[OzJustin]

My vote goes to the 1M.

While some suggest it is dated I feel it is a more traditional/timeless sports car. Maybe that's why I still prefer the E46 M3 body shape over many of the newer 'busier' designs.

I don't mind the M2 from the side but the front and rear just don't look sleek to me. Give me the pumped guards of the 1M anyday!

I suspect the M2 N55 will be an excellent 'tuners' engine though. Wait for a replacement Pure turbo and we'll be seeing big numbers. I speculate that it will be much easier for turbo swaps than the twin turbo N54 too.

[Hazey82]

Originally Posted by WAY

I'm surprised there isn't a M4/M2 comparison yet.

This would be good. I think as far as fenders go they are very similar. Would be good comparison to see if the M2 styling looks a bit over the top. Front might look very vertically long

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by Hazey82

This would be good. I think as far as fenders go they are very similar. Would be good comparison to see if the M2 styling looks a bit over the top. Front might look very vertically long

I'm sure its in works and a color thread too.

[Total madness]

i see the design comparo between the full fledge M cars badge thing, but at the end of the day, 1M performance is on par with the M235i way more than with the M2.

[termigni]

For me, this is a type of a car where I'd step into the dealership with my wife and make a impulsive purchase, on the spot. Let's see if I can excute this plan next year.

[paddyrx8]

The 1M just has the x factor that you can't describe, just like an E46 M3, it just has it.

The new M2 is nice and would be a riot, but it's missing that something. Bit like an Audi RS3, the figures are all good, but they just don't add up to something really special.

[rad doc]

They both look great. However, I much prefer the 1M fender flares and rear vents without the reflectors. Much more aggressive. Also really disappointed in the M2 seats, not very sport. The front looks good.

[Diver]

The M2 is wide.

[SGL]

Originally Posted by Bear From Jax

I have to agree. I was really hoping BMW would complete the hat trick and really blow it out for this car, it's an M car for christ sakes. But they didn't. I've been waiting for this car for years now and i'm honestly underwhelmed.

I honestly hope everyone who gets one loves it to death. I'm sure it's going to be amazing. But at this price point, the Mustang GT350 has my eye a whole lot more than the M2, and that just feels 100% wrong to say or even mention.

All this wait and I'm more likely to buy a Ford. What the shit?

To be fair, Ford has really stepped up their game in low cost performance vehicles. The Focus RS, GT350 and GT350R are insane for their price points.

[1230vani]

I hope dials are illuminated in white, at least during daytime. Actually, forget that, they should be illuminated in white also at night.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by redux

I agree that the M2 is looks far more refined than the 1M, but that refinement has come at cost. The lines lack the fun factor and drama of the 1M. It's similar to the case of M3 vs M4, where certain angles of the former look more appeasing than the later (I that style of flare). This car does nothing for me and I'll be dropping my slot on the dealer list.



...... It would be an exciting day if I cared about the resale value of my 1M.

[s4awd]

Good looking car. Will have to see it on the road. The 1M has presence though which is tough to beat.

[Cope]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

I hope dials are illuminated in white, at least during daytime. Actually, forget that, they should be illuminated in white also at night.

I really hate how my brothers m235i dials are in white, orange is much easier to read at night and just looks better.

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by 1230vani

Car is almost perfect visually, there are two minor aesthetic things in my view, the lack of M mirrors are an obvious one but can be (perhaps easily) retrofitted. The bigger thing, LIKE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT FOR ME, is that the dials have an orange color background. I could be wrong but from the official photos it does not look like the background is white. I know it is the original BMW color but M cars had it more special and I really really liked it. I hope I am wrong though...

Definitely orange dials as in these photos...

[wilstave]

Originally Posted by PhoenixWolf

Of course this is subjective but I think the M2 looks much better than the 1M. You can see how dated the 1M is along side the M2. Especially the interior. The M2 is also wider and lower than the 1M.

It's interesting how many people were whining earlier about the Side mirrors. I wonder if they were the same people whining about the 1M have used parts from the old E92 M3. Like the same side mirrors that they are comparing the lack of M mirrors on the M2. Lol

Overall we knew what it would look like but the reveal is much better. I had my mind set on the M4 for months but after watching the way it moved so freely in the reveal video, with pricing this competitive, and it looking this damn good, I am seriously reconsidering this to be my next car. But I will wait for $750 or $1,000 cash rebate as my current lease doesn't expire until June of 2017.

Great Job BMW! I love the size of it, finally another M car in this size between the E36 M3 and the E46 M3.

[DJKapeesh]

1M is still HOTTT

[MrCsquared]

The 1M definitely looks dated now. However, the 1M just has such an aggressive bulldog stance in person and I'll always drool over it.

Started by liking the M2 with camo, hating the bumpers on the renders, to liking the actual product. The more I see it, the more I fall in love with it. Similar story to the 1M I guess lol

[emulajavi]

If the hood line of the M2 had been located at the same place that of the 1M, the car would be perfect.

I don't understand why has BMW made us wait an entire generation (from F to G) to have cars with the hood line where there's always been.

F cars are really beautiful, an instead of fixing the hood line problem on the LCIs of the F cars, we've to wait for the G cars to have it fixed.

Come on! The hood line could have been fixed for each LCI (3 1/2 years) without having to wait an entire generation (7 years)

[csbear]

The M2 is the better looking car. The 1M is an iconic BMW in terms of performance, but it is not good looking, sorry (However, the back end is very nice). Having wider flares means nothing if it seems tacked on and does not go with the flow of the design.

Chris Bangle and his team made the ugliest cars I have ever seen for a manufacturer (maybe except for Pontiac). That generation 7, 6, 5, 3, 1, Z4 series of cars were all terrible IMO, every single one of them. Although the E92 coupe was not too bad. He had to "quit" (i.e., fired) due to the whole backlash of his heinous designs. They were not progressive, they were simply ugly.

Anybody who supported his designs did so because they probably bought one or are seeing through

The cars that preceded that generation were beautiful and the cars that came after are also good looking. But anything from the C.B. era should be forgotten in terms of styling. It's no wonder BMW did a COMPLETE redesign in some ways and washed their hands of C.B.

That being said, the 1M is an awesome car in its own right when it comes to driving fun. And so were the 135 cars... But they had faces only a mother (owner) could love.

I remember reading this from WSJ. Yeah, they aren't experts on cars, but still I find some truth:

"So what could possibly be wrong? Well, for one thing, the 1M Coupe is a total buttaface, one of the ugliest, most disturbingly wrong car designs in modern history. The addition of all the massive wheel arches, lip spoilers, aero mods and the so-called Air Curtain front spoiler helps not at all. This car is the last revenge of former BMW styling head Chris Bangle. Jeez, put a flag over its head and drive for glory."

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014...38741991133766

That's harsh and I think the 1M looks much better than this author, but it's no M2 regardless. The back of the M2 could be improved on, but hey, every car has design flaws

[dmboone25]

^^^I agree with a lot of what you're saying - the biggest difference to me is how modern the M2 looks and how dated the 1M looks. The 1M is, as you say, still an awesome car, but one of the major upsides for me that I had with the 235 vs. my 135s was that the 2er is definitely better looking.

If you go back and look at the F80 vs. E9X M threads, it's a similar pattern - the E92 M3 is still a really good looking car...but it definitely looks "old" next to an F80 or F82.

Can't wait to see the M2 in person...Detroit or Chicago here I come!

[ozinaldo]

I rarely post in these forums since I've sold my 1M last year but of course I waited (cautiously) the reveal of the M2 and had my share of thoughts/intuition/guts/prejudice whatever one would like to name it. I also missed the 1M a lot since last year.

So, after reading and watching everything available, I now have 3 personal questions and 3 personal answers in my mind:

1) How the M2 will compare against the actual and upcoming competition from other brands: 1M literally ruled against its direct comparison in its time. The only exception was the Cayman R which was a much more focused sports car by design and much more expensive as well; and even with it, 1M was only (a tad) behind the Cayman at the track. It seems that competition is stiffer already for the M2 and I doubt it will shine against them cause BMW's main concern this time round seems to be leaving a really safe margin between the M2 and M3/M4 instead of focusing on the M2 vs its competition outside the house, which brings me to point 2:

2) How the M2 will compare against the M3/M4: Due to its limited numbers and short production cycle and also obligatory use of ready parts from the E9X M3, the 1M stood pretty well against its bigger brother and on certain aspects like agility, performance on short technical tracks, canyon type of roads, advantage of huge torque (hence the in-gear acceleration) it was even ahead despite being the entry level M at a much lower price point! So, there was not a real big gap between the 1M and the M3, neither on looks/feel nor on performance. Can we say that with relevance to M2 vs F8X? Well, I will keep it short and neat: they kept the distance safe this time round, a bit too safe even.

3) How will it fare against the closest mainstream BMW car, namely the M235i: The difference between the 1M and the 135i was pretty significant too; in fact, the list price of a 2011 135i, all of a sudden, did not make much sense vs the 1M when it was launched because of various and significant modifications and bespoke parts that 1M came equipped with. It was also wildly different looking (in real life or in photos) than a regular 1 series. The feel behind the wheel was the most shocking part as it was very different than either a 135i or a M3. The owners of M235i should pop in here and say what they perceive from the reveal of the M2 but I see a shy evolution of the 1M formula, totally integrated in a car still looking like a slightly modified M235i, more so than a brand new M car. It just doesn't stand out! Again, I blame BMW being too careful and playing a calculated game of trying not to hurt the M3/M4 sales at all.

A year and half ago when I had a test drive of the M235i in Chile while I still had the 1M it kind of gave me a hint of things to come with the M2 and unfortunately I see no (good) suprises here. This being said I have no doubt that it will be a much more modern, comfortable, civilized car with better performance numbers as well. It just doesn't look like it is designed to have an "it factor" that 1M (or E30 and E46 M3s, Z3 and Z4 M Coupes) simply had. For me, it seems more like a half hearted effort rather than a love child

[Glassjaw047]

Originally Posted by ozinaldo

I rarely post in these forums since I've sold my 1M last year but of course I waited (cautiously) the reveal of the M2 and had my share of thoughts/intuition/guts/prejudice whatever one would like to name it. I also missed the 1M a lot since last year.

So, after reading and watching everything available, I now have 3 personal questions and 3 personal answers:

1) How the M2 will compare against the actual and upcoming competition from other brands: 1M literally ruled against its direct comparison in its time. The only exception was the Cayman R which was a much more focused sports car by design and much more expensive as well; and even with it, 1M was only (a tad) behind the Cayman at the track. It seems that competition is stiffer already for the M2 and I doubt it will shine against them cause BMW's main concern this time round seems to be leaving a really safe margin between the M2 and M3/M4 instead of focusing on the M2 vs its competition outside the house, which brings me to point 2:

2) How the M2 will compare against the M3/M4: Due to its limited numbers and short production cycle and also obligatory use of ready parts from the E9X M3, the 1M stood pretty well against its bigger brother and on certain aspects like agility, performance on short technical tracks, canyon type of roads, advantage of huge torque (hence the in-gear acceleration) it was even ahead despite being the entry level M at a much lower price point! So, there was not a real big gap between the 1M and the M3, neither on looks/feel nor on performance. Can we say that with relevance to M2 vs F8X, well I will keep it short and neat: they kept the distance safe time round, a bit too safe even.

3) How will it fare against the closest mainstream BMW car, namely the M235i: The difference between the 1M and the 135i was pretty significant too; in fact, the list price of a 2011 135i, all of a sudden, did not make much sense vs the 1M when it was launched because of various and significant modifications and bespoke parts that 1M came equipped with. It was also wildly different looking (in real life or in photos) than a regular 1 series. The feel behind the wheel was the most shocking part as it was very different than either a 135i or a M3. The owners of M235i should pop in here and say what they perceive from the reveal of the M2 but I see a shy evolution of the 1M formula, totally integrated in a car still looking like a slightly modified M235i, more so than a brand new M car. It just doesn't stand out! Again, I blame BMW being too careful and playing a calculated game of trying not to hurt the M3/M4 sales at all.

A year and half ago when I had a test drive of the M235i in Chile while I still had the 1M it kind of gave me a hint of things to come with the M2 and unfortunately I see no (good) suprises here. This being said I have no doubt that it will be a much more modern, comfortable, civilized car with better performance numbers as well. It just doesn't look like it is designed to have an "it factor" that 1M (or E30 and E46 M3s, Z3 and Z4 M Coupes) simply had.

Don't get me wrong, this M2 is a beauty and they did a great job with it but a few things to list as to what I think are the obvious misses here (and has been mentioned by everyone on these forums:

1. M Mirrors
2. Carbon Fiber Hood
3. M Sport Seats like in the M3/4 (but these seats are just like in the 1M coupe so not so much disappointed)
4. True dual Quad Exhaust

My M235i's MSRP was just over $53K. If this starts at $51K and I would say optioned out with what I have in my car it would end up being $55K. You can make the judgement call that it's a no brainer to spend the extra $2K and get an M2 and then the other argument is that they're missing so many Full Blown M features that should be on this car therefore making it not worth getting. It all depends on what you're in the ball park for and how you look at it. The car itself, is going to be a hit and sell like hot cakes either way. You can't please everyone....just hope to please the majority....