BMW Ads Then vs. Now

[MightyMouseTech]

Yup. This is what happens when a car company is driven by shareholders.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by Fundguy1

Yup Where's the new M1 supercar? Their answer to the z06, viper, Ford GT, etc.

We do not need a Supercar , we have no image to sustain when your regular high performance brand does all the talking and image showcasing you need.
BMWs as halo car for now is the i8 and should we move on? it will be a progression again performance via sustainable mobility and further example of less = more.

The i8 is the prefect example of innovation at an expansive level for a fraction of the cost.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

We do not need a Supercar , we have no image to sustain when your regular high performance brand does all the talking and image showcasing you need.
BMWs as halo car for now is the i8 and should we move on? it will be a progression again performance via sustainable mobility and further example of less = more.

The i8 is the prefect example of innovation at an expansive level for a fraction of the cost.

the i8 is fantastic....but the R8 and SLS AMG make it look positively gutless in comparison....sorry to say.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The US market was overtaken by China as BMWs largest market in 2012.

Do you think the stock crash in China will change that?

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

the i8 is fantastic....but the R8 and SLS AMG make it look positively gutless in comparison....sorry to say.

How long must it be continued to be said...
The i8 is NOT a competitor for the AMG GT or R8 or 911.
The i8 has at the moment no official competition because nobody has done anything equal for the same price.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

the i8 is fantastic....but the R8 and SLS AMG make it look positively gutless in comparison....sorry to say.

An i8 is "affordable" in comparison to the other two.

It's a great car that isn't just reserved for millionaires...although yeah you have to do well for yourself to afford one.

Anyway, part of its allure is that it's a halo car that we could actually afford. I could probably afford an i8 if I saved up for one, not so much the others you just listed.

My friends who've seen one have actually been surprised by how much they actually cost, assuming it was some $200k+ car.

Anyway, this thread has been amusing with the vast array of clueless armchair CEO's and product managers who seem to think they understand what it takes to remain competitive and profitable in a quickly growing and evolving market and it's the same answers I always hear from these armchair CEO's...build shit that they used to build decades ago...

But I guess that's why none of you actually run a multi-billion dollar business nor do you do any product development or planning for them.

But at least there's one company out there that sticks to the basics and sticks to it's core beliefs....wait, no there isn't. Porsche builds a 4 door sedan and TWO SUV's, Jaguar is about to release their first CUV, Lambo and Bentley are about to release their SUV's, and most have some form of hybrid or all electric cars. Oh what a terrible time to be alive...

Tastes, preferences and what people want change over time, plus the margins you can get on various products dictate what you build, hence why so many build SUV's and CUV's. They may not fit in line with the brand's core values or initial values, but with the cash and market share they bring in, they help fund all the other stuff.

[IEDEI]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

How long must it be continued to be said...
The i8 is NOT a competitor for the AMG GT or R8 or 911.
The i8 has at the moment no official competition because nobody has done anything equal for the same price.

correct; however the reason i mentioned the R8 and the SLS AMG is not because they are competitors but because those ARE the halo cars for those 2 marques just like the i8 is trying to be a halo car for BMW. Although i think the i8 is fantastic, i don't think it is as visceral of a car as a halo car should be. It caters more to the tech and engineering abilities rather than the idea of visceral appeal and enjoyment like the R8 and SLS do.

I respect BMW trying to do something different; but it's more novelty than necessity.

[ethanjoon]

"Now you don't have to trade in your family to own a sports car." :

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Arktis_Conviction

"Now you don't have to trade in your family to own a sports car." :

What if you want to?

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by IEDEI

correct; however the reason i mentioned the R8 and the SLS AMG is not because they are competitors but because those ARE the halo cars for those 2 marques just like the i8 is trying to be a halo car for BMW. Although i think the i8 is fantastic, i don't think it is as visceral of a car as a halo car should be. It caters more to the tech and engineering abilities rather than the idea of visceral appeal and enjoyment like the R8 and SLS do.

I respect BMW trying to do something different; but it's more novelty than necessity.

Fair point, but technically, all halo cars are more novelty than necessity.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

How long must it be continued to be said...
The i8 is NOT a competitor for the AMG GT or R8 or 911.
The i8 has at the moment no official competition because nobody has done anything equal for the same price.

NSX

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by Levi

NSX

No one really knows how much that will be but you're likely right.

[paradoxical3]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The i8 has at the moment no official competition because nobody has done anything equal for the same price.

Maybe nobody has done anything equal for the same price because they realize there is no market for an under performing, impractical, ugly car?

Lack of competition isn't always a good thing. You might think there is no competition because you are so far ahead when in reality, you are so far off track that you just can't see the rest of the competitors moving ahead of you.

[fecurtis]

Originally Posted by paradoxical3

Lack of competition isn't always a good thing. You might think there is no competition because you are so far ahead when in reality, you are so far off track that you just can't see the rest of the competitors moving ahead of you.

Eh I don't know about that.

It's not easy to create a carbon fiber car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Doing what they did at that price point isn't something that's very easy to replicate.

The looks are subjective. All halo cars are impractical, no one looks at the trunk space on an R8 V10 and says "holy shit look at that!", then busts out their check book.

Under-performing? It's a nice day and age to be alive when a car that's as fast as an F8x M3/M4 is "under-performing".

I get the car isn't for everyone, but everything I've read about them has been largely positive and for around $130k, it's reasonably priced for the tech and styling you get.

If you want more performance, you can spend $30k less and get a Z06 that'll blow the doors off an i8, but they're two very different cars.

I guess I'm the minority when I say that I actually really like the i8 and like the direction BMW is taking and look forward to seeing how the NSX compares to it.

[SamS]

SLS AMG? Please. Good for reliving the glory days of your '90 Mustang GT with a loud rumble and more power for the street than anyone can use. Probably doesn't even get a second look from 99% of drivers on the road. It's not even good looking!

But an i8? Anyone from age 9 to 90 knows it's a car plucked straight out of the future, with looks to match.

[paradoxical3]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Under-performing? It's a nice day and age to be alive when a car that's as fast as an F8x M3/M4 is "under-performing".

It is significantly, significantly slower than a F8x M3 and M4. It only traps 111mph. That is about the same as a last gen M3.

It is certainly the slowest $130k car on the market. In fact, it is slower and gets less range than a top of the line Tesla, while costing $30k more.

Really, it is a car without a market.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by fecurtis

Eh I don't know about that.

It's not easy to create a carbon fiber car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Doing what they did at that price point isn't something that's very easy to replicate.

The looks are subjective. All halo cars are impractical, no one looks at the trunk space on an R8 V10 and says "holy shit look at that!", then busts out their check book.

Under-performing? It's a nice day and age to be alive when a car that's as fast as an F8x M3/M4 is "under-performing".

I get the car isn't for everyone, but everything I've read about them has been largely positive and for around $130k, it's reasonably priced for the tech and styling you get.

If you want more performance, you can spend $30k less and get a Z06 that'll blow the doors off an i8, but they're two very different cars.

I guess I'm the minority when I say that I actually really like the i8 and like the direction BMW is taking and look forward to seeing how the NSX compares to it.

Alfa Romeo 4C, full CF chassis for the price of a loaded 320d, or Porsche Cayman.

NSX is so much faster and more powerful than i8. I8 has no chance at all.

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by paradoxical3

It is significantly, significantly slower than a F8x M3 and M4. It only traps 111mph. That is about the same as a last gen M3.

It is certainly the slowest $130k car on the market. In fact, it is slower and gets less range than a top of the line Tesla, while costing $30k more.

Really, it is a car without a market.

so that's why they are all sold out

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by Levi

NSX

how are nsx and i8 equal? one is a performance orientated car and one is aiming for tech and efficiency.

[paradoxical3]

Originally Posted by rjd598

so that's why they are all sold out

Not hard to sell out when you only made 750 units through February LOL

[rjd598]

Originally Posted by paradoxical3

Not hard to sell out when you only made 750 units through February LOL

doesn't matter. they still sold all that they made. there is some type of market for the car.

guess the 1m and likes didn't have a market either.

[BMW269]

Originally Posted by rjd598

doesn't matter. they still sold all that they made. there is some type of market for the car.

guess the 1m and likes didn't have a market either.

Alfa Romeo special edition models also all sell out, however crap and overpriced they are compared to other equivalent cars.