Soldato
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Thankyou.
So you have driven an i4 long term of course?
EV general discussion
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So you have driven an i4 long term of course?
If we are judging on handling and not outright straight line performance, then the i4 was never seen as anything special. Better than most but nothing special is my point. It should never be used as a yardstick to judge all EVs as unengaging.
You even pointed out yourself at least three other EVs that would be better. The i4 is no better than decent rather than streets ahead of any other EV.
Just off the top of my head.
Polestar 2 PP
Born VZ (more nimble)
Renault 5 EV (lighter and more nimble)
There are plenty of more engaging EVs that would deliver a more engaging experience than an i4 40.
Soldato
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Don’t get me wrong, given the 2 options I’d always go for the better handling car, but I don’t see the 1 series being a hugely better handling car than an i4, or should I say I don’t see the i4 being a terrible car.
To me, most modern cars are the same, a bit dull and lifeless, you get lots of power but then on the other hand you have the weight and uncommunicative steering. I must be going through my James May phase of not wanting bone shattering suspension and stupidly low profile tyres anymore.
Don’t need to, I researched it and found it an overpriced average EV. A lot better cars for a lot less money and I don’t like the fact it only scored 4 stars in the Euro NCAP. I was also disappointed with the actual interior space considering it is a converted ICE when I test drove one. It was a decent car but overpriced for what you got. I had an I-Pace and ended up with a much cheaper Cupra Born. So I’m not claiming the i4 is a bad EV, just nothing special. My simple point is the fact you yourself agree it is meh handling and as such reflective of ALL EVs is just outright nonsense.
I owned an ICE 4 Series for a few years. It was overall a very nice family car with compromised rear seat space, OK but nothing special handling (better than the heavier i4). So yes, I would consider I have experience of how an i4 handles and drives.
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Caporegime
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Thats the thing, we aren't saying it was a bad car, I nearly went for an i4 M50
But it's not the best handling EV, and wasn't at launch
But it's not the best handling EV, and wasn't at launch
Dunno what the 2 PP is like (so I may be wrong when it comes to that model) but I can't say from my experience with other Polestar models I'd particularly call the Polestar engaging to drive to be brutally honest - that isn't to say it is bad but doesn't have that satisfaction on an open bit of road you can get from some cars (while still being safe and legal).
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Soldato
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No, in fact someone else drove it and told you their opinion. All you've done is read something off a screen. Nice work chief.
And I'm not slamming all EV's as I have no ACTUAL experience of them so can't comment. I'm sure you can.
Personally I don't need the best handling car. But I don't want something that's a barge either. Some very ordinary cars are a nice drive without being a track car..
Trying to think of the worst cars I've driven. Some 90s Japanese estate the old man used. Also bad was a 1.9 NA diesel Vento he had before that. Taught me the meaning of "handles like a boat". Mk4 Golf another boat. Change from that to Mk5 golf is night and day.
Trying to think of the worst cars I've driven. Some 90s Japanese estate the old man used. Also bad was a 1.9 NA diesel Vento he had before that. Taught me the meaning of "handles like a boat". Mk4 Golf another boat. Change from that to Mk5 golf is night and day.
Not true. I went and test drove a i4 because I had owned an ICE 4 series. And liked it a lot.
- The i4 had worse handling as it was heavier. Not bad but nowhere near as good as my I-Pace.
- It had even more compromised rear seat space than I remembered due to the battery pack.
So my point is the i4 is a nothing special EV that was quite expensive with too many compromises considering its price. Even the Born I eventually ended up with was much cheaper, yes lower quality, but slightly better handling and above all, an EV by design. It had a lot more interior space than an i4 despite being a fair bit smaller.
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MK4 was not VW's best days but a lot of sportier Golfs were a bit night and day like depending on what you were doing i.e. kind of heavy and unresponsive around town but get them out on the open road and they were a very different beast.
Soldato
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Funnily enough I test drove an i-Pace before deciding on the i4 (and a Merc, Audi and iX3) ... in order it was
i4
iX3
Merc
Audi
i-Pace (the interior reminded me of my grandad's Austin Ambassador, just not as good)
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Soldato
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Here we go again .... have you driven a 1 series and i4 fast into a sharp bend? The EV understeers horribly because of all that weight.
Can we all take a moment and appreciate this comment and the mental image of where a vegan's twin-scroll is installed
.Funnily enough I test drove an i-Pace before deciding on the i4 (and a Merc, Audi and iX3) ... in order it was
i4
iX3
Merc
Audi
i-Pace (the interior reminded me of my grandad's Austin Ambassador, just not as good)
I would agree on the interior. But handling was much better and that was your main point on EVs being a numb and detached driving experience You were specifically calling the i4 one of the best of the bunch, I was simply correcting that misconception. It is nothing more than decent and I can think of many EVs that would give a more engaging driving experience.
EV's are such a numb detatched driving experience, and the i4 is one of the best of that bunch.
Soldato
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Can we all take a moment and appreciate this comment and the mental image of where a vegan's twin-scroll is installed
Dunno if same image you have, I can see a powerful food blender using vegetables to make jpaul’s word soup.
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Soldato
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I would stand by that comment ... look lets agree to disagree, if you are happy with your i-Pace great, I'm happy outside the EV big brother household. They are only cars man.
The irony is I am agreeing with you. The problem is you initially judged the i4 to be one of the best of the EV bunch for handling and were using it as a yardstick to declare (all) EVs as numb and detached to drive.
I was simply correcting that misconception as there are a lot of much better handling EVs than an i4.
There is no agree to disagree. You made a generic statement of opinion as if it were fact. The i4 is not among the best of “that bunch” for handling and not all EV (as implied) are numb and detached to drive.
I no longer have the I-Pace. I went with a Cupra Born over the many other used EVs I tested (including an i4). The Born was nowhere near as well appointed, but it drove better in my opinion, had much better interior space despite being a fair bit smaller in footprint and was a lot cheaper.
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Soldato
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I have no idea? I've only driven the EV's listed above, and the i4 was the best one in my opinion.
From what I'm hearing there are better handling EV's? No doubt they go through bends in the owners dreams like a Lotus Elise or a Cayman GT4 RS.
I was once confronted at Stafford services by a lady in tears as she had to urgently get back up north. So I unplugged my i4 that took the last Ionity spot and had a couple of Starbucks.
It's all getting a bit silly now isn't it. I don't think anyone is saying EVs are a drivers car and in turn better than an Elise or Cayman for handling. The point the other two are making is just that there are better handling EVs than an i4?
e.g seeing as the Xiaomi SU7 holds the fastest ev road legal nurburgring lap, posting close to 7min, I assume it handles quite well
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