[Adem1534]

The rear flares are going to be a hell of a lot more bad ass than in that render

[Steven1077]

Originally Posted by W///

Because there are plenty of us that feel the M3/4 is simply just too big. The seats can be "fixed" with 4 bolts. How do you shrink an M4?

Personally, I plan on getting an M2 with almost 0 options, apart from maybe LED if they become available during LCI in a couple of years. I'm DDing an E36 M3 now, and that car has absolutely no bells and whistles. And I love that car just the way it is.

The M2 looks as wide as an M4 and will only be about 8 inches shorter, it's hardly a big difference

[Adem1534]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

The M2 looks as wide as an M4 and will only be about 8 inches shorter, it's hardly a big difference

.... 8 inches is a LOT

[W///]

Originally Posted by Steven1077

The M2 looks as wide as an M4 and will only be about 8 inches shorter, it's hardly a big difference

Ok then, drive your M135i and then go sit inside an F30 or F80 and tell me it doesn't feel like a tank. Considering you drive an M135i, I'm surprised you don't know this.

[OrangeCrush]

Originally Posted by Adem1534

.... 8 inches is a LOT

That's what she said...nyuck, nyuck, nyuck.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[hyperzulu]

sweet (sur)render

[horsepower_and_hounds]

Originally Posted by dmk08

Why would it be marked up $20k? It's not a limited production run. I could call my dealer right now and get on the list for one under MSRP.

Standing by....

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by ///Machiavelli

The bigger question is why didn't they use the new B58?

Exactly. That powerplant looks very promising.

[dmk08]

Originally Posted by W///

Ok then, drive your M135i and then go sit inside an F30 or F80 and tell me it doesn't feel like a tank. Considering you drive an M135i, I'm surprised you don't know this.

It feels about the same size as your e92. Definitely feels lighter.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by phyek

Who wants to go through that pain? Might as well pony up and go for an M4 if you are looking for all the bells and whistles.

Perfect.

Write the check, I'll buy a M4 instead !

[Nahlem]

The main reason i would never buy the M4 or M3 is they are so huge those cars. I would love to see a new generation of Sedans from BMW that would go in the size of the 2 series coupé but obviously it would be called 2 Series Sedan. And keep its small size. That would be perfect imo.

Think that would make the 3/4er more exclusive. Or would that end the era of the 3 Series maybe? So maybe not the smartest move.

[Colinv6]

The F80 barely feels any bigger to drive than my M135i did to be honest,

One things for sure, it feels a lot more solid, less fragile.

[metrickid]

Originally Posted by Colinv6

The F80 barely feels any bigger to drive than my M135i did to be honest,

One things for sure, it feels a lot more solid, less fragile.

I disagree. I sold my F30 partly just because it felt too big. And that is also why the M3/4 is not on my list. The slightly smaller dimensions inside and out makes a lot of difference for me.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Rossifumi

I disagree. I sold my F30 partly just because it felt too big. And that is also why the M3/4 is not on my list. The slightly smaller dimensions inside and out makes a lot of difference for me.

Agreed, especially compared to my other cars. The E92 already feels too big as is. Feels downright huge next to the E36/E46.

The F80 makes an awesome family car though. But I'm more looking for a back to basics, no "bells and whistles" (as people love to point out), classic BMW. This is what they are good at.

P.S. That doesn't rule out the F80 for me, having said all that.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Rossifumi

I disagree. I sold my F30 partly just because it felt too big. And that is also why the M3/4 is not on my list. The slightly smaller dimensions inside and out makes a lot of difference for me.

I went to a lot recently (added myself to the M2 and M2 CSL lists) and looked at a 4 series gran coupe.... I liked it a lot... but along with the other F30/80s.. its just bigger than I need as well. The rear hatch was actually rather useful...

[M3 n X5M]

Originally Posted by ex o

Funny because I know someone who did the opposite. He had a deposit down for an M2 one year ago; he is first in line. Recently his CA told him that the M2 will probably be marked up $20k. There goes the cost savings. He's gonna stay in line and feel it out, but he's looking for an M4 now.

I would still see the appeal for an M2 IF it was a baby M4. But it's more like a refined/supped M235i; with body differences and chassis differences, but the engine is the same N55.

Not that the N55 is a bad engine. I have a 335i and like it a lot. I just can't see paying M4 prices for an M2. But I won't refrain from being oogly-eyed when I start seeing the M2s on the road that's for sure.

I do not agree that the M2 is just an enhanced M235i.

It is not possible to know the exact formula behind BMW's M2 project. We can only speculate on what the M2 is going to be like. But we have no evidence, data or exact blueprints.
Another speculation just below this post is that BMW does not want to step on m4 shoes.

The M2 is based on, among other things, the suspension, subframe, brakes, differential etc parts bin of the M4, on unique and extensive track testing, and the M235i racing program, and a large unknown set of factors, design objectives and talent only committed to the M2 project.

What the M2 will be, is only a guess?

We do know there are marketing constraints and strategies.

In my opinion the M2 will be different from all the other cars in the BMW lineup. And I expect it will be a car with its own very unique character, driving dynamics and performance range to make it another M car that has its own crowd of fans and owners.

It is not a souped up M235i. It is not a baby M4 or mini baby M6. It is an M2.

We are all excited to see what it will do. Some of us will find it just right and others will like the other M cars. Others will like to put it in a segment with the ford RS or the golf r400 or the Cayman. Why limit yourself grouping anything?

The Golf R32 was a great car to own. I still miss mine very dearly. And I have two M cars that are head and shoulders above its limits. But the Golf r32 was something. And what was that car? A compact? A hatch? An overpriced AWD VW? No. It was a unique car I cannot forget. And I expect the M2 will leave an indelible mark on its future owners just the same.

Bottom line is we do not know what BMW has achieved with the M2, and most importantly it is impossible to guess what the enormous group of people behind its design are TRYING to do with it. It is philosophically impossible.

Let's sit back and wait. If you need to buy a car now, then buy it and do not justify why you cannot wait saying the M2 will come short of your expectations.

[Cpdbeemer]

Originally Posted by chmura

I want a drivers car and I do not care about HUD, leather dash, etc. I just want a fun car to drive that does not feel HUGE when I sit in it.... A smaller car would be more fun IMO.

This.

[Oliver1]

Originally Posted by SamS

No doubt the M2 will be an awesome car, but it's not a direct (smaller) replacement for an M4. M3/M4 are going to have more bells and whistles options available, paint choices, CF roof, etc. If you were planning on getting things like HUD, Harmon Kardon, LED lights, etc., you might feel the M2 to be a bit stripped down. The benefit is lower overall cost!

If you want all that, just wait until the next generation of the M2. They got away with limited options, color choices with the 1M and its replacement, the M2, but the next generation of the M3/M4 is going to be to big and to expensive for most people to afford so BMW will have to expand the M2 offerings. That's when you will see the CSL offerings, a hardcore version and a luxury version.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by Oliver1

If you want all that, just wait until the next generation of the M2. They got away with limited options, color choices with the 1M and its replacement, the M2, but the next generation of the M3/M4 is going to be to big and to expensive for most people to afford so BMW will have to expand the M2 offerings. That's when you will see the CSL offerings, a hardcore version and a luxury version.

You've got a point. But that car might be 7 years away!

[Romo]

Originally Posted by chmura
I want a drivers car and I do not care about HUD, leather dash, etc. I just want a fun car to drive that does not feel HUGE when I sit in it.... A smaller car would be more fun IMO.

What IMHO is unique with Bimmer driving (and I have driven a lot of ///M`s) is the way the car feels and behaves if you drive it fast.

The faster you`ll drive it, the smaller (in feeling) it becomes, you literally become 1 with the car.

That feeling I`ve never ever experienced in any other brand, even in my current Cayman GTS there is no such strong small and compact feeling.

[moldcad]

Originally Posted by Romo

The faster you`ll drive it, the smaller (in feeling) it becomes, you literally become 1 with the car.

I'm not an ///M driver (never had any true M car, and never will - my current M235i plus the Golf 7R "couple" being just the perfect little stable for a 61 y.o.). But I know perfectly what you mean - during my biggest motoring mistake days of 2 years/70,000 km with my F10 528xi, that car really was only getting on my nerves (to the point of selling it away, swallowing a huge financial loss of the first 2 years depreciation) when driving in a city, or bumper-bumper B-roads we still have plenty of in Poland). As soon as I could leave all that behind (by either using autobahn at well over 200 km/h, or finding a nice, empty stretch of a twistie for those precious moments of spirited driving - all this feeling of being almost overwhelmed by the size, weight and relative underpoweredness vanished! And - exactly like you put it - I could then enjoy it almost feeling "1 with the car"...

But those precious moments happened just too rare, so - considering my age and how fast time passes along our lives - I just had to get rid of all this F10 luxury, and sell it towards my M235i. In spite of financial loss, one of better decisions in my entire life - I can now feel as one with this car each time I drive it

If I was younger and had lots of money, M2 would definitely be my choice before anything bigger, even if that "anything" were the M4. I'll tell you more: just after my decision of getting rid of the F10 and replacing it with the M235i became final, Ford Poland came up with a ridiculously cheap offer of the all new, 2016 V8 Mustang. It was some 30% cheaper than my M235i, and yet I turned it down (again,mainly because the size)...

[W///]

Originally Posted by moldcad

I'm not an ///M driver (never had any true M car, and never will - my current M235i plus the Golf 7R "couple" being just the perfect little stable for a 61 y.o.). But I know perfectly what you mean - during my biggest motoring mistake days of 2 years/70,000 km with my F10 528xi, that car really was only getting on my nerves (to the point of selling it away, swallowing a huge financial loss of the first 2 years depreciation) when driving in a city, or bumper-bumper B-roads we still have plenty of in Poland). As soon as I could leave all that behind (by either using autobahn at well over 200 km/h, or finding a nice, empty stretch of a twistie for those precious moments of spirited driving - all this feeling of being almost overwhelmed by the size, weight and relative underpoweredness vanished! And - exactly like you put it - I could then enjoy it almost feeling "1 with the car"...

But those precious moments happened just too rare, so - considering my age and how fast time passes along our lives - I just had to get rid of all this F10 luxury, and sell it towards my M235i. In spite of financial loss, one of better decisions in my entire life - I can now feel as one with this car each time I drive it

If I was younger and had lots of money, M2 would definitely be my choice before anything bigger, even if that "anything" were the M4. I'll tell you more: just after my decision of getting rid of the F10 and replacing it with the M235i became final, Ford Poland came up with a ridiculously cheap offer of the all new, 2016 V8 Mustang. It was some 30% cheaper than my M235i, and yet I turned it down (again,mainly because the size)...

I remember chatting to you about that and how I told you that I absolutely hated the size of the Mustang. Makes even an M4 feel compact