[No Boost]

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...-update-review

Looks like a glowing review, with exception of a supposed "punishingly stiff" ride. Toughen up, people. It's not that bad.

[pruettfan]

I have 15,500 miles on my M2. My only complaint is also how stiff the ride is, overall roads in AZ are very good so its not a huge issue for me but I can see how C&D staff would be a bit miserable on Michigan roads that are known for being crappy.

[AngryBaby]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

I have 15,500 miles on my M2. My only complaint is also how stiff the ride is, overall roads in AZ are very good so its not a huge issue for me but I can see how C&D staff would be a bit miserable on Michigan roads that are known for being crappy.

+1. Drives great on good-to-fair roads. Gets to be a bit much on poor ones.

[Dav3]

Curious to know how rough a lowered M2 is on very bad roads

[86Zed]

I have said this before and will say it again - people really need to grow a spine and remember they are buying a performance car. The Focus RS and the BMW M2 (both unanimously remarked to be TOO STIFF) are nowhere near as jarring as my experiences in a Lotus or BMW Z4M. Bad roads are bad roads period, get in a Lexus if you like the ride on air feeling.

It is also our fault as customers for demanding a "race-car feel" often incorrectly synonymous with a stiff unforgiving suspension. Small diameter wheels, more tire and more suspension travel would help the issue but I don't see trends moving in that direction.

No surprise C&D had a positive review, the 2 series platform is a great size for daily use and fun. Patiently seeing when an M2 will fit into my garage.

[jtfields]

That is interesting. I don't find it too stiff. It's certainly not as smooth as my 328i but the seats are a helluva a lot more comfortable than the 328i. I think my X6 is stiffer than the M2. I definitely can't see how causes back problems.

[AngryBaby]

Definitely not too stiff IMO but certainly can be uncomfortable on crappy roads. Trade-off is tons of fun on the track or twisties (and sometimes even long, curved freeway ramps, or so I've heard...). Suspension and dampers are just about perfect for what I want.

[atxsk8r]

Stiff ride?? Bunch of wusses LOL 9000 miles here and never complained once about the ride. I also used to drive lowered Hondas back in the day so the M2 suspension to me feels like i'm driving a Buick

[AngryBaby]

Originally Posted by atxsk8r

Stiff ride?? Bunch of wusses LOL I drive in Sport+ 99% of the time and never complained once about the ride. I also used to drive lowered Hondas back in the day so the M2 suspension to me feels like i'm driving a Buick

Sooo about Sport+ changing the harshness of the M2s ride....

[Transcon]

One of the main reasons I chose to go with the Dinan suspension. Call it magic but somehow it IMPROVED the ride during daily driving as well as in the twisties. Honestly didn't think the ride was that bad stock but the new suspension has made it much better for DD duty

[OSee]

Hilarious to read the comments. A lot of haters out there.

[jtfields]

Originally Posted by OCfromOC

Hilarious to read the comments. A lot of haters out there.

Funny, came here to say the same thing. I've been reading the comments and it's hilarious how many insults are being flung by people who you can tell have never even seen one in person, much less driven one. Would not have expected anything else from the Internet.

[Kothar]

Are these guys decrepit wimps...or a bunch automotive journalists that will report on a sports car?? I've put 5k miles now on my m2 so far. Now compared to prev 228i it is a little more stiff....but spine wrenching as CD puts it? Hardly that at all...ive had no issues with comfort.

[akkando]

Wow there is a A LOT of hate for the M2 and BMW in their comments section. A LOT.

[akkando]

As far as stiff ride I think it's important to remember these industry writers have cars loaned to them for free all the time or the business buys the cars and they get to drive them. They probably just want to go to lunch in a cushy loaned town car but are being told they have homework to get some miles on the M2. They don't have the same perspective as someone who was interested in the car as is and paid for it with their own money.

[OSee]

Originally Posted by akkando

Wow there is a A LOT of hate for the M2 and BMW in their comments section. A LOT.

Their demographic is not BMW friendly. That's not an insult to their readers it's just the truth.

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by AngryBaby

Sooo about Sport+ changing the harshness of the M2s ride....

There's no adaptive suspension on the M2, I don't think he meant it that way. I might be wrong, but I read it differently.

[bobert]

Originally Posted by 86Zed

I have said this before and will say it again - people really need to grow a spine and remember they are buying a performance car. The Focus RS and the BMW M2 (both unanimously remarked to be TOO STIFF) are nowhere near as jarring as my experiences in a Lotus or BMW Z4M. Bad roads are bad roads period, get in a Lexus if you like the ride on air feeling.

Haven't driven an M2 yet (7 weeks to go...) but it can't ride as bad as my '99 Miata with Sport Pkg (formerly known as the somewhat notoriously stiff "R Pkg" suspension option in the NA - first gen - Miata). I'm not complaining (well over 18 years & counting, 131k miles...) but it rides worse than a truck (literally, had an '05 Tacoma for 7 years). Of course it handles like a dream and corners like a beast - can't wait to compare it to its new M2 friend in a few months. Totally different driving experiences of course, which is why I'm planning on keeping both for years to come.

Been a passenger in a Lotus 7 (replica kit car, that is) and a Lotus Elise, the only thing more backbreaking in my experience than my Miata. Speaking of spines, had a herniated disc at age 30 and some arthritis of the spine in the 12 years since then - not saying stiffly sprung vehicles had anything to do with it (probably not) - I'll give up stiff suspensions & great-handling cars when I'm dead.

[AngryBaby]

So, just to be clear, I am not saying the suspension and damping is "bad" or anything close to it. I DD this baby and it is eminently liveable. On truly bad roads, especially "wavy" as opposed to simply poorly surfaced, it can be annoying. However the trade-off of road feel and handling on the vast majority of other roads makes it well worth it. It is rare that I find myself actively complaining of bumps/jumps/potholes but it does happen.

However anyone that lives in a major urban area, in the snowbelt especially, might be in for a lot of discomfort.

[CosmosMpower]

I think my F80 with EDC on comfort rides stiffer than my M2. If you want to feel stiff drive an early R35 GT-R on the OEM run flats.

[MineralGreyMetallic]

Hopefully the M2 can stay shielded from reviews like this that don't make it a point to differentiate between personal preference and what the car was intended to do.

Things like "ride stiffness" end up on the cons list even though the car is performing exactly the way it was designed.

You wouldn't review a Porsche 911 and list rear seat leg room as a con, would you?

[Tag]

On the bottom of the first page, C&D lists that they had the car for 7 months. On the second page it says 3. So which is it C&D? At first I thought they only had it for 3 months and were probably driving it when it was cold. Cold summer performance tires and dampers = worse ride.

Edit: Just noticed the second page is a review from March and not a continuation of the first article. Seems like my theory was right, they had the car around January which would make it three months in March. That would explain the "jarring" ride. And it sounds like "Pavlov's Dogs" had their minds set from that point on.