RE: BMW M2 Competition: Driven

[I 8 a 4RE]

Let me post the most unpopular comment of the day:

"But if I were signing off on my monthly payments, right here, right now: for the first time since the Cayman's introduction, I wouldn't make them to Porsche."

WOW the Autocar Propaganda machine to get everybody on car payments (80% done for new cars) is going strong.

Here's a maverick thought; how's about we teach the young people of this country to not go into debt to pay more out of pocket for depreciating liabilities (especially as this money lines the pockets of non British companies).

Perhaps ... people could save money, be prudent, buy and actually own cars... That would be madness.

[Rawwr]

I 8 a 4RE said:

Let me post the most unpopular comment of the day:

"But if I were signing off on my monthly payments, right here, right now: for the first time since the Cayman's introduction, I wouldn't make them to Porsche."

WOW the Autocar Propaganda machine to get everybody on car payments (80% done for new cars) is going strong.

Here's a maverick thought; how's about we teach the young people of this country to not go into debt to pay more out of pocket for depreciating liabilities (especially as this money lines the pockets of non British companies).

Perhaps ... people could save money, be prudent, buy and actually own cars... That would be madness.

'Unpopular' isn't a synonym for 'idiotic', you know.

[forester2945]

n4aat said:

I’m sorry, but it’s a saloon car. It’s never going to be a sports car. (OK this one I will agree to)

It’s front engined, it’s never going to be a sports car. (TVR Sagaris?)

It has a turbo, it’s never going to be a sports car. (F40?)

Plus it still looks bloated, bruising and chavtastic.

(GTR?)

[I 8 a 4RE]

Rawwr said:

'Unpopular' isn't a synonym for 'idiotic', you know.

Please elaborate.

[anonymous-user]

Rawwr said:

sidesauce said:

So is a 488 not a sportscar? Or a 570s? Or an AMG GT-R?? More nonsense.

I wouldn't class any of those as sports cars, myself

Ok so let’s excuse supercars or supersports (as I assume that’s what you would classify these as) even then our friend has excluded things like most of the classics (Triumph, Healey, MG, Lotus etc) as well as the current boxster, new Alpine, numerous 911s, F Type, Z4, Gt86 etc etc.

In short utter twaddle.

[andrewparker]

What is it with all the literary critics on PH these days?

[Kenny Powers]

Rear wheel drive compact coupe with 410hp.

“Meh!” : The Internet (2018)

[Resolutionary]

n4aat said:

I’m sorry, but it’s a saloon car. It’s never going to be a sports car.

It’s front engined, it’s never going to be a sports car.

It has a turbo, it’s never going to be a sports car.

Plus it still looks bloated, bruising and chavtastic.

Bizarre and inaccurate.

[ben5575]

Kenny Powers said:

Rear wheel drive compact coupe with 410hp.

“Meh!” : The Internet (2018)

Yep.

I like this. I8 aside, BMW generally makes ugly cars that I just can't get excited about but this cheeky chappy looks like a bit of a giggle. It even looks heavy though and I presume it has the usual fake noise as well?

[Tim bo]

Why the out-and-out comparison to the 718?

One is a four-seat, front-engined coupé, tuned and fettled from a family car to make it faster and better-handling.

The other is a two-seat, mid-engined coupé, built from the ground up to be in its segment.

The two are so different that the usual apples to oranges analogy is certainly apt.

The only direct competitor to this M2 in type-of-car terms is the RS3 coupé. The porker has different direct competitors.

Edited by Tim bo on Monday 30th July 10:30

[RacerMike]

daveco said:

moonigan said:

Its 1625KG !! that's almost as heavy as the E90 M3 I had many years ago and agile is not a word I would use to describe it. On track it would eat tyres and brakes. An M2 pulled alongside me a few weeks ago. Its the first time I have seen one on the road. Its looked really nice in the metallic blue but the difference in driver position between my car and that was huge. I had to look up in the same way you do when a FFRR pulls alongside a standard road car.

It would be fantastic if BMW released an NA version using the 3.0 litre 270hp engine from the E9x series. By getting rid of the turbo and all the associated extra weight/engineering that goes with it, you'd probably be looking at a 100kg less weight.


They were going to do this with the 1 series about ten years ago iirc; release a 125i with the 216hp engine that was c. 1200kg and targeted at the younger track enthusiast, but it got shelved.

This has been done to death on so many threads. The reality is, the reason modern cars are turbocharged and North of 1500kg is because of the current regulations for safety and emissions. Of course older car are smaller and lighter. They were less safe and produced more emissions (and lets not get into the particulars of whether less emissions is actually any better).

The thing is, the only type of car you can make in 2018 is a car that's homologated for 2018 sale. Deal with it, and accept that this fantasy land where every manufacturer makes niche 900kg RWD dog box NA, 9000rpm 6 pot sports cars is exactly that: a fantasy land. One which you can actually buy into if you speak to Singer and have £1.8million.....which is exactly the realistic cost for a niche car like that. The general public aren't interested....they want comfy, refined and powerful sports saloons that are 'cheap' to run and have a monthly cost under a certain budget. That's exactly what the M2 is.

[Tuvra]

I 8 a 4RE said:

Here's a maverick thought; how's about we teach the young people of this country to not go into debt to pay more out of pocket for depreciating liabilities (especially as this money lines the pockets of non British companies).

Perhaps ... people could save money, be prudent, buy and actually own cars... That would be madness.

Here's a maverick thought; how's about those that earn money spend it in any way they see fit?

"Teach young people", who do you think you are? Warren Buffet?

[Sion111R]

To add a little more to the sports car/not sports car debate.
I am fortunate enough to own a manual M2. It’s a really great car. But it’s not a sports car. Went down through France in to Switzerland and Italy earlier this month and it was happy to munch the miles and then tear up several passes. But it needs to be grabbed by the scruff of the neck and driven hard.
Lithe, lightweight, agile it is not. And it certainly doesn’t “feel” like a sport car (I am a long term Lotus Elise owner). But it’s a great car and a thrill to drive.
If as Matt suggest the competition pack addresses the way it handles/responds and “feels” then it will be a truly might car.

[gigglebug]

n4aat said:

I’m sorry, but it’s a saloon car.

It would definitely be on my shortlist of cars to try if it were available as a saloon but unfortunately it isn't which is a shame.

[9k rpm]

Like others I don’t really get the Cayman comparison as it’s a completely different car perhaps only similar in performance.

Really like the look of it and with the M4 engine will go like stink. Imagine what it would be like remapped to 500+ Bhp!

As for piped in sound; this can be coded out or disabled through removing a fuse I have done it on my M4.

It is heavy yes but what new car isn’t. These will sell like hot cakes and still leaves room for a lightweight CSL. Some really nice m performance goodies coming too but they aren’t cheap!

[Curv3hunter]

57k with options. before any of the nice to have carbon, louder exhaust etc.

Ill wait until BMW have stopped telling people its limited edition, (as they did with the original) eventually the market will be flooded with them and pick one up in 18 months.

Disappointed to still see a small colour choice too. Not a fan of that blue. It would have been nice to have Yas marina.

[JMF894]

Can someone please show me where it's written down in law what a sportscar is? It seems a lot of people have very bizarre and inaccurate ideas of what a sportscar is, or should be.

For me if a car is built to be fun, performance orientated and engaging (sporty?) then does it not qualify as a sportscar?

To say it has to be sub 1000kgs, rwd and have a N/A engine is utter tripe imho

[n4aat]

forester2945 said:

n4aat said:

I’m sorry, but it’s a saloon car. It’s never going to be a sports car. (OK this one I will agree to)

It’s front engined, it’s never going to be a sports car. (TVR Sagaris?)

It has a turbo, it’s never going to be a sports car. (F40?)

Plus it still looks bloated, bruising and chavtastic.

(GTR?)

The MX5 suggested above is closer. The GTR is definitely not a sports car. Soortcars are about fluidity, poise, agility and sophistication, amongst other superlatives.

[RacerMike]

Tuvra said:

I 8 a 4RE said:

Here's a maverick thought; how's about we teach the young people of this country to not go into debt to pay more out of pocket for depreciating liabilities (especially as this money lines the pockets of non British companies).

Perhaps ... people could save money, be prudent, buy and actually own cars... That would be madness.

Here's a maverick thought; how's about those that earn money spend it in any way they see fit?

"Teach young people", who do you think you are? Warren Buffet?

Quite. I assume you'd be 'teaching' these 'young people' how putting a huge chunk of your liquid finances into a depreciating asset is a really great idea leaving you with fantastic lack of flexibility. Who wants the ability to lay all the financial risk with a third party anyway? I'd simply love to be in the situation where, in any kind of financial downturn the liability lies with me to try and sell my second most expensive purchase in my possession. I laugh in the face of people who can simply hand back their car to the finance company and tide themselves over with the money they have in their savings and investments that's easily accessible. Who doesn't love a challenge....

[E65Ross]

Tuvra said:

I 8 a 4RE said:

Here's a maverick thought; how's about we teach the young people of this country to not go into debt to pay more out of pocket for depreciating liabilities (especially as this money lines the pockets of non British companies).

Perhaps ... people could save money, be prudent, buy and actually own cars... That would be madness.

Here's a maverick thought; how's about those that earn money spend it in any way they see fit?

"Teach young people", who do you think you are? Warren Buffet?

Exactly. If people can afford the monthly payments and are happy, then what's the problem?

Here's a thought.....maybe people are happy with the monthly payments and know full well its a depreciating asset?