I missed out on the BMW i3 the first go-around when they came to market in 2013 as a 2014 model year BEV and there were robust state and federal tax credits to incentivizes buyers. Since then they've come out with the optional range extender (REx), there's been a life-cycle impulse (LCI) refresh and the battery tech has continued to get better. The trim levels and options have changed slightly also.
I've grown to like the quirky looks of the i3 and I feel like I'm almost ready to join the BEV bandwagon for my daily 70mi round trip commute to work that consists of city and highway driving. I always figured BEVs like the i3 were throwaway cars, not unlike my iPhones: good for a couple of years but when the batteries wear down it's time to upgrade to newer hardware/software anyways as tech improves over time. Which I suppose is why most owners lease them for 2-3 years rather than buy.
Lately I've seen some super inexpensive used i3s for sale, which always intrigues me (who doesn't like a good deal?). I figured there's got to be a good reason: probably low battery health resulting in low range capability combined with very expensive battery replacement. But are there bargains to be had? Is there a sweet spot in the used market? Or should I be looking at leasing a new one to minimize my monthly out of pocket expenses? Which options are a must?
I've grown to like the quirky looks of the i3 and I feel like I'm almost ready to join the BEV bandwagon for my daily 70mi round trip commute to work that consists of city and highway driving. I always figured BEVs like the i3 were throwaway cars, not unlike my iPhones: good for a couple of years but when the batteries wear down it's time to upgrade to newer hardware/software anyways as tech improves over time. Which I suppose is why most owners lease them for 2-3 years rather than buy.
Lately I've seen some super inexpensive used i3s for sale, which always intrigues me (who doesn't like a good deal?). I figured there's got to be a good reason: probably low battery health resulting in low range capability combined with very expensive battery replacement. But are there bargains to be had? Is there a sweet spot in the used market? Or should I be looking at leasing a new one to minimize my monthly out of pocket expenses? Which options are a must?