[Sportstick]

I had the first opportunity to drive my son's new (and post-break in) M2. Truly great vehicle with explosive power and go-kart handling. At the risk of the dissonance reduction accusation, I'd not trade with him for mine. Here is why: His car is so fast to accelerate, I spent such brief moments actually accelerating (on famed Woodward Avenue, no less!) and more time thinking about how quickly to back off to stay within reason and legal, that it was really not fun. Without heading to a track, the car is too much for the streets of the 'burbs, unless one under-drives it to the point of wondering why bother in the first place.

Handling was outstanding, but the ride compromise was too much for the rough roads of the American midwest. Maybe in the southwest, free from potholes and asphalt heaves/buckles, it would be more tolerable. I know my wife would not want to spend much, if any, time in it. All in all, incredible achievement from BMW, but for the world in which I live, not of much purpose.

Old slogan reigns true for me: More fun to drive a slow car faster....

[Throttlesteer14]

Younger backs tolerate the punishment of a rigid track car. I thought about the M2 as a DD, but I wanted something that wasn't tiring on a long trip. The M240i was a great compromise between fun factor and comfort.

Nobody is going to fault your decision to keep the 228i. We like our cars for different reasons and it sounds like yours is a perfect fit.

[Moflow]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

I spent such brief moments actually accelerating (on famed Woodward Avenue, no less!) and more time thinking about how quickly to back off to stay within reason and legal

Yup, that's a real thing. I live very much in the city and I really can't (safely) use the engine in my car to its fullest potential 90% of the time. I'd say i floor it one or more times on maybe 50 percent of the trips I take in the car. My girlfriend gets terrified if I floor it in 2nd gear, so pretty much no trips to the redline if she's in the car.

I don't mind the ride harshness, the car is my daily and Seattle doesn't have nice roads, but that's all personal preference, its not like the car rides softly either.

You have to be okay with being "bad" from time to time to justify an M2. People like to categorize it as a sports car, but really to me it feels much more like a muscle car that just so happens to be small and handle really well. It's all about wagging around its rear end being on the cusp of being out of control. I'm an experienced driver and there are enough good onramps, empty back roads and empty parking lots for me to feel justified in my purchase. But it's not for everyone and realistically, like most performance cars, you can get 90 percent of the way there for much less money if you really want to.

[marantjo]

I get it. I recently took a day trip to some of the excellent roads in SE Ohio in my 230i -- first time taking it out on roads like that since I bought it. It was a blast for sure ( so easy to drive in the corners, such neutral handling, ) but when I got home, I couldn't help wonder if I would've had more fun if I had taken the '90 Miata. Not saying anything new to most of y'all, but in the Miata on similar roads I could've driven it much harder and had a different kind of fun, but more of it.

Now...… I would love to take an M2 for a drive, better yet for a track day! Maybe for my second BMW

[chattanooga240]

Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

[j2dad5389]

I felt the same way Sportstick. I had an M4 originally and felt it was a little too much for my driving needs. There's no doubt that it was a great, fun, and fast powerful car. But on 90% of my driving, I couldn't even use it to its full potential. I went to an M235 and I really feel its the best of both worlds. It's comfortable, and also powerful for when you need it. A nice middle ground.

[4Hockey4]

I went 235 and bumping it up. I have a 4cyl Civic turbo that "runs well", I wanted something fast and handles, with some adds way less $$ than M2 and faster than my 4 banger. (0-60 6.5 is ok for local driving, ramp pick up etc)

None of this is a "need" If I had extra $$, I'd go M2/P car. Civic DD.

[Kemps2Fast]

So I daily drive a BMW 230i and about once a week I drive an M2 competition. Don't get me wrong, the M2C is by far the best car I have ever drove; but like OP pointed out the M2 is extremely fast, nimble, and loud. But I have a hard time putting the power down like I can in my 230i all-around town. The M2C demands more acceleration time/space and a triple check to make sure there are no cops around. With my 230i, it feels stealth and I am able to drive fast wherever I want, without having to worry about shooting the car off the road.

[gosi]

You guys are biased based on what you own... Just saying.

[4Hockey4]

Originally Posted by gosi

You guys are biased based on what you own... Just saying.

I do wonder if other sports cars sites have so many threads started, or conversations interrupted, with folks justifying (not critically observing) the base 911 "better" then S, or base GT being "enough" vs GT500 or Snake. (Its not just this thread, this is like #369 I've read here since Sept.)

Everyone bought which car was right fit for them, either monetary or lifestyle.

Its odd.

[Throttlesteer14]

I think that's the whole point. We bought what was the right fit for us, as did the OP. No reason to justify your decision with everyone else. Unless you have buyer's remorse, of course you bought what works for you.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by gosi

You guys are biased based on what you own... Just saying.

I find these types of comments very empty. They presume the process is inherently backward and that, rather then buy what we wanted originally, we now each have to somehow rationalize a suboptimal purchase. Moving on...

Originally Posted by Throttlesteer14

I think that's the whole point. We bought what was the right fit for us, as did the OP. No reason to justify your decision with everyone else. Unless you have buyer's remorse, of course you bought what works for you.

Thank you, as it seems you do understand why car folks like to talk about cars. The thread started as a discussion to compare experiences of two extremes of the product line. There is no justification attempted, nor needed. We read comparitive tests all the time. This was a very brief discussion of two 2s in our own family. The entire digression into questioning the emotions behind a simple analysis is dismaying.

[4Hockey4]

actually it was a not dismaying, and I plenty understand since last fall.

I can avoid (mostly) staying in N55, track, mod area, so my bad. Glad you got to drive an M2. Cheers

[Moflow]

Yeah, i just like talking cars. I'm a fan of the whole 2-series lineup, to be frank about it. I genuinely enjoy reading threads like this because I think its interesting how BMW has managed to coax different personalities out of the car to compliment the different engines.

I've driven 4-banger and V-6 Camrys back to back and they feel like the exact same car with slightly more or less power.

[krhodes1]

That is a big reason I got rid of my M235i. It was just too fast to be fun, as oxymoronic as that can sound. I replaced it with a GTI which was both more fun AND more practical. In Germany, the car was amazing, in the US it was mostly an exercise in restraint lest my license evaporate. In the GTI, 85mph on the highway feels like you are moving right along. In the M235i it was like the car was always saying "Really? That's it? Come ON, I want to GOOOO!"

But I have come back to the small BMW realm - last week I picked up a truly mint condition 2011 6spd 128i convertible, and I am in love with it!

It's "just right" not too fast, not too slow, rides comfortably while handling brilliantly on real roads, although it has the stupidly heavy steering that most people seem to love in this generation of BMW (my e91 is the same) that I do NOT love. The VW is better there - but I can forgive both of my babies that foible!

I test drove an M2 when they first came out and I found it "too much muchness". I didn't need an M235i, nevermind an M235i cranked up to "11".

[Moflow]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

But I have come back to the small BMW realm - last week I picked up a truly mint condition 2011 6spd 128i convertible, and I am in love with it!

People are talking about these (non-vert, but close enough) on Jalopnik today. A bunch of people were mentioning it as a future classic, as one of the last RWD, 6-speed N/A BMW's. And I see it to be honest. The N/A thing will be a bigger deal as time rolls on. Small RWD cars in general are getting rarer and rarer.

[CE750Jockey]

As usual, my good friend 'stick, and yes we personally know each other, is right on the money...mostly. His son's car, which I've also driven, is very quick, and the exhaust note, is intoxicating. They're both things we love, at least to those of us that still have a Man Card. I absolutely love it. But I'll take my M240 'vert with a tune over the M2c as a DD, and over his 228 'cause it's just not powerful enough. Plus, chicks dig going topless...they just hate their hair blowing all around. I agree, the 235/240 really is the best "all around" choice of the three.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by CE750Jockey

... at least to those of us that still have a Man Card.

Some are born into the club...others have to get an ID card to catch up!

[chattanooga240]

Originally Posted by CE750Jockey

Plus, chicks dig going topless...they just hate their hair blowing all around.

If only there were a mod to fix this problem...



This is not it^^^

[p912guy]

If it's cool out or I need to speak on the phone, or if my wife's with me, I admit I can be found with the wind blocker up and occasionally the front windows up too, but never the rear windows. Not sure if that fit's the acceptability code any better, but it works for me.

[caycep]

I think the dynamics are a little different...granted auto journalists are always out to get more clicks. But there was more than a few saying the M2/3/4 are out chasing American Muscle Car dynamics whereas ironically, the Chevy Camaros is trying to become more like an e46 M3...

[MasterFloody]

M240i here. Quick car. I understand about the traffic as I live around a city as well.
When I went from stock to the stage 2, it was a night and day difference. The quick car went to ludicrous quick. I will admit that for the first time, I was truly intimidated by my own vehicle. My portfolio of driving includes planes, tanks, 'supercars,' RHD, etc. But to own something that quick was an eye opening experience for me.

Skip a month or so to today. I have now gotten used to it. Some days I'd even call it slow. Your brain learns. You adapt to the feel. It's pretty wild if you know what I am talking about. Perfectly happy KNOWING it's quick even though my senses are use to it.

Either way, the love for BMW is real. This is my first and will not be the last...