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      05-07-2020, 03:08 PM   #1
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What did you cross-shop?

Before deciding on your 2-series, what other brands/models did you consider?
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      05-07-2020, 03:16 PM   #2
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Had a 2016 WRX. Was gonna pull the trigger on a 2021/2022 STi, then ended up stumbling on the ol' Bimmer
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      05-07-2020, 03:22 PM   #3
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S3/S4, Mustang GT, Q50 red sport, Guilia. I am pretty set on driving 6MT so was hoping the S4 or Q would wow me enough to move to automatic, but they didn't. The GT was a beast and fun to drive but just not my style. 240 checked all the boxes and no second thoughts.
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      05-07-2020, 03:24 PM   #4
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I wanted a stick shift convertible, the only other decent option was a mustang, but having had three 3 series before this, I couldn't go there.
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      05-07-2020, 03:29 PM   #5
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Lexus IS-F. Then I realized I didn't know how to drive an automatic and needed a car I could mod.

I'm pretty sure I'll have an IS-F at some point though as a car in my stable. It really is a great car, unique, sounds bad ass, hauls, and reliable as hell.
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      05-07-2020, 03:55 PM   #6
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The only serious contender was the Golf R. The VW dealership was a nightmare though. They wouldn't even let me test drive one without doing a full credit check (hard inquiry). Told them to cram it and that BMW let me drive an M2 without even showing a DL lol. M240i was my first choice anyways, just wanted to do some sort of due diligence to see what else was out there.

I drove Lexus IS-350 (F was a little pricey) and Mustang GT. Both "felt" quite a bit slower than the M240i, and the Mustang felt HUGE with terrible blind spots and visibility. Every time I see a Mustang on the road (with associated driver / behavior) I am so glad I didn't go that route...
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      05-07-2020, 04:48 PM   #7
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No other brand, but tried a 3 and 4 Series before realizing I only wanted to drive the 2 again.
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      05-07-2020, 04:53 PM   #8
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In no particular order:

Miata ND
The Twins (BRZ, FR-S)
Camaro 1LE (8 cyl)
Mustang GT (not incl. the GT350s)
Golf R
Civic Type R
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      05-07-2020, 04:58 PM   #9
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Mercedes CLS, Miata NC and ND, Nissan 370z, Audi A3/A4.
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      05-07-2020, 05:12 PM   #10
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In my case, a Golf R

Too many VWoA oddities turned me off. First year of the U.S. Mark VII Golf R was DSG only. The next year we did get the manual, I assume due to all the magazine press clamoring for it.

A big irritant to me, the U.S. only got the 4 door, which I didn't want. Also by MY2017, the driver's assistance package became baked-in, and I could just see some of those systems getting quirky and expensive to repair as it got older. Little things, like the EU got LED taillights, and the U.S. some half-baked incandescents (yes, I know it was more a regulations issue.)

Then there was the fact our local VW dealer is awful, and our BMW dealer is excellent. The BMW was $13K more, but worth it to me.
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      05-07-2020, 05:19 PM   #11
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Interesting to see so many different options. Honestly, I was considering a Macan and the M340i. I know it's a bit weird to be cross-shopping an SUV against a small coupe, but they had some similar qualities for a DD.
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      05-07-2020, 05:23 PM   #12
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I saw the 2 series as the successor to my long ago, first BMW experience in a new '77 BMW 320i. At that time...my "budget" was a new '77 VW Rabbit but I never forgot that first BMW ride in the normally aspirated 4 cylinder tooling along on the Autobahn at 100+ mph and it being absolutely rock solid...

So...when my situation finally permitted (some 42 years later!)..... I drove only the 240i and 230i models back to back and decided the 230 was the one for me. It reminds me of that initial BMW experience...and frankly, wouldn't trade my ongoing experiences and friendships in the BMW CCA for another brand.
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      05-07-2020, 05:23 PM   #13
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Had my heart set on a Pontiac Aztek but alas, they are becoming scarce.
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      05-07-2020, 06:07 PM   #14
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Looked at ALL the 2019 or 2020 2-door
4-seater convertibles under $70K with manual
transmission (after immediately vetoing
the Fiat 500 convertible - too poorly made,
Mini Cooper convertible - too little trunk
space, and the Ford Mustang ‘vert - way too Fordy)
which left just the M240i. It has turned
out to be a great choice!
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      05-07-2020, 06:29 PM   #15
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My wife, my daughter and my son all had new cars...it was my turn. I was driving a 325ci convertible (that I loved) at the time. But it was time for a new car and it HAD to be a BMW and it HAD to handle like an E46. Not dissing my E90 but there is a difference. I had a very hard time choosing between the 240i and 230i. But once I took each car on a test drive up Mt. Diablo, I knew it had to be the 230i (but consciously I wanted more power!). I custom ordered the car and now am so happy that I did. Once tuned, I think to myself (sounds like a freakin' song) what a great decision.
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      05-07-2020, 06:32 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cristo View Post
Looked at ALL the 2019 or 2020 2-door
4-seater convertibles under $70K with manual
transmission (after immediately vetoing
the Fiat 500 convertible - too poorly made,
Mini Cooper convertible - too little trunk
space, and the Ford Mustang ‘vert - way too Fordy)
which left just the M240i. It has turned
out to be a great choice!
3.5 year old Porsche Boxster
Miata ND (no HPDE)
Twins (too cramped for this old body)
350Z
425i Gran Coupe
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      05-07-2020, 06:41 PM   #17
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I wanted a small, RWD, manual coupe with no sunroof, so the options were extremely limited to say the least. Pretty much down to a Cayman and a 2 series. I was only looking at 981 Caymans because I let the "noise" (pun intended!) from the automotive community around the 4 cylinder make the 718 not even an option. But at the end of the day, for me, I thought the 981 would be too similar to my old e46 M3 in that I wouldn't be able to get the best out of it without going to jail in that I'd have to wring the living snot out of it to feel any sort of power (the reason a Miata never entered the conversation either despite how awesome that car is). After owning cars with a decent amount of low end torque (either big NA motors or turbos), I realized I was addicted to low end torque. Added to that, I wanted a more modern interior with Apple Carplay/newer tech and was never a fan of aftermarket stereos/electronics, so the 981 just wouldn't work. I wanted a car that came from the factory with everything I wanted, minus wheels which I was willing to change. I've owned way too many BMWs and was really trying to pick up something different, which probably 90% of this board can say as well, but BMW just makes too good of a package where I keep getting drawn back in.

Now that I narrowed things down to a 2 series, the OG M2 was just too rough for DD duties for me and I needed something with an adaptive suspension. With the M2C, I was willing to deal with the rough ride and lack of adaptive suspension (I know this is all relative and others don't think it rides rough, but I did) and I was extremely close to buying a brand new one at a local dealer in MD, but I just could not get over the sound of the S55. That was one of the things I hated about the e46 M3 and I didn't want to go down the road again where I loved the car, but absolutely hated how it sounded like I was cutting grass everywhere I went. The 230i was a good proposition, but once I would have it optioned out how I wanted, it was in 240i money territory, so a no-brainer for more power that I craved. I searched long and hard and finally found one that ticked every box. Best car I've owned hands down. It's not even close. Anytime anyone asks me about the car, those are the words that come out of my mouth.

But . . . I really should have not listened to anyone else and cross shopped the 718 in my search. I recently came across one in the flesh and the looks of that car are what I see when I dream at night. That horrible engine sound that everyone hated sounded pretty decent to me. Does the NA flat 6 sound better? Absolutely. I don't know who would chose the sound of the turbo flat 4 over it, but it was nowhere near the level of "do not pass go" that the S55 was. Plus, that low end torque is there with the turbo flat 4. I'm alone in the car 99.9999999999999999999999% of the time and probably had more than 2 people in my car only once since I got the 240i. Anytime I need to actually fit stuff in a car, I take my wife's car anyway. So moving to a 2 seater would have zero impact on my use for a car. Our winters here are mild enough where I only need to have one vehicle. I've had the combo of having a practical and a fun car for years and the fun car ended up just sitting most of the time not getting driven, so whatever I get will be my DD. So within the next couple of months, I hope to make the switch to a 718 with Sports Chrono, PASM, PTV, Carplay, etc. I know it will be a "rougher" DD, but the whole package is worth it to me. I'm definitely going to take a hit in the wallet on the resale of the 240i, that is for sure! But being a car person is not a way in which one is rational!
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      05-07-2020, 06:45 PM   #18
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Audi S3/S4, Merc C400, BMW 340i. That was it.
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      05-07-2020, 06:50 PM   #19
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2012/13 C63, 08-10 Cayman/s, E92 M3, E24 635csi/M6, E34 535i, e46 M3 Comp, and a manual Maserati GT coupe.

Mixed bag, I know. But were all almost exactly the same price. Purchased my M235i CPO and ultimately reliability is what made the decision for me.
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      05-07-2020, 06:54 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PDM5 View Post
But . . . I really should have not listened to anyone else and cross shopped the 718 in my search. I recently came across one in the flesh and the looks of that car are what I see when I dream at night. That horrible engine sound that everyone hated sounded pretty decent to me. Does the NA flat 6 sound better? Absolutely. I don't know who would chose the sound of the turbo flat 4 over it, but it was nowhere near the level of "do not pass go" that the S55 was. Plus, that low end torque is there with the turbo flat 4. I'm alone in the car 99.9999999999999999999999% of the time and probably had more than 2 people in my car only once since I got the 240i. Anytime I need to actually fit stuff in a car, I take my wife's car anyway. So moving to a 2 seater would have zero impact on my use for a car. Our winters here are mild enough where I only need to have one vehicle. I've had the combo of having a practical and a fun car for years and the fun car ended up just sitting most of the time not getting driven, so whatever I get will be my DD. So within the next couple of months, I hope to make the switch to a 718 with Sports Chrono, PASM, PTV, Carplay, etc. I know it will be a "rougher" DD, but the whole package is worth it to me. I'm definitely going to take a hit in the wallet on the resale of the 240i, that is for sure! But being a car person is not a way in which one is rational!
The 718 tracks really nice, and it's not too rough as a DD. I bought my 981 before the 718s came out and am still happy I did. It doesn't have all of the tech, but I use it primarily for auto-x. I can say that the addition of headers and a tune can do wonders for low-end torque, power, and keep that intoxicating sound. The 718 is a fantastic car, though. You will love it.
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      05-07-2020, 07:08 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miata13 View Post
I saw the 2 series as the successor to my long ago, first BMW experience in a new '77 BMW 320i. At that time...my "budget" was a new '77 VW Rabbit but I never forgot that first BMW ride in the normally aspirated 4 cylinder tooling along on the Autobahn at 100+ mph and it being absolutely rock solid...

So...when my situation finally permitted (some 42 years later!)..... I drove only the 240i and 230i models back to back and decided the 230 was the one for me. It reminds me of that initial BMW experience...and frankly, wouldn't trade my ongoing experiences and friendships in the BMW CCA for another brand.
Sounds like we were living parallel automotive lives! My 1977 320i was a stretch to afford back then. Delivered in October 1976, it followed a 1971 2500, bought with over 100k miles on the clock just two years earlier, which also provided that rock-solid cruising feel. The 320i then made an everlasting impression for the 13 years I kept it, selling it for 50% of the original purchase price! Thirty-eight years later, after regaining automotive freedom following a domestic car company career with company cars, the 228i also reminds me strongly of that earlier experience, part of the reason I purposefully chose the 4 over the 6.
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2024 X3 sDrive30i/MSport/Premium/Dynamic Handling/Shadowline/Parking/Xpel Prime XR Plus/Weathertech Cargo Liner
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      05-07-2020, 07:25 PM   #22
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I drove or sat in a lot of cars before I committed to the M240. I ordered my M240 (sight unseen) in June 2016; before they actually entered production.

Mercedes C 300 - Lackluster acceleration and handling, mediocre body styling
Mercedes CLA 250 - Lackluster acceleration and handling, mediocre body styling
AMG CLA 35 - Acceleration couldn't match the M240 for a slightly higher price, don't like the interior styling (those f'ing round vents)
AMG CLA 45 - M2 money for similar performance to the M240, don't like the interior styling (those f'ing round vents)
Audi A3 - Lackluster acceleration and handling, not a fan of 4-door body style, those f'ing round vents
Audi S3 - not a fan of 4-door body style, those f'ing round vents
Toyota 86 / Subaru BRZ - Acceleration not that much better than 2001 Prelude, poor rear headroom / legroom (and that's being generous)
Ford Mustang - It's a Ford (okay, that might be unfair), Body styling, rear headroom / legroom, performance couldn't match M240 until the price matched the M2 (GT350)
Chevy Camero - Terrible body styling (it's f'ing huge), terrible visibility
Jaguar F-Type - I loved everything about this car, but it was lacking two seats that I need
BMW M2 (the original) - 6-month wait, more money for too similar performance to M240.
BMW M235 - No allocations available; I would had to find what I wanted in dealer stock. This is probably the one car I would have jumped on if I had been able to find one configured exactly as I wanted it


So, at the end of about 2 months of research and test driving, I ordered my M240.
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