Consumer Reports July 2,2021 Hidden Gems:Best Cars That Nodody Buys

raddoc · 07-08-2021, 08:03 PM

#1

2021 BMW 2 Series
Recommended
2021 BMW 2 Series
Price Range: $35,700 - $58,900
CR MPG: Overall 25 / City 19 / Hwy 31 mpg
#1 of 25 Sports/sporty cars over $40,000
View Pricing Information
Road test: ++
Predicted reliability: average
Predicted owner satisfaction: good
All Ratings & Reliability
Overall Score 88

When we first drove a BMW 230i coupe, we called it “exhilarating.” The sportier M240i—with its 335-hp, 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder engine—is even more thrilling. Both are available as a hardtop or a convertible, and both are a throwback to the light, sporty cars that BMW was long known for building. But as much as razor-sharp handling and instantaneous acceleration helped the BMW earn one of the highest road-test scores we’ve ever given a vehicle, a small rear seat and tiny trunk mean the 2 Series won’t fit the more practical needs of most drivers. BMW sold just 14,616 in 2020.

The similarly named 2 Series Gran Coupe is a totally separate vehicle that rides on a completely different front-wheel-drive platform shared with the X1 and X2 SUVs. Although it’s not as engaging to drive as the 2 Series coupe, it’s a solid contender among small luxury sedans.

peteyrx7 · 07-08-2021, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raddoc

BMW sold just 14,616 in 2020.

Funny thing is that the 14,616 of unit sales includes all 2 series variants from all forms of the GC all the way to the M2CS. Sales of 2 series were mostly GC models with coupe variants having slowed to a trickle from 2018 on. I personally think the M240 was the best car BMW made in recent years. So far am not thrilled with the upcoming new model. Glad I order an F22 while I still could.

dradernh · 07-09-2021, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peteyrx7

Funny thing is that the 14,616 of unit sales includes all 2 series variants from all forms of the GC all the way to the M2CS. Sales of 2 series were mostly GC models with coupe variants having slowed to a trickle from 2018 on. I personally think the M240 was the best car BMW made in recent years. So far am not thrilled with the upcoming new model. Glad I order an F22 while I still could.

Through June, 2 Series are selling at an annual rate 20% higher than 2016, the best-selling 2 Series year with 15,519 sold. There are seven new 2 Series cars at local dealers here: 6 X 228i xDrive and 1 X GC.

peteyrx7 · 07-09-2021, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dradernh

Quote:

Originally Posted by peteyrx7

Funny thing is that the 14,616 of unit sales includes all 2 series variants from all forms of the GC all the way to the M2CS. Sales of 2 series were mostly GC models with coupe variants having slowed to a trickle from 2018 on. I personally think the M240 was the best car BMW made in recent years. So far am not thrilled with the upcoming new model. Glad I order an F22 while I still could.

Through June, 2 Series are selling at an annual rate 20% higher than 2016, the best-selling 2 Series year with 15,519 sold. There are seven new 2 Series cars at local dealers here: 6 X 228i xDrive and 1 X GC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dradernh

Quote:

Originally Posted by peteyrx7

Funny thing is that the 14,616 of unit sales includes all 2 series variants from all forms of the GC all the way to the M2CS. Sales of 2 series were mostly GC models with coupe variants having slowed to a trickle from 2018 on. I personally think the M240 was the best car BMW made in recent years. So far am not thrilled with the upcoming new model. Glad I order an F22 while I still could.

Through June, 2 Series are selling at an annual rate 20% higher than 2016, the best-selling 2 Series year with 15,519 sold. There are seven new 2 Series cars at local dealers here: 6 X 228i xDrive and 1 X GC.

Yes, I think we're saying the same thing. Overall 2 series sales are up from 2016 but only because 4 door variants were introduced and subsequently comprised most of the sales. 2 door variants have slowed to a trickle and F22/F23/F87 are and have been for years nearly nonexistent in inventory. My guess is that from 2018 on US sales of the F87 was probably in the neighborhood of 3-4K a year and likely larger than all variants of the F22 and F23 combined. GC sales were likely more than double that of F22,F23, and F87 combined. We'll likely see confirmed production numbers for the F87 soon since production just ended.

raddoc · 07-09-2021, 05:54 PM

They shoulda just called the GCs Biminis!

60_Driver · 07-11-2021, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raddoc

They shoulda just called the GCs Biminis!

I like that (the name)!

Shovelman · 07-12-2021, 06:49 AM

"a small rear seat and tiny trunk mean the 2 Series won’t fit the more practical needs of most drivers"

It's a sports car! The back seat is optional in this class and the trunk is actually quite generous. My golf clubs go in without taking the big stick out of the bag or folding down the seat. They must be comparing to an SUV.

aerobod · 07-12-2021, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shovelman

"a small rear seat and tiny trunk mean the 2 Series won’t fit the more practical needs of most drivers"

It's a sports car! The back seat is optional in this class and the trunk is actually quite generous. My golf clubs go in without taking the big stick out of the bag or folding down the seat. They must be comparing to an SUV.

I think their benchmark is a Crown Victoria.

dradernh · 07-12-2021, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aerobod

I think their benchmark is a Crown Victoria.

Must be, 'cause if I can place all of this in my car it's not short of room to carry things:

harma24 · 07-12-2021, 07:43 PM

I've been amazed at just how much I can fit in my car. For it's size, it is far from lacking space. As for the rear seat, if you have average sized people (5'-9") or smaller, I've found that there's actually plenty of head and legroom for 4 people in the car.

morphomeman · 07-13-2021, 05:32 AM

The main problem with the rear seat is ingress and egress. Once seated, it is quite comfortable. That said, I am the only one in my circle who is willing to contort themselves into the seat, which means that when there are more than two people (which is rare) my wife drives. But she is so short that I have plenty of legroom behind her!

07-08-2021, 08:03 PM	#1
raddoc Private First Class 108 Rep 176 Posts Drives: X5,Model3,M240i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tucson AZ iTrader: (0)	Consumer Reports July 2,2021 Hidden Gems:Best Cars That Nodody Buys #1 2021 BMW 2 Series Recommended 2021 BMW 2 Series Price Range: $35,700 - $58,900 CR MPG: Overall 25 / City 19 / Hwy 31 mpg #1 of 25 Sports/sporty cars over $40,000 View Pricing Information Road test: ++ Predicted reliability: average Predicted owner satisfaction: good All Ratings & Reliability Overall Score 88 When we first drove a BMW 230i coupe, we called it “exhilarating.” The sportier M240i—with its 335-hp, 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder engine—is even more thrilling. Both are available as a hardtop or a convertible, and both are a throwback to the light, sporty cars that BMW was long known for building. But as much as razor-sharp handling and instantaneous acceleration helped the BMW earn one of the highest road-test scores we’ve ever given a vehicle, a small rear seat and tiny trunk mean the 2 Series won’t fit the more practical needs of most drivers. BMW sold just 14,616 in 2020. The similarly named 2 Series Gran Coupe is a totally separate vehicle that rides on a completely different front-wheel-drive platform shared with the X1 and X2 SUVs. Although it’s not as engaging to drive as the 2 Series coupe, it’s a solid contender among small luxury sedans.
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07-09-2021, 05:54 PM	#5
raddoc Private First Class 108 Rep 176 Posts Drives: X5,Model3,M240i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tucson AZ iTrader: (0)	They shoulda just called the GCs Biminis!
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07-12-2021, 06:49 AM	#7
Shovelman Lieutenant 262 Rep 547 Posts Drives: 2017 230i Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	"a small rear seat and tiny trunk mean the 2 Series won’t fit the more practical needs of most drivers" It's a sports car! The back seat is optional in this class and the trunk is actually quite generous. My golf clubs go in without taking the big stick out of the bag or folding down the seat. They must be comparing to an SUV.
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07-12-2021, 07:43 PM	#10
harma24 Captain 411 Rep 759 Posts Drives: 2017 M240i Glacier Silver Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: 19.5mi NNW of Boston, MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M240i [0.00]	I've been amazed at just how much I can fit in my car. For it's size, it is far from lacking space. As for the rear seat, if you have average sized people (5'-9") or smaller, I've found that there's actually plenty of head and legroom for 4 people in the car. __________________ Fun Cars (daily drivers) 2001-2016: 2001 Honda Prelude \| 2016 - present: 2017 M240xi Glacier Silver Coupe Family Cars: 1993-2014: 1993 Honda Accord 10th Anniversary Edition \| 2014-Present: 2014 Honda Odyssey Stable-mate: 2019 - present: 2020 230xi Seaside Blue Convertible
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07-13-2021, 05:32 AM	#11
morphomeman Major 598 Rep 1,237 Posts Drives: 2015 M235ix Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 BMW X3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M235ix [0.00]	The main problem with the rear seat is ingress and egress. Once seated, it is quite comfortable. That said, I am the only one in my circle who is willing to contort themselves into the seat, which means that when there are more than two people (which is rare) my wife drives. But she is so short that I have plenty of legroom behind her!
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