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      06-29-2021, 08:27 PM   #1
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Car and Driver Tested: 2020 BMW M2 CS is an Automatic Classic

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Tested: 2020 BMW M2 CS Is an Automatic Classic
Quote:
Originally Posted by Car and Driver
Even with the dual-clutch auto instead of a manual, this is BMW's defining car.

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It can be easy for car companies to get a little too self-referential, too in thrall to their own history. Remember when Jaguar redesigned the XJ and created a totally new car that looked almost exactly like every other XJ from the prior two decades? Or when Ford kept using stick axles in Mustangs, with a few exceptions, until 2014? BMW tends to go in the opposite direction, periodically trying on new identities to see what fits. Sometimes that works to rare effect—the Bangle-era V-10-powered M5 was both wildly new and wildly excellent—and sometimes not. But legions of Bimmerheads resent the fact that BMW refused to basically just keep building the E46 M3 forever and ever, like Porsche does with the 911 or Volkswagen with the GTI. They made the M3 sedan as big as an E39 M5, and look at the grille. But heartsick afficionados of compact Bavarian straight-six coupes have a new crush, in the form of the 2020 M2 CS. It's like an E46 with an extra 111 horsepower. And it starts at only $84,595.

HIGHS: Hits 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, throwback size and proportions, glorious steering feel.

We concede that this is a lot of money for a 2-series. But what a 2-series it is, armed with the outgoing M4 Competition's 444-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-six and, in this case, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (a $2900 upgrade). While you can also get the M2 CS with a six-speed manual, the dual-clutch 'box makes it a quicker car and one that doesn't skimp on driver involvement. For instance, even when using launch control—your ticket to a 3.6-second zero-to-60-mph time—the driver needs to dial in a 1900-rpm launch using the cruise-control toggle. Anything more and the clutch engagement sends the 265/35R-19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rear tires up in smoke. All-wheel drive would solve that traction algebra, but what's the fun in that? Also, all-wheel drive—an option in the new M3 and M4 Competition models—would likely bring along a conventional automatic rather than the dual-clutch transmission. Even with its traction-limited launches, the CS's 3.6-second 60-mph time outran the last M2 Competition we tested by 0.4 second, and its quarter-mile time, an 11.8-second wind sprint, improved by the same margin, while crossing the line at 122 mph. The CS's extra 39 horsepower obviously aren't just on paper.

Squeezing four seats into an 89-cubic-foot cabin makes the M2's cabin tight in a way that evokes nostalgia for BMW coupes of yore. (Should you get pulled over and need to retrieve your registration, the glovebox is an easy reach.) The overly chunky steering wheel is modern BMW, but the signals that come through it are high fidelity in the old-school manner. Which is a good thing, because the stubby CS is not a casual drift machine like the new M3. It's a squirming, writhing handful, albeit one that logged 1.05 g on our skidpad. That's steady-state cornering, though. Add some throttle to your lateral acceleration, as in a corner exit, and the CS is happy to remind you of the limits of its contact patches. Through the wheel, it feels as if you can discern individual molecules of Michelin straining to maintain purchase on the pavement in a million little battles. This is a car that slays hairpins, an all-time autocross weapon, but maybe not the perfect tool for a 130-mph sweeper.

LOWS: One year only, $96,545 for a 2-series?

The CS's exterior is restrained, but there are tells that this is the ultimate 2-series. The roof is exposed carbon fiber, as are the mirror caps, front splitter, and rear spoiler and diffuser. The hood is also carbon fiber, with a huge functional center vent that BMW says aids both cooling and downforce. Carbon-ceramic brake rotors—as fitted to our test car, an $8500 option—returned a 155-foot stop from 70 mph with zero fade.

With its compact proportions and snarling 7600-rpm inline-six, the M2 CS really does feel like a direct evolution from the best M cars of yore, even retaining the old-style low-profile kidney-shaped grille openings. This is BMW showing that it knows how to build a killer little coupe, exhilarating and humming with nervous energy. Unfortunately, the CS is a one-year-only model, with the 2020 edition representing both the beginning and the end of its run. Which leaves us with the same question we had back in 2006, the last year for the E46 M3: Why can't they just keep making this?
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 3.6 sec
100 mph: 8.0 sec
1/4-Mile: 11.8 sec @ 122 mph
130 mph: 13.6 sec
150 mph: 20.0 sec
*Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec.*
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 3.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.2 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.7 sec
Top Speed (mfr's claim): 174 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 155 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.05 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 20 mpg
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      06-29-2021, 09:14 PM   #2
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great write up. My favorite of the car mags,
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      06-29-2021, 09:47 PM   #3
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Awesome review 👍
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      06-30-2021, 02:27 AM   #4
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Thanks for the share. What a great write up.
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      07-01-2021, 09:39 AM   #5
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Their performance times are the fastest reported. I wonder how they accomplished them.
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      07-01-2021, 10:46 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden3ye View Post
Their performance times are the fastest reported. I wonder how they accomplished them.
1 foot rollout. Always takes off .1-.2 seconds off the times but standard across all of their test so cars can be compared

https://www.caranddriver.com/feature...hange-rollout/
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      07-01-2021, 05:44 PM   #7
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Best road holding test numbers for the CS I have seen I believe.
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      07-01-2021, 05:54 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdub486 View Post
Best road holding test numbers for the CS I have seen I believe.

Expect hot tires, sticky tarmac and a driver who knows how to use the DCT contributed.
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      07-02-2021, 08:05 AM   #9
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That was a cracking review. And yes. The steering is bloody superb.
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      07-02-2021, 09:37 AM   #10
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Reading all the negative comments below the article about the price, value, really can’t be that good etc. is like déjà vu……of course all by folks who haven’t laid eyes on one never mind even drive one. Someone asked how many have been sold….10 of them?
As has been said before…if you don’t know, you don’t know.
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      07-02-2021, 04:05 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DocEyes View Post
Reading all the negative comments below the article about the price, value, really can’t be that good etc. is like déjà vu……of course all by folks who haven’t laid eyes on one never mind even drive one. Someone asked how many have been sold….10 of them?
As has been said before…if you don’t know, you don’t know.
They remind me of the Hi-Fi audio people who claim a $300 DAC is as good as a well reviewed $2,000 DAC just because of one output noise measurement. I'm assuming it's often because they can't afford it. When I was poor starting out after college I just thought about how awesome it will be some day to have money to buy nice stuff, I didn't try to convince myself that more expensive things were always just a rip off. Of course some things are a rip off, but the M2 CS is worth every one of my hard earned dollars.
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      07-02-2021, 08:10 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6CylindersEveryDay View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by DocEyes View Post
Reading all the negative comments below the article about the price, value, really can’t be that good etc. is like déjà vu……of course all by folks who haven’t laid eyes on one never mind even drive one. Someone asked how many have been sold….10 of them?
As has been said before…if you don’t know, you don’t know.
They remind me of the Hi-Fi audio people who claim a $300 DAC is as good as a well reviewed $2,000 DAC just because of one output noise measurement. I'm assuming it's often because they can't afford it. When I was poor starting out after college I just thought about how awesome it will be some day to have money to buy nice stuff, I didn't try to convince myself that more expensive things were always just a rip off. Of course some things are a rip off, but the M2 CS is worth every one of my hard earned dollars.
Nice analogy
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      07-02-2021, 11:54 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DocEyes View Post
Reading all the negative comments below the article about the price, value, really can’t be that good etc. is like déjà vu……of course all by folks who haven’t laid eyes on one never mind even drive one. Someone asked how many have been sold….10 of them?
As has been said before…if you don’t know, you don’t know.
Haha. I read some of those too. Humans are strange.
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      07-03-2021, 01:19 PM   #14
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As an m2c owner I’m more intrigued now to get behind the wheel of a CS. Car and Driver panned the m2c for numb steering and I’d rank it as my number one dynamic complaint about the car. I guess it’s the additional negative camber, cup 2’s, lighter weight and roof stiffness making a difference.
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      07-03-2021, 01:23 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdub486 View Post
As an m2c owner I'm more intrigued now to get behind the wheel of a CS. Car and Driver panned the m2c for numb steering and I'd rank it as my number one dynamic complaint about the car. I guess it's the additional negative camber, cup 2's, lighter weight and roof stiffness making a difference.
I drive on PSS* and love the steering feel of the car. It's noticeably better than my previous F80.
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      07-03-2021, 05:15 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6CylindersEveryDay View Post
They remind me of the Hi-Fi audio people who claim a $300 DAC is as good as a well reviewed $2,000 DAC just because of one output noise measurement. I'm assuming it's often because they can't afford it. When I was poor starting out after college I just thought about how awesome it will be some day to have money to buy nice stuff, I didn't try to convince myself that more expensive things were always just a rip off. Of course some things are a rip off, but the M2 CS is worth every one of my hard earned dollars.
So true. I never understood that either and I wonder if it’s the same type or individual that’s just ok where they are in life.

Most of the cars I owned had some special variant - whether it was the Integera Type R to my Integra GSR or an S2000 CR to a S2000 or M3 CS to an M3 comp

I never tried to convince myself that the top tier wasn’t worth the money or it wasn’t good enough, I used it for motivation to further elevate my financial lposition. At the end of the day you can tell through actions as opposed to words. If the m2 CS wasn’t great people wouldn’t be trying to mimic it by buying replica parts. I still remember buying type r wings, cams, and even transmission for my GSR. If I could I’d have just owned the type r but while it wasn’t achievable I still respected the car for what it was

The only thing the m2 CS doesn’t have going for it is that it’s a “2 series” and your non enthusiast will think you’re driving just that. However, in 15-20 years when these type of cars are relics I reckon it won’t matter and these will be highly sought after for their relative analog experience.

If I wanted bells and whistles I’d get an M3 comp.

Last edited by gemini.m3; 07-03-2021 at 05:22 PM..
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      07-03-2021, 11:06 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DocEyes View Post
Reading all the negative comments below the article about the price, value, really can’t be that good etc. is like déjà vu……of course all by folks who haven’t laid eyes on one never mind even drive one. Someone asked how many have been sold….10 of them?
As has been said before…if you don’t know, you don’t know.
Won't spend the money on a CS but will pay over for a GMT or Daytona
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      07-04-2021, 07:27 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by to_riffic View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by DocEyes View Post
Reading all the negative comments below the article about the price, value, really can’t be that good etc. is like déjà vu……of course all by folks who haven’t laid eyes on one never mind even drive one. Someone asked how many have been sold….10 of them?
As has been said before…if you don’t know, you don’t know.
Won't spend the money on a CS but will pay over for a GMT or Daytona
I decided to get both. The GMT matches the Misano CS quite well.
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      07-05-2021, 05:45 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mfarrzhp View Post
I decided to get both. The GMT matches the Misano CS quite well.
Is that a new one with the oyster bracelet? I have “been on the list” for a Batman for over 2 years. I’m not ever going to get that call I don’t think.
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      07-05-2021, 07:40 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden3ye View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by mfarrzhp View Post
I decided to get both. The GMT matches the Misano CS quite well.
Is that a new one with the oyster bracelet? I have "been on the list" for a Batman for over 2 years. I'm not ever going to get that call I don't think.
Kind of new. It's been around about five years. The brand new one is on the jubilee band.

I was on 3 different wait lists for several years and never got a call, and I've purchased 5 rolexes over the last 20 years.

I had to go gray market on this one and buy it slightly used from a known local guy that buys and sells. Luckily I got it before prices went up 30-40% almost overnight a few years ago.

Good luck.
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      07-05-2021, 11:37 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6CylindersEveryDay View Post
They remind me of the Hi-Fi audio people who claim a $300 DAC is as good as a well reviewed $2,000 DAC just because of one output noise measurement. I'm assuming it's often because they can't afford it. When I was poor starting out after college I just thought about how awesome it will be some day to have money to buy nice stuff, I didn't try to convince myself that more expensive things were always just a rip off. Of course some things are a rip off, but the M2 CS is worth every one of my hard earned dollars.
Man I do not want to turn this into an audio thread so I won't reply further on audio (but feel free to PM)... but I think that analogy is wrong and it's actually the reverse with audio electronics most of the time. People buy them and of course they sound good, because they just paid a ton for it. Witnessed this once with a piece of defective hardware even.

I'm an engineer that happens to design DACs and ADCs for far more demanding purposes than audio, and I have deep experience with the "high end" audio electronics industry. I have also designed audio DACs and ADCs. I'm not going to give you a specific price, but know that diminishing returns is very real with these parts. It's not as big of a scam as cables, but privately the designers who aren't nuts will admit things you probably don't want to know.

On the CS, I think people complain not because the entire package isn't worth the price, but because it's easy to see that the price has had a large jump but you don't see commensurate changes to the bill of materials cost. Clearly the CS models are higher margin for BMW and that's fine, the top model always is, for everything.
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      07-05-2021, 11:43 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jdub486 View Post
As an m2c owner I’m more intrigued now to get behind the wheel of a CS. Car and Driver panned the m2c for numb steering and I’d rank it as my number one dynamic complaint about the car. I guess it’s the additional negative camber, cup 2’s, lighter weight and roof stiffness making a difference.
I'm not sure, after the Supra vs Z4, I think it's most likely software and the tires.
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