Petza914

I wouldn't trade my particular 997 for anything outside of a Carrera GT or 918 Spyder, but seems like that's not very likely to happen. My wife's, I'd trade for a Macan Turbo or GTS, so I could get my truck back as my DD since the kids are now too big for her to use her 997 as her DD....but she won't get rid of hers. For a BMW, any BMW, no way. I have a friend that works at the Spartanburg, SC Assembly facility in management and gets a different model to drive personally about every 4 months and I'm just not all that impressed with them.

For a more practical replacement to your M4, instead of the Audi, check out a Macan - they're the right size for DD duty, and drive more like a sports car than any other similarly practical vehicle.

php

I have heard the M2 is the only desirable BMW performance car nowadays. Probably still too electronically assisted but much closer to classic golden age M cars than other current offerings. I personally wouldn't swap but can understand if someone did. I couldn't care less for the current M3/4s but everytime I see a M2 I would still give it a good look.

jamesinger

I agree with people above saying that the only car I would trade my Porsche for is a Porsche. I was never a brand weirdo until last Feb. when I got my C2S. I would trade up to a GT3. That is about it. M cars are great. I have driven a lot of them but never as a daily. The intangible essence of a Porsche goes far beyond any ///Magic.

LISsailor

sandwedge

Someone else posted the same question here recently and suggested "the ultimate leasing machine" instead.

ipse dixit

FIFY

CAA

Has anyone replied no yet? I'm saying no.

9872SpeedYellowCS

0% Chance

raidersfan

I haven't driven an M2.

I owned a 135i M-sport and would buy another in a heartbeat. It was a very fun car, and a heck of a bargain for under $20k.

I have to say; my 997.2 feels VERY pedestrian compared to my wife's GT4. That car is what I had hoped the C4S would feel like, but doesn't. The GT4 feels like a true sports car: the suspension, shifter feel, engine sound, and balance are sublime. It is a special car. It isn't that the GT4 is faster, but it is significantly more involving, like what the 911 used to be and has moved away from since the 993 models went away.

Then again, one is a $55k car, and one is a $90k car. Not exactly apples to apples. The GT4 beats the crap out of any $90k 991 on the market too as well, if you want an involving sports car and not a GT car.

I think the sweet spot is something cheaper and older from BMW, like a 135iM or a E46 M3.

inverterman

No.

Doug H

I can attest to this. I have a 2017 M3 Competition Package with a manual transmission and find nothing redeeming about the car. I honestly force myself to drive it to use the leased miles I paid for. On top of that, I cannot sell it. I kind of just gave up trying.

Fahrer

I had a new 2008 BMW 535 with 6spd manual. That car was a nightmare. When it ran well it was quite nice but much of the time it was being repaired at the dealer ( many times) so I was was oftten driving 328 loaners ( not impressed with those). That BMW was my first and last.

jpdp

Wow - so much BMW hate !!!

As the OP said, he's definitely not doing it, just thinking out aloud, so just saying no isn't all that helpful.

I like Porsches and I also like BMW's I currently have 2 of each (125i, M4 + Macan S & 997.1 C2S)
Each car has it's good points and bad points.

The S55 motor in the M4 is awesome I have a custom exhaust, intake and tune and it sounds much more like a Nissan R34 GTR than a stock M4.

If you were to daily drive a lot, the M2 is more practical and the interior ergonomics are better - but it won't have that premium feel or true sports car experience.

In summary, if you need 4 seats and do a lot of daily driving and you can't quite afford a 997.2 (on a lease, the M2 is way less money) then the M2's a pretty good choice.

Petza914

For your 911, you should have selected a RWD model instead of a 4S. With some exhaust and suspension mods, you'd then have the more playful driving dynamics, sound, and handling that you like in the GT4.

raidersfan

Yeah, I agree, but looking into those options, it is almost $9k to bring the car up to snuff. That seems like a lot for a car that sold for $110k back in 2009.

A $110k car (997.2 4S) that is branded as a sportscar should be at GT4 levels out of the box, no? After all, the GT4 only stickered at $104k, and that is 7 years later than the $110k C4S. The engines are identical, gearbox is better in the GT4, and it has carbon buckets; they have been using the 997 chassis since 1999 and have long since recouped all development costs, and therefore price can't be a consideration of the 4S' lower levels of engagement.

I wouldn't say the C4S is any more comfortable; only much less engaging. The GT4 is sharper, more visceral, and more involving in every way. Outside of it being a big nosier, it is just as good or better on the highway too.

After driving the GT4, my first comment was "wow, this is what I always assumed a 911 drove like". Then again, if I get back into a M-car (such as the M4), any 911 is much more involving than the M-car.

I suppose I don't understand why the GT4 setup isn't available in a standard Carrera. Not everyone wants a $175k track-ready car like the GT3, but a comp version of a base or C2S with GT3 suspension, less sound deadening, and a better 6MT box out of the GT4 would be special.

I thought that was the car that the 911T was supposed to be, but from what I hear, it isn't. I have driven a 991.2 with SPASM and 7MT back to back to the GT4, and the suspension is nothing alike. Maybe the "T" is more than that, but from what I have heard, it isn't. I suppose it does Porsche good to push people into the much more expensive GT3 platform if they are considering a 911, but not everyone has $160k+ to spend on a car.

I digress however! Back to the topic at hand, I don't know if I would shell out $60k for an M2. $35k? Sure! $20k for a 135i manual? I would be all over that!