[1more1]

I always hesitate on my car buying decisions but 1 year with the 2er and still feel like I made the right choice.

I got a 2014 M235i 6MT RWD for 24K CAD. Can't think of a any car for that price that comes close in terms of fun, power, features, comfort and it looks great.

If I was in EU you'd catch me in a M135i but in NA I'm hard pressed to even find a newer RWD manual car.

[leftoverture]

We wanted a convertible and looked at Mustangs as well as a Z4, which was too small, and a 4 series. When we found our 228i, it was just the right size and had all the options we wanted. We came really close to buying the Z4, it was so cool and fun, but ultimately being able to take the grandkids with won out.

[Jcoop901]

Mustang GT350, BMW 440i, Nissan 370z. So glad I skipped out on the 4 and the z, the 4 is just too big and the z is being replaced. That GT350 is still pretty dear to my heart though. If I had found one for a reasonable price I'd have jumped on it.

[MarcoZandrini]

i3. Really.

[CDNick]

Audi A5 cabrio. Was set on a 4 seat convertible, Mustang was not of interest so not too many other options for my budget. Really liked the Audi too but was ultimately more of a cruiser and less sporty/fun to drive than my 228 cab.

[airjesse]

Boxter (981), ftype, v8 vantage. Eliminated the last two based on upkeep costs and reliability. The boxter was nice but the driving feel in the 240i was more to my liking. Probably because it just feels more like cars I'm used to. Maybe one day I'll get a boxter or 911 but doesn't suit me right now. Also; always wanted a blue vert and bmw had them the Aston I will always lust after. If I had a lot more money that would be my choice. What's interesting is that for all these cars I actually preferred older models. Old boxter has the flat 6 still. Old f type has a better front end (opinion). And older astons just feel to me to be more elegant than the newer ones. I may be saying the same thing about the 240i when they release the new series, depending on the grille. Finally— 240i really over the top because of back seats

[Finn Germai-Yaz]

340i, 440i, and even a 5 series. Had a 335i previously.

[spidy512]

Yo!

AMG45. Drove one and decided it was just OK. Test drove my M240ix immediatly after, and purchased it the next day. I was also eyeing Audi S4/A7 mainly becasue my wife insisted on AWD (next car will not be more likely).

Replaced my 2018 STi that I grew to loath after 6 months. And it was the 12th Subaru I had owned. I realized I am too old to drive that sort of car as a daily. A monster on the track or in the canyons, but a bear to drive around town...

josh

[dradernh]

I wanted a car I could track for the first 2-3 years of ownership. I evaluated these: Civic Type R, V8 1LE, Miata, BRZ, and all 2 Series models. Requirements were RWD, manual transmission, and the availability of high-quality aftermarket handling components at reasonable prices. An LSD, even if I had to purchase one separately, was a given. No sunroof was highly desirable. The 2 Series hit the sweet spot when considering post-HPDE driving life on back roads and long road trips. I don't daily-drive my car; it's strictly for driving enjoyment, and its LSD and street/track alignment make it feel smaller and lighter than it really is.

My selection process took quite some time, and I didn't almost buy any of the non-2 Series cars I'd considered. They'd eliminated themselves one-by-one, and the 2 Series was the last model standing. I then got serious about finding one in my preferred configuration. If I could, I'd change only two things about the car I ended up with: white instead of Estoril Blue, and plastic instead of leather (I think the plastic seats were available for my model - not completely sure on that). Those are minor, though; I've gotten used to the EB and like it quite a bit, esp. with the orange BBK, and the leather is okay (I just wanted something requiring less maintenance (but in 33 months of ownership I haven't treated or maintained the leather anyway, so that one's a wash)).

Originally Posted by 1more1

I got a 2014 M235i 6MT RWD for 24K CAD. Can't think of a any car for that price that comes close in terms of fun, power, features, comfort and it looks great.

I got my 2017 M240i 6MT RWD new off the dealer's lot for $38,764 USD (incl. BMWCCA $500 rebate). In all ways, this has been the best buy I've made for a general purpose motor vehicle.

[Sportstick]

There are other cars?

[freakystyly]

Was looking seriously at Golf Rs for a bit, the AWD is pretty nice in the winter but not totally necessary. They're not terrible but I just couldn't pull the trigger. The new one coming out is quite good actually but I'm not a fan of the new styling. Next was 2016ish Audi S4s when they were still available in a manual, played with the idea of a RF miata but couldn't justify it as a DD.

I hope to always own a manual RWD for as long as I possibly can but they just don't make many of them anymore.

[p912guy]

I wasn't actually looking for a new car when I purchased my M235 in December of 2016. I had initially seen it in the BMW showroom in July of that year, when I was looking for a new SUV for my wife. I actually sat in it an admired it for about 10 minutes while I waited for a sales representative to show me an X3. Several months later I noticed it was still in the showroom and the dealership was discounting it more and more each month. When it had reached about 18% off MSRP I decided it would make a great early Christmas present to myself as I had really missed not having a convertible. Up until then my DD had been a MINI Cooper S which I special ordered in 2011 and which I loved and still miss. I had also been thinking about a CPO Boxster, but was afraid of what it might cost to maintain and repair, so the M235 Convertible with MT was perfect for me at the time, and still is today. As I have mentioned in other posts, I still lust for Boxster and will have one some day, probably when I replace my BMW, but until then I'll enjoy every mile behind the wheel of my M235. It's has always been and remains my favorite car, outside of my 912 when it was running many moons ago.

[GoldfishRT]

I looked at just about everything. I was really into the Golf R however I didn't really want to spend 30+ used for a nice one.

[Aspen235]

I was extremely close to buying a Mini JCW but did a last autotrader search and found my M240i for a great deal and close to home. I had tested it a few weeks earlier but the price was $8k higher.
I was also strongly thinking Frisbee.

[ggggbmw]

The rational choice based on specs was a Golf R. But the all black interior was a turn-off, and none of the area dealers would let you test drive one. The GTI's I did drive had really annoying DSG's, and I wasn't thinking manual at the time.

Was also seriously considering a Mustang, but I hated the gimmicky interior. Audi S3 was also on the list. Camaro visibility was horrible, and the FRS/BRZ and Miata were just too small. Needed something I could DD with some amount of utility value.

Then I test drove a really cherry used M235i, in gorgeous EB. Would have preferred a non-black interior, but it was still no where near as dark as the R inside. And it hit ALL of my desires. RWD. Fast. Comfy. And I've always wanted a BMW.

Never looked back. Best car I've ever owned. Still love it as much as the day I bought it.

[steeps5]

We were also looking at getting a convertible. That was the primary motivation for our purchase. The only other car we actually test drove was a Mustang.

I probably should have at least driven an Audi A3, but they're very difficult to find apparently.

The Mustang was terrible when it came to the driving experience compared to the 2 series.

[PeteTheMailman]

New MINI JCW HT, since that's what I had sold (but still have a convertible version of also) and Audi S3. Wanted a manual so nixed the Audi and really wanted something different from what I've had in the past which was front and awd. Also wanted something don't see a lot of and be able to fit in back of garage with are other 2 cars when not in use (only a 2 car garage). Don't have either of these but wanted to give an idea

[Nickies]

At the time, I owned a 2013 JCW Coupe and gave a deposit on a 2020 MINI GP3. I was not really sure I was doing the right thing because I always considered it was really ugly but performance oriented being the only asset.

The only other car I was interested was an M240i Coupe RWD with all the bells and whistles and got it the way I wanted without even test driving one. I am so glad I canceled the MINI order and I never regret.

[XutvJet]

2011-2012 Lexus ISFs. I came REAL close to buying a gray one and then a blue one. I came to the realization that I didn't know how to drive an automatic and was tired of 4 doors. My kids were big enough to ride in the back with no car seats. The M235 the bill nicely so I ordered my 2016 M235 6mt with a moonroof delete.

[TwoTonic]

Cayman. Car before this one was a ‘99 Carrera. Decided to branch out a bit.

[radio3]

Golf R. Glad I went with M240. It’s somehow a unique car that I can’t imagine having anything else instead of.

[BrettKA7]

Audi A3 / S3. I love the hot hatch feel they have but decided I wanted a fun RWD coupe instead.