX]

I test drove the I8. BMW made a mistake in the design, getting in and out of the thing was insanely difficult for someone that was 5'11'' @ 200lbs. My wife is 5'2'' and needed my help to get out, had she been wearing a dress or a skirt she would have pulled a Paris Hilton every time getting out of that stupidly designed car. Performance wise it is way behind the M3/M4/M5/M6 and sounds like a lawnmower. The car was built for people who know nothing about cars and just try to claim a stake of super car position because of the look of the I8, other than that it is going to be the most depreciating car BMW has ever built IMO.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by SoCalM6GC

I test drove the I8. BMW made a mistake in the design, getting in and out of the thing was insanely difficult for someone that was 5'11'' @ 200lbs. My wife is 5'2'' and needed my help to get out, had she been wearing a dress or a skirt she would have pulled a Paris Hilton every time getting out of that stupidly designed car. Performance wise it is way behind the M3/M4/M5/M6 and sounds like a lawnmower. The car was built for people who know nothing about cars and just try to claim a stake of super car position because of the look of the I8, other than that it is going to be the most depreciating car BMW has ever built IMO.

That's brutal. Frankly, I see myself owning an i8 at one point in my life. I know it's not a super car, or a performance car. It's not pretending to be anything. But for the brand, it's a cool high tech concept car. And if you see it that way, it's way cooler than any car out there for the money. There are no competitors or comparables

[mjposner]

I love the way the I8 looks, and the new roadster looks even better. I do agree that ingress and egress firm has been substituted for substance.

[brad850csi]

Obviously looks and the hybrid drivetrain are the key features of an i8 but without those I think it is closer to a 440i Coupe in overall performance and handling abilities. It isn’t an M car and was never designed to be. The interior is also pretty average in a few places and seems more like a 2 or 4 series to me and is no where near an M6.

[Taheemr]

i had one for a few days and thought it was every bit as quick as the M6 an more fun to drive

[BMWDriverX]

Originally Posted by Taheemr

i had one for a few days and thought it was every bit as quick as the M6 an more fun to drive

That's bananas. I test drove them both in the same day, the M6 blew the I8 away in every way except for the looks/exterior design and they were willing to give me an insane deal on the I8, I ran for the M6 and then drove fast out of the dealership with it

[WickedBMW]

Originally Posted by Francoandlinda

Been toying with swapping out my M6 with something else. Seen a nice i8 at the dealer today. Can anyone who has driven both shed some light in the comparison. Are they fast? Will I get the same excitement as the M6?

8 series is out. Go for that

[Taheemr]

Originally Posted by SoCalM6GC

That's bananas. I test drove them both in the same day, the M6 blew the I8 away in every way except for the looks/exterior design and they were willing to give me an insane deal on the I8, I ran for the M6 and then drove fast out of the dealership with it

The M6 has a real issue in getting its power down, in real world driving is id say i8 is quicker

[BMWDriverX]

Originally Posted by Taheemr

The M6 has a real issue in getting its power down, in real world driving is id say i8 is quicker

It's just a matter of rear tire selection. Stock vs stock, the I8 only makes 370hp so of course you will feel all those little ponies since the tires don't spin. I am pushing over 650whp on drag radials and I have lined up with an I8, it was like racing a Honda Accord, the I8 owner looked like he just paid $140k for a nice looking asphalt weight. When BMW gets serious about the rumors of a 550hp I8 then it may be something to look at for the price point, but it still has the design flaw for getting in and out on a daily basis.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by Taheemr

The M6 has a real issue in getting its power down, in real world driving is id say i8 is quicker

There is no way the i8 is quicker in any measurable test. Maybe for the first 10 feet off a standing start it'll be quicker with the instant torque of the electric motor and if the M6 isn't using launch control.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by SoCalM6GC

It's just a matter of rear tire selection. Stock vs stock, the I8 only makes 370hp so of course you will feel all those little ponies since the tires don't spin. I am pushing over 650whp on drag radials and I have lined up with an I8, it was like racing a Honda Accord, the I8 owner looked like he just paid $140k for a nice looking asphalt weight. When BMW gets serious about the rumors of a 550hp I8 then it may be something to look at for the price point, but it still has the design flaw for getting in and out on a daily basis.

BMW could have easily owned the market by launching the i8 with a retuned N55 and a slightly larger battery pack. That car would be pushing 400-420 hp on 3800 lbs and be close to the M3's performance.

Or dare I say, if they can pack a S63 with a battery (est. 620 hp), it'll be in the supercar territory. Though this configuration would weigh in well over 4000 lbs.

[TopEnd]

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

Or dare I say, if they can pack a S63 with a battery (est. 620 hp), it'll be in the supercar territory. Though this configuration would weigh in well over 4000 lbs.

That would of been insane!!! The i8 looks like it should be a high 10sec car.
are there any upgrades for that turbo 3cyl??