[nishmaster2k]

Originally Posted by marcva

Do you need new? How about an E46M Competition Package or a nicely turned out e92m?

He said fewer maintenance headaches, not more! ;-)

[marcva]

I'd recommend our E36 M3/4/5s, though recent discussions have highlighted how terrible they are...

It works for me. You just toss your track tires in the back door and the toolbox and Harbor Freight jack in the trunk and you're good to go. Cheap to buy and run and plenty of fun for me.

Besides, a wise man once mentioned on a board that you should never run anything on a track that you couldn't afford to walk away from if you balled it up. We might be able to dance around DE exceptions for insurance policies or buy school insurance, but it all adds up.

OK, I'm being too much of an old fogey. I'll go back to my bowl of prunes and Bonanza reruns...

[clubsport]

OK, I'll say it...

The OP, like myself, lives in SoCal. Land of 10k+ over MSRP. 40k over if you deal with New Century. If your only option is that or an 18 month wait list, The Cayman/Boxster GTS is a driver.
Or 2016 leftover 235 + Dinan + MCS + wheels = Fun

[ORIGIN M.]

Great advice from someone who happens to have nine lives.

Originally Posted by Nine Lives

I think you're about 20yrs too young for a crisis

However,if you're going to have a midlifer get the M2.

If you're over a crisis get the m240i.

Or to hell with it all and get the Porsche

[Nine Lives]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Great advice from someone who happens to have nine lives.

Yeah,it's a cat thing...

[rouxeny]

You're too young for a mid life crises.

If you can afford the M2, get one

Also, do not marry a woman who will not allow you to get the things you enjoy in life, within reason. If you have a good job, all your retirement set up, paying down the mortgage, saving for junior's college, have a rainy day fund, not eating ramen every day, etc., then your wife should support you spending money on things that are important to you. As you should for her.

If you are not meeting the basic requirements, then your wife would be correct, you have no business buying luxuries.

[FAN_F1]

Originally Posted by rouxeny

You're too young for a mid life crises.

If you can afford the M2, get one

Also, do not marry a woman who will not allow you to get the things you enjoy in life, within reason. If you have a good job, all your retirement set up, paying down the mortgage, saving for junior's college, have a rainy day fund, not eating ramen every day, etc., then your wife should support you spending money on things that are important to you. As you should for her.

If you are not meeting the basic requirements, then your wife would be correct, you have no business buying luxuries.

Well said Maui!

[craina]

There is nothing normal about a Cayman/Boxster S. Sure by todays standards not the fastest car and they are becoming rather common but it is a mid engine sports car with an intoxicating exhaust note, incredible chassis, and unflappable brakes. Drive one and its hard not to become smitten. Sure you sacrifice trunk space and rear seats but the trunk(s) fit a surprising amount of gear.

I love my 1M and I am sure the M2 is great, but at the end of the day they are just souped up versions of the cheapest BMW on sale. Unless you are a car guy it can be hard to recognize what makes the M2/1M special. Not the case with the Cayman/Boxster - just getting into the thing with its low seating position with your ass inches off the ground and you know that it is a serious sports car as opposed to a souped up sports coupe 4 seater. Another thing I love about the 981 is the shifter is only inches from the steering wheel - this sounds like a small detail but it makes the car feel that much more purposeful.

I guess my point is that unless you need the rear seats and additional trunk space provided by the 2 series, then get a Porsche and you will have a true sports car.

[Spinnetti]

I'd say used GTS and be happy.... or drive something ordinary on the street and get a cheap "real" race car for the speed itch. Certainly cheaper than driving an expensive street cars on the track. For me, I guess the M2 is my "mid-life crisis" car, though for that I'd get an R8. This was just the "practical" choice (and with two race cars in the garage, getting a 2 seater would get frowns from the missus). Typically wives don't prevent you from getting what you want, responsible people with common sense does lol.

[serrated]

Get the M2 with the M Performance Exhaust. Ignore the stupid cost. It's expensive. But the sound. It'll punch you right in the giggle-dick.

Each time I let off the throttle I hear my popcorn entourage. Makes me laugh like a maniac each time. It'll still get tolerably quiet in comfort mode with the valves closed, but you'll have that thing on the loudest setting 95% of the time. It's too fun.

[marcva]

I have a coworker with a 911. He comments on the brief moments he touches 90-100mph on public roads. When I ask him why he doesn't track the car, he complains that consumables are too expensive to use the car in that way.

Imo, what's the point of owning a toy if you can't play with it?

"Afford" is a relative term.

[Artemis]

My quick take on it:

1. Avoid a midlife crisis. It's possible. Choice of significant other is mostly instrumental for future decisions, happiness or misfortune.

2. Prioritize: a car is a leisure commodity, can be a fun provider, but don't sacrifice too much for it financially.

3. Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late (Benjamin Franklin).

[Franzino]

Originally Posted by Artemis

My quick take on it:

1. Avoid a midlife crisis. It's possible. Choice of significant other is mostly instrumental for future decisions, happiness or misfortune.

2. Prioritize: a car is a leisure commodity, can be a fun provider, but don't sacrifice too much for it financially.

3. Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late (Benjamin Franklin).

👍🏻
And I would ad...you only live once 😉

[Nine Lives]

Originally Posted by Franzino

👍🏻
And I would ad...you only live once 😉

Unless you're James Bond or a cat

[823BMW]

If the M2 is too much of a stretch, consider a 228i (230i) M sport manual. Road and Track actually ranked it above the M2:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...mparison-test/
They are rare, but I have driven one and was impressed. Personally, I'm going for the M2, even though I have not gotten the opportunity to drive one.

[Franzino]

Originally Posted by 823BMW

If the M2 is too much of a stretch, consider a 228i (230i) M sport manual. Road and Track actually ranked it above the M2:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...mparison-test/
They are rare, but I have driven one and was impressed. Personally, I'm going for the M2, even though I have not gotten the opportunity to drive one.

Good advise....

[823BMW]

2015 228i M Sport manual with the track handling package at IQ Autos in Atlanta:
http://www.iqautos.com/vehicle-detai...ga-id-14886057

[tracerit]

Great advice on finding a quality significant other. I"ve been with someone who criticized me for trialing and returning pillows... and that already bugged me!

I've actually looked into this further and have decided to NOT spend so much on a car. It's nice and all but when I look at the $30-40k I could save, that's a lot of traveling I could do. That's if I had to choose between having a nice car and traveling.

The 228i-230i does look intriguing now after checking those links out. I did test drive one at a BMW event and enjoyed it but honestly never considered it because of it's single side exhaust lol... Will have to sit in one again!

[Fangi0]

I configured (bmwusa.com) a white M240i RWD 6MT trying to match a white M2's 6MT with Executive Package's feature set. Throwing in the LSD but keeping 18" wheels, the price differential was < $2K in favor of the M240i. Upgrading the wheels to 19" (~$4K, expensive btw), the M240i costs more.


This is what the M2 has that the M240i doesn't:

"The chassis is where you get the special. The M2's front and rear subframes, its suspension and electronically assisted steering, and its computer-controlled active differential are all ported over from the M3/M4. As on that car, the rear subframe is rigidly mounted, a stark departure from BMW tradition. The change improves handling precision at the expense of noise and (depending on which engineer you ask) ride quality. This is neat stuff. The M3/M4 bits were initially engineered for a much larger and more powerful car, so they impact weight—an M4 coupe weighs 3500 pounds, and the M2 is said to be only slightly lighter. Which makes it a porker. But those bits are fantastic and worth the penalty. "
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...2-first-drive/


This is what the M240i has that the M2 doesn't:
http://youwheel.com/home/2016/03/27/...linder-engine/

The above not to say that the M2's modified N55 was just a minor tune; it was modified with track activity in mind:

"The pistons are higher-compression units borrowed from the S55 in BMW's M3 and M4; the crankshaft main bearing shells from that engine are also used here. The power bump over an M235i is largely courtesy of a reprogramming that includes more turbocharger boost. There's a new sump with an additional baffle, an extra oil-return pump to send oil to the back of the sump under heavy braking, and a special new oiling system for the turbocharger."

~and~

"To give the N55 new purpose, BMW started from the ground up with it. Starting from the block and rotating assembly, BMW gave the N55 a forged crankshaft, forged connecting rods and newer piston rings. It also received a rehsaped oil pan and a new oil drain pump, to allow for better circulation during more extreme circumstances than it was normally put under. Additional oil coolers have also been fitted to insure that, during the sort of driving that the M2 is capable of, there’s no loss in power. “Because if your oil temperature and coolant temperature are running so hot, it’s inevitable to have reduced power. You can’t have that.” According to Jose Guerrero, BMW Product Manager for the M2."
http://www.bmwblog.com/2016/07/28/bm...ven-better-m2/


You will feel the difference in steering, handling and ride every mile of the road. The M2 trades in comfort in favor of performance here.

As for engines, a freshly designed B58 silky smooth underrated beast vs a track-duty oriented modified N55.

You can't go wrong either way. It is just a matter of where you prefer your investment to go.

[Zippster]

Originally Posted by Nine Lives

Yeah,it's a cat thing...

that picture is amazing. I hope its photoshopped but I suspect it's not.

[Levente_CSL]

mid life crisis at age 31? good joke man

[G-Mann]

I would get the M2, wouldn't even be a debate.