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Post by projectatlas on Dec 7, 2014 15:18:21 GMT 11
I went to BMW Brisbane on last Monday and had the pleasure of experiencing the i3 with a BMW Genius onboard.
The model I tested was the standard i3 without Rex. It was the first time ever I have seen the car up close.
Exterior Design: Ugly. The exterior is not my taste. Period.
Interior Design: unique, classy, like a living room. Just don't fancy the grass fibre look. Reminds me of roof damping material or worse asbestos board
Seats: Super supportive and kind of sporty looking. Hugs body well. Manual adjustment is easy. I don't care about electric seats.
Boot space: Tiny, Tiny, Tiny. But to my surprise, we were still able to squeeze our giant baby stroller into the boot.
Infotainment system: easy to use, standard BMW affair. Great middle console screen. Did not see any pixels at all.
Highlight: Carbon Fibre naked frame. Looks very nice in real life. Don't really miss the woven structure at all.
Now to the most important element, how does it drive:
GREAT! GREAT! GREAT!
If you enjoy sporty driving in a city environment, there is simply no other car that can compete with this monster.
Regen breaking was very easy to learn and adapt. In almost 1 hour driving time I used the brake maybe twice. And I did not drive slow!
On the way home I almost smashed into the car in front of us because my brain was still adjusted to the i3 regen effect.
The last BMW i test drove few weeks ago on the GC was the M235i. Its the best compact BMW gasoline car.
The i3 is another level of fun to drive even compared to M235i. I dare to say that the i3 is the best drivers car today under $100k, by any brands.
How does it compare to LEAF? It's not comparable at all. LEAF feels like a cruiser and very good commuter. i3 is a sports car disguised as MiniVan.
There are no words that can even come to close to the emotions I felt when testing the i3. After the test drive, I almost broke out in tears.
Last but not least, their BMW Genius is a great way to sell cars. Because they do not want to sell a car at all.
Go for a fun ride yourself. I am going there for another round again this coming week. Maybe we can even meet up there. Free drinks!
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Post by gabzimiev on Dec 7, 2014 15:26:01 GMT 11
got to remember the bmw is a newer car leaf came out 2 years ago.
I'm yet to drive an i3 requires a trip to Sydney at the moment. it looks good on paper expect that combo CCS port fast charge point... they could of stuck with CHAdeMO.
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Post by projectatlas on Dec 7, 2014 15:32:59 GMT 11
The combo port is a $700 option extra. The test drive car was without it. The lowest price for a basic i3 is around $70k. Its already extremely well equipped compared to basic models in other country. Consider the performance, its probably the best value for money BMW AUD can buy right now.
Book a test drive online and give it a go. Consider it as free theme park ride. They are really not trying to talk you into buying the car at all. I was shocked!
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Post by lesmando24 on Dec 8, 2014 20:21:42 GMT 11
I cannot see the options list for the i3 on their website. I see the base car is $68,359.00, then add the $700 for fast charge, so ~$70k. What other options are there (excluding the range extender)?
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Post by projectatlas on Dec 9, 2014 3:47:03 GMT 11
The website is pretty useless at this moment for pricing. Sunroof, more advanced safety feature during driving, metallic paint, full leather seats. Those are the things I roughly remember.
In reality the Australian version is already extremely well equipment with things like professional navigation etc. If you are just after the driving experience, the basic model would do. I read somewhere online that next year model will have fast charger standard as well.
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Post by projectatlas on Dec 9, 2014 3:54:50 GMT 11
Test drive report of the i3 Rex version:
Interior is exactly the same. No visible difference on the exterior too.
It is slower than the BEV version. I felt the difference even when the sales person insists that there is none.
More prominent body roll in corners, but still can go around roundabouts with 70 kmh.
One super positive to my surprise: you absolutely can not hear the generator at all!
I have decided to go with the BEV version when ordering. But if you need the generator as backup and insurance for lack of range, yes, its still a great car to drive.
Today my test drive was around 20 KMs with a mix of city traffic and highway. It gets lots of attention of other drivers.
last but not least: boot space is identical regardless BEV or REX.
Dealer reported so far the orders are split between the two version. This is very surprising as BMW thought 90% of the car will be REX.
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Post by lesmando24 on Dec 9, 2014 8:57:04 GMT 11
Cool, so the other options won't push it past $80k. If it did, then Tesla will eat them, in QLD the 60kW/h Model S is $98,771
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Post by Jim Hare on Dec 9, 2014 9:29:15 GMT 11
So the range is the same as a LEAF? Looks like the range extender is just a petrol generator, is this correct?
For me it would either be a LEAF or a Telsa, I think anything in between will be no-man's land.
But very glad to see EVs starting to get some traction here, it's been a long road!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2014 15:47:40 GMT 11
forums.aeva.asn.au/bmw-i3-review_topic3957_page3.html?KW=I3My fast charge option was $1k.  Perhaps I shoulda waited ... Nah interesting how the tyre widths are same as my imiev 155 fronts 172 rears although the i3's tyres are taller. seems that bridgestone are the only ones that make these tyre profiles so far. feels like when the smart car first came out maybe, then came the icar/miev, that uses the same tyre profiles.
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Post by southernvolt on Dec 10, 2014 12:03:11 GMT 11
I went t through a full on process of back and forths with the i3 guys here in Melbourne back in July when I was excited about the i3 and then eventually bought a Leaf. I'm still interested in the i3 as it's a cool car and very high tech. I'm going to test drive one next week.
They have delivered 4 of 8 in Melbourne with the other 4 to be delivered before the end of year. Sold 2 BEVs and 6 range extenders. They have got a few cars available according to the dealer that are deliverable by years end if you take the spec but if you custom order you have to wait for April delivery.
You're looking at probably $77-80K for a car I reckon as we get a higher spec in Oz than the base you can get overseas.
It's still a leap to the $110-130K you would need to pay for Tesla. They're pretty different beasts though. Shame that the DC fast charge option seems to be being pushed by BMW and it's useless at the moment as you can't use our fast chargers as they're CHADEMO.
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Post by dholms on Dec 10, 2014 19:26:34 GMT 11
Test drive the i3 today.
Wow, doesn't even compare to the Leaf. I know the leaf is half the cost, but man it's night and day.
The pick up in that thing gives me the roller coaster tummy feeling, ha!
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Post by dholms on Dec 10, 2014 22:54:56 GMT 11
forums.aeva.asn.au/bmw-i3-review_topic3957_page3.html?KW=I3My fast charge option was $1k. Perhaps I shoulda waited ... Nah interesting how the tyre widths are same as my imiev 155 fronts 172 rears although the i3's tyres are taller. seems that bridgestone are the only ones that make these tyre profiles so far. feels like when the smart car first came out maybe, then came the icar/miev, that uses the same tyre profiles. @g4qber do you have an i3? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2014 10:44:20 GMT 11
yes n i feel nauseous  it is a grown up imiev would be interesting to unleash the full 80kW of the imiev forklift motor n see how both cars compare also perhaps put some phats on the imiev to cope with the extra power. imiev weighs 1080kg vs 1195kg for non Rex i3 hmm some power to weight ratio calcs 125kw / 1195 = 0.10460251046025 - i3 125kw / 1315 = 0.09505703422053 - Rex i3 80kw / 1080 = 0.07407407407407 - imiev 111kw / 1721 = 0.06449738524114 - Volt 80kw / 1493 = 0.05358338914936 - Gen 2 LEAF 80kw / 1521 = 0.0525969756739 - Gen 1 LEAF looks like the i3 might smoke the imiev still |
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Post by dholms on Dec 11, 2014 13:59:19 GMT 11
yes n i feel nauseous it is a grown up imiev would be interesting to unleash the full 80kW of the imiev forklift motor n see how both cars compare also perhaps put some phats on the imiev to cope with the extra power. imiev weighs 1080kg vs 1195kg for non Rex i3 hmm some power to weight ratio calcs 125kw / 1195 = 0.10460251046025 - i3 125kw / 1315 = 0.09505703422053 - Rex i3 80kw / 1080 = 0.07407407407407 - imiev 111kw / 1721 = 0.06449738524114 - Volt 80kw / 1493 = 0.05358338914936 - Gen 2 LEAF 80kw / 1521 = 0.0525969756739 - Gen 1 LEAF looks like the i3 might smoke the imiev still Which model did you choose? Did you do financing with BMW? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2014 18:28:40 GMT 11
Rex n bmw finance
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2014 18:31:59 GMT 11
310kw 2108kg. 0.147058823529412 model s
215kw 1235. 0.174089068825911 Roadster
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Post by caskings on Dec 12, 2014 20:22:44 GMT 11
Tried out the i3 today. I really do like that the i3 will regen to a complete halt if you lift off the accelerator pedal. Dholms, you were spot on with the acceleration. I really noticed the difference to the leaf. The tiny boot took me by surprise though. It does have a small "frunk" (ugh, I hope BMW has a better name for it than Tesla) for your travel charger.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2014 16:11:58 GMT 11
I3 8amp EVSE has longest lead I've seen so far on a portable lunch box evse Attachments:
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Post by quaternary on Dec 23, 2014 18:45:50 GMT 11
Sadly here in NZ the only place I can get a demo for the i3 is in Auckland. In any case, the Auckland salesman kindly emailed me this picture of the charging port when the DC fast charge option is taken up. As I understand it, the photo shows the CCS Combo 1 (based on the J1772).  This is a bit curious to me, as this is the US standard. I would have thought if they were going to supply it with a Combo, then they would have supplied the CCS Combo 2 (based on the Mennekes) as per the European supplied BMWs, given that what we have in common with most of the civilised world is a three-phase power supply (unlike single phase in Japan and the US). But perhaps EV sales here in NZ is a bit like selling into the wild west? So is this the same for the i3s sold in Australia? |
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Post by caskings on Dec 23, 2014 20:48:25 GMT 11
i3s over here are using the CCS Combo 1.
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Post by quaternary on Jan 8, 2015 6:40:57 GMT 11
Thanks for confirming that. Same as in NZ then.
To me it does seem strange that a car manufacturer like BMW, that is committed to the Combo, are supplying the type 1 variant to a county like Australia (and NZ) with a three-phase power grid.
Does anyone know if/when Standards Australia are going to make a recommendation on the type 1 versus type 2 issue, and so minimise the impending legacy issue?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2015 10:30:05 GMT 11
my hunch is that Type 1 (J1772) will be the Aussie standard
eg. micro USB / VHS / BluRay
while Tesla/Apple can do their own thing with Type 2 (Mennekes)
eg. lightning / Beta / HDDVD
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Post by dholms on Jan 11, 2015 19:14:39 GMT 11
So does the Veefil and soon to be Tesla chargers charge the i3?
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Post by lesmando24 on Jan 11, 2015 21:36:58 GMT 11
Go mennekes, you can use 3 phase 22kw AC. Well, if you have a tesla or Zoe. Rest of us can use the mennekes to j1772 adapter cable.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2015 10:03:01 GMT 11
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Post by Feng on Jan 22, 2015 1:01:07 GMT 11
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Post by southernvolt on Jan 23, 2015 12:24:52 GMT 11
I3 looks great, but too expensive and only 4 star safety rated which mean I cant lease it otherwise I'd be driving one right now. |
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Post by jeffjl on Jan 23, 2015 14:34:12 GMT 11
Any idea why it is only 4 star rated. Not like BMW to skimp on safety. (From one too lazy to look it up on the web)
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2015 18:11:55 GMT 11
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Post by dholms on Jan 23, 2015 18:15:51 GMT 11
Looks like I'll be ordering a Rex in white next week... Expensive but the amount of stuff you get for that price... Hard to compare it to a leaf.
Still can't really be sure if I like white though. Laurus Grey is more preferred but not extra keen to pay more for a colour.
As a result of my profession and being a part of a association, I'll also be getting 5 years free servicing on the i3. Which takes the total cost down in my eyes.
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