2020 BMW i8 Roadster - One Take 

Great review! I daily drive an i8 and have some additional info to share. If you press the eDrive button, it will not allow the gas engine to kick in, and maxes out at 72MPH (unless you push the accelerator past the detent, next to the firewall). eDrive is the only mode that uses the 2 speed electric transmission. Comfort, EcoPro and Sport require the front transmission to be in 2nd gear all the time, due to synchronization issues with the rear engine (you don't want to have the engine pushing while the electric transmission is shifting, because it's not that bulletproof). I drive in eDrive to work every day and Sport on the way home, which also recharges the battery, and get 50MPG average just commuting, daily. The exhaust notes you hear are mainly from the engine, the augmentation only adds to that and fills in the gap to make it sound like a 6 cylinder. See my video where I put a GoPro in the boot of my coupe, put a glass cover over the engine and film the engine and noise where there is no augmentation speaker in Sport Mode, and it sounds really good. It seems that the augmented digital sound was piped in to replicate what would be heard in the boot, if you were sitting there. The tires are not good, stock. Upgrading to 245 front and 275 rear reduce under-steer and it seems the car was actually made for these size tires, but smaller ones were used for gas savings. The door is too small to roll the window down all the way, so a bigger door would be required. As a Vette guy since '93, I miss an analog feeling, and raw feeling from a powerful engine. The i8 doesn't fill my passion for true performance and I don't "love" it but it feels special enough to keep and enjoy. I bought it used in Feb 2019 after saving up for 10 years (after the financial crisis laid me off and I sold my Vette) for a new C7, but decided to try a used 2015 i8 instead. Thankfully, the i8 comes to end of life after 2020 and there may be a replacement. Rumors are that a 4cyl turbo engine will appear mid-engine along with a more powerful electric boost. We'll see.

Kudos to Farrah on the honesty of the door/sill experience. Exact reason why we walked away from this car several years ago. Most poorly designed door system in an attempt to be relevant with Lambos and Mclarens.

I think the i8 actually is a good recipe, but sub par in execution, let me exaggerate. Us auto enthusiasts want something fast, raw, beautiful etc. but there’s many people out there who are savvy, have $140k (?) to drop on a car, and really like the idea of it being efficient. It’s like a boutique Prius. I really wish that a company like BMW (e46M owner here) could manage to refine the package further after its conception 6 years ago.

‘Allegedly fun mode” lol

I had this car in coupe form. Best car I ever had and I miss it. I had an M6 and the others but this car made me change my mindset. Btw unused to hate this car until I fell for it and owned it!

"You'll notice there's no houses on this road... cause they all burned down." - Matt Farah 2019

Love your videos, but you clearly DO NOT know how to drive the car. Use eDrive for full electric. The gas engine only comes on when the battery is depleted. If not in eDrive mode you are either in comfort, eco pro, or sport. It took me a few days to "learn" to drive my i8

This guy lied, 1. You can drive in full electric or full gas, or use a combination. The electric charges super fast when you drive in full gas. So fast you never have to plug it in to get a charge. 2. Its because of this sports car from BMW that all other super sports cars are copying it because it does something beyond a normal hybrid. The fun it brings in style, speed, and giving the power to the driver of how they want to drive in full gas, electric or both at a push of a button. Other cars that have a regular hybrid everyone else is so familiar with no option and your forced with the combination and forced to plug it in to get a charge. And out of all sports cars I've driven and friends this one handles bumps way better than other sports cars. 3. The window thing at the end needs to change but it's really no big deal. 4. The interior feels like your in a cockpit of a jet and is awesome. 5. No one reviews this car at night but the interior lights up at night like a TRON movie. You can change the color of the TRON lights to Orange, Blue, or White. The outside looks awesome and grabs alot of attention everywhere you go, but if they only knew how the interior looks just as awesome at night. Hands down if you want one of these get the Orange Copper E outside & in it's the best looking one.

i had a dream last night that Matt Farah started a fast casual restaurant and I was at the grand opening

They’re wasting such a beautiful design! Hopefully they rework the power train for 2021/2022 and give it some real power

When you ring it out it sounds like my 01 civic with the cat rotted out

How does this feel after driving the Corvette? Farrah: Slow.

I've always wondered, why wouldn't they put one of their sweet turbo straight sixes or even a turbo four in this?

I'd have to pull the fuse or snip the wires for that fake engine note. Absolutely intolerable.

Futuristic, daring design which I love. BS powertrain and overpriced AF. How cool would a m2 or m3 engine in the rear be?

"Allegedly fun mode" ....ha!

Matt, using the pure eDrive mode shifts the electric motor into first gear and prevents the gas engine from kicking in until ~70mph. This improves the acceleration quite a bit in electric mode and is the only way I drive this car in electric due to this. This also takes away the constant jolting of the gasoline engine cutting in and out. Basically, since I like cars and like to be in control of my own driving, I only drive my i8 in sport and pure eDrive. This takes away all the unrefined nature of the drivetrain and only plays to the car’s strengths, making it a much better drive in my opinion. Also, if you pull the paddle in regular drive (comfort) mode, you can start the gasoline engine at will so you can do that before you take off from a light so you have plenty of acceleration and don’t have to wait 0.5 seconds for it to kick in and also you save yourself that jolt. After you get to cruising speed, it’ll transition to full electric. I’m a car enthusiast and typically like back to basics, manual transmission sports cars. That being said, I really enjoy this car and when you figure out the strengths and weaknesses of the powertrain and how to mitigate those and drive around the limitations, this is a phenomenal car. Count me as one of the owners of these things that absolutely loves it.

You lost me at 167K, all show no go, super small market for a car like this. Nice concept car, not sure it works as a production car.

Great review Matt! I absolutely love this cars design, but I think BMW should offer an M version of it with a Porsche like V-8-tt hybrid power with at least 550hp to go with its looks. Now that would definitely change the personality of the I-8 and would be great hearing a nice V-8 tt with the top down.. :)

Just stumbling across this channel and I have to say it's awesome!! Glad to be apart of this and looking forward to future videos. Gotta go through all the old videos now. Lol

Get them for 60k all day on autotrader, new ones arnt worth it but this is absolutely worth the 60k it gets on secondhand market

Dream car

Had a coupe for a week and loved it. Nearly new in the UK they are great value, half new price. As a Euro buyer at more sensible money I think it makes a great case for itself as an only car. The convertible makes no sense though; launched too late, has laughable amount of storage and ludicrous price.

Crap review. You're missing the whole point of this car.

This car is for rappers to flex with that's all.

Nice video as always summing up many of the issues I have with BMW overall. I own currently three much older BMWs but think they have lost the message somewhere in the past 5-7 years about "Ultimate Driving Machine" since the current crop of BMWs especially the M cars are "turrible" in relation to past M cars.

This car looks so good to me on the outside. I had such high hopes for it.

The fake sound from the speakers sounds nice. Can you hear it from outside?

Looks like 1994 nissan 300 zx

I love what BMW has done with the I8 over the years in terms of design and road presence, gives it that supercar feel, but ive always said that this car should never have been a 3cylinder hybrid, but instead a mid engined v8 or v12. It wouldve been the ultimate bmw supercar. There is one i8 ik of that has been converted into a mid engined v8 as it deserves.

i love bmw but for the same money you should buy the amg gts

Such an ugly piece of crap hybrid yuck!!! shame on BMW..... and who loves those 215 tires in the back!?? hahaha.... no car thats over $100k should have 215 tires lol

Every one of these newer convertibles with speed humps behind the driver/passenger never manage to line them up with the seat. It always looks odd to me.

Nice review. The NSX looks like a dream in comparison.

Interesting review, certainly coming from someone who obviously did not like the car. Personally i have tried the i8 coupe and Roadster and found them to be really interesting cars, so much so I sold my Ferrari California to buy a Roadster.

I dont get why BMW doesnt make an actual Audi R8 competitor!? 600+ hp supercar. This just falls in between.

I really enjoyed this one take! Keep it up Matt!

Here’s the thing. Only reason I like the i8 is cos that’s all I can afford while having a screaming e92 m3 on the side. I8 seems like a good daily and that’s why I’m considering it. Would I pay 150k for it? Heck no, I’ll pay 60k for one with less than 25k miles. For 150-170k, for my next step, I’d get a Huracan with less than 10k miles. Easy money.

The i8 is loved by the owners/drivers and hated by everybody else...

if BMW didn't go hippie circa 2011 this would be called the M1 and have the V10

Matt Roy Lee wanted to hate this car and for the first 5 minutes hated on it like nobody's business but then was falling in love with it it's a beautiful car 43 miles to the gallon convertible I want one

God.. sounds like 1980 russian made pos from the outside... also small fender bender could result in astronomical repair bill due to carbon tub. These things depreciated harder than 7series.. I’ve seen few coupes selling under $50k. Now i understand why..

Did Matt talk about his Countach?

Or they should give it a screamin motorcycle engine and used the weight saved for more battery.

Is the noise from the drive-by coming from inside the car?

1- BMW and Hybrid. Perfectly scary words for Halloween Week. Can't imagine the repair costs when these complex hybrid systems break. 2- I hate when interior designers just slap on entertainment screens like this. Looks so tacky.

Good accurate review. I bought a 2015 coup last summer for a little over 60k and am thrilled with the car. I dont think I would have felt the same way if I paid the full price. Yeah the sound is fake (even outside the car as one of the exhaust pipes if fake and has a speaker in it), but it does sound nice. The handling is great too. As for power, for in town trips the ev is just fine. Anything out if town you really need to keep it in sport mode (engine always on ev only for added power). Finally even though the doors are not practical, it sure looks neat. My biggest complaint is that certain listed features are not in the car (active cruise control, turning headlights, etc.). The equipment is there but not the functionality.

I think you summed it well. The problem is people take it's looks and price tag and hold it to something like a 911 or a similarly price used exotic. BMW did not create this car to be a performer. It was a display of technology and and preview of future exotics. They wanted to show what they were capable of with the technology they had on hand and offer what would normally be a concept to the public. I love the i8, I always will, I hope the next model is able to crank out bigger numbers and be the performer everyone wanted the i8 to be originally.

This car is stunning in copper & black

They need M version of this.

Love your videos, you really do reviews differently in a better way and seem to talk about important aspects which aren't usually mentioned in other reviews.

Looking forward to this after you ripping on this on IG.

Matt, great review and beautiful car in what to me seems like the best color combo they make. The design of this car is aging nicely, but the quirks are aging like mayonnaise in July in Phoenix. Too many other good choices.

BMW should stick to sedans and regular coupes, which they do great. Only reason Audi decided to get into the excotic car segment is that they bought Lamborghini so their R8 is basically a rebadged Gallardo/Huracan depending on year. This looks like a concept car.

I can’t wait for Tyler Hoover to buy the cheapest one of these in America in 8 years

That last point on not hanging your arm out the window is pure fail. You had ONE job BMW 🙄

Fake engine noise should be illegal

The i8 would honestly be an amazing car with the B58 motor in the back paired to the electric motors. Then replacing the 6 speed auto with a more modern 8 speed. That thing would almost certainly be a rocket.

I whant be rich🙏🚗🚗😱

This car could be so good. Even if you wanna go electric fine. Just give it serious power

this car might just take the e60 M5s title for most unreliable BMW

Do Your Homework man: The Sound is only PARTLY artificial,wrong again. Ok so You dont like the i8. I love mine; its a fantastic piece of Craftsmanship and has a timeless stunning Look.power is enough for a Convertible. Plus the Price is very moderate over here in Germany.

What an absolute waste of design, welcome to the future that makes no sense.

He drives a Lambo, so his perception is somewhat warped. The average Joe would love an i8 Roadster. And I'm working on the financing this week and may be one of them. Used, of course, 14k miles & under $100k. Thank God for depreciation!

Everyone is angry at Bmw bcz After the carbon tub and the 918 tec They put in a 3 cilinder mini engine, tiny electric ones and extra skinny tires If they started with the 3.0 turbo inline 6 and 180 kw electric and wider tires and they would have made a Porsche beater and the cost wouldn’t have been much more

TSK TSK TSK BMW... Fake engine noises?! Do you REALLY disrespect your customers that much??!! This car, I do like the design. But everything else, NOPE NOPE NOPE. It's actually better to buy a used BMW i3 for $16k.

You are exactly the type of chap this car is not aimed at - it's for grown ups who are bored with big noisy shouty i.c.e cars - on a canyon road if you put it in sport and turn off the ESC and change gear yourself it's low cog and torque will keep up with an R8 or 911 and you can dial out any understeer on the throttle - the other 90% of time it's quiet/frugal/refined/reliable/groundbreaking and will be a great investment like my E26 M1 from 80s was which also was utterly unloved in early 80s and people laughed at buyers of said car with ‘why not buy a 308 Ferrari it’s the same price and BMW is not a super car maker etc’- the M1 E26 are £500k or $645k now !

This car is absolutely stupid, overpriced and completely unnecessary. For the price of this hunk of crap: Hybrid sports car - Acura NSX(cheaper) All electric performance - Tesla Model S (more practical also) True sports car - you name it there’s a ton of them out there that will be WAY better.

I’ve been waiting on this to determine if I should buy one. Thanks Matt, finally!!! I8 time is upon us.

Matt and Zack makes videos about cars worth watching. Thank you guys.

Yuk! Bland and uninteresting. This is anything but an enthusiast's car. Essentially it's a large kitchen appliance on wheels. The driver involvement is all but nonexistent. If this is the future, I want out.

BMW needs to rip out this 3 cylinder engine and battery, and put a proper V12 twin turbo in it, and call the M8. BOOM!

16:05, my god, what happened to your legs?

The interior is poorly designed, the center information screen looks like it was glued on there in the middle of the dash, the exterior is outlandishly weird and not necessarily in a good way. There's really very little space inside the vehicle, and then who would want a three-cylinder engine in what is supposed to be a $200,000 exotic car?

I feel like people miss the point with this car. Its a gas sipper that doesn't feel like a Toyota Camry. An updated powertrain would be nice, but putting a big engine into it would completely ruin the concept and just throw it in the basket with all of the other inefficient, impractical sports cars.

Solution; Drop a 2JZ 1000 hp engine in it for the real fun mode.👌

This car isn't going to have a reason to exist with the 2020/2021 Tesla roadster. I love BMW, but they really need to go rethink this vehicle soon.

Awesome review. Maybe its just me.. but the electronic "engine sound" is a TOTAL deal breaker. FOR ME.

with the whole engine coming on and turning off issue,, if you leave it in sport the engine is always on right ?

This is a stupid, outdated, i think ugly, and with those ridiculous noise generators, speaking as a petrolhead frankly offensive car. I hate it. The window height kills it for me, i drive with my arm there almost exclusively.

Love your channel , this car is so good looking, its a car that me and my wyfe look at to maybe get , just not used whit that tec

Why some car have blue color on front grill and side skirt and rear bumber but in video are silver what is different about blue and silver ? Who can tell me please.

i have an irrational hate for this car and the i3. i particularly loathe the i3. i cant explain it. every time i see one i day dream that i'm magneto and i launch the car into the air reaching the speed of sound in a millisecond, shredding the car instantly.

Matt - I own a coupe & a roadster. my only cars. Love them. will never sell. good review though.

Nice looking but cost too much

Who ever buys this at $167k is bloody retreated But then again rich people usually buy stupid shit

I live in Calabasas but my dad said I can get any car I want I’m turning 16 next month I like this car but this color looks odd

i don't agree with elon musk all that often, but amphibians ARE a bad compromise.

Terrible sound, terrible design, and terrible price tag. Let’s face it BMW, this is a terrible car.

Sounds good think I’ll buy one!

U r the man, great review as always!

A terrible reviewer. Clearly doesn't know very much about the car. Oh dear.

8:00 Comparing a BMW i8 to a Chevy bolt is wild man...

Gorgeous car, unfortunate about the 3 cylinder engine though.

Theres also a speaker (that looks like an exhaust tip) under the rear bumper that pumps out digital engine sounds.

Anyone else wondering if matt got window washing fluid on his head?

Good point about driving and enjoying the nature in EV mode

I thought the original i8 with Mini ICE + EV was sort of a disappointment and they lost value quite quickly. Sort of assumed they would maybe discontinue it...

One of your best reviews. Well done and thank you. Sadly, there will probably not be a 2nd generation.

Where is Zack??