[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by ASAP

This car is all about feel... from a pure stock performance standpoint, it really doesn't have any number around any track that blows anyone away. It's twitchy, snappy and it's at times hard to drive... i think that makes it fun.

I do sometimes in the back of my head think of a 2 year old M340i that could have been bought for 15k less and would offer similar performance.

I think the M2 overall is a very compromising car... and you have to accept it or it's not for you.

My thoughts exactly. The M2C is not just about raw acceleration or lap times. Its about feel and driving fun.
I've recently driven several BMWs back to back. The M340i was a fast but boring sedan compared to the M2C. The M4 was somewhere in-between the two.
The M2C is also about a car you can take straight to the track without much concern of brakes, overheating, Tesla battery charge, etc. It gets the job done with ease.

[Fly320s]

Originally Posted by HerM2C

Stop calling the Tesla an M3.

I think he means Model 3, not M3 like a BMW.

[02M3ForMe]

Originally Posted by Mr. Maboomba

I have been a BMW enthusiast for years - I’ve had a ‘98 328is, ‘08 335xi, ‘09 Dinan S3 335i, ‘12 X5 50i, ‘14 320i ZSP and ‘19 X5 50i M Sport. I still own the last two of these and I have had the itch recently to upgrade the 320i to something more fun for autocross and track days - like the M2C.

I test drove one yesterday, a 2020 LBB M2C with DCT, and for some reason it just didn’t get me very excited. It seemed like a lot of noise and compromise for very little benefit. My X5 can go 0-60 in almost the same amount of time (4.5 sec vs. 4.0 sec), a M340i can do it just as fast and a Tesla can do it faster. If we want to look at lap times, according to Car & Driver, the M2C makes it around VIR in 2:59.7, the Tesla M3P does it in 3:00.7, F82 M4 3:00.7, M340i 3:03.2, X5 M 3:11.1. All pretty close except, of course, for the X5.

I hope this doesn’t come across as trolling because I’m honestly sad that it didn’t get me eager to sign up for a $1K/month car payment. Do I need to find a 6MT? Get an extended test drive in the twisties (the Ferrari dealer selling this pre-owned M2C required a "follow the leader" test drive that was mostly highway)? Or just accept that maybe I’ve gotten soft and an M3/M4 (or god forbid a Tesla M3P) is more my style?

Click for video: https://player.vimeo.com/video/532996251

How hard did you drive it?

[Multimodal]

Originally Posted by 02M3ForMe

How hard did you drive it?

Yeah, not that hard. It was a follow the leader test drive, 15 minutes long, 80% highway and 20% service roads, about 10 MPH over the speed limit. That's probably why I felt like it was a fussy car without a lot of benefit. I needed to end the test ride with a shit-eating grin to justify $60K.

[Sarg33]

There are several people on here to include myself that felt the M2C was lack luster during the test drive. Once you actual can 'drive it the way it is meant to be' it will impress. The M2C is the most connected driver's car I personally have ever driven. It is simply a blast to hoon around in. My 2 cents.

[Al Bundy's Dodge]

Originally Posted by Sarg33

There are several people on here to include myself that felt the M2C was lack luster during the test drive. Once you actual can 'drive it the way it is meant to be' it will impress. The M2C is the most connected driver's car I personally have ever driven. It is simply a blast to hoon around in. My 2 cents.

This.

Anecdotally, I cut off at least 32 people as I weaved my way through traffic on my way home from the golf course yesterday. Cut through a warehouse district for a couple little slide opportunities before the final stretch of the drive.

It was awesome.

[akkando]

If you're looking for off the line speed, the m2 doesn't shine there, I mean it's fast but as you pointed out a Tesla and an X5 are fast too. Where it shines is the size of the car, being playful in the turns, the way it makes you feel, but being reasonably practical relative to a Porsche. DCT transmission is responsive in manual mode, or you can get MT. X5 and Tesla don't get those options.

[oln08]

I think I know where you are coming from.
I was the same way when I first purchased my BMW, E92 335i back in 2008. I couldn't understand why you would buy an M3 when you can tune the 335i for cheap and will be "faster".

Then I was able to drive an E92 M3 at a car meet, and it was over. The steering, sound, overall feeling is very different than my car. Up till now, I really don't care anymore about making my car faster, I want the feeling of the drive and all the mods of my M2 is on suspension to tweak it to my liking.

[GregInNewMexico]

Trying to be the fastest from a stoplight can be a very expensive game. So if you have the cash, you can get something that will get you a sub 2 second run. Woo.

Get the car that speaks to you. I can tell you that Tesla's are getting very common around my area. Any 0-60 advantage that these folks have is slowly eroding into pointlessness. In the meantime I will be having a hoot in the canyons and mountain passes while the model 3s are having 3 second pedal mashing pissing contests in town.

[GarageMadness]

Since you currently own the last two you mentioned, the M2C may or may not fit your use case. There nothing wrong with owning multiple cars as they have a different seat at the table in the family. For me, owning the M2C is about having one car that does several things well. I would describe it as "jack of all trades, master of none." You can daily it, have passengers, get groceries, pick people up at the airport, do some GT touring to the coast, take a run in the mountains, and enjoy the occasional track day. So in some ways if it's your only car, it's a perfect storm.

Since we yearn for something special all the time, owning multiple cars quenches that thirst for perfection. In that quest, it's always impossible to find something that is completely satisfying.

By no means did I settle on a M2C. I just recognized what it does well in a combination of functions, which is why it garners a space in my home. I enjoy it knowing it does so many things well, but just not one thing spectacularly.

If what I described is not what you want in another car, then reflect on what's missing from your driving experience on the cars you do own and keep hunting. Don't settle!

[MystroX5]

Yes, the M2C is a lot more exciting than your X5 in the way the M2C is a hawk and the X5 is a goose. Both powerful in their own ways. The M2C in another zip code of handling and balance of power. I owned the 2019 X5 50i M-Sport before trading it in for a loaded X7M50i. The M2C is a different animal and possibly the best modern M-Car BMW makes. It really is that good.

[Ratcher]

Oh here's the nonsense Facebook thread all over again.

Comparing an M2 to an X5
Comparing 0-60 accelerations
Comparing M2's "e-LSD" to X5's AWD diff

Love it!

Edit: unaware if the differentials on the M2 and X5 are the same, but apparently there is indeed the option of an LSD for the X5. Which makes sense for use in the snow. Software isn't the same obviously

[MrOhnoez]

Originally Posted by Ratcher

Oh here's the nonsense Facebook thread all over again.

Comparing an M2 to an X5
Comparing 0-60 accelerations
Comparing M2's "e-LSD" to X5's AWD diff

Love it!

Don't forget the tesla,
Gotta always include those for some reason.

[Ratcher]

Originally Posted by MrOhnoez

Don't forget the tesla,
Gotta always include those for some reason.

It's to show how much of a petrolhead someone is

[MmmmmM2]

Originally Posted by Sarg33

There are several people on here to include myself that felt the M2C was lack luster during the test drive. Once you actual can 'drive it the way it is meant to be' it will impress. The M2C is the most connected driver's car I personally have ever driven. It is simply a blast to hoon around in. My 2 cents.

Absolutely this. I was not at all impressed during the test drive. After going for a spirited canyon carve, I was in love.

[M2Cmtl]

Originally Posted by pz619

If you are comparing a X5/Tesla to a M2, this is almost certainly not the car for you. Drive the other cars and get what you like most.

X2.

[Multimodal]

Originally Posted by MmmmmM2

Absolutely this. I was not at all impressed during the test drive. After going for a spirited canyon carve, I was in love.

I did this today. Took a second test drive with a manual car on twisty roads. It was a lot more fun. They also had a manual F80 M3 which was great too. Now to decide...

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by Mr. Maboomba

I did this today. Took a second test drive with a manual car on twisty roads. It was a lot more fun. They also had a manual F80 M3 which was great too. Now to decide...

Both cars are great. The M3 will feel a bit larger and more refined and just a bit quicker top end. Also has Heads Up Display and a few other goodies. The M2 is more raw and playful when you begin to push the cars hard. Both provide good utility for daily chores. And both live for a day on track or autocross. Tough choice.

[Skulinex]

The M3 will definitely feel heavier as you toss it around unless you get a M3CS. You can squeeze in through traffic a lot easier with the M2 and (unless the M3 has CCB’s) the M2 will out brake the M3. For this particular M3, the M2 has better headlights. Or just get both

[Multimodal]

I test drove this crazy thing today. People have said the M3/4 is a boat relative to the M2C - well, the M4CS must be an exception or else I can't tell my bow from my stern. I thought it was great and a far more capable car than I am a driver. Probably the most exciting so far out of a M2C DCT, M2C 6MT, M3C 6MT and this M4CS DCT. It wasn't a buy for me because I couldn't deal with the cardboard door panel or fabric loop for a door handle. (I'd rather have a 6MT and the lack of a center console armrest would be a little annoying.) But I'm falling more and more in love with the S55, especially in the 444 hp and 454 hp tunes.

[Multimodal]

Update: final production 2021 M2C 6MT ordered! HS, orange stitching, black wheels, slicktop, Adaptive LED headlights (no Executive Package - BMW is including Adaptive LEDs at no charge on all final production vehicles).