[bwhip]

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As a motorcycle guy, I've done a zillion group rides on motorcycles, but since I bought my incredible little M2 last December, my drives have always been solo. Any other car on the road with me was simply a target to overtake . Just kidding (sort of).

Anyway, my great friend and helmet painter extraordinaire Tyler, has been asking me about going for a drive together for months now. He's got a really sick Shelby GT. His final two choices last year for a new car were the Shelby or an M2, so he's been wanting to see mine (and drive it) for quite some time. I'd seen (and especially heard) another friend's GT350R a couple of years back, and thought it was one of the greatest sounding cars I could imagine.

We finally were able to make our schedules work to go for a drive this past weekend. Good, since we're running out of decent weather! We just had time for a day trip, so we decided to drive out to the Stanley, Idaho area and back. He invited a couple of other friends who I hadn't met before - Matt with his Focus RS, and Andrew in a Porsche.

We met up at my place Saturday morning.



We drove out through Banks and Garden Valley, then we got to the first really fun section where there were almost no cars. We might have driven sort of fast.





They had me out in front, since I have the radar detector - and maybe they thought I'd be the smart one since I'm like 20 years older than any of them. They were right about the radar detector part.

Next we stopped at the Grandjean scenic overlook, but it was a bit cloudy and cold. Tyler's front left tire kept losing air, so we wound up stopping a lot to use our little compressors to fill it up. We figured out later in the day that it was a loose valve stem, and were able to fix it, thankfully.





As we approached Stanley, the Sawtooth Mountains were just spectacular as usual, today with some fresh snow from this past week. Wow.





We drove out to Smiley Creek, where there is a memorial to Tyler's dad, who died in a plane crash when he was a boy. We stopped in Stanley for a late lunch, then drove my second favorite stretch of road in Idaho - Hwy 75 between Stanley and Challis, incredibly fun and twisty along the Salmon River. So great - and we HAMMERED it. The M2 is just so ridiculously good, and I had a Shelby and Focus RS on my tail the whole way. Amazing, and super fun. I'm glad the tires gripped so well, or I'd be in the river.

On the return trip along that stretch of road, Tyler and I traded cars - him in the M2, and me behind the wheel of that BEAST. The sound! Holy crap. Brakes were ridiculously good. And it handled incredibly well for a car that seems like a big muscle car. Very impressive. I still like the M2 better (for me), but I definitely could have some serious fun in that badboy.

This is a grass airstrip at Smiley Creek:





We spun a few donuts then got out of there before the locals got mad.

On the way home through the Lowman canyon stretch I traded cars with Matt, and got to drive his race-prepped Focus RS (he's had great success in autocross). WOW! What an impressive little car! I knew it would be good, but it blew me away. So tight! Just hugged every corner. And really fast! Not as comfortable and refined as the M2, but man was it fun.

Tyler and Matt both absolutely loved the M2, which was really cool. They couldn't believe how good it was. Nor can I! I've driven it pretty hard on previous trips. Very. But today - wow. Let's just say I've never gone that fast in a car before. All day. Wow.



It was early evening by the time we got home. There's a big hill about 15 miles north of my house that just begs you to go fast over. Really fast. Tyler and I were pretty much in full race mode climbing the hill, side by side, VERY fast. Fun. We backed off a bit as we neared the top of the hill, and he pulled in front of me to begin the descent down the other side for the remaining 10 miles or so to home. Suddenly my radar detector starting going berserk. I flashed my high beams several times to warn Tyler, and I slowed down hard. He slowed down a bit - but not quite enough, as the Sheriff coming the opposite direction flipped a U-turn in front of me and went after Tyler. CRAP! After a mile or so behind him, he flipped the lights on and pulled over my friend. Sorry, Tyler!

The moral of the story is slow down, and always go the speed limit! *

* or stay behind bwhip

[Geoffo]

Looks like you've had a great day out.

[larry.beck]

Love your story-telling almost as much as your photos!

[Miko M]

Nice write up and photos.
Funny thing is so hard to drive slow with fast car. Lol
There is M motorcycle coming

[Fitzy4GC]

Great story! Sounds like a lot of fun.

[paliknight]

Where's the ending? (Result of the traffic stop)

[Transfer]

As always great stuff. Thanks for sharing!

Radar detector is so crucial on these types of drives and at least it saved one of you.

[TTBear]

What a great write up, for what looks like a stellar driving day!!
Thanks for taking the time to share that - I thoroughly enjoyed it!!

[P1]

Colleague of mine has a 2019 Porsche GT3 and a... Focus RS. Obviously a different breed, but he loves that Focus RT to bits.

[Caffeine Powered]

Sounds just like our motorcycle rides.

[bwhip]

Originally Posted by paliknight

Where's the ending? (Result of the traffic stop)

Tyler wound up getting a ticket for 77 in a 60, which is $155.00 here. Worst part was he'd gotten a ticket just two weeks ago.

[paliknight]

Originally Posted by bwhip

Tyler wound up getting a ticket for 77 in a 60, which is $155.00 here. Worst part was he'd gotten a ticket just two weeks ago.

Oh damn what a way to end the trip! Not too bad I guess. Could have been worse! But the drive seemed worth it so all in all I think he came out on top.

[Al1969]

Great I looked at your place on map... wow you seem to have amazing roads just made for the M2 around your area ... if I could I would take my soon new Swiss M2C and spend some time there just driving around such beautiful scenery .. really I envy you 👍👍👍

[SCBMW02]

Thanks for sharing. I'm a long time BMW guy, had E36, E46 and E92 M3's among others. Have track time in all of them, including M program at the Ring with the E 92 launch. When it came time to buy again I was all set for M4 or the M2. I went off label however and bought a 2018 GT 350. I must say Ford got everything right on this car. The steering, brakes, magnetic dampers, transmission and the amazing engine and sound at 8250 rpm! Feels way lighter than it is. Not to mention the looks, still gets noticed everywhere I go, partly because they are quite rare. Every bit as fun and capable as any M car I have driven with a sound in sport mode that is unmatched!! Sure not as luxurious inside, but in my opinion, for 60k the sports car bargain of the century! And make no mistake, this is a sports car, not a muscle car.

[bwhip]

Originally Posted by Al1969

Great I looked at your place on map... wow you seem to have amazing roads just made for the M2 around your area ... if I could I would take my soon new Swiss M2C and spend some time there just driving around such beautiful scenery .. really I envy you 👍👍👍

Thanks! We sure feel fortunate to live in such an amazing area for M2's and motorcycles. Other than the snow which will be coming soon!

You can see more of the incredible roads around here on these previous blog posts:

https://bwhip62.wordpress.com/2018/0...entral-oregon/

https://bwhip62.wordpress.com/2018/0...tacular-roads/

https://bwhip62.wordpress.com/2018/0...ome-fresh-air/

https://bwhip62.wordpress.com/2018/1...und-much-more/

[Danger-Zone]

Excellent write up M8! After reading all the great reviews, I wonder if the current M2 is the equivalent of how a previous generation M3 (E46) was against the competition back in the early to mid 2000's?

That E46 M3 will always be my Eleanor, holding a special place in my heart. I love my E93 M3... it's such a beautiful car and it gets many compliments. But I know it's basically a 335i with an M heart. Yeah, average people see the badge and think it's this crazy performance machine ready to rip through every turn with grace and poise; however, those who "know", really "know"... it's merely the half brother/sister, of the M3.

Still, dropping the top on this car turns quite a few heads down here along the Emerald coast.

Excellent story and it makes me want to drive an M2 just that much more! Is that a manual or DSC?

[D22M2]

Great post !

[bwhip]

Originally Posted by Danger-Zone

Excellent story and it makes me want to drive an M2 just that much more! Is that a manual or DSC?

Thanks! Mine is a manual, which I absolutely love.

[ThugzZ BunnY]

beautiful pics, cars, scenery, AND write up!

[KevinM]

Fantastic post of a great drive (minus the ticket)!

[RocketBoots]

Seeing the cars together like that, I really prefer the shape of the M2 over the others, even though they are all great cars.

[bwhip]

Shortly after we left for the drive, my wife texted me saying "I really like that Porsche!"

When we got back I asked her about it, worried that she might have liked it better. She said, "Oh no, I still like ours way better!"

I guess we can continue to be married.