[bri1042]

What they aren't:

1. Expensive compared to other M's and cars that start with P
2. Lightweight and as nimble as many of the P's
3. The fastest kids on the block (well, other than my block...mine is the fastest kid on my block but my block is boring)
4. a C8
5. Cars with a great interior

Just wanted to put those up there before getting to the point.

I went to the Portland International Auto Show this weekend at peak show hours (parking was horrid). It was fun enough, though there weren't that many new cars to see. Toyota forgot to bring a Supra, despite that fact that the dealership that supplied the cars has several of them in stock. BMW and Merc had the same cars there this year that they did last year. I did get to see a Taycan Turbo, though...complete with two teen boys having a discussion about how stupid the use of the word "Turbo" on an electric car is.

The BMW area was interesting. The new 2GC was there in Snapper Rocks Blue and was being almost completely ignored. There was a gorgeous frozen black M5 that I deeply wanted to steal. It was getting more attention than the M850 next to it by far. And there was an LBB M2C.

It was being mobbed. We wandered past it twice at different times and it was getting lots of attention both times. The M5 was the only car in the section getting near as much attention. The Audi section had an R8 that had 1 person looking at it. The TTS had no one near it. Downstairs, one person was listening to the Mach E presentation. I think the guy looking at the Hellcat was stuck in it. He was, um, of impressive size in every direction.

We tired out and left. When we got to the car there were a pair of twenty-somethings oogling my car. I ended up spending about 15 minutes answering their questions about it, talking about the Akropovic exhaust, etc... I was honest on the good and bad aspects of the car, and enjoyed the conversation. Leaving the parking lot another pair of folk took pictures as I drove off.

The point: I've gotten so used to the thing after almost 18 months, and used to our favorite trolls who stop by our section to bash our cars, that I'd forgotten that an M2 or and M2C is still an aspiration-worthy vehicle for a whole lot of folk. It's still rare enough that folk with Corollas and Civics don't see them often and can get excited seeing it.

Enjoy your car today, folk!

[Sarg33]

I agree with what you are saying, but I can say that I feel invisible when I drive my M2C (which is a good thing). I did not buy this car to get attention, but I kind of expected to get some. I got more attention from my Wrangler than I do this car. Now if the cops feel the same way...???

[BigKutta]

I agree with you OP, the M2 is understated and almost unnoticed, but when people take note, they realize how amazing this little package is. I bought mine for the very reasons, its not attention grabbing, or show-off ish, but it gives me everything I need - a sexy, beautiful car, that is joy to drive. Doesn't have the most power out there, but enough, where pushing the car gives you all the thrills you can/should legally get (ok, maybe not legally).

I never want to be the center of unwanted attention or envy. But we all like attention when we want it, and the M2 gives us that. Happy motoring

[MMMBRAP]

I live in a small town so I think I get TOO much attention.

Doesn't help that my car is LBB and is amongst a sea of black/white/silver cars in my town.

[243Racing]

The only two cars I’ve had where I regularly got stopped for a lengthy conversations at gas stations and other parking lots were my M3 and now the M2. It happened twice in the 911 and once in the RS. Had the M2 for less than a year and have already had at least six random conversations with strangers about it

[Bumpinjeep]

People love this car. I get random compliments all of the time on it and I live in an area full of exotics.
The car looks great, sounds great (I don't care what nonsense gets echoed here), drives great, and has presence. It stands out in a sea of Teslas and 911s.

[xxyion]

I get a TON of attention in this car. In the 2 days that i've owned the car i get compliments left and right. I think what helps is that this car looks more aggressive than your typical BMW. I live in the SF Bay Area, and this is an area where you'll see almost an equal number of cars costing over the 100k range as you do cars costing the 20k range just driving to work. BMWs are so common here one would think they cost as much as a Honda civic.

However the M2 looks SO MUCH more aggressive than your typical 2 series or 3 series. Hell even more so than other M cars. I was driving behind an M4 the other day and we ended up at a stop light together. I arguably got more look and broke more necks than he did.

[JoeyM2Comp]

Originally Posted by BeastieBombRacing

The only two cars I’ve had where I regularly got stopped for a lengthy conversations at gas stations and other parking lots were my M3 and now the M2. It happened twice in the 911 and once in the RS. Had the M2 for less than a year and have already had at least six random conversations with strangers about it

You're forgetting to factor in that you're probably at the gas station twice as much due to the tiny tank lol

[243Racing]

Originally Posted by JoeyM2Comp

You're forgetting to factor in that you're probably at the gas station twice as much due to the tiny tank lol

Credit where it’s due - that’s some funny shit


The Focus RS was actually worse, believe it or not.

[4thM3]

Understated performance has always been an important factor to me. Mt 2002ti was a total sleeper. My 914-6 only meant something to those that mattered. Others thought....VW sports car. My e30 M3 was anything but understated but my e36 and e46s more than made up for that. Even my 2006 JCW Mini shocked several Ferraris on track.

However I will say that my 1M garnered WAY MORE attention than my M2C. Don’t think the stock wheels help the M2C IMHO. Sort of wish I could run my track wheels on the street all the time but since this is my daily driver and I have other improvements to make, I will live with understatement knowing that gear heads will always know what’s worth looking at.

ENJOY!

[Robin_NL]

Well, my former 2016 LBB M2 got me about 800% more attention than my current HS M2comp. And I'm talking about thumbs up at the highway, taking pictures, not passing me, older guys (70+)trying to start a conversation about my beautiful car and 16-18 y.o girls who went: when I have money I want that car... pointing at my LBB M2

With my current HS M2 Comp: zero attention, not kidding

;-)

Cheers
Robin

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by Robin_NL

Well, my former 2016 LBB M2 got me about 800% more attention than my current HS M2comp. And I'm talking about thumbs up at the highway, taking pictures, not passing me, older guys (70+)trying to start a conversation about my beautiful car and 16-18 y.o girls who went: when I have money I want that car... pointing at my LBB M2

With my current HS M2 Comp: zero attention, not kidding

;-)

Cheers
Robin

I do get a lot of "love the color" comments...coming up on 18 months, I'm still very happy with the color.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by Robin_NL

Well, my former 2016 LBB M2 got me about 800% more attention than my current HS M2comp. And I'm talking about thumbs up at the highway, taking pictures, not passing me, older guys (70+)trying to start a conversation about my beautiful car and 16-18 y.o girls who went: when I have money I want that car... pointing at my LBB M2

With my current HS M2 Comp: zero attention, not kidding

;-)

Cheers
Robin

I would agree, and another reason I stayed away from LBB when HS came along. I knew I'd get less attention in the HS and I'm ok with that. Being stealth allows me to get into some spirited driving without giving someone the ability to see and track me from a mile away. But LBB is definitely a beautiful, eye-catching color.

[MystroX5]

The M2C has a huge target on it from the haters that want to sit and evaluate cars by manufacture specs. It means nothing but more important the M2C has something those cars wish they had and that is the “X” factor that just makes it so friiggen cool. It’s got more swagger than cars costing twice as much.

I have owned 911’s for 30 years and still own a classic 911 and PCA concourse judge. My M2C has got more attention in 3 months this last summer than 4 years with my last C4S. (A wide body 911).
In my area, the M2C is a rockstar.
It’s a rockstar in the sense that you are a guy that searches out a very obvious driver focused car and not a yuppie weenie driving a 911 that people love to hate. The later is the baggage of owning a modern Porsche 911. I am a car guy and people are just horrible to you when you drive in modern Porsche 911 and it has gotten worse over the last 5 years or so. I love to talk about any car and it use to be when another Porsche driver would see you in the parking lots you would exchange a casual conversation and just general car talk.
The last few Porsche owners in any Porsche car from a Macan to 911 won’t even say hi or a acknowledgment to be pleasant. This even after you may comment how nice their vehicle is just to be nice. Only in our PCA do I find genuine nice car people owning the brand.


New Porsche’s are not gathering the respect they once did and the attention has shifted to the classic air-cooled models which are fun to drive but a dinosaur in performance. It is what it is and probably a direct effect from the newer badge conscious demographic Porsche has marketed to. This is probably why owners don’t seem to be friendly car enthusiast anymore.???

Filling up at the pump always draws comments and questions for the M2C and take pics of it filling up. The M2C seems more approachable and likable. It has a “X” factor that makes it cool. Thumbs up by other motorist that speed up to catch a look. Stealth is the last thing this car is. I’m actually surprised it gets as much attention as it does as Corvettes, Mustangs, Camaros are a dime a dozen in my area in the summertime. You will be very hard pressed to ever see another M2C and will certainly be more rare than 911’s or even any other M car.

I am surprised how fast and well known the street credit is for such a new model.

On a side note: I have two detailing product companies that have both my BMW’s under contract for advertising. They were using my 911’s over the last 10 years and now they are using my BMW’s. If you guys are into professional detailing products, expect to see the M2C make a appearance in advertising.

[Davil]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

In my area, the M2C is a rockstar.
It's a rockstar in the sense that you are a guy that searches out a very obvious driver focused car and not a yuppie weenie driving a 911 that people love to hate. The later is the baggage of owning a modern Porsche 911.

This is fascinating. Exactly the same in Sydney.

Australian cultural rating system:

Porsche = wanker.
Ferrari = wanker with money.
Lamborghini = drug dealer.
Aston = ok, you may be rich but we approve. Really approve.
McLaren = interplanetary conveyance. Whoah!
AMG GT = yep
Any other AMG = nup
F series M3,4 = guy that works in the city.
M2 = only enthusiasts notice. But they do really notice. Others... not so much.

[FractalFootwork]

Got a thumbs up from a Huracan driver this week, and was ignored by everyone else; just how I like it.

[BigKutta]

This is what I mean by stealth. No ones knows what it is and brushes it off as another small BMW. Around these parts, everyone and their grandma drive a BMW or Audi or Porsche, and wouldn't know an M2 if it hit them. But those who truly know their cars, know exactly what this beast is, or are curious about it. Those people are less than 0.01%. And when these 0.01% notice, its truly a compliment

[waldrops]

SoCal alpine white M2C with a plethora of subtle mods

Not sure if it is just my area, but I swear I get at least a comment a day. It's a good balance of really aggressive styling, but is far from obnoxious

PRO TIP: If you want more attention, go catless with an AA midpipe. The startup exhaust snap turns heads every time! lol

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by Robin_NL

Well, my former 2016 LBB M2 got me about 800% more attention than my current HS M2comp. And I'm talking about thumbs up at the highway, taking pictures, not passing me, older guys (70+)trying to start a conversation about my beautiful car and 16-18 y.o girls who went: when I have money I want that car... pointing at my LBB M2

With my current HS M2 Comp: zero attention, not kidding

;-)

Cheers
Robin

It's mainly because of the color...

[NEfan508]

I'm not surprised about the lack of reaction I get in my plain Jane Alpine white.

I do not want attention, I wanted to also take off the badging like I do on all my vehicles but my son said please no, he likes the black put decal on the M2 leave it

A kiss of tint and most decals off to fly under the radar

Problem is @ cvs parking lot's loosing my car in AW bimmers

[GerryM5]

In Los Gatos, CA there are a lot of exotic cars. My LBB 2019 gets a lots looks. If I'm parked at the grocery store or gas stations there's always someone asking me about the car. Frankly I think it's the LBB color that's drawing them at first and it's not even my favorite BMW Blue.

My Black e39 Dinan S2 got way more looks than my M2C. It was more custom looking and a very rare car at the time.

[bri1042]

Outside of looks, and the apparently magnetic nature of LBB...which I've also gotten tons of compliments on from random folk, I did also mean that it is, for a lot of folk who do know exactly what it is (or mostly know what it is), an aspiration-worthy vehicle. It's hard to feel like it is hanging out around here, with many more expensive cars owned by board members, and with various cars that are faster 0-60 or whatever.

Interacting with folk at work and out in the world, most of whom take home less or spend money that I do not on children and other miscellaneous expenses gives a bit of perspective. Younger coworkers have mentioned how much they hope to have an M car of any sort someday (and, yes, many of them could buy an older M but most of them are not the sort who are going to wrench an old E46 in their garage...they live in apartments and need to get their kids to school reliably). There are other folk who talk to me about it here and there, and have gone off and researched it before going back to their Kia or Civic that put it among their dream cars.

Most of the people I interact with regularly are not in finance, they aren't surgeons, successful business owners, or even working in higher-paying IT specialties. I'm really not, either, but I've been at my particular game for 25+ years and have gotten far enough to have this car. They are making salaries with 5 digits, and may or may not be the sole bread-winner in their families. They won't own an M anything, more than likely, and so they do focus on mine a bit. It's sometimes a bit uncomfortable but for the ones I actually know well enough, I take them for coffee and get the little blue girl to growl a bit for them. I answer questions. And then they go back to their Prius or Corolla at the end of the day.

I know how I felt when I saw one of my bosses early in my career drive up with his brand-new M3 (would have been an E36 but I didn't know a ton about it at the time). We forget that others think the same thing when they see our M2's, M3's and M4's.

I'm trying to not forget how hard I worked to be able to have this thing easily, even when I notice how cheap some of the interior is. :-) BTW - The coffee run folk in question all LOVE the dry carbon fiber. It always gets a mention.