RE: New 374hp BMW M240i xDrive previewed

[Harrypop]

Toltec said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Toltec said:

I got excited for a moment there, but the existing model is already pushing it on length versus my wife's e46 compact so this will be a no.

So an E46 compact is too big?? I'm not sure a saloon car shorter than that would be remotely usable.....?

The compact is a good size for her, large enough to have some presence, but short enough to feel, well, compact when driving in town. The current 2 is 190mm longer, which I think she will just about be OK with, but another 100mm is probably too much. Might have to go to the dark side and get her a TTS...

Spot on, we couldn't leave it to chance and have her deciding what she is capable of could we!

[nickfrog]

Toltec said:

another 100mm is probably too much. Might have to go to the dark side

The two are not mutually exclusive

[Harrypop]

Vocht said:

Here's a spy shot of it. I think it looks good!

Muscular aesthetic, no silly grille, have brought back the straight 6 rather than retaining the 4pot as in the 235i. I'm a fan, especially when you consider some of the other monstrosities BMW appear to be releasing currently.

It looks like it could be ok that!

Edited by Harrypop on Tuesday 18th May 14:12

[Toltec]

Harrypop said:

Spot on, we couldn't leave it to chance and have her deciding what she is capable of could we!

Of course not, I'll end up driving it 80% of the time anyway, but she does get final approval.

I picked out the 325ti and we have had that for fifteen years, she has absolutely refused to even try my 5 series touring in the five years I've had one. Wouldn't drive my Smart roadster more than once, felt too small and vulnerable, plus getting in and out. I suggested a 911, but that is too big so I know this new 2 series will be.

If she doesn't like the Audi then the backup plan is a Vitara S for her and a 911 or LC500 for me

[Fiesta1.0L]

ITP said:

Why buy an an M2 at all if most of your driving is in traffic? I think I’d go for something more comfy with a nicer interior for the money, to keep me interested in a traffic jam. But, if you want an M2 you want one I suppose, no matter how you intend to use it. Nothing wrong with that.

Was a compromise - we had one car back then (2016). 50 miles a day in London traffic not much fun. We got an M2 for the same reason most pictures are taken on phone cameras now - the best car you have is the one you've got with you all the time.

[Volvolover]

Toltec said:

The compact is a good size for her, large enough to have some presence,

The only presence a 3-series compact has is that of a pik3y or a late 90's vauxhall astra if you squint

Edited by Volvolover on Tuesday 18th May 16:02

[HJMS123]

cerb4.5lee said:

This should be decent at the traffic light grand prix.

I've always really liked the 2 series coupe, and I've always wanted either a M235i or a M240i.

Having owned a stage 2 M235i ... it feels more special than most in it's class but my goodness the chassis is sh*te on that F series platform. The 1series must be terrible with the smaller footprint.

[s m]

HJMS123 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

This should be decent at the traffic light grand prix.

I've always really liked the 2 series coupe, and I've always wanted either a M235i or a M240i.

Having owned a stage 2 M235i ... it feels more special than most in it's class but my goodness the chassis is sh*te on that F series platform. The 1series must be terrible with the smaller footprint.

I guess it does show some progress that it’s pretty much as quick as the lighter, more powerful but older E46 CSL for a short blat on a track, even with its chassis limitations

https://youtu.be/m8amcRnmYfM

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Harrypop said:

Toltec said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Toltec said:

I got excited for a moment there, but the existing model is already pushing it on length versus my wife's e46 compact so this will be a no.

So an E46 compact is too big?? I'm not sure a saloon car shorter than that would be remotely usable.....?

The compact is a good size for her, large enough to have some presence, but short enough to feel, well, compact when driving in town. The current 2 is 190mm longer, which I think she will just about be OK with, but another 100mm is probably too much. Might have to go to the dark side and get her a TTS...

Spot on, we couldn't leave it to chance and have her deciding what she is capable of could we!

Beggar's belief if she thinks anything bigger than an E46 compact is too big to handle God forbid she drove a LWB S Class. When driving in town I don't think length has that much of a bearing, I think turning circle is possibly more important. Having said that, I've owned 2 cars over 5 metres long and haven't found them problematic in town.

[Harrypop]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Harrypop said:

Toltec said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Toltec said:

I got excited for a moment there, but the existing model is already pushing it on length versus my wife's e46 compact so this will be a no.

So an E46 compact is too big?? I'm not sure a saloon car shorter than that would be remotely usable.....?

The compact is a good size for her, large enough to have some presence, but short enough to feel, well, compact when driving in town. The current 2 is 190mm longer, which I think she will just about be OK with, but another 100mm is probably too much. Might have to go to the dark side and get her a TTS...

Spot on, we couldn't leave it to chance and have her deciding what she is capable of could we!

Beggar's belief if she thinks anything bigger than an E46 compact is too big to handle God forbid she drove a LWB S Class. When driving in town I don't think length has that much of a bearing, I think turning circle is possibly more important. Having said that, I've owned 2 cars over 5 metres long and haven't found them problematic in town.

I recently picked up a C4 Picasso for the times where I need to be ferrying my increasingly immobile parents-in-law around, due mainly because the access for feet to slide in and out without having to be raised too high was the best of the various options I looked at. It's got a surprisingly good turning circle though which makes it far easier to manoeuvre in tighter spaces than it has any right to so I'd go along with that, it definitely makes it feel smaller, and therefore psychologically more manageable, than it perhaps it really is in reality.

[WhiteBaron]

Maybe a rwd ti version?

[Toltec]

Volvolover said:

The only presence a 3-series compact has is that of a pik3y or a late 90's vauxhall astra if you squint

Edited by Volvolover on Tuesday 18th May 16:02

The sport trim is a bit better, but you are not wrong about the back end looking like an Astra gte. Still at least it isn't a brand associated with killing bikers, so there is that.

[Volvolover]

Toltec said:

Volvolover said:

The only presence a 3-series compact has is that of a pik3y or a late 90's vauxhall astra if you squint

Edited by Volvolover on Tuesday 18th May 16:02

The sport trim is a bit better, but you are not wrong about the back end looking like an Astra gte. Still at least it isn't a brand associated with killing bikers, so there is that.

It’s an XC90 so you’re probably right.

[Gordon911]

Excellent - that should keep the value of my M235i manual firm

[Mr Tidy]

The only positive I can see is a straight 6 engine!

Turbo, Auto only and X-drive just reminds me of what I love about my Z4MC.

N/A 3.2 litre straight 6, manual box, RWD with an LSD, Hydraulic PAS and 343PS at 7,900rpm sitting just in front of the rear wheels.

[Johnnytheboy]

Oh Mr Tidy....

[Court_S]

J4CKO said:

Sure it sill be very quick, but will adding more power and 4wd make it any more fun ?

Have they improved the suspension and has the steering gained any feel ?

According to Autocar there is, but I guess we’ll need to wait for proper reviews to get a better idea.

[Ultrafunkula]

WhiteBaron said:

Maybe a rwd ti version?

There will be a rwd m230i with a 245bhp 2.0 apparently

[s m]

nickfrog said:

That would be great. But I tell you what, I am now unconvinced we will get a new manual M2 in the UK. That will be a tough decision considering how few M2 Comps manual they have sold...

I guess the proof of the pudding will yet to be seen.......

However, the reviews say we may well see a stick shift still - plus a new 8-sp slusher to replace the current 7-sp one

There might be a few crumbs for us pauper 2nd hand buyers to pick up cheaper in the future after all

[9k rpm]

M2 will be RWD and manual. Sounds promising.