[Spook410]

Amazing to have these choices.

[RaceCarDriver]

Originally Posted by Jackie Chiles

I'd love to see an actual review of the CLA45 where its compared to the 2014-2015 MY and other performance coupes/sedans. Its always been a fast car, but the car was panned as not being engaging to drive.

A head to head between the 45 and the M2 would be awesome!

I own a 2014 CLA 45 AMG and it's great and engaging to drive. To me, it's the most BMW like Mercedes (fun to drive, drivers car)

That said, I am selling it for the M2 because I miss having a manual transmission (all my other cars are manuals).

[BiscottiGelato]

Originally Posted by Romo

As a former 1M owner, and currently driving a Cayman GTS, as much as I do like the GTS exterior, interior, engine noise, brake power, I do have problems with finding an adequate seating position and more just how it does steer, the thin steer feels awful to me over and over again.

I just can not get used to its steering character and the lack of feeling a thick steer in my hands, so I`m turning it in for the M2

After an E46 M3, E92 M3 and E82 1M, I`m going back to BMW, to me the better DD, better seats, better steering thickness, the Porker is not a bad car, but you `ll have to drive it hard to get the best out of it, then it really shines IMO.

Some will find a Cayman an alternative to an M2, for me it`s the other way around.

Do you know if it's possible to do a GT sport steering wheel swap from the 991.2 for your 981 GTS? Not sure if it'll solve your steering woes. If it does I think it's worth maybe 1k for a swap. Personally think it's the most beautiful steering wheel of any cars out there. And this is from some of the ugliest steering wheels that Porsche have had before.

For me, I think I'm passing the M2 and looking for a slightly loved 981S or GTS here.

[k-jay]

Personally i have narrowed down my choices to an m2 or audi rs3 (sedan if released early 2016).

[rosky1]

Reviews of the new Camaro are excellent for power, quality, and value (2SS w/Corvette V8 fully loaded at 52K or less) Still #1 on M2 list here but local Hendrick dealer is offering $25 just for a test drive so that's my plan for a bit of fun tomorrow

[Spook410]

It's nice to see the effort being put into American muscle cars, but I could never own a Camaro with the visibility issues. Hate even riding in one. Same applies to the Nissan 370Z.

[Aloha Joe]

Yes, I own a 370Z and visibility is not a strength of the car.

[P-Bass]

Originally Posted by rosky1

Reviews of the new Camaro are excellent for power, quality, and value (2SS w/Corvette V8 fully loaded at 52K or less) Still #1 on M2 list here but local Hendrick dealer is offering $25 just for a test drive so that's my plan for a bit of fun tomorrow

How was the test drive?

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by PSA955

How was the test drive?

I'm also curious about the new Camaro. I test drove a 2015 model before purchasing my M235i, the thing drove like a lead sled. I wasn't looking for the big heavy car feel. I wonder if the new model is better in that respect.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by BiscottiGelato

Do you know if it's possible to do a GT sport steering wheel swap from the 991.2 for your 981 GTS? Not sure if it'll solve your steering woes. If it does I think it's worth maybe 1k for a swap. Personally think it's the most beautiful steering wheel of any cars out there. And this is from some of the ugliest steering wheels that Porsche have had before.

For me, I think I'm passing the M2 and looking for a slightly loved 981S or GTS here.

The 918/Macan wheel is nice too.

I am still looking forward to driving the M2, but now I will be able to do so without making a poor financial decision.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by k-jay

Personally i have narrowed down my choices to an m2 or audi rs3 (sedan if released early 2016).

Drove the RS3 in Stockholm today. Wow. Awesome car. Really hope we get it.

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Drove the RS3 in Stockholm today. Wow. Awesome car. Really hope we get it.

How was the turbo lag? That is one thing that bothered me about the S3.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by AlpsRider

How was the turbo lag? That is one thing that bothered me about the S3.

Much better than the S3, which I drove and didn't like at all for a number of reasons. I didn't go crazy since it was cold, wet and the car had summer rubber on it. But the thing is damn fast. Sounds AMAZING too.

[Gibson6594]

All of these nice options, but don't think any come in a manual other than the M2, at least in the luxury brands.

[Big Tuna]

I'm narrowed down to 3 now:

M2
C7
Cayman S

It'd been awhile since I'd driven an M car so today i drove an M4 and an M235 back to try to get a feel for where the m2 would be. I have to say, the biggest concern for me was how bad the BMWs sounded compared to c7 and 981s.

[P-Bass]

Originally Posted by Big Tuna

I'm narrowed down to 3 now:

M2
C7
Cayman S

It'd been awhile since I'd driven an M car so today i drove an M4 and an M235 back to try to get a feel for where the m2 would be. I have to say, the biggest concern for me was how bad the BMWs sounded compared to c7 and 981s.

I'm in a similar situation, same options on the table, plus an M3/4. I've heard and read, the exhaust gets much better once it's broken in, or an upgrade helps. How would you rate the M235 to the M4?

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Big Tuna

I'm narrowed down to 3 now:

M2
C7
Cayman S

It'd been awhile since I'd driven an M car so today i drove an M4 and an M235 back to try to get a feel for where the m2 would be. I have to say, the biggest concern for me was how bad the BMWs sounded compared to c7 and 981s.

How did you like the C7 vs 981S?

Did the M235i and M4 feel huge and numb compared to either or both?

[Big Tuna]

Originally Posted by PSA955

I'm in a similar situation, same options on the table, plus an M3/4. I've heard and read, the exhaust gets much better once it's broken in, or an upgrade helps. How would you rate the M235 to the M4?

The m4 had about 1500 miles on it and the performance exhaust, so about as good as its going to get. Sound is very important to me so the experience led me to cross m3/4 off the list.

The m235 sounded better but unremarkable.

[P-Bass]

Originally Posted by Big Tuna

The m4 had about 1500 miles on it and the performance exhaust, so about as good as its going to get. Sound is very important to me so the experience led me to cross m3/4 off the list.

The m235 sounded better but unremarkable

Thanks, interesting notes. I'm with you on the sound. I started looking at CPO 911s, one more option. The new Vette is also very interesting, but I must say, I am hesitant with the whole Chevrolet experience. A little snobby? Probably, I had my Buick Enclave serviced today, and service at Buick, while courteous vs BMW is night and day. Food for thought, for me.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by Big Tuna

The m4 had about 1500 miles on it and the performance exhaust, so about as good as its going to get. Sound is very important to me so the experience led me to cross m3/4 off the list.

The m235 sounded better but unremarkable.

Interesting points for sure - I had a 235 for about a year and a half and didn't think of the exhaust as a positive OR a negative - it was pretty muted.

All of my F8X test drives were with M4s, and none of them had the performance exhaust from BMW - I felt like it sounded pretty good in person, but terrible on videos. Sound (to me) is one of those "has to be in person" in order to have a decent opinion on it. The thing about the F8X is that it feels like a complete rocket ship. Very tight steering, snappy gear shifts (DCT) and very nice planted feeling.

The 981CS is a different kind of experience. I would say that it is on par with the Z4MC or E46 M3 in terms of visceral experience - not crazy quick off the line because it lacks the low down torque, but not slow either, and is a screamer once it gets to 4K and above in the RPM range. Different kind of "fun" factor too - much lighter than any of the Bimmers I have had, so you can really feel like you're a driving god on simple twists and turns. It just goes and stops so well, and the sound is phenomenal. Especially with PSE.

If sound really matters a lot (and I didn't realize how much I had missed it), then something NA is going to probably be the way to go for you, as I am sure you know. It is certainly easier to get great sound out of those motors, unless the turbo sound is one you like. Hard to match the wail of NA in my opinion, but the choices here are good regardless.

Just depends on what it is that you're looking for.

[chambolle]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

Interesting points for sure - I had a 235 for about a year and a half and didn't think of the exhaust as a positive OR a negative - it was pretty muted.

All of my F8X test drives were with M4s, and none of them had the performance exhaust from BMW - I felt like it sounded pretty good in person, but terrible on videos. Sound (to me) is one of those "has to be in person" in order to have a decent opinion on it. The thing about the F8X is that it feels like a complete rocket ship. Very tight steering, snappy gear shifts (DCT) and very nice planted feeling.

The 981CS is a different kind of experience. I would say that it is on par with the Z4MC or E46 M3 in terms of visceral experience - not crazy quick off the line because it lacks the low down torque, but not slow either, and is a screamer once it gets to 4K and above in the RPM range. Different kind of "fun" factor too - much lighter than any of the Bimmers I have had, so you can really feel like you're a driving god on simple twists and turns. It just goes and stops so well, and the sound is phenomenal. Especially with PSE.

If sound really matters a lot (and I didn't realize how much I had missed it), then something NA is going to probably be the way to go for you, as I am sure you know. It is certainly easier to get great sound out of those motors, unless the turbo sound is one you like. Hard to match the wail of NA in my opinion, but the choices here are good regardless.

Just depends on what it is that you're looking for.

What am I missing here? A couple grand on a performance exhaust and/or intake and you probably got yer 'sound.' Seems to me buying and selling a car on 'the sound' is like buying and selling a house for the color of the paint on the window shutters or the front door. If you're looking at a $50,000 to $75,000 auto, pick the car first -- accessorize the exhaust, if you really must, after that. I did the Dinan intake/exhaust package on my E36 M3... Bingo! Lotsa sound.

And I might note in passing that how much of 'the sound' in a new car in the 21st century is 'piped in' and how much is generated by your power plant may be open to question anyway.

Or am I just way out in left field here? I'm sure I'll here it from y'all if I am.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by chambolle

What am I missing here? A couple grand on a performance exhaust and/or intake and you probably got yer 'sound.' Seems to me buying and selling a car on 'the sound' is like buying and selling a house for the color of the paint on the window shutters or the front door. If you're looking at a $50,000 to $75,000 auto, pick the car first -- accessorize the exhaust, if you really must, after that. I did the Dinan intake/exhaust package on my E36 M3... Bingo! Lotsa sound.

And I might note in passing that how much of 'the sound' in a new car in the 21st century is 'piped in' and how much is generated by your power plant may be open to question anyway.

Or am I just way out in left field here? I'm sure I'll here it from y'all if I am.

Depends on what you start with - your E36 M3 was NA, so it is a better platform for improving the sound out of the box. By their vary nature, FI platforms are more difficult to extract that nice sound from - in my experience anyway.

Many cars today have sound piped in - especially BMWs. My 981 doesn't - the engine is right behind your ear...so you are hearing more of the stuff going on there than a front engined car. The 987 had more of that - some people like more, some like less - again, it just depends.

And yes, I think most would agree that you do not purchase a car simply on the way that it sounds - but when two cars are roughly equal in other areas, it can be a big tipping point.