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i do not hate the 2 series. wife has 50k miles on her m235 and well, it's good. thinking of trading for m2.
platform has great balance. But, i have to wonder if this motor will push it too far, there is something about balance and well, more isn't always better...
I have looked at the M2's a few times. Also looked hard at M3 Comps for a while since I like sedans (have a W204 C63, after all). The M2's are awesome little cars. I love the much squatter looks and diminutive size compared to the M3s. I'd bet they'll go very well with the new engine, and well, they can be had with a stick - that always makes me happy. Also, even if it comes in at $65K, it will be substantially cheaper than even a stripped base. Would I trade it, nah. Had M products before, liked them, but anything recent is missing the seating position, steering feel, and experience that I love so much in the 911.
Had M products before, liked them, but anything recent is missing the seating position, steering feel, and experience that I love so much in the 911.
Also had M cars before including the 1M (by far my favorite) and they are great cars all round but the sports car feel you get from a 911 is simply not there.
Since they aren't charging much more for it over the current M2 I'm sure it's a fine as sporty daily driver, but if you're looking for a true sports car, I can tell you as a previous 2015 F80 M3 owner and current 911 owner that the M2 Competition is a big fail & wasted opportunity. My biggest beef with my M3 was that between its size and inability to effectively put down all of its power it just didn't feel that "sporty". The M2 Competition could have addressed these issue but instead just adds weight & power. The only nice things I can say about the M2 are that the exterior dimensions are good and that it's priced well relative to the M240.
I owned a "regular" M2. Generally I was disappointed by the car. I wanted an alternative trackable street car to the RS. My take - if you're stuck near that price point buy a used Cayman S or GTS, if you can stretch it buy a 911. It's a street car much, much more so than a track car. You only need to have it out on the track one time to see that. You quickly fall in to the mod zone trying to make it something it isn't. I love that my C2S is bone stock (exp. for brake fluid and alignment) but performs admirably as an alternative track car to the Radical.
Reading that article - it sounds like BMW addressed some of the issues I had but not most of them:
Weight - the car is too heavy
Interior - it's super cheap feeling (maybe you don't care about that, I tried not to)
Suspension - the stock suspension is basically unadjustable. I added toe links and camber plates to be able to get a track alignment (which worked fine but was an additional $2500)
MDM (or DSM or whatever it's now called) - BMW's stability management is far too intrusive. I like leaving PSM on in the sport setting because it rarely kicks in on the track. Why not have a safety net? I had my BMW re-coded (that's big thing in BMW) for "euro-MDM" and that helped a ton. Must do mod for track IMHO
Plus side:
Trunk space is awesome
Electronic stuff is nice - wireless CarPlay is super
I love the looks of the car
If you can't have a PDK, the DCT is okay
Power - I thought it had the right amount of power. I guess more is usually better, but that wouldn't have been the change I would have made. And you can tune the crap out of it anyway
If what you want is a sporty street car that has nice electronics and is fun to drive, the M2 is perfect. If you want a track car (nope), luxury (nope).
I love the proportions, looks of these m2’s, the modifications elevate the basic looks of this car so significantly.
I think they seem like a very compelling choice if you were in the market in this price range.
While I don’t feel like it’s a better car, I think Porsche could be losing a few 718 sales to this thing, with the cayman/boxster’s conservative styling and all the angst over the move to four-pots... it just feels a little more extroverted, a little more fun, and is a better practical choice w more seats, etc.
I wouldn’t imagine this gets cross shopped against a 911 much, but maybe would be a great DD for a really high end 911 owner? I drive a GTI to park at my train station, and I noticed someone does the same with his M2... makes me wonder what else he has in the garage if he’s ok with door dings on the m2!
It's just way too expensive, heavy, and cheap feeling. I like BMWs and have owned 3 M cars (still own one), but this car to me is too compromised, and you're still paying a premium for it.
My buddy compared a base 991.2 to an M2 for a daily driver (both were DSG). He bought the M2 over the 911.
The M2 was cheaper, more practical, and more thrilling to drive. Since this Competition Package has so much more HP and Torque, it’s a sister car to Chris Harris’ one 1-series - which he loved by the way - and its one of the most fundamental and classic sized M car you can get, I cannot think of a better BMW to buy these days.
My buddy compared a base 991.2 to an M2 for a daily driver (both were DSG). He bought the M2 over the 911.
The M2 was cheaper, more practical, and more thrilling to drive. Since this Competition Package has so much more HP and Torque, it’s a sister car to Chris Harris’ one 1-series - which he loved by the way - and its one of the most fundamental and classic sized M car you can get, I cannot think of a better BMW to buy these days.
There is no better BMW to buy today.
Having said that it's still not a 911 replacement...
I looked very hard at the M2, Audi TTRS and 991. A back seat for the kiddo was a requirement so the list was short.
The M2 interior is cheap. It's porky like every car these days. If your a fan of the current BMW design language then you'll like the way this car looks. Personally I like the Bangle era E63 and E86.
TTRS is stunning outside and in. Awesome 5 cyl sound and stupid fast in a straight line. A lot of money for what is basically a VW Golf underneath but otherwise comparable to a C4S in practicality and year-round capability. I was perilously close to pulling the trigger but thankfully the right 991 came along.
05-02-2018 | 02:18 AM
As a 911 owner, what's your thoughts on the new M2 with Competition package?
