M- cars - cooler in general than a much pricier 911/R8?

M- cars - cooler in general than a much pricier 911/R8?

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daveknott5

Original Poster:

731 posts

220 months

Wednesday 18th May 2022
quotequote all
Was thinking about cars in general the other day and was bemoaning the fact that a lot of brands have become more about "image" than substance and engineering. I have a theory that proper M cars are in fact 'cooler' than many pricier thoroughbred performance cars:

1. An M car marks you out as someone who cares about driving, the thrill and car control dynamics of oversteer, and the balance of a well sorted chassis
2. An M car has excellent performance but isn't as shouty and "look-at-me" as a Porsche/Audi R8 etc., it has ability without the need to be a distasteful poseur
3. An M car is still relatable to a 'normal' car that Joe Public would buy, but to those who 'know' the pedigree, an M car garners the appropriate enthusiast respect
4. An M car generally still has 4 seats and a usable boot - making it a practical everyday option
5. An M car has a duality of personality - fulfilling your 'balls-out mental' side and your 'sensible practical' side
6. An M car is fun on track and fun on the road, not one or the other
7. An M car is generally much more cost effective to run than the "premium" service and maintenance costs of most other performance cars

Just my random musings!


daveknott5

Original Poster:

731 posts

220 months

Thursday 19th May 2022
quotequote all
You might be right on the "rose tinted spectacles" reflection - perhaps this applied more 5-10 years ago vs the chavved up M cars we are seeing more of on the road today.

It's too broad a set of assumptions to apply universally of course - I guess the key point is there's something cool about the understated, wolf in sheep's clothing performance car..