The same Sunday, my brother was heading out on an international trip so there came the thought. Would the i8 be able to do an airport run with luggage? With two occupants of course it would. Remember my line about luggage and rear seats earlier. We actually did it. The camera bag and the tripod stand fitted comfortably in the tiny boot and the bigger bag was nicely tucked into the rear seat. Voila!! All set. The late night drive was a relaxed affair but we managed to cause a frenzy at the airport. After an action packed Sunday it was time to call it a night. The i8 would be going back the next day.
Woke up extra early on Monday for one final drive. Headed out at sunrise enjoying empty roads thanks to an extended long weekend. Had a cup of chai and bun maska at Yazdani Bakery, an institution by itself. While I was busy with my chai, others made the most of photo opportunities with the ‘i’. Drove past some iconic Mumbai structures clicking pictures along the way. By the time I got home, it was time for the i8 to go. Gave back the keys with a heavy heart looking back at the wonderful weekend that was. There are few cars I’ve always felt sad about when returning them. The i8 is definitely one of those.
Now to summarise the i8 experience. I was actually surprised as to how practical it really is. It is perfectly at home in chaotic traffic, nor does it feel cumbersome to maneuver. The rear view cameras and auto bending mirrors make reversing easy. Sure the ride is stiff, it’s a sports car after all but it is surprisingly good. Nothing to complain about. The long wheelbase can make tackling speed breakers difficult but thankfully we did not scrape the bottom even once Performance is not super car territory but more than adequate and handling is everything a BMW should be. The hybrid powertrain makes it fuel efficient too. So to conclude, is the BMW i8 a car you can drive everyday? After driving it for 3 days in all sorts of scenarios, I can say it most certainly is.
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