I don't know if this has been discussed before. Is anyone considering the new BMW i4 M50 as a cheaper alternative to the Taycan 4s. It is not the most attractive car but it seems comparable in terms of performance, EV range and also being a hatchback, with more useful cargo area for a bike etc. Yeah it is not a Porsche so no idea how it drives but it is an M car and seems to have some good reviews. I've been thinking of a getting a more comfortable car to replace my 2018 C4S and almost ordered a Macan S but canceled that order. Don't want an old tech gas-guzzling SUV. Taycan 4s configured the way I would like is 140k whereas the BMW is 75k.

 

maybe a BMW focused forum would be a better source of info

 

 

 

Nice comparison. I hadn't seen that. So the Porsche drives better. No surprise there but calling it a sports car made me laugh as a 911 owner. The one thing that makes it like a 911 is the low seating position and it is even harder getting in an out of Taycan.
The Taycan is as long as our V90 wagon, is wider and yet smaller inside. Regardless, thanks guys.

 

Interesting thread. I have been seriously considering swapping my 911 for a Taycan. My dealer doesn’t have any to test drive so I drove a used 2021 for sale at a local Mercedes dealer. It’s an impressive car in many ways, but unfortunately I enjoyed the drive to the dealer in the 911 a lot more than the test drive. I could really feel the weight of the car compared to my 991.

I also configured an M50 and it seems great value for $75k, compared to the Taycan.

I’m now thinking if I buy a Taycan it has to be a Crossturismo…I think the car works better as a sporty wagon/SUV rather than a sports car.

 

BMW selected brushed electric motor as their EV solution... kind of let down to me, but maybe that is one super advanced brushed motor~

 

Taycan is not a sports car. Sport sedan/wagon yes. even my ct4 handles great corners flat precise. It’s not a 911. You can feel the weight but it hides it well.
I’m done with bmw. Lost their way. Wife Had an m235i for a while, that was a good car.

 

I know it is verboten for some of you to consider a non german car to drive, but if you're considering this question, then you really need to drive a Tesla model 3 Performance. It isn't as good looking as the Taycan.....just like the BMW, but the Tesla M3P destroys both cars in acceleration and is better than the BMW in handling, partially because the the M3P only weights 4060 lbs compared to the other two cars who are both well over 5000 lbs. The Tesla M3P also has a 0-60 of 3.1 seconds which is dramatically faster than both the other cars.

The Tesla has a far far better charging network than either of the German cars, and currently costs 59K compared to 75K for the BMW or 140K for the Taycan. If you add mountain pass performance coilovers then you have a fun, light, really fast car which handles quite well. I prefer this to a Taycan, particularly at a third of the price.

Personally, I'm waiting for a dual motor electric Cayman which is supposed to be coming in 2024 and weigh 3700-3800 lbs. Until then I will continue using my Tesla M3P + MPP coilovers as my daily driver.

 

Electric Cayman or Boxster would be a nice choice if trading out of a 911. Let's see whent they are available.

 

 

An i4 M50 compares to a Taycan 4S the same way a M440i gran coupe compares to a Panamera 4S IMO. There is a reason why the Porsche is 1.5-2x the price in both instances.

Seems to be the plauge of EV's, power and range become the main factors and everything else gets forgotten.

 

I don't disagree with what you noted above. The Tesla does have advantages. But to be honest, I'd no longer recommend one to people. I'm just totally fed up with the company, the lack of customer service, the "2 steps forward, 3 steps back" software updates, the nightmarish suspension and the cheap feel of the car. I feel sad saying this because there is so much to like about the car. But I'm done with it.

I realize if I had MPP coilovers that I would feel differently about the ride, but I don't really want to drop $$ on a car I want out of my life.

As for the i4....reviews are decidedly mixed. Yeah, it's cheaper than a Taycan. Should handle "pretty well". But the air suspension is rear-only and has lead to some.....questionable chassis dynamics juding by some reviewers (the ones who aren't prone to hyperbole and product hyping). Also, it's a fattie. It's entirely based on the existing 4 Gran Coupe platform and weighs nearly 1,000 lbs more than a Model 3...yet gets less range on a larger battery. Not great. Also, the 4GC may be as tight inside as the Taycan, which is not a good thing.

I've not seen one in person and certainly not driven one, but it's a solid MEH from me on a car I was particularly excited about.

 

Exactly, there’s more to a car than acceleration and range stats. The trio all have similar highway acceleration as evidenced by their quarter mile trap speeds, and similar real world range (never mind the EPA).

What sets them apart are things like ride quality, interior noise levels, spaciousness, steering feel, brake feel, seat comfort and supportiveness, styling, and the general experience of driving or riding in the cars.

I had some fun when I drove a Model 3, but the interior felt pretty basic, ride quality and road noise weren’t up to luxury car standards, steering felt numb, rear seats were very cramped, and the car is not very good looking to me, being shaped like an egg. Seat comfort, ride quality, and interior noise levels were all below Toyota Corolla levels, while interior quality and spaciousness were roughly on par with a Corolla.

The Taycan steering is still rather numb for my tastes (especially compared to my 718 Spyder), but it’s at least better weighted than Tesla’s. Ditto with brakes, while the base iron brakes on the Taycan felt merely acceptable for me and not much better than Tesla, PCCBs had top notch feel and stopping power in the Taycan Turbo S I drove. Ride quality and road noise are on a different planet than Tesla; the Taycan rides smoother than an S class, and with near S-class noise levels if you option the double glazed noise insulating glass. Interior materials and build quality are leagues above Tesla. It’s also a couple size classes up from the Model 3, around the same size as the Model S. Price-wise too, more comparable to the Model S (though more expensive than either). The Taycan is also the sexiest looking of the three.

In short, Model 3 Performance, i4 M50, and Taycan 4S all have similar acceleration and range, but they’re in completely different size classes and luxury levels. M3P is the smallest and least luxurious, Taycan 4S the largest and most luxurious, and i4 M50 falls in between assuming it feels similar to a BMW 3/4 series (I’ve never driven an i4).

 

In the end, I don't think I can replace my manual 911 with anything other than another 911. Maybe PDK for convenience. Taycan doesn't do it for me at all and the BMW seems nice but more like a 3 series.