8 Series OPINION: The new BMW 8 Series - Is it "Special" Enough?

[GTA45E]

No, I do not think it is special enough,
especially when you consider the position of the vehicle and it`s asking price.
Top of the line cars have big shoes to fill and the demand is even higher in the 21st Century. The main responsibility of top-end vehicles is to capture the prestige fundamental of the company as it`s core value and how that package is presented as it sits at the top of the line-up. It does not matter how sporty or luxurious the vehicle is. If you sit at the top you are crowned with a level of prestige and jeweled with automotive royalty.

Not trying to make this an MB vs. BMW argument, this is just an example. The asking price of the M850i Convertible is said to be about $122,395 that is up there with the starting price of a 2018 Merc S560 Coupe which starts at $124,500.
The Merc S560 coupe interior is unquestionably more upscale and established for the asking price in comparison to the 8-Series IMO.
I know the 8-Series is a sportier car but at the price bracket, I would expect much more distinctiveness and exclusiveness in the details.
The exclusive prestige factor is simply missing in the 8 Series IMO, especially the interior. The design is too industrialized and conventional. It looks like unfinished business in this expensive European coupe category. It is not sexy or desirable IMO.
The black plastic window switch-gear and plastic center console gear/conventional plastic HVAC supply vents/common speaker grills are a few cheap details in a car costing as much as an S560 coupe.
No way am I going to spend over $120,000 dollars on a car with such details.
Package wise, I call this one a missed opportunity.

 

[braaf]

No, I do not think it is special enough,
especially when you consider the position of the vehicle and it`s asking price.
Top of the line cars have big shoes to fill and the demand is even higher in the 21st Century. The main responsibility of top-end vehicles is to capture the prestige fundamental of the company as it`s core value and how that package is p...

That's exactly why it's your opinion and thank God for that.

 

[martinbo]

I feel there are a number of overly broad comparisons and not enough attention to detail is being paid to comparing like for like.
Try as it might the Mercedes AMG GT falls short as a true, continent crossing GT given that AMG put a lot of effort into making it particularly sporty in order to be more of a 911 competitor. The AMG GT is a strict two seater which further limits its eligibility in the super GT class. Mercedes has a car in that class - it's called the S Coupé. Given its very firm ride and uncompromising packaging the AMG GT more appropriately ranges from sports car to supercar (in GTR guise) across its model range. So, to compare an expressly focused, RWD sports car to a distinctly larger, more comfortable, more capacious AWD GT is a stretch in my book.

Similarly, comparing a full on cabriolet to a straight coupé solely on the basis of price is also disparate. Quoting on MSRP without options is an open-ended and inconclusive undertaking but for what its worth an S560 Coupé is $124500 and an M850i is $111900. The S560 Cab is $ 133300 vs the $120000 quoted above. So, seen another way, you can have an entry-point, vanilla S Cabriolet or, for less (plus you'll get those massive BMW discounts) you can have an M-fettled range topper for less.

But even then the comparison is imbalanced; here we're talking about two cars which embody virtuous aspects of the respective brands. The ethos is so different between the wafty S versus the sportier M850i that even well heeled buyers will be more specific in their needs.

I feel that people are disregarding that the M850i is fully representative of traditional BMW values and philosophies: those of sportiness, dynamism and luxury combined in a car that's optimised for spirited driving on normal roads. I suppose that when one starts appreciating that this fundamental BMW virtue remains intrinsic to the value proposition - because those who truly know modern BMWs know they still drive beautifully - the M850i begins to reel back that notion of specialness.

 

[SCOTT27]

I feel like this thread is becoming a "reverse" #AlienVsPredator: “Whoever loses, we win.

 

[davidradio]

Expanding the response, being special enough is very subjective and it is a merit that is earned by hand and above all if it passes the test of time as did the first 8 series, which in its time was also discussed the high price, the lack of clarity between being a sports car or a GT or a super luxury coupe, but it stood the test of time and despite all the...

Best answer!

 

[Robbie]

Best answer!

In no way, shape or form was the first 8-series a success. It was an abject commercial failure. It may be worth something now only because of the rarity value its commercial failure brought on!

I expect the new M850i to be much better remembered in the future...

 

[dalab]

In no way, shape or form was the first 8-series a success. It was an abject commercial failure. It may be worth something now only because of the rarity value its commercial failure brought on!

I expect the new M850i to be much better remembered in the future...

In which part says something about the sales of the first series 8 have been a great commercial success?
We all know that they hovered around 30,000 units and for the time and the price is not successful nor a failure (the first 6 series sold 80,000 units in a similar time lapse and a lower price)

Or now they are also going to discuss if the first series 8 is a classic and an icon and is very very special for something bigger than sales?

I'm out.....

 

[dalab]

Very clear, both models are especial enough for they, *interesting read
2019 BMW M850i xDrive First Drive: The Joy of Being Surprised - Motor Trend

Quote about the original:
When I was but a teenaged car freak few cars held the appeal of the original BMW 8 Series. Introduced in 1989, the 8 Series, specifically the V-12-engined 850s, were truly perceived as the ultimate in Ultimate Driving Machines. Sure, the ruthlessly complicated M70 12-cylinder weighed (approximately) a ton, and the cars were too luxury-oriented; unless you had the super-rare 850CSi, the 8s weren't exactly sporting. But no matter, as even the eight-cylinder cars were hugely desirable and in tune with the times. What would Gordon Gekko drive? An 8 Series. Duh. At least until the recession of the early 1990s.

Quote about the new one:
Little is better than having your preconceived notions proven wrong by a great car. Where I was expecting a disappointing driving experience, I was treated to a wonderful one. Assuming frowns, I instead experience smiles. Great big ones. Don't think of the M850i as a two-door M550i. Think of it instead as a lightly detuned M5 with a tight rear seat but much sexier sheetmetal. I'll even go so far as to say this: The M850i xDrive is a worthy successor to the original 8 Series. Like the original, I say the 8 Series sits at a unique place in the market, has enough curb appeal to turn all the right heads, and can surprisingly put its performance money where its mouth is.

roadandtrack.com The 2019 BMW M850i Gets So Many Things Very Right

Quote about both:
Time has been kind to the old 8-series, which has reinvented itself as a cult ’90s coupe, conveniently obscuring the reality that it’s far better to look at than to drive. We’ve got a long wait to find out if this M850i will be regarded so fondly by future generations, but given that it drives even better than it looks, it deserves to.

 

[Centurion]

I feel that people are disregarding that the M850i is fully representative of traditional BMW values and philosophies: those of sportiness, dynamism and luxury combined in a car that's optimised for spirited driving on normal roads.

I think BMW is a coin with two sides. There's "The ultimate driving machine" which still lives in cars like the M4 CS and M2. These are the true BMW heroes to a wealth of 3/4-Series and hothatch owners.

More recently there is "Joy" and that's the 5-Series and SUVs which beautifully blend sportiness with luxury and practicality. From what I've gauged from the Evo and top gear reviews of the 8-Series, it falls under Joy: A great all rounder with gorgeous looks.

However the 540i , 550i xDrive or M5 are damn good all rounders with the two former selling at half the price of the 8-Series and have similar drivetrain and chassi technology.

The 8-Series rings the bell of the i8. Striking look, fast and capable but lacks drama and distinct USP. Because customers of cars in the the M850i and M8 price range own several cars, being a middle-ground car is less of a merit.

I'm eager to see how well it will sell given that some younger customers might prefer the the M4 CS and M5 while deep pocketed buyers would feel unease about spending Mclaren, Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari Portofino money on a BMW.

At least BMW now has a 'mature' flagship car for grown ups.