M4 vs i8 in Top Gear UK

[Damasconian]

I just landed in London for a weeks worth of meetings and promptly bought the latest copy of Top Gear as I always do.

Looks like Jeremy Clarkson is preparing an article on the M4 vs i8. He is driving an i8 to pick up the M4 and will write up his thoughts after the trip. This initial article lays out the plan and has a few comments on what the stig thinks of the M4 (not good) vs what he thinks of it (good).

I love both cars and can't wait to see what happens. It will all be part of a Top Gear episode later this season.

[solstice]

Did I read you right that the Stig doesn't like the M4 but Clarkson does? In what sense? Power delivery?

[Damasconian]

Originally Posted by solstice

Did I read you right that the Stig doesn't like the M4 but Clarkson does? In what sense? Power delivery?

Solstice I'm still out of country but now in Africa. Can't seem to upload the pictures. Send me an email and I'll forward them to you for proper sizing and uploads.

But to be exact the stig thinks the M4 "is sh#t". Clarkson said he disagreed and is setting out to find out what his final verdict will be.

[fortressmaximus]

Originally Posted by Damasconian

Solstice I'm still out of country but now in Africa. Can't seem to upload the pictures. Send me an email and I'll forward them to you for proper sizing and uploads.

But to be exact the stig thinks the M4 "is sh#t". Clarkson said he disagreed and is setting out to find out what his final verdict will be.

Screw the Stig. That is all.

[ixse]

Originally Posted by fortressmaximus

Screw the Stig. That is all.

the fact that hes driven most sports cars to their limit, i think we need to have an open mind here..

[fortressmaximus]

Originally Posted by ixse

the fact that hes driven most sports cars to their limit, i think we need to have an open mind here..

Haha, can't I have a little fun at least? This is website to be somewhat of a BMW fanboy, right? Haha

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by Damasconian

Solstice I'm still out of country but now in Africa. Can't seem to upload the pictures. Send me an email and I'll forward them to you for proper sizing and uploads.

But to be exact the stig thinks the M4 "is sh#t". Clarkson said he disagreed and is setting out to find out what his final verdict will be.

Attached.

(Have to upload in 4 replies as can't attach more than one photo on iPad and app won't load any....)

[myzmak]

2/4

[myzmak]

3/4

[myzmak]

4/4

[AustinYellowMakesMeHard]

Wow, that's huge blow to the M4 if the stig said that it was "shit". AMG and Lexus enthusiasts are gonna go to town with this one.

[onatuesday]

I really hope the i8 doesn't go up in price too much next year because I want one. They are selling at ridiculously high mark-up rights now and I definitely wouldn't buy the first year production run of the i8 but down the road I absolutely would consider it. The i8 really is a sensational car in every respect especially as I don't intend to track it. And if I wanted a track car there are better track cars than the M4. The M4 as good as it is, has really become too vanilla in my book. The M4's trump card is that it's the best all around car but now I have to wonder if I can't get a better all-around car in the i8 as it's also a 2+2. Yes it costs 2x the price but until the i8, I really couldn't think of any 2+2 at any price that was a better value than the M4 in terms of blend of being an all-around awesome car.

For those of you worried that the Stig said the "M4 is sh*t." Don't be. Clarkson also says he "didn't pay much attention to his [the Stig's] musing on the new M3." The stigs statements in the article are there more for entertainment than an actual sustenance of a complaint. Because if the biggest complaint is the M4 is hard to drift, then I'll take that all day lol - cuz it's actually magnificently easy to break loose and control once it's broken loose.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by AustinYellowMakesMeHard

Wow, that's huge blow to the M4 if the stig said that it was "shit". AMG and Lexus enthusiasts are gonna go to town with this one.

Don't really think so. As @trinim3 said, the stig's complaint is narrow and, remember, his whole mystique is he says little. And is generally grumpy It is marketing, not substantial.

I would not be stunned if Clarkson doesn't (after harrumphing) choose the i8. If I had no kids and didn't need to travel too far I might choose an i8. But I still need a car that can take a wife and 2 kids and travel as far as the next as station so the i8 is no more an option than the Tesla. For cars for 99.9% of the driving enthusiast world, the M3/4 is better.

Next gen? We'll see........

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by myzmak

Don't really think so. As @trinim3 said, the stig's complaint is narrow and, remember, his whole mystique is he says little. And is generally grumpy It is marketing, not substantial.

I would not be stunned if Clarkson doesn't (after harrumphing) choose the i8. If I had no kids and didn't need to travel too far I might choose an i8. But I still need a car that can take a wife and 2 kids and travel as far as the next as station so the i8 is no more an option than the Tesla. For cars for 99.9% of the driving enthusiast world, the M3/4 is better.

Next gen? We'll see........

My understanding must be incorrect but isn't that the beauty of the i8 is that it's NOT all electric like the Tesla? You get pretty close to the performance of the Tesla but have much more usability in that you can fill it with gas at any gas station. And if you have a 25mi commute you can use only electric (if you so choose) and not use any gas at all.

Plus this is a 2+2!

[solstice]

Steering that figures. Yeah it's not that good but it's "good enough" kind of. I tend to ignore thinking about it and it works since it's not bad either, just not one of the "Oh yeah!!!" part of the car. It's just there doing it's thing steering the car in it's filtered but precise modern way. Luckily the chassi is so good that it makes up for some of the lost communication in the steering.

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by solstice

Steering that figures. Yeah it's not that good but it's "good enough" kind of. I tend to ignore thinking about it and it works since it's not bad either, just not one of "Oh yeah!!!" part of the car. It's just there doing it's thing steering the car in it's filtered but precise modern way. Lukcily the chassi is so good that it makes up for some of the lost communication in the steering.

Does anyone else think the steering is in part due to the thick steering wheel? The e92s steering IMO was worse than the F8X. I'm not aware of other car manufacturers that make such thick steering wheels with so much padding. Also with the suspension in sport plus and the steering in sport the steering feel is not bad at all.

[solstice]

Originally Posted by trinim3

Does anyone else think the steering is in part due to the thick steering wheel? The e92s steering IMO was worse than the F8X. I'm not aware of other car manufacturers that make such thick steering wheels with so much padding. Also with the suspension in sport plus and the steering in sport the steering feel is not bad at all.

Not me, I like the thickness and I really liked the steering of my E90 once I got it shod with PSSs and carefully aligned. I know some don't think much of it but to me it was excellent and alive.

[onatuesday]

Originally Posted by solstice

Not me, I like the thickness and I really liked the steering of my E90 once I got it shod with PSSs and carefully aligned. I know some don't think much of it but to me it was excellent and alive.

E9X or F8X neither comes close to the steering feel of the e46

[solstice]

Originally Posted by trinim3

E9X or F8X neither comes close to the steering feel of the e46

I've had all of the 3-series models except the E46 ( had an E60 ) and some are better than others but they all have good steering feel. The problem now is that the F8X does not have good steering feel, it almost have no feel of the road surface unless it's really rough and mostly feel slightly dead to me. Pretty good weight and speed and good precision though.

[Tonymiabmw]

I was reading that and I could hear his voice in my head

[Tonymiabmw]

Originally Posted by trinim3

Does anyone else think the steering is in part due to the thick steering wheel? The e92s steering IMO was worse than the F8X. I'm not aware of other car manufacturers that make such thick steering wheels with so much padding. Also with the suspension in sport plus and the steering in sport the steering feel is not bad at all.

I agree with him I have had my f80 for 2 weeks now and still miss e90 steering. Had more feeling. I feel like Im playing a video game driving the f80.

[Maddict3]

Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw

I was reading that and I could hear his voice in my head

hahahaha!! me too