With the launch of the i8, BMW have just brought the hybrid supercar to the masses (kind of).
2014 really has seen supercar manufacturers step their game up when it comes to hybrid vehicles. First up were Porsche with their game changing 918 Spyder, one of the first hypercars that can run solely on electric power. Soon after, Mclaren brought the P1 to the table, the F1’s successor and then shortly after that, Ferrari bring out the LaFerrari, the fastest and most expensive Ferrari to ever hit the production line. However, unless you have a budget of £617k+ all of these vehicles are out of reach.
I say ‘kind of’ when I talk about bringing the hybrid supercar to the masses because their new supercar is still £99k before adding on any extras. Oh, and did I mention that you can’t actually get hold of one until May/ June 2015?
That brought us to the question ‘If I had £100k to spend on a car right now, what would I choose?’ A couple of us would still put the deposit down on the i8 and wait until next year for delivery, however, some of us are impatient so decided to browse Pistonheads to see what used cars we could purchase for £100k, here’s what we found:
Sam: Aston Martin DBS Volante (2011) £99,995
Top Speed: 190mph
Acceleration 0-60: 4.5 secs
Fuel Consumption MPG: 18.2
Writers comment: One of the greatest GT cars of all time, and for under £100k you can’t really go wrong. This DBS had a list price of almost £200k 3 years ago. My only worry about buying this car would be the further depreciation. Still, you don’t have to wait almost a year to own it and you can put the roof down and listen to the noise that beautiful V12 makes.
Steph: Mercedes-Benz SLS (2011) £99,995
Top Speed: 197mph
Acceleration 0-60: 3.8 secs
Fuel Consumption MPG: 21.4
Writers comment: One of the most iconic Mercedes-Benz in recent years because of its ‘Gullwing’ doors which refer back to the early 300SL. A surefire head turner and the sound and pace of the 6.2 litre V8 engine is enough to get anyones heart racing. The SLS is no longer in production with no direct replacement due anytime soon so this really is to become a modern classic.
John: Porsche 911 (991) Carrera 4S Cabriolet PDK (2014) £98,298
Top Speed: 182
Acceleration 0-60: 4.5 seconds
Fuel Consumption MPG: 30.7
Writers comment: The 911 really is an iconic sports car. Originally launched in 1963, Porsche have been restyling and updating the car ever since. We are now onto the 991, the finest of the 911’s to date. Once you drive the rear engined 4 wheel drive Porsche, you’ll be hooked.
See this Carrera 4S Cabriolet here
Dan: Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid (2014) £97,249
Top Speed: 167 mph
Acceleration 0-60: 5.5 seconds
Fuel Consumption MPG: 91.1
Writers comment: Not the best looking car of the bunch but certainly one that can compete with the i8 in terms of fuel consumption. The Panamera E-Hybrid can return 91.1MPG whilst still being able to get you from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds. If you’re after a family car that is fuel efficient, quick and has one of the most desirable interiors on the market then look no further.
See this Panamera E-Hybrid here
Kieran: Ferrari 328 GTS (1989) £99,995
Top Speed: 163mph
Acceleration 0-60: 5.9 seconds
Fuel Consumption MPG:
Writers comment: I don’t really need to say much about this iconic Ferrari. The 328s was essentially a modified 308 and is considered to be one of the most reliable Ferrari’s of all time due to the fact that most engine maintenance can be performed without lowering the engine from the vehicle. The model mentioned above has only covered 7,600 miles as well so you’ll struggle to find a better condition 328 GTS. What’s not to love?
John: Audi R8 GT (2011) £95,950
Top Speed: 199mph
Acceleration 0-60: 3.6 seconds
Fuel Consumption MPG: 20.3
Writers comment: The quickest and most desirable R8. If you thought the V8 was impressive, wait until you see, hear and drive the V10 GT. To put this car in perspective, it’s the 911 GT3 of the R8 world. This car also happens to be the quickest of all the cars in this list as well as being one of the hardest to get hold of at this price. It’s one of only 33 in the UK so you’ll probably never pass another on your way to work.
Conclusion
The i8 has had unbelievable reviews and we would not deter anyone from putting their deposits down. In the process of writing this article, I coincidentally saw an i8 on the road and have got to say, it was like no road car I have ever seen before. It reminded me of the time I saw a Bugatti Veyron parked up in my local pubs car park, a rare sight and one that I won’t be forgetting in a hurry!
