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      10-14-2019, 07:12 AM   #1
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Manual M2C drivers, was there something else you almost got instead?

So I am seriously considering a manual M2C as my next purchase.

My recent automotive history is this (last 10 years):
e86 manual 3.0si coupe
2014 Cayman S manual
2015 C7 (base) manual
2016 Cayman S, manual
2018 m240i xdrive

While I enjoy the m240i, I really miss manual and having a car that I feel passionate about and look back at.

I want a late model car, 2016 and up really.

Here's what seems to matter to me in cars:

compact size
good outward visibility
nice sound
decent low end torque (I don't like cars that need to be revved out, which is why back in the day I chose a mx6 with a torquey v6 over a prelude with the vtec)
good throttle response
minimal turbo lag
decent handling (but I am no track fiend by any means).


I have been racking my brains as of late to come up with something and the M2C seems to be really the only choice.

I've ruled out the C7 now as I went and sat in one again recently and just sitting in it brought back all the reasons I didn't like it (kinda like when you go out for dinner with an ex)

Really the only other option seems to be a 2015 to 2016 S5 manual. It does seem biggish though and i drove one about 3 years ago and really found it uninspiring.

Was there any other late model car in manual you were considering that you almost chose over the M2C?
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      10-14-2019, 07:42 AM   #2
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If you value the connection with the car I suggest you look into any of the older BMW's with hydraulic steering

I've gone M240i AT -> M2 6 MT -> M2C DCT + Z4 M 6MT.

Can't say I liked the manual in the M2 much. I know there's a lot of people that opted for it and will defend their choice until the very end, but I genuinely wasn't very impressed by the overall experience.

Rubbery sensation, not very exciting throws and you can't turn rev match off which kills part of the challenge a manual poses.

E92 M3, Z4 M Coupe or Roadster, perhaps even a good condition E46 with euro headers. These are the kind of cars that will leave an impression when specc'd with a manual.

Either way, it's all subjective so if anything, just see if you can try one and decide for yourself.
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      10-14-2019, 08:19 AM   #3
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I originally went in for the M3 but they had just stopped production, so I ordered the M2C instead.
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      10-14-2019, 08:35 AM   #4
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If you’ve already rules out the C7, the only other car I’ve considered would be the GT350.
Easily the best sounding engine for under $70k
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      10-14-2019, 08:39 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by warrenw View Post
I originally went in for the M3 but they had just stopped production, so I ordered the M2C instead.
If they continued the M3 production for another year, I would’ve probably gone with the M3 ZCP.
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      10-14-2019, 08:53 AM   #6
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Not really...I have always wanted a 2 series size M car with the S55 heart all along

When the M4CS was released and if a 6MT was available I might have gone for it then. Of course I would have waited for 6-12 months when big discounts was the norm and not the exception.

I only want sporty cars with a manual transmission so another option would be a 2nd hand GT4

If I can stretch my budget a big more I would have gone for the N/A 991.1 Carrera 7MT. The twin turbo 450hp 991.2 Carrera GTS with 7MT is brilliant but still $$$

Last edited by Karmic Man; 10-14-2019 at 09:11 AM..
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      10-14-2019, 09:34 AM   #7
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S55 deserves the DCT, my first auto and loving it so far.

NA cars deserve manuals as someone else said.

BTW sounds like you need a Miata
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      10-14-2019, 10:07 AM   #8
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What didn't you like about the caymans you owned and what budget are you looking to stay in?
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      10-14-2019, 10:25 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nearwater4me View Post
If you’ve already rules out the C7, the only other car I’ve considered would be the GT350.
Easily the best sounding engine for under $70k
thanks for the thought, recently test drove a 2019 bullitt and the sheer size of that thing ruled it out for me, plus it didn't really have much in the way of low end torque and I believe the GT350 is even weaker down low...
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      10-14-2019, 10:30 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrdstr View Post
What didn't you like about the caymans you owned and what budget are you looking to stay in?
I loved the caymans (the 2014 is my favourite car so far), it's just i get bored with cars after a while
boredom prompted my move to the C7 but it didn't work for me so back to the cayman but then boredom returned


as for budget, pretty much anything up to about 150K CDN.
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      10-14-2019, 10:31 AM   #11
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Looked at the gt350 but didn't like the size of the car. I needed a back seat because I have small kids and when I had a 2 seater (R8) it just didn't work out. Once I changed out to a GTR I found the car was may more practical ... The M2c is kind of the manual tranny, mini GTR I always wanted. Mods are plentiful and not crazy overinflated in price.
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      10-14-2019, 10:41 AM   #12
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I would have wanted the right M3. I had a 6 speed, ZCP, all options, but in a color that i didn't love (YMB) for a week, before the motor exploded (long story). The second i drove my M2C off the lot is the second the choice was clear that his was my new car.
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      10-14-2019, 11:15 AM   #13
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In recent years came from a 6th Gen Camaro SS (8AT) and F80 ZCP (DCT). Really liked both cars in their own ways and got them auto because was worried about traffic and my wife's intermediate manual driving ability. While great cars, I just got bored really quickly and just didn't feel one with either car. But, I couldn't put my finger on why.

My wife then asked me which cars I regretted selling. The answer was simple - my e46 M3 and my Evo X. She properly noted that those are two very different cars, but did notice that the one thing in common was that they were both MT (one 6MT the other 5MT).

So, off I went trying to find a MT that I liked. And for the price range and abilities and feeling, the M2C was unbeatable for me. It just felt right like the e46 and Evo did. When I picked it up in the Welt and beat on it in the Swiss passes it was confirmed for me. I need a manual to truly love my car and mixed with a short wheelbase, the M2C just does it for me. So, I say, if you are getting the itch to go with the 6MT, the M2C will be the perfect mix of what you want and what you are used to (240) with a bit more oomph.
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      10-14-2019, 11:16 AM   #14
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      10-14-2019, 01:30 PM   #15
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ND MX-5 GT:
Love this car to death and was really going to pull the trigger. Except after several test drives, it was simply too small for me. And I'm not an overly tall/wide guy.

718 Cayman/Boxster:
Are ugly AF to me, and way too overpriced for what they are (you can get used 911's at that price point).

Camaro/Mustang:
Are way too big and had "aircraft carrier hood" plus zero rear visibility.

M3/4:
Again.....way too big and from everything I read about them, too focused on luxury/tech gadgets.
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      10-14-2019, 01:51 PM   #16
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Not really. I wanted a smaller car than my F80, but still with four seats and DD ability. The only (new) car that fit the bill on paper is the Mustang 350 or Shelby but that is just not what I am looking for.

A used option for you is certainly the E9X M3 or the F8X M3/4. The E9X is a great car, but for a DD I wanted more low-end torque. The later (ZCP) F8X M3/4 are a good value currently if you don't mind a bigger car and are thinking about buying used.

FWIW, I have been driving manual BMWs since 1999 and I think the MT in the F8X platform (all models) is one of their best efforts. I love the MT in my M2C.

Have fun with your decision!
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      10-14-2019, 03:21 PM   #17
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I love my M2C, but the main reason I got it is that there wasn’t anything else remotely palatable to me with a manual transmission here in 2019. That is probably a borderline insult to the M2C but the truth. I shopped around a lot and the few manual transmission sports cars still on the market eliminated themselves for one reason or another, so the M2C was sort of the last man standing. It didn’t hurt that I am a longtime BMW owner, but I was hoping to try something different and for less money. Nope. For my needs and tastes, a $62K sports car based on the lowly 2-series was the winner.

I would have jumped on a Supra if they had manual transmission, but since it only comes automatic, the drivetrain isn’t much more exciting that any other B58/ZF-8 BMW.
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      10-14-2019, 03:42 PM   #18
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I wouldn't say I put out a specific search for a MT car, or had a timeframe, but rather am always on lookout for something fun, but a bit different, than what I've had in the past. MT-preferred, but I'm willing to compromise given the right situation

I had been keeping my eye on the GT350, RS3, possibly a Macan Turbo (long story), very briefly Camaro... I liked the GT350's Voodoo, but I've had a couple Mustangs and have spent WAY too much $$$ trying to make NA motors run hard. Modding is just much simpler and easier on SC/Turbo cars nowadays. The GT500 definitely has my interest, but both Camaro/Mustang need to lose at least a foot in length to be interesting

When I came across the S55 M2c, almost by accident, I knew that I'd found something worth giving a shot. Having MT available was just a major bonus

I'll probably catch a lot of shit for this, but I love the M2c's more-refined, ponycar-ish, hooning vibe. Almost a year in, and it's been everything I hoped and quite a bit more.

Good Luck!

<edit> you mention turbo lag. I haven't been a turbo fan. Have always had NA or S/C (stock or added as part of Mods). I was prepared to be disappointed with M2c turbo lag, waiting for days for boost to build, breathless/useless top end. The S55 is none of those. I might someday soon have to restate my preference for a well-done turbo motor over S/C, but I'm gonna take more time and "practice" before I do!

Last edited by BlkSVT; 10-14-2019 at 03:48 PM..
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      10-14-2019, 04:05 PM   #19
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I have an M2C, Manual. Wished I’d bought the (lightly used) 991 I considered or even a late 997. The M2C is great at what it does, but just doesn’t feel special enough.
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      10-14-2019, 06:02 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skier219 View Post
I love my M2C, but the main reason I got it is that there wasn’t anything else remotely palatable to me with a manual transmission here in 2019. That is probably a borderline insult to the M2C but the truth. I shopped around a lot and the few manual transmission sports cars still on the market eliminated themselves for one reason or another, so the M2C was sort of the last man standing. It didn’t hurt that I am a longtime BMW owner, but I was hoping to try something different and for less money. Nope. For my needs and tastes, a $62K sports car based on the lowly 2-series was the winner.

I would have jumped on a Supra if they had manual transmission, but since it only comes automatic, the drivetrain isn’t much more exciting that any other B58/ZF-8 BMW.
This is pretty much me, there are things about the M2C that I am not keen on, but it does seem like it comes the closest to what I am looking for in terms of what is on the market today.
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      10-14-2019, 06:05 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlkSVT View Post
I wouldn't say I put out a specific search for a MT car, or had a timeframe, but rather am always on lookout for something fun, but a bit different, than what I've had in the past. MT-preferred, but I'm willing to compromise given the right situation

I had been keeping my eye on the GT350, RS3, possibly a Macan Turbo (long story), very briefly Camaro... I liked the GT350's Voodoo, but I've had a couple Mustangs and have spent WAY too much $$$ trying to make NA motors run hard. Modding is just much simpler and easier on SC/Turbo cars nowadays. The GT500 definitely has my interest, but both Camaro/Mustang need to lose at least a foot in length to be interesting

When I came across the S55 M2c, almost by accident, I knew that I'd found something worth giving a shot. Having MT available was just a major bonus

I'll probably catch a lot of shit for this, but I love the M2c's more-refined, ponycar-ish, hooning vibe. Almost a year in, and it's been everything I hoped and quite a bit more.

Good Luck!

<edit> you mention turbo lag. I haven't been a turbo fan. Have always had NA or S/C (stock or added as part of Mods). I was prepared to be disappointed with M2c turbo lag, waiting for days for boost to build, breathless/useless top end. The S55 is none of those. I might someday soon have to restate my preference for a well-done turbo motor over S/C, but I'm gonna take more time and "practice" before I do!
good to hear that a former turbo hater (as am I) isn't hating too much on the S55
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      10-14-2019, 06:47 PM   #22
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With a $150K CDN budget, I would be looking at a late model 911, or maybe the new Cayman. How’s your weather? Will you be able to drive it enough? Good luck and let us know what you settled on!
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