[Kid Eh]

Originally Posted by Transfer

There are these things called hills and even mountains that some of us have to navigate every day. I'd love to see you try to get around my neighborhood in an M2 on snows right now.

Seriously? This car with 18" snows is like a tractor. I have plenty of snow covered hills around me and have never come close to having an issue.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by Kid Eh

Seriously? This car with 18" snows is like a tractor. I have plenty of snow covered hills around me and have never come close to having an issue.

It wasn't until a European ski trip a few years ago that I realized all the fuss in western states about chains or 4wd was a total bunch of crap. We had a low tier, fwd passat wagon with proper snow tires and it just charged along without any hesitation whatsoever. certainly better that these awd crossovers rolling around with "all-season" tires.

[AlpsRider]

Sure, snow tires on a rear wheel drive car makes a huge difference and in flat or rolling hill situations they are fine. Let me tell you, when you live up on a mountain with a windy steep two lane road, there are evenings that you won't be going home after work with a rear wheel drive car. On some nights my Audi quattro would plow through the fresh snow and on up the mountain while other cars were parked on the side of the road waiting for someone to come and rescue them. Those other cars all had snow tires since they were required by law. In extreme situations 4 wheel drive does matter.

[No Boost]

Originally Posted by AlpsRider

Sure, snow tires on a rear wheel drive car makes a huge difference and in flat or rolling hill situations they are fine. Let me tell you, when you live up on a mountain with a windy steep two lane road, there are evenings that you won't be going home after work with a rear wheel drive car. On some nights my Audi quattro would plow through the fresh snow and on up the mountain while other cars were parked on the side of the road waiting for someone to come and rescue them. Those other cars all had snow tires since they were required by law. In extreme situations 4 wheel drive does matter.

Yes, it's not cut and dry. Certain snow covered terrains demand AWD with winter rubber (and higher ground clearance). That said, I've been fine thus far on public roads that have been plowed by DOT. I've gotten around just as easy with the M2 as I did with the xDrive/all-season tire 4er.

[akkando]

Seattle area rarely gets snow, but I guess if you truly live in the mountains it does.

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by Stage IV

Yes, it's not cut and dry. Certain snow covered terrains demand AWD with winter rubber (and higher ground clearance). That said, I've been fine thus far on public roads that have been plowed by DOT. I've gotten around just as easy with the M2 as I did with the xDrive/all-season tire 4er.

Yeah if you don't have to commute in a rural area or if the snow plows "always" come, then you'd be OK. In my situation, when a storm would come along at night and there was no snow plow in site, that's when my quattro would plow through the powder all the way up past the bumper. The rear and front wheel drive cars would just get stranded.

[Bombermon3]

How about N55 vs B58. Why doesn't BMW put it in the M2?

[champignon]

Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci

It wasn't until a European ski trip a few years ago that I realized all the fuss in western states about chains or 4wd was a total bunch of crap. We had a low tier, fwd passat wagon with proper snow tires and it just charged along without any hesitation whatsoever. certainly better that these awd crossovers rolling around with "all-season" tires.

I wouldn't generalize to "western states." Rather, it is California that mandates chains or 4WD in certain situations. Perhaps Nevada does also, I'm not sure. This is not anything that I see in Idaho, for example, and I don't recall ever seeing it in Montana either.

The rationale in California is (presumably) that many or most of the drivers in slick mountainous areas during the winter are people who live in the large, balmy, coastal cities, and hence their cars are ill-equipped for winter driving. This is their way of forcing people to equip their cars or come equipped for winter driving conditions.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Bombermon3

How about N55 vs B58. Why doesn't BMW put it in the M2?

Probably don't want to spend the money to deal with R&D when they can just throw in the S55 instead in July which they were probably already going to do for future special editions anyway.

[Bombermon3]

The N55 looks like it has better cooling

[Bobby P]

M240i works for me over the M2. XDrive is great in Canada, It's a better daily cruiser for me - even though I can't use even 3/4th its potential and costs 20K CAD less than an M2.

[Bobby P]

Originally Posted by Aronis

The M in M2 is very different than the M in M240i.

The M in M2 is Motorsports.

The M in M240i is Marketing.

But great comparison review. The 240 is a better value overall, but I suspect the M2 will hold it's resale better. Both will make you smile every time you drive it. The bottom line is if you are doing such a comparison, you don't really want an M car.

The same comparison can be done for the 540 vs M5 and 340 vs M3. Most of it is marketing and a good amount is emotion.

Go with the car which provides more of the items you want/need in a car. In 6 months there will be another 2 series which tops both.

Mike

So the M in the M550i and M760Ll must also be marketing? BMW M themselves state there is design input from M divison on M Performance vehicles. Are they lying to it's customer's?

[No Boost]

Originally Posted by Bobby P

Are they lying to it's customer's?

That would never happen.

[Bobby P]

Originally Posted by Stage IV

That would never happen.

Lawsuit, if we can indeed prove they are lying or misleading clients with false information. Serious implications in my line of work, how do they get away from it?

[Aronis]

Originally Posted by Bobby P

So the M in the M550i and M760Ll must also be marketing? BMW M themselves state there is design input from M divison on M Performance vehicles. Are they lying to it's customer's?

Yes, M is for Marketing in those cars.The M550i is a SWEET car, don't get me wrong especially since it was available with AWD. But the name 550is is more appropriate. Leave the M on the real M cars. The M-light cars are for those who want to say they drive an M car but can't quite afford the real M car. Sort of like the S-line in Audi, yes, my Q7 is the S-line. Is an S Audi?....hell no..... The S in S-Line is for Slick Marketing.

Thank God Mercedes only uses AMG on their AMG cars (and putting AMG rims on a non AMG Mercedes is SACRILEGE.)

Mike

yes, I am mean. Sorry. My '94 BMW was a 325is. (had M-tech suspension, precursor to the next years M3) but not an M on it anywhere. And I did not pretend it was an M. Now with the Dinan Chip it had a higher top speed then the next years M3 LMAO!

[AlpsRider]

Since the prices on the M2 have come down and purchasing one below MSRP is doable. I think that unless one needs 4 wheel drive or a convertible, the M2 is the way to go.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by AlpsRider

Since the prices on the M2 have come down and purchasing one below MSRP is doable. I think that unless one needs 4 wheel drive or a convertible, the M2 is the way to go.

Buy, yes. Lease, no.

[Alex_bm]

Originally Posted by Bobby P

M240i works for me over the M2. XDrive is great in Canada, It's a better daily cruiser for me - even though I can't use even 3/4th its potential and costs 20K CAD less than an M2.

20k less... how is that possible?

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by Alex_bm

20k less... how is that possible?

I think that is living in the past. I paid 45k for my fully loaded M235 which was an exceptional deal. The M2 wasn't out yet. At launch, people were paying 65k+ for a M2 configured like my M235i. So at one time there could have been 20k difference. Now you can get a M2 for 3-4k under MSRP, so the margins have narrowed. As everyone knows, besides color choices, Xdrive and ragtop, The M2 offers a lot of expensive equipment that enthusiasts would welcome.

[fullstack]

Originally Posted by Alex_bm

20k less... how is that possible?

Canadian prices with reasonable discounts on both:
m240i for $47K
m2 for $67K

[Cavpilot2k]

I drove my friend's M240 on the way to test drive an M2 recently.
Loved the M2, wouldn't buy an M240 if it cost $30k.
It was very fast, no doubt, but felt sterile and numb.
Driving the M240 is like sex with a condom. It'll get the job done, but there is no feel.

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by Cavpilot2k

I drove my friend's M240 on the way to test drive an M2 recently.
Loved the M2, wouldn't buy an M240 if it cost $30k.
It was very fast, no doubt, but felt sterile and numb.
Driving the M240 is like sex with a condom. It'll get the job done, but there is no feel.

Do the SFB like you did in your 1er, and some f8x LCA's and you'll change your mind on the feel,

The bushings in the F22/F30's are poo, I can attest to that. You can always spend the extra money and get the M2, that's the easy way (an easy $20k, lol). But even then, eventually, you'll be left wanting more. It's a disease