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2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum BMW 2 Series (F22) Forum BMW 2 Series Coupe and Cabriolet (F22/F23) General Forum Why Did You Choose the 2 Series?

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      12-02-2017, 01:21 PM   #45
3rdcoast228i
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Was looking for a 2nd vehicle that was sporty but better MPGs than my jeep. I looked around and thought I may get a 2016 camaro because all the reviewers were talking about how good they are. Drove one and just couldn't get excited about it. I had a 335i previously and loved the way it drove. Decided to take a look at BMW again. Didn't even know there was a 2 series! Found my car online, fell in love. I tried to tell my self No! I held out for a few days, but a test drive sealed the deal.
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      12-02-2017, 05:07 PM   #46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miata13 View Post
Recently retired myself..and with all this "noise" about the coming of driverless electric cars, there won't be many more opportunities for a car like the 2 series...Haven't pulled the trigger as I haven't worn out the on-line configurator yet
Congrats on your 230i !
Don't base your final choice on the on-line configuration. It isn't 100% accurate the last time I checked. For example the moon-roof delete on the 230 with m-sport isn't shown, and there are probably other things. The price-listing with options is more complete.
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      12-09-2017, 07:35 PM   #47
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I have pretty much the same situation

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Originally Posted by XutvJet View Post
I was dead set on a lightly used Lexus ISF to replace my 2012 WRX. Then I came to the realization that I didn't know how to drive an automatic. I've got two kids (11 and 7 at the time) therefore needed the room in the back seat. I wanted something 2 door, RWD, manual, strong power, strong engine, good aftermarket, and refined. My options were a M235, Mustang GT350, M4, or 911. I just wasn't ready to thow down the cash for an M4 or 911 as it seemed it bit crazy to buy such a car when you're in your 40s and have young kiddos. If I got such a car at a young age, what would replace that? LOL. The 911 had minimal rear legroom as well. The GT350 was just too cheap on the inside, no real back seat, too big on the outside, and although the GT350 looks stellar, my God, Stangs are EVERYWHERE. I went with the M235, ordered it exactly the way I wanted, and saved quite a bit of money compared to the others, even including the ISF.

I really love this car and enjoy doing little mods and here and there to make it my own. You also don't see many at all. If I totaled it today, I'd get an M2 (wasn't available at the time). Until the kids are gone, I need a back seat. Once they're gone, I'll likely get a Cayman.
When my oldest daughter goes to college in 5 years and 10 months (who's counting?), I'm getting a Cayman. Her younger sister will love riding shotgun!
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      12-11-2017, 08:13 PM   #48
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bensanford View Post
Don't base your final choice on the on-line configuration. It isn't 100% accurate the last time I checked. For example the moon-roof delete on the 230 with m-sport isn't shown, and there are probably other things. The price-listing with options is more complete.
Thanks ....also have the price-listing but can't help myself "playing" the on-line configuration "game"
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      01-12-2018, 07:50 PM   #49
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I was retiring my Volvo V40 station wagon which I loved.

Criteria
- compact 2 door for daily use
- good visibility for shoulder checking
- not a lot of electronic frills, no touch screens
- decent trunk size
- good sound system
- old fashion pull-up parking brake as opposed to the button

Mercedes screen was an eyesore and had no visibility in the back. Turns out owners would not buy this car again.

Audi A3 only comes in the 4 door and not the hatchback. The sound system was great but you could only access the cd slot through the glove compartment!

My Mechanic raved about Subarus but the ride was bumpy, the touch screen made my eyes water and the sound system was horrible.

Lexus was a contender in terms of features, ride quality (and it used regular fuel!) but the door was way too Long and I didn't like the angular front design. The car seemed Long as well.

Pleasant surprise of my 230 was the good fuel economy although it is really a hassle to have to fill up so often especially in the winter months. To avoid condensation, I fill up before it gets to half a tank.

I love my car!
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      01-12-2018, 08:25 PM   #50
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I owned 3 Mustang GTs between 1992 and 2015. When I bought my 2005 Mustang, I debated between a CPO BMW 330Ci and the new Mustang. Test drove both, and settled on the Mustang because it out-muscled the BMW, plus it was new. Loved the car during the 10 year ownership and no regrets, but was always thinking possibly a BMW someday.

In 2015, I cross-shopped the new S550 Mustang GT and the M235i. My criteria were

sporty car
track capable
RWD
manual transmission
more power than my S197 Mustang
under $50,000

I needed a 6% discount to make the last criteria.

I almost went for another Mustang, but after testing an automatic M235i, I loved the smaller size. The biggest factor may have been that I was simply ready for a change.

After almost 3 years, I'm very impressed with the quality of the car. No issues, and it's a lot of fun to drive.
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      01-12-2018, 09:15 PM   #51
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Before I purchased the M235i I considered the following:

Boss 302
Camaro SS 1LE
Cayman S
Challenger SRT8
Elise
Golf R
GTI
Fiesta ST
Focus RS
Miata Club
M3(E46)
Mustang GT Perf Pkg.
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370Z NISMO

I've had at least one BMW in the garage since 1983, but I was open to other brands. Track capability was my primary non-negotiable factor. In the end, the Mustang GT PP was a close second. I found a clean 2013 Boss 302 but the PO's mods disqualified it. The M235i showed up at a BMW dealer not too far away; it was an off-lease CPO and the price was right. It replaced a lightly modded Mazdaspeed 3 I had bought to learn how FWD performs on the track- I instruct at HPDEs and we were/are seeing more students with Minis, GTIs, Focus Sts, etc.
I'm still very happy with it, but it will definitely get an M Performance diff and a mild tune.
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      01-13-2018, 12:05 AM   #52
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Back in the late 80s, a friend's dad had a 325i in pale blue (with car phone!). I always loved that car and wanted to own a BMW, at some point in my life. I'm a fan of coupes, so when the 1 came to the US, it almost convinced me to buy. But, no all-wheel drive on the US 1's, so I waited. Then the 2 came, with xDrive, and I knew it was the car for me. I live in Colorado, so xDrive was a must. I didn't want to shell out for the 4.

So, the 230i in Seaside Blue, it was...
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      01-14-2018, 04:50 PM   #53
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I'd have considered the 4-series, but the 3/4-series has grown so much over the past 2 gens such that the current 4er is now only a little over an inch shorter than the Chevrolet Cruze.
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      01-14-2018, 05:34 PM   #54
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I really like the retractable top on the 4 but it’s so huge I went with the 2. Been a cold winter, and the soft top has been fine.
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      01-15-2018, 09:46 AM   #55
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I'd potentially be interested in a 4 Series convertible, especially an M4 if it had the soft top. While the hard top convertible looks good with the top up, it's just so heavy and takes up so much room in the trunk when it's retracted, I am really turned off by it. If I needed to replace my 2er, my heart would be with a 718 Boxster, but I suspect my wife might nix that idea due to its size and difficulty getting in and out with it just that much lower to the ground. In my mind the only other option would be another M240i convertible or preferably an M4 vert, provide the "G" version of the 4 Series comes out with a soft top and a few hundred lbs of weight reduction.
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      01-15-2018, 09:50 AM   #56
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I myself spend little time in the trunk, and make it a point not to listen to the complaints of those who do. What I liked about my 335i? retractable was that it’s like a car with the top up. I reckon there are few days when the weight difference matters much to me, especially with whoever’s back there in the trunk.

Stop that damn kicking!
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      01-15-2018, 10:49 AM   #57
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As I have pointed out often, if you exchange the 3 and 2 from my old 325, you get a 235, almost identical in every dimension but much more powerful and better handling, OK except for the steering.
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      01-16-2018, 01:18 AM   #58
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I've loved sport compacts since I was a kid. I cross-shopped a BRZ (with a well researched mod plan), a Camaro 1LE V6, an Ecoboost Mustang, GTi, and the 2-series. It was exactly how I would imagine a modern E46 would have felt - the right size, powerful enough, comfortable for commuting, a tossable chassis, simple styling and most importantly RWD and a turbo. At low 5's 0-60, a 155mph top speed and 13s in the quarter its still the fastest car I've ever owned by a wide margin. A few choice mods this spring and it'll be the dream SpoCom!
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      01-16-2018, 11:26 AM   #59
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Was looking for a fun car that I could drive everyday. Bought an M2. Loved it, but thought it was too much for everyday driving on bad city roads. Decided to settle for the 230i with Dinan stage one.
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      01-16-2018, 11:28 AM   #60
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hz101 View Post
Was looking for a fun car that I could drive everyday. Bought an M2. Loved it, but thought it was too much for everyday driving on bad city roads. Decided to settle for the 230i with Dinan stage one.
Smart man. Add some 17" BBS rims and beefier rubber and you're exactly where I'd be if I had to drive where you do.

Currently I do have a mix of shit like you and decent roads with some highway driving, so went for the 235 instead.
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      01-16-2018, 03:41 PM   #61
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I was looking for a replacement for my '05 330ci ZHP, which was a helluva car but was getting a bit too old. Initially, I thought about 335 sedan or coupe since that would have been a natural transition engine-wise, but I wasn't crazy about the design direction on the 3 series that BMW has taken upon. Sedans are just too huge for my taste, and coupes (4 series nowadays) just don't look edgy enough for me while still being too big. Not to mention that BMW 3-series are about as common as Corollas where I live. Since I live in a city, I don't want anything huge - agility and parkability is key.
2-series checks all those boxes for me. It's like the ultimate driving machine of old: sporty yet practical, beautifully sculpted, looking fantastic in the back and in the front. It was just a tad smaller than my '05 3-series, and even though I ended up with the 4-cylinder 228i, it is actually faster than my I-6 ZHP.
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      01-16-2018, 07:19 PM   #62
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I used to own an e36 M3 back in the day, and still own a Z3. I had plenty of seat time in my GF's e90 325i, and had driven other e92s, F30s etc. I had not been the biggest fan of a lot of newer BMWs, just because of their bloated size and weight.

I think the most recent BMWs I actually liked were the e46, and the E82 1 series. I always liked the feel of the 1, and spent a decent amount of time behind the wheel of one (259 car pile up on the A2 autobahn not being one of those haha).

In any case, long story short, when the F22 was coming out, I was eagerly reading and watching any and all car reviews I could. And a lot of the consensus was that it was kind of the rebirth of the e36/e46 era cars. I ended up actually buying the car before I ever sat in it, but I wasn't disappointed. Every time I return a loaner and pick up my car from the dealer, I am always super happy because the 2 series is such a fun car to drive, that I just don't get from the current gen 3 series.
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      01-16-2018, 11:07 PM   #63
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The car is fun to drive but, I’m not finding it too comfortable on long trips. Plus the gas tank it too small. I wish they had offered active safety features. Blind spot and active cruise control would have been nice. The term escapes me but the cruise that will slow the car down.
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      01-17-2018, 04:59 AM   #64
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elvisfan View Post
The car is fun to drive but, I’m not finding it too comfortable on long trips. Plus the gas tank it too small. I wish they had offered active safety features. Blind spot and active cruise control would have been nice. The term escapes me but the cruise that will slow the car down.
Adaptive. And you're right for long trips the 2 stays home in favor of the 3. Just more enjoyable for long highway driving.
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      01-17-2018, 09:34 AM   #65
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elvisfan View Post
The car is fun to drive but, I’m not finding it too comfortable on long trips. Plus the gas tank it too small. I wish they had offered active safety features. Blind spot and active cruise control would have been nice. The term escapes me but the cruise that will slow the car down.
Just curious, as someone who is considering a 2 as a DD, what is it that you find uncomfortable? Noise, ride, seats?
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      01-17-2018, 09:34 AM   #66
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3 factors.


1. Size - Need I say more?

2. Engine/Trans - Had to be a RWD, 6cyl turbo car, with a MT and LSD

3. It has the best HP:$ in its class
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