[TrentMeister]

Q1:
I remember being 9 or 10 sitting in traffic staring out the window of my moms car and seeing a blacked out E46m3 flying down the emergency lane wide open in true BMW form.

That was the first time bmw's stuck out for me, because the crazy sound and it being the first set of LED taillights I had seen. It was just so unbelievably badass to me.

15 years later I rode in a friends gutted e36 325 up a twisty road and he smoked a brand new three series in a technical passing zone where both of them were pushing it scary hard.

That's when I realized e36's were actually worth their salt.

Next day I bough my first e36 m3

Q2: My only regret is not using my money to invest more aggressively rather than blow thousands on mods.
Oh and selling my e36.. HUGE mistake

[VisualEcho]

So many great responses. BMW's might be yuppie cars, but they're enthusiast cars as well.

[King3r]

I've always been a fan of M cars, especially the old school M3's. When I first saw the M2 news I knew that was going to be my next car. I like trying to get slightly used cars with low mileage, essentially getting rid of the initial depreciation hit. So waited a couple years and got one as soon as it made sense financially.

Honestly waiting was the hardest part, I test drove 2 OG M2's while waiting and the day before I bought my current car tested a competition.

The only thing that caught my eye that had me maybe rethink was the C8 release. I've never been a big fan of corvettes but that caught my eye. The C8 is awesome but I also like having something a bit more unique. So many corvettes around me, see a handful every time I go out. Hardly ever see another M car let alone an M2. People notice it though and car people come around to talk to me about it all the time.

Just yesterday on Halloween I had a guy walk up my driveway to look at my car while he was walking around with his kid. Told me he never saw an m2 before.

Now I think I'm hooked and my wife is a fan of the M4 (before the face lift) so who knows what's next

[texasyeehaw]

2017 M2. I loved the e92 but was in no position to get one. To quote Kevin Spacey from American Beauty "Its the car I always wanted and now I have it, I rule!"

[Moflow]

Q1: I have always been a Japanese car guy, the MKIV Supra, NSX and FD3S RX7 all came out when I was an impressionable 10 year old child (or thereabouts.) I was lucky enough to buy a 350Z when I was in my 20's and it served me really well as a car that nearly matched the performance of those dream cars at a much lower price point, albeit 10 years later.

After owning the Z for a time, I decided I'd save up and buy the next thing that was "THAT CAR" and by that I mean the car that just checks all my boxes and concentrates equally on speed and engagement. For a long time, I assumed the Supra would be it, but it was taking forever. Then I thought "Naw, maybe the Focus RS will be that car." But then the RS came out and it just wasn't quite there...I was impressed with it, but the Z was still running strong and a new car wasn't something I needed, just something I wanted. The M2 was in a similar place as the Focus RS, almost perfect but just barely not quite compelling enough to get me to jump for it with the Z still reliably chugging away.

When the M2 Competition came out, it was that tiny little extra push to put it over the top. I was nervous about owning a non-Japanese car (this was also part of the problem with the Focus) but i'd already kinda made my peace with the Supra being a BMW and when it was completely confirmed that the Supra was not getting a M/T, that took it off my list after waiting for what seemed like decades for that car.

Q2: I wouldn't say i have regrets, but I would say I have anxiety. I didn't really think about it before hand, but waiting until there's that "perfect" car has made me extra paranoid about stuff happening to it. And of course German cars have great build quality, but build quality isn't necessarily the same as reliability. I would say that i'm slightly bummed out that the M2 doesn't feel quite as "sports car" as the Z did, simply due to packaging. But the trade off there is increased practicality and it's a tradeoff i'd make again and again, as I use the M2 as a daily so it's really not something I should complain about.

[chai8323]

2011 X3 just a great deal with a luxury brand lol

[MONSTAR]

I've always been a JDM guy as well. I've owned a '95 240sx for over a decade and have a lot of wrench time in rebuilding the motor and upgrading just about every part imaginable on it.

I had to move from FL to CA at the end of 2015 and decided to get something newer....my first financed car purchase actually. I cross shopped a WRX and F30 328i at the time. Looking into the possibilities, the 328i seemed like the winner with how easy you could get some extra power from a tune and downpipe. I had also considered a career change and might have needed a 4 door car for clients and figured the BMW seemed a little more mature than the Subaru. The F30 served me really well for basically 5 years with very few issues.

Q2: I don't know if its a regret. I love the sound of the N55 vs. the S55 but I have to say, I am not really impressed with the power of the N55 M2. Coming from a tune/downpipe 328i....the M2 barely feels faster. I know that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes that makes the M2 the better overall car, but I just wish it had more of that "throw you back in your seat" type of power. I'm hoping with full bolt ons and a tune (and maybe eventually a HPFP upgrade and pure stage2 turbo) I will find what I was looking for.

[VisualEcho]

Originally Posted by Moflow

And of course German cars have great build quality, but build quality isn't necessarily the same as reliability.

Amen brother. And the cost of ownership if you keep the car is much higher with the Germans, which is why the market is always flooded with mid-mileage cars.

Originally Posted by Moflow

I would say that i'm slightly bummed out that the M2 doesn't feel quite as "sports car" as the Z did, simply due to packaging. But the trade off there is increased practicality and it's a tradeoff i'd make again and again, as I use the M2 as a daily so it's really not something I should complain about.

Absolutely agree with this as well. I'm incredibly lucky to have my Exige for that sporty feel, and the M2 as a daily.

Originally Posted by MONSTAR

I don't know if its a regret. I love the sound of the N55 vs. the S55 but I have to say, I am not really impressed with the power of the N55 M2. Coming from a tune/downpipe 328i....the M2 barely feels faster. I know that there is a lot more going on behind the scenes that makes the M2 the better overall car, but I just wish it had more of that "throw you back in your seat" type of power. I'm hoping with full bolt ons and a tune (and maybe eventually a HPFP upgrade and pure stage2 turbo) I will find what I was looking for.

Man, I'm just the opposite (other than the sound). I had my Stage 2/3 mod-path already laid out before I got the M2, and now that I've had it just over a year, I've almost decided not to modify it for power at all, as it has plenty IMO. I'm sure your upgrades will make it the monster you want it to be.

[Killed by Death]

Porsches were killing my back and hamstrings

Much more comfortable in a BMW.

[Stlrain0341]

2020 M2C. I wanted a daily driver with great handling, good power, and a manual, that could blend in better than a Porsche. That limited my options quite a bit.

[hson10]

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: This is about to be my first BMW - picking up a LBB OG M2 6MT this weekend. Several different things pushed me over the edge and convinced me to get into a BMW. My dad has had a BMW for the past decade or so, and while they were always "boring" X3s (he had a 2014MY and now a 2019 MY), I always enjoyed the fit and finish on these cars and thought they were very solidly built, yet still more fun than an equivalent Audi/Merc to just mash it on an onramp or take on a nice backroad cruise even with just a tiny n20 under the hood.

On the flipside, I myself am coming from a variety of different cars, my most recent being an S550 Mustang GT. I have a lot of seat time on track with that car, and while quite capable and fast, it always felt to me like the creaks and rattles and panel gaps are just "to be expected" with a car of that price point and performance, and I wanted to experience something with a bit more quality and attention to smaller details. One of my best friends in college also got into an OG M2 a few years back, and after driving that car a few times, I was convinced it was a fantastic all-arounder for the money. Yes it's not the most luxurious on the inside, but it still has nice touch points to remind you that you are in a BMW

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: Guess we'll find out soon Hopefully not! I really do view this M2 as a car I would keep for quite a long time.

[switzerr]

I came close a few times before I ended up with my first BMW. In the late 1980s a friend wanted to trade me his e21 for my VW Rabbit. I nearly did it, but a good look at the BMW revealed too much rust.

In 1996, I nearly bought an e36 318i for my first family car, but I ended up deciding it was slightly out of reach financially. In 2003 I looked at an e30 318i, and decided it was a bit too small for four of us.

Finally, in 2007, I had a chance to trade my C4 Corvette (with a blown LT1) on an e36 M3 with a "rebuilt" title. I've been a BMW guy since -- owning that BMW, an E46 320i (sweet little car), an E46 M3 (shouldn't have sold that), and now the M2.

I'm keeping my eye out for my next BMW. I don't plan to sell the M2, but I am looking for another E46 M3, or a ZHP 330, or an E92 M3 . . .

[2020m2c]

1. 3 pedal car with performance matching much more expensive cars. Could care less what emblem is on the hood. It was simply a matter of what I could get at that price point with a manual trans. Knowing that the S55 can make gobs more power for cheap helped too.

2. Not tuning it when I got it last winter.

[Tag]

Test drove an Audi and it sucked. Test drove a bimmer and it was awesome.

[smknjoe]

Originally Posted by Tag

Test drove an Audi and it sucked. Test drove a bimmer and it was awesome.

:

[YakyYaky]

Q1: What made you buy your first BMW?
A1: My first proper BMW is M2C, second is the X3MC. Previous to that it has been 3 MINIs - if you can count those as BMWs. Our family loves small cars. X3MC and M2C are already considered fairly big cars to us.

Q2: Do you have any regrets?
A2: TLDR version, No.

I wanted replace my MINI as it was aging. This time I wanted rear wheel drive with some praticality for school run to fit the family (3).
This combination meant my options were very limited in the age cars gets bigger and bigger. I really did tried convincing here with:

• MB C63S (Wifey complains it's too big, but love the exhaust interior and exhaust though, if push comes to shove, she definitely would've chose C63S over M3/M4 anyday)
• M3/M4 (She couldn't tell the difference between a M440i at a quick glance, why am I paying so much more? It's still too big!)

Hence it really came down to M2, M2C, and A45S thrown into the mix by prioritising practicality over fun. I test drove M2 and M2C back to back and ultimately chose the M2C due to looks and the seats. BMW interior has traditionally looked crap in my eyes including the M2/M2C, however I looked passed it once I test drove it.
Since owning it, I've changed my stance on the interior after a few months - it still looks crap, but I've come to appreciated it. The lack of reflective surface, simplicity/no frills meant that I can concentrate and appreciate the driving more.

And...
The biggest factor of choosing car is Happy wife, happy life or any purchase for that matter.

[tab²]

I had an M2C on the list as a maybe when I retired and was looking for a street legal Track car. I ended up with a Porsche GT3 but I really liked the M2 as well. Fast forward through the summer of Covid, and my wife is working from home full time and I am daily driving her GTI and my 2017 Ford edge is sitting in the driveway. I stopped in at the local BMW dealer and checked out trade in values. I was 2/3s of the way there with the edge and GTI. Seemed like a no brainer. Just got it a week or so ago, so I will let you know if it's any good

[tab²]

Originally Posted by Stlrain0341

2020 M2C. I wanted a daily driver with great handling, good power, and a manual, that could blend in better than a Porsche. That limited my options quite a bit.

Yeah, it is less noticable than the porsche. Seems like it is a great DD.

[Moflow]

Originally Posted by YakyYaky

BMW interior has traditionally looked crap in my eyes including the M2/M2C, however I looked passed it once I test drove it.
Since owning it, I've changed my stance on the interior after a few months - it still looks crap, but I've come to appreciated it. The lack of reflective surface, simplicity/no frills meant that I can concentrate and appreciate the driving more.

Yeah, the interior of the car isn’t particularly interesting, exciting or even especially nice. What it is, is functional and free of a lot of the ergonomic pitfalls that other manufacturers (and sometimes BMW) frequently fall into.

[GoneIn4Secs]

I drove my m2 after a long time today , the car is just so triggering to other drivers, makes them do stupid stuff on the road, or they try to race you,

that's when you know its a good one

[propkaPT]

Q1:What made me buy my first BMW?
Growing up in the early 2000's I always loved the E36 and E46 m3's and those body styles in general. They were purpose built driving machines and offered manual transmissions. Compared to german cars, bmws could handle both street and track. I had japanese cars mostly because thats what I could afford but always wanted a BMW. Ive owned a 135i, 335i and now the m2.

Q2: my only regret was that i didnt pony up for an M car. The non m's felt incomplete. Now im spoiled and will never buy another non m bmw

[rogeroger]

Q1: first BMW was a 1974 2002. It was fun to drive and I liked how it looked.

Q2: regret selling it, but happy to see it had gone to an awesome owner.