Posted on 09/29/2014 12:59:46 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The BMW i8 is a rather unusual car, not only because of its look and drivetrain, but also because it can apparently earn money for its owner.
According to Motoring Research, one of the early BMW i8 owners was able to sell his car used for £140,000, or almost 50% over £95,000 post-grant price!
He earned £45,000 ($73,000) in just over a month. The reason, which makes used i8s so expensive, lies in high demand limited by the low production target set by BMW.
“Specialist finance house Magnitude Finance arranged the deal. One of its customers was reportedly desperate to own a BMW i8 but all the dealers they’d been in touch with had sold out for months.”
“Enter a customer who owned an i8 and was ordering a new Ferrari.”
“Director of Magnitude Finance, Tim Marlow, said: “We knew a long-standing client had one on order and when we were preparing a package for his latest car – a Ferrari FF – we casually mentioned it and he said he was willing to sell for the right price.”
“We put the pair in touch to conclude the deal and both are extremely happy. The buyer says he is investing in a modern day classic while the seller has made a profit of £45,000 in just over a month.”
The £140,000 price for a used i8 is not the record according to article.
“It’s certainly a seller’s market and some dealers who now have them are pricing them in the region of £150,000, which is serious supercar territory.”
BTW, how do those European cities know if you’re using the electric or gasoline motor while you’re in their downtown?
You do know that the nearly one million dollar Porsche 918 and the upcoming $130,000 plus Acura NSX also have electric motors, don’t you?
People pay lots of money for all kinds of crap.
For that very specific purpose that is coming to cities like London that bans emissions from cars in its downtown it is the car for the rich that don’t want to buy an electric car. i8 allows people to chose when to use electric drive. For that very specific purpose it allows people to continue using gasoline while remaining compliant.
BTW That 500 miles is using that bogus European cycle.
i8 has a 24 liter gasoline tank or 6.34 gallons.
It gets an EPA rated 28 mpg when driving on gas.
“Yeah...but the i3 is butt ugly”
To your eyes, yeah...but to others it looks fine.
We have our 3rd BMW since 1986, and they are intelligently designed, well built, and fun to drive.
When the Honda Accord first hit the U.S. shores in the ‘70s they commanded MSRP + the demand was so high.
“The i8 has 15 miles of electric range.
Making it a crappy electric car and a crappy gas powered car for its price range.
For certain European cities that don’t allow emissions from vehicles in downtown; this is the perfect car for people that don’t want to buy an electric.”
Formula 1 and Le Mans have some crappy racing, with crappy cars using crappy electric/gas hybrids, diesels, etc.
Plus the crappy cars can turn right.
Toyota has built/sold over 2 million hybrids.
Even BMW screws the pooch occasionally
Dealerships catch on to this type of arbitrage very quickly.
“Even BMW screws the pooch occasionally”
I have no way of predicting the success of the i3. BMW is privately owned, and goes its own way. It is thought to be highly profitable.
Their 3 and 5 series sedans are often mentioned as the benchmark for sporting enthusiasts’ personal road cars called “sport sedans.”
Cadillac’s CTS is compared to 3 and 5 series, for example in terms of having made the grade, so to speak.
While some companies killed off brands (Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Saab, Mercury, etc.) BMW, Toyota, have added new lines. Mini, Scion, for instance.
What new car today is similar to a 1965 Oldsmobile 442?
Well, just a sedan in general. You don’t need any kind of exact match if you are trying to gauge inflation in prices.
Depends on what you mean by ‘similar’.
Lots of mid-size sedans/coupes are as fast, handle better and are more comfy. This is 2014 after all. But not many are from American companies. Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger maybe.
Nothing really matches the thrill of muscle cars from that era though.
Yes, I will offer you $200 if it is running.
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