Swapping the A2 for a BMW i3 - thoughts please

manhattan$ said:
The i3 is the perfect city car to run alongside an A2.

Although my A2 TDI is off the road undertaking a engine transplant, it will be used for long journeys where i cant be bothered to use the i3 and stop at a free fast CCS charger for 20 minutes.

Maximum range driven very carefully at optimum outside temperatures and it would return around 100 miles. The new larger battery version will do at least 120 miles, most likely a bit more.

Tyres are around £100 a corner for Bridgestones and the ride comfort on 20's is far better than a A2 on 17's.

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I suspect the ride is helped at least a little by the wieght of the motor and all those batteries. When you hit a bump there is at least some weight resistance to stop you from being rattled.

I would go for the REX version (and I am tempted too) it is just that I prefer to not have to worry about finding a charge point when the battery is fading.

My biggest dilemma would be due to the fact that I can only have two cars where I live, so one of the A2s would have to go.

It would seem obvious to sell my wife's TDI 90 and then we could share mine, but my wife (understandably) is saying "NO, there is no way I would drive your A2 around, I would be too scared to scratch it" I can see her point. So that would mean selling mine!!! Not only would that kiil me, but I would effectively be losing about 18K (because regardless of how much I have spent on it (i.e. TOO MUCH) there is a ceiling on how much any A2 would be worth).

So that is probably the only thing stopping me from getting an A2.

Wait a minute!!! I think I have a solution, sell her car and replace it with the i3, she can use it around town and I can use it whenever I want.

No wait another minute!!!! My wife would NEVER drive anything other than an A2, she absolutely loves A2s and she i not "into cars" at all!!

Damn, looks like I won't be getting an i3 after all!!!

Steve B
 
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The stiff carbon shell also helps.

The REX is about an extra £3k and sounds like there is a little moped in the boot. It also suffers with EML problems. Those and the fact of dragging a heavy mechanical lump around, slower 0-60 time and more things to go wrong put me off.

I had a test i3 for a few days and it threw up the EML and the chugging engine was embarrassing.

Imo, go all electric, with the new higher range i3.


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Birchall said:
I suspect the ride is helped at least a little by the wieght of the motor and all those batteries. When you hit a bump there is at least some weight resistance to stop you from being rattled.

I would go for the REX version (and I am tempted too) it is just that I prefer to not have to worry about finding a charge point when the battery is fading.

My biggest dilemma would be due to the fact that I can only have two cars where I live, so one of the A2s would have to go.

It would seem obvious to sell my wife's TDI 90 and then we could share mine, but my wife (understandably) is saying "NO, there is no way I would drive your A2 around, I would be too scared to scratch it" I can see her point. So that would mean selling mine!!! Not only would that kiil me, but I would effectively be losing about 18K (because regardless of how much I have spent on it (i.e. TOO MUCH) there is a ceiling on how much any A2 would be worth).

So that is probably the only thing stopping me from getting an A2.

Wait a minute!!! I think I have a solution, sell her car and replace it with the i3, she can use it around town and I can use it whenever I want.

No wait another minute!!!! My wife would NEVER drive anything other than an A2, she absolutely loves A2s and she i not "into cars" at all!!

Damn, looks like I won't be getting an i3 after all!!!

Steve B
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Reading between the lines there was a hint that you would consider selling your A2 if it was for the right sum? :-O
 
manhattan$ said:
Just bought an i3 and love it! Best car ive owned.

£25pm to run on electric.


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Love this - ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️


Andy Nicoll
07977170544

JDM Import specialists
www.facebook.com/bhpimports
 
A2Steve said:
Reading between the lines there was a hint that you would consider selling your A2 if it was for the right sum? :-O
Click to expand...


More or less EVERY car is for sale for the right sum!!! ;)

But there is no way that I will get the right sum for mine (if I was ever to sell it that is, which I am NOT)

It has cost me far too much and so the selling price would be rediculously high and nobody would pay it.

Steve B
 
Birchall said:
More or less EVERY car is for sale for the right sum!!! ;)

But there is no way that I will get the right sum for mine (if I was ever to sell it that is, which I am NOT)

It has cost me far too much and so the selling price would be rediculously high and nobody would pay it.

Steve B
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You never know Steve , it's all been money well spent - what are you talking £15,000 or more ?




Andy Nicoll
07977170544

JDM Import specialists
www.facebook.com/bhpimports
 
I did a test drive in an i3 and I loved it! Feels a little like driving a space ship! The one pedal driving is also great when you get the hang of it.
BUT! A car that you really can't use your wrenches and spanners on? That's not a car for me. And the million dollar question. Can you mod it?
 
GuruX said:
I did a test drive in an i3 and I loved it! Feels a little like driving a space ship! The one pedal driving is also great when you get the hang of it.
BUT! A car that you really can't use your wrenches and spanners on? That's not a car for me. And the million dollar question. Can you mod it?
Click to expand...

I heard that the i3 motor is capable of 300ps. Although it would need more suitable wheels for that sort of power.


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If the main reason for buying an EV is for their 'green' credentials then the latest research by Edinburgh University may be cause for concern. They found the significant increase in weight over conventional vehicles (Comparable cars from the Nissan and Renault ranges were included in the survey) resulted in greater tyre wear. The atmospheric pollution from the rubber micro particles seems to be as deadly as exhaust fumes, possibly negating the EV benefits of zero engine emissions.
If the government cottons to this, road tax on all vehicles may soon be based on weight with a separate 'wear' tax on tyres.

A more realistic concern for me would be the true vehicle range in winter. The rare road test which has touched on this suggests that with the heater, wipers, lights, radio all on full belt, the actual mileage could be more than halved.

Cheers Spike
 
spike said:
If the main reason for buying an EV is for their 'green' credentials then the latest research by Edinburgh University may be cause for concern. They found the significant increase in weight over conventional vehicles (Comparable cars from the Nissan and Renault ranges were included in the survey) resulted in greater tyre wear. The atmospheric pollution from the rubber micro particles seems to be as deadly as exhaust fumes, possibly negating the EV benefits of zero engine emissions.
If the government cottons to this, road tax on all vehicles may soon be based on weight with a separate 'wear' tax on tyres.

A more realistic concern for me would be the true vehicle range in winter. The rare road test which has touched on this suggests that with the heater, wipers, lights, radio all on full belt, the actual mileage could be more than halved.

Cheers Spike
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I agree with the WINTER range comments spike, it's certainly something to consider , however remote or timed "pre warming" whilst it's plugged in at home in the morning etc or at work before leaving is a potential massive BONUS

As for weight - the lightweight Audi A2 is around 1050kg (depending upon Spec), the Audi A1 top spec is over 1300kg, The BMW i8 weights in on top spec at just over 1300kg too. Thanks to its carbon fibre/plastic custom frame.

Which is one the draws of this car, it truely seems to be a car like the A2 of value and ahead of its time


Andy Nicoll
07977170544

JDM Import specialists
www.facebook.com/bhpimports
 
GuruX said:
I did a test drive in an i3 and I loved it! Feels a little like driving a space ship! The one pedal driving is also great when you get the hang of it.
BUT! A car that you really can't use your wrenches and spanners on? That's not a car for me. And the million dollar question. Can you mod it?
Click to expand...

A i3 for me would be part of a 3 car plan. The other car would be a diesel with huge range (like the A2 or perhaps bigger in the future die to my expanding family). And the 3rd and most important car would be a gas guzzling highly tuned (Japanese spec) sport car which is where my weekends would be spent


Andy Nicoll
07977170544

JDM Import specialists
www.facebook.com/bhpimports
 
spike said:
If the main reason for buying an EV is for their 'green' credentials then the latest research by Edinburgh University may be cause for concern. They found the significant increase in weight over conventional vehicles (Comparable cars from the Nissan and Renault ranges were included in the survey) resulted in greater tyre wear. The atmospheric pollution from the rubber micro particles seems to be as deadly as exhaust fumes, possibly negating the EV benefits of zero engine emissions.
If the government cottons to this, road tax on all vehicles may soon be based on weight with a separate 'wear' tax on tyres.

A more realistic concern for me would be the true vehicle range in winter. The rare road test which has touched on this suggests that with the heater, wipers, lights, radio all on full belt, the actual mileage could be more than halved.

Cheers Spike
Click to expand...
Yeah, that might be true about the micro particles. Hey, let's develop better tyres then! I guess what they didn't mention is the difference in CO2 emissions, causing global warming. If you buy renewable electricity that is.
 
If your average is 60 miles per day, you will be all ok in the winter months.

The bmw i3 App has a timed pre conditioning which can be set. This will warm the batteries up to normal operating temperature to increase range. It will also warm the interior up for you, so you wont have to de ice your windows.
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Beautiful car , s I8, but not everything is nicely finished. As the carbon body , this is really bad finish this you can see if the door is open. Bonnet at the front does not stand up , so you should always have someone to hold it open for something to unpack. But very well thought to renew a rear screen .

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