[VisualEcho]

So my '18 M2 is in for service (right rear turn signal malfunction, go figure), and they had to order a tail-light, so they gave me a loaner for a day. My drive to the dealer is 128 miles, so off I went in a 2020 M340i DCT.

First, the hate. That grille is a face only a mother could love, and the dash cluster might be worse. Those two things would keep me from owning this car if I were interested in a 3-series. This particular car has woodgrain accents on the interior and is just terrible, like a really bad 70's movie. The tire size is too small IMO (classic BMW) and the sidewall is way too compliant for this suspension (Pirealli Cinturato P7 all season). I reckon that just changing the tires would transform the way the car feels on the road.

Now, the love. Jesus this car runs like a bat out of hell. Maybe it's because I'm used to a manual, or the way the power comes on, but just wow. At any speed this car will pick its heavy ass up and haul the mail post haste. I also love the info screen being much lower and not in my field of view.

Overall observations. It's a rougher ride than I would have imagined (even with the soft sidewall tires), but it's actually pretty good overall, and I suppose it's because it has that M. Brakes are great, but much more touchy than mine. Steering wheel has subtle changes, and I like them. I also really like the navigation in the heads up display, very good stuff.

Not a terrible rental, but certainly not a good daily for me.

[tranck]

Yeah, I recently had the car as a loaner as well - it does haul ass in a straight line but, it's nowhere near the M2.

Steering, handling, looks, interior. M2 has that car covered in spades.

[amancuso]

Thats a straight up 8spd automatic, not a DCT. They really are a marvel. I have one in my 428i and it's just as good, if not better than the DCT in my M2.

[RocketTR]

The grille would probably look better if it were black.

But in all honestly, I think you'll love that grille once the new 4-series cars come out.

[DanG]

I had a test drive and the only thing I liked was the heads up display. Wish it was an option on the M2.

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by RocketTR

The grille would probably look better if it were black.

But in all honestly, I think you'll love that grille once the new 4-series cars come out.

[AndrewC1989]

128 miles to the nearest dealer?!

[heavyD^2]

BMW really messed up with their digital cockpit. As shown in the picture above it's a mess to look at. Information displays need to be clear and straightforward and the boomerang tach and speedo are not intuitive with the tach moving counter clockwise. They could have just copied Audi or MB and everyone would have been happy but they tried to do their own thing and it's a massive fail as even the domestics such as Ford does a better job with their digital displays.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by tranck

Yeah, I recently had the car as a loaner as well - it does haul ass in a straight line but, it's nowhere near the M2.

Yeah, it just feels fast for such a car.

Originally Posted by amancuso

Thats a straight up 8spd automatic, not a DCT. They really are a marvel. I have one in my 428i and it's just as good, if not better than the DCT in my M2.

Oh, sorry, I'm not so up on auto's, so I didn't know the difference!

Originally Posted by DanG

I had a test drive and the only thing I liked was the heads up display. Wish it was an option on the M2.

Ditto.

Originally Posted by andrewc89

128 miles to the nearest dealer?!

Yes. Good thing I don't plan to be there much.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

BMW really messed up with their digital cockpit. As shown in the picture above it's a mess to look at.

The whole car is busy, but the cluster is just, well, a cluster. Even the gas gauge is hard to read, until you get used to it. I guess that's the story here, you just have to get used to it. One thing notably missing was the option to add the speed limit. I looked several times and couldn't find it.

[gandapanda]

Sometimes cars that you don't own feel faster than yours because you drive them with a NFG attitude.

[Altra]

I'm surprised you got a m340, best my dealer gave me was a 330 and it's a pig. That said, it's much improved in terms of driving dynamics over the outgoing 430GC they gave me the next time I was in. The 430 is a numb feeling boat comparatively. BMW's going in the right direction with the G20s, but wish it wasn't as big as it is. It took me a few days to get the tach settings dialed in the way I like, but I prefer the analogue dials.

What I dislike the most is the relocated start/stop button. It's way too close to the driving modes button, in fact I accidentally shut off the car at a stop light while trying to put it in sport...whoops.

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by amancuso

Thats a straight up 8spd automatic, not a DCT. They really are a marvel. I have one in my 428i and it's just as good, if not better than the DCT in my M2.

The ZF8 is a marvel. It feels really fast with normal street spirited driving. However in the mountain twisties the ZF8 won't shift as fast in manual mode as the DCT. That direct connection is lost in the slush of the slush box.

The new 3 series is supposed to have improved suspension so kudos for that but did they have to make the rear end look like a Lexus?

[Killed by Death]

The new digital dash craze is awful and driving me crazy...Before ordering the M2C I tried talking myself into an Audi TTRS. TOO BUSY, Clumsy and un-intuitive...Hated it, just give me a regular tach / speedo and I'm good. Plus the buttons on the Audi steering wheel are too small and fiddly.

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by Killed by Death

The new digital dash craze is awful and driving me crazy...Before ordering the M2C I tried talking myself into an Audi TTRS. TOO BUSY, Clumsy and un-intuitive...Hated it, just give me a regular tach / speedo and I'm good. Plus the buttons on the Audi steering wheel are too small and fiddly.

I agree, I love tech but when it comes to my car's instrument cluster I prefer the analog look. It's easier to read.
Porsche instruments are nirvana.

[5.M0NSTER]

I might be one of a few who actually likes the front end. We have a couple at work and I really don’t mind them.

Good shot of the digital gauge cluster, and yeah definitely too busy. Pretty looking but hard to read. It’s technology in your face in a bad way.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by gandapanda

Sometimes cars that you don't own feel faster than yours because you drive them with a NFG attitude.

Driving it back I gave it the beans several times to figure out why it felt so fast, and found that it was just the shifts. From one to the next was so seamless, so fast, and no dip in power at all, which is in sharp contrast to my car, and how I shift it. I'm used to powerful cars, so I shift slow and let the power do the job. But that rifle shifting was pretty great.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by Altra

I'm surprised you got a m340, best my dealer gave me was a 330 and it's a pig.

What I dislike the most is the relocated start/stop button. It's way too close to the driving modes button, in fact I accidentally shut off the car at a stop light while trying to put it in sport...whoops.

Yeah, I was surprised he gave me the M340 as well. The M2 is my first BMW, so it's all I have to compare to. And the whole turning off at a stoplight thing is just weird, I mean, it works, but just too weird feeling for me. And I agree with the button placement on the 340, bad idea.

[Killed by Death]

Just noticed the Tach going counter clockwise. That would mess with me big time. BMW is worrying me with gimmicks and design changes just to differentiate models. Ordered a 2020 M2C because I'm concerned how the next generation M2 might turn out.

[SeanWRT]

Both N55 and B58 have the low end responsiveness stock. Not that M2 2018 is really down on power compared to M340, it's the ZF8 putting you into the right gear that does the trick.

Manual car always feels slower because it's unrealistic for human to downshift as often as a DCT/ZF8 would in real life.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by SeanWRT

Both N55 and B58 have the low end responsiveness stock. Not that M2 2018 is really down on power compared to M340, it's the ZF8 putting you into the right gear that does the trick.

Yup, that's exactly it. Also, the M2 has enough power that I don't actually down-shift much if I want to go faster, I just roll on the throttle. The 340 down-shifts immediately, which gives a completely different feel.

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by SeanWRT

Both N55 and B58 have the low end responsiveness stock. Not that M2 2018 is really down on power compared to M340, it's the ZF8 putting you into the right gear that does the trick.

Manual car always feels slower because it's unrealistic for human to downshift as often as a DCT/ZF8 would in real life.

Yep, my M235i with the ZF8 was like a little rocket ship zipping through traffic.