[doug_999]

I can only say from experience.. and that experience was driving in my friends M5 (non-comp) that the M5 felt like a very nice lux cruiser. Yes, it is a missile, but it really had no soul - almost reminded me of my friends M550 - dare I say a bit boring.

And having had the M2, which I agree with many people here, which was really fun, it did miss a lot of the niceties of the M5 - and I mean a lot.

I personally ended up moving up the the M3. While still missing a lot of those niceties on the M5, it does check a lot of boxes that meant something to me (seating for 5, incredible leather, etc.) while still providing a great DD experience albeit with a slightly rough ride here in Chicago. Still, it feels alive - something I could not say about my short drive in the M5 or my long drive in the M550.

Just me personally - but I would at least go test drive a M3. Worst case, the M4 if you don't need the 4 doors.