[Sail Boat]

Hi everyone! Here's a short opinion on the M235i vs M2:

Last week my BMW dealership invited me to test drive an M2 Competition because they think I can afford it. So I did, and it was awesome (as we all know).

The real reason I went was to test drive a 2016 M2 CPO, a car my salesperson knew I was interested in. White on black, all the good packages, only $46,5 @ 1.9%, blah blah blah.

I drove it before the M2 Comp, it was fine. I should say off the bat that I think the M2 looks like a fat, tall F22 - the looks aren't my favorite. While I noticed the power bump and the DCT shifts, the special feeling of driving an "M Car" was the key difference. Full disclosure, my M235i is stock save for bushings, endlinks, KW V3's, and wider tires. I acknowledge this could be mental, but I think my car handles and drives better than the original M2.

Short of it is, the original M2 didn't make me want to spend more money and take on further depreciation. My personal opinion is that the original M2 is cool, but its limited advantages are overshadowed by its disadvantages compared to the M235i (similar performance, cheaper, better MPG, etc.). I feel that exclusive or special cars, like M models, should compel a buyer to splurge and make the before mentioned compromises with confidence. The problem is that the original M2 and the M235/40 aren't far off from eachother. On the other hand, the difference between the original M2 and the M2 Competition is massive, like 335i vs M3 massive - that is the car I really want. Go buy it if you can!!

It's settled: I'm keeping the M235i for a long time and I expect my future child will be driving this jalopy when they get their license.

[Denk]

I'm waiting for the next gen, S58 if that happens. I'm not crazy about the looks of the M2 or Comp pkg. A little too boy racer, wide body kit looking. I still prefer the slower e9x for the full on total M experience.

[capo180]

Not real surprised by your conclusion. I think for me, after I'm tired of my M235i in a few years I may be looking for a used M2C.

[Ron Jeffries]

I've not driven an M@ or M2C. I have driven M3s. To me, to get the fun out of them, it was necessary to drive way beyond reasonable. Or to track them, but how often can one do that?

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Ron Jeffries

I've not driven an M@ or M2C. I have driven M3s. To me, to get the fun out of them, it was necessary to drive way beyond reasonable. Or to track them, but how often can one do that?

I've been in an M3 driven by one of the instructors at the performance center. Holy shit. I asked him and was told flatly that 95% of owners don't use half of what the car is capable of. I know I could never fully use the car I'm not a good enough driver.

To quote my father, don't pay for 12" of pussy when you've got 6" of dick.

[pz619]

You know, I came with a similar conclusion. I drove a m2 and it was pretty great, but it didn't seem THAT much better than the M235i. So I started looking at 981 Caymans. When the M2C was announced I took the plunge and ordered the car. It's not here yet, but am excited to feel the difference.

[///M TOWN]

I call BS that they invited you to drive the M2C for any reason.

Regardless of your financial position they don't just let you drive them.

[THEOS]

Originally Posted by eDrive

I call BS that they invited you to drive the M2C for any reason.

Regardless of your financial position they don't just let you drive them.

It's an M2, not a Porsche or Ferrari.

[pikcachu]

Originally Posted by eDrive

I call BS that they invited you to drive the M2C for any reason.

Regardless of your financial position they don't just let you drive them.

It's just a matter of offer and demand. Some regions have a lot of demand and they don't have many demos if at all, other regions there is less demand so they need to push cars out and will let you drive whatever you want

[3rdcoast228i]

Originally Posted by pz619

You know, I came with a similar conclusion. I drove a m2 and it was pretty great, but it didn't seem THAT much better than the M235i. So I started looking at 981 Caymans. When the M2C was announced I took the plunge and ordered the car. It's not here yet, but am excited to feel the difference.

Did you drive the 981? Just curious what us 2ers think of it. I love the looks of it.

[Luftwaffe1O1]

Originally Posted by eDrive

I call BS that they invited you to drive the M2C for any reason.

Regardless of your financial position they don't just let you drive them.

Depends on the relationship you have with your dealer. Its not unheard of.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

Depends on the relationship you have with your dealer. Its not unheard of.

Originally Posted by Luftwaffe1O1

Depends on the relationship you have with your dealer. Its not unheard of.

Absolutely and depends on the seat time you have behind the M2.

[Sail Boat]

Originally Posted by eDrive

I call BS that they invited you to drive the M2C for any reason.

Regardless of your financial position they don't just let you drive them.

Thanks for your input!

[Bobdaxx]

Im going to trade my 235 this december for an M3. I love this car. Best car I have ever had and its been reliable all the way to the 64k I have on it now but I want something bigger and more of a beast. The M2 just does not seem to be worth the $ now for what I argue is only a marginal bump up from my 235-which is kitted with Dinan stuff. And I know I can get an M3 at a good price this December.

[USA-RET]

The M2 Comp is what the the original M2 should have been. IMO

The bump in power and torque separates it sufficiently from the M240i to make the purchase worthwhile. Compared to the original M2.

I debated the M2 when I ordered my M240i, dealer didn't have a mark-up and had an allocation, but the M240i was so close (and w/ a Stage 1 Dinan likely faster around town).

As an aside, for straight line performance and 1/4 mile (and yes I realize that isn't what or how these cars should be evaluated since they are really track oriented), an M240i, M2 M2c, M3, M4 are not hugely different if looking at just acceleration. As a matter of fact, most of us only use the straight line power to get our jolly's when we drive.

In fact, at a certain point a $1 million super car and the more pedestrian cars are separated by perhaps .5-.7 sec 0-60. Even using BMW numbers M3/4 3.9, M2 (old) 4.0 and new M2C 4.0?. M240i 4.4 and easily a $25-30K spread between them.

I love the M cars for sure. The 2er is a perfect size IMO. The M3 looks the best again IMO. Factoring in initial pricing, cost of insurance, MPG, ride quality, the M240i makes the most sense. Taking common sense out of the equation, the M2C w/ the detuned M3/M4 motor likely offers the perfect size w/ the ability to bump performance past that of the M3/M4. w/ a mild Dinan tune. But for pure "cool", the M3 w/ the Marina blue paint makes a statement.

Just my perspective. $60K for a true M car isn't a bad entry point. All depends on what we want to be seen driving.

[hz101]

Originally Posted by Sail Boat

Hi everyone! Here's a short opinion on the M235i vs M2:

Last week my BMW dealership invited me to test drive an M2 Competition because they think I can afford it. So I did, and it was awesome (as we all know).

The real reason I went was to test drive a 2016 M2 CPO, a car my salesperson knew I was interested in. White on black, all the good packages, only $46,5 @ 1.9%, blah blah blah.

I drove it before the M2 Comp, it was fine. I should say off the bat that I think the M2 looks like a fat, tall F22 - the looks aren't my favorite. While I noticed the power bump and the DCT shifts, the special feeling of driving an "M Car" was the key difference. Full disclosure, my M235i is stock save for bushings, endlinks, KW V3's, and wider tires. I acknowledge this could be mental, but I think my car handles and drives better than the original M2.

Short of it is, the original M2 didn't make me want to spend more money and take on further depreciation. My personal opinion is that the original M2 is cool, but its limited advantages are overshadowed by its disadvantages compared to the M235i (similar performance, cheaper, better MPG, etc.). I feel that exclusive or special cars, like M models, should compel a buyer to splurge and make the before mentioned compromises with confidence. The problem is that the original M2 and the M235/40 aren't far off from eachother. On the other hand, the difference between the original M2 and the M2 Competition is massive, like 335i vs M3 massive - that is the car I really want. Go buy it if you can!!

It's settled: I'm keeping the M235i for a long time and I expect my future child will be driving this jalopy when they get their license.

Interesting you feel this way. Over in the M2 forums I read some posts by those who recently took delivery of the M2C and thought it was not that different in performance than the M2 unless you track the cars. Lower end torque and nimbleness is reportedly better in the M2, which I personally prefer. High rpm is where the M2C is better.

[Pray for Mojo]

It's only 35hp out of the box, but if you flash tuned the M2C it's night and day.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by USA-RET

The M2 Comp is what the the original M2 should have been. IMO

The bump in power and torque separates it sufficiently from the M240i to make the purchase worthwhile. Compared to the original M2.

I debated the M2 when I ordered my M240i, dealer didn't have a mark-up and had an allocation, but the M240i was so close (and w/ a Stage 1 Dinan likely faster around town).

As an aside, for straight line performance and 1/4 mile (and yes I realize that isn't what or how these cars should be evaluated since they are really track oriented), an M240i, M2 M2c, M3, M4 are not hugely different if looking at just acceleration. As a matter of fact, most of us only use the straight line power to get our jolly's when we drive.

In fact, at a certain point a $1 million super car and the more pedestrian cars are separated by perhaps .5-.7 sec 0-60. Even using BMW numbers M3/4 3.9, M2 (old) 4.0 and new M2C 4.0?. M240i 4.4 and easily a $25-30K spread between them.

I love the M cars for sure. The 2er is a perfect size IMO. The M3 looks the best again IMO. Factoring in initial pricing, cost of insurance, MPG, ride quality, the M240i makes the most sense. Taking common sense out of the equation, the M2C w/ the detuned M3/M4 motor likely offers the perfect size w/ the ability to bump performance past that of the M3/M4. w/ a mild Dinan tune. But for pure "cool", the M3 w/ the Marina blue paint makes a statement.

Just my perspective. $60K for a true M car isn't a bad entry point. All depends on what we want to be seen driving.

If you've got the scratch an M235/240 convertible paired with an M3 sedan would make an excellent combo IMO. Throw $20k at an X5 beater for hauling and inclement weather and you'd be hard pressed to find a driving situation for which you didn't have an excellent tool.

[XutvJet]

I love my M235 and love the minor mods I've done to it and the mods I plan to do over the next year; however, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a new M2C (or slightly used N55 M2 if I'm feeling frugal) if I totaled my M235 tomorrow. An M240 would not even be an option at this point.

[baege]

just put the b58 and m240i adaptive suspension and xdrive in the body of the m2 and this would be the car that would satisfy many of us I suspect

all weather capability , composed ride and a powerful engine in a mean looking car

[Sail Boat]

Originally Posted by hz101

Interesting you feel this way. Over in the M2 forums I read some posts by those who recently took delivery of the M2C and thought it was not that different in performance than the M2 unless you track the cars. Lower end torque and nimbleness is reportedly better in the M2, which I personally prefer. High rpm is where the M2C is better.

It isn't just the performance, although I think most would agree it is noticeably stronger, even on the street.

Think about the entire car here; closed deck S55, Larger F/R rotors with 6 & 4 piston calipers, Actual M Seats, better cooling, "Competition Exclusivity", etc. But hey, just my opinion. I'm not an M2 owner so I don't have the same experiences.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by eDrive

I call BS that they invited you to drive the M2C for any reason.

Regardless of your financial position they don't just let you drive them.

Bullshit.

I received an invitation when my dealer got a demo car. Didn't go because my car is already ordered and is getting here soon anyways. Feel free to take my place.