Twins vs M2

[shu5892001]

Originally Posted by Twin4Life

You actually have a point. Off the top of my head, if I were to buy a BMW, past or present, the only one in recent history id consider would be the Z4M Coupe. IMO, everything is ugly and rubbish.

I know it's apple to orange comparison but I am sure lots of people will cross shop between golf r, focus rs, cla45, rs3, and m2.

There is really no reason to buy premium brand any more, I remember a decade ago, a lot of high tech features were only available on premium brand such as phone connectivity, nav, heated/cooled seats, blind spot monitor, back up camera and stuff. But nowadays, any car could be equipped with just as much if not more feature, so from how I look at it, buying premium brand is for "badge whores".

The M2 offers not more, if not even less performance and features than Focus RS while costing over 10k more. I really don't see a reason to buy m2 over other, and you won't get much "status or street cred" from the badge anyways since it's a entry "M" with a N55 engine.

[DarkSunrise]

One thing that differentiates the M2 from the Golf R, CLA45, Focus RS, S3/RS3/TTS is RWD. Not saying RWD is better, but it's definitely different and if that's what you're looking for, the M2 would be your only choice. The Focus RS with its "drift" mode might come close, but is limited to 70% of its torque to the rear. So that's one fundamental reason why people might choose the M2.

[Lynxis]

Originally Posted by shu5892001

There is really no reason to buy premium brand any more, I remember a decade ago, a lot of high tech features were only available on premium brand such as phone connectivity, nav, heated/cooled seats, blind spot monitor, back up camera and stuff. But nowadays, any car could be equipped with just as much if not more feature, so from how I look at it, buying premium brand is for "badge whores".

As much as it pains me, badge whores make up a significant proportion of the car buying market. I met a guy a few weeks ago who was cross shopping an Audi S8 and Mercedes S550 4MATIC for his 16 year old son and was looking for opinions from car guys. Knowing the car will almost certainly get wrecked, I suggested looking at a Lexus IS instead knowing the car is 90% of the cars hes looking at for 1/3rd the price. He told me he wasn't interested in anything Lexus because the brand is not prestigious enough and that Lexus and Acura are for people who can't actually afford for their cars to break down.

[EAGLE5]

The Focus RS is unlikely to be faster around a track than an M2.

Top Gear times...
01:29.3 Ford Focus RS Mk II
01:25.3 BMW M3 (E90 Saloon)

So the new RS is going to be that much faster? I doubt it.

[shu5892001]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

The Focus RS is unlikely to be faster around a track than an M2.

Top Gear times...
01:29.3 Ford Focus RS Mk II
01:25.3 BMW M3 (E90 Saloon)

So the new RS is going to be that much faster? I doubt it.

Yes it's all speculation until both actual cars are tested. But the new RS has 45 more hp and more importantly AWD. The MK2 RS had a 0-60 time of 5.9 and the new RS claims to have a 0-60 time of 4.5, which is a huge improvement.

While the M2 is at a performance level below the current F8x M3, which I suspect will perform at the same level or slightly better than E9x M3, since it is lighter than a E9x, but also has about 50 less hp than an E9x M3.

So I agree with you, the RS won't necessarily be faster than a M2, but the gap should be really minimal, whichever is faster on the track should be a driver's race.

The Focus RS should be a direct competitor to the new civic type r, which is already a few seconds faster than a F8x M on the ring.

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by Twin4Life

You actually have a point. Off the top of my head, if I were to buy a BMW, past or present, the only one in recent history id consider would be the Z4M Coupe. IMO, everything is ugly and rubbish.

I was a "BMW guy" for about 20 years and had a 2007 Z4M coupe for 3 years. I loved the looks of the car but it had a lot of flaws. Handling on the track was also a little scary at times. While the brakes were cool looking, I had a lot off vibrations in the brakes and had several front rotor replacements. The interior was boring, very low-tech and a little cheap looking. The best thing about it was that it held its value pretty well since I bought it when it was two years old.

[Ganthrithor]

Ignoring the glaring price difference?

M2: bigger, more practical, faster, heavier.
86: smaller, less-practical, lighter, slower.

They should both be wonderful cars-- the M2 looks great. If you actually are going to be putting people in the back on a regular basis, I'd get the M2. If you just need the rear seats in a pinch every now and then and don't care about straight-line speed, the 86 should be a better option.

[rascasse]

Sorry my American cousins but i would take an M2 over a Brz/FRS any day of the week. I would have thought out the box an M2 would be a better handling car than ours. Not saying you couldn't make an 86 better mind you but i'm talking stock for stock.

The M2 is probably the car all those who mourned the end of the E46 M3 have waited for as it's roughly the same size/weight although without the screaming n/a. I like my car and think it's a good handling car but think its also way over hyped. I used to tell people that this car isn't about the power but handling but now having it for 6 months definitely thinks it needs at least another 50lb of twist.

I know the M2 isn't a sports car like ours but a modified coupe to act like one but this is a true M car and has true race engineering thrown at it and as someone mentioned earlier an F80 M3 felt just as sporty as ours on the road so what's this going to be like! I very much doubt if someone offered an 86 owner an M2 they would decline lol

Can you tell i want one badly

[TylerLieberman]

I'll be driving it in a couple weeks at the track for work. I'll come here and record my thoughts.

I'm actually pretty excited for it. It's a lot of car for only 51k, especially considering a well-equipped M235i can cost just as much, or more.

[rascasse]

Originally Posted by TylerLieberman

I'll be driving it in a couple weeks at the track for work. I'll come here and record my thoughts.

I'm actually pretty excited for it. It's a lot of car for only 51k, especially considering a well-equipped M235i can cost just as much, or more.

You lucky devil!!! enjoy it mate!! Please come back with a review compared to our cars. Yeah for the performance the price is actually quite reasonable. Didn't one of your mags (C&D i think) quote a 4.1 to 60 for the manual!

I don't actually like the way the M235i looks compared to the M2, to me it's like a completely different car..

[Dark]

Originally Posted by Ganthrithor

Ignoring the glaring price difference?

M2: bigger, more practical, faster, heavier.
86: smaller, less-practical, lighter, slower.

They should both be wonderful cars-- the M2 looks great. If you actually are going to be putting people in the back on a regular basis, I'd get the M2. If you just need the rear seats in a pinch every now and then and don't care about straight-line speed, the 86 should be a better option.

M2: bigger, more practical, faster, heavier.
86: smaller, less-practical, lighter, slower.

86 is more spacious, you can probably fit smaller people back there no problem. 2 Series? Good luck fitting anyone without cutting their legs. What practical mean to you? M2 will be less practical whatever practical definition you have. Last 2 are facts.

[paulwalker6]

I love the 86 twins just as much as everyone else but don't kid yourself on this one. The M2 is going to be the better car in every way you can think of. You can't hide behind the light weight of the 86. The 86 is a great budget friendly entry level sports car.

I think another comparison worth noting is the Cayman. But if you are truly looking to have the best all around performance for the weight you are looking in the wrong manufacturers entirely. You should be considering the GT350 or a Corvette.

[EAGLE5]

The negative comments about steering feel leave me far less excited about the M2. Only the price makes it look better than an M3. Also the current M crop reportedly rides badly, another turnoff.

[rascasse]

Originally Posted by paulwalker6

I love the 86 twins just as much as everyone else but don't kid yourself on this one. The M2 is going to be the better car in every way you can think of. You can't hide behind the light weight of the 86. The 86 is a great budget friendly entry level sports car.

I think another comparison worth noting is the Cayman. But if you are truly looking to have the best all around performance for the weight you are looking in the wrong manufacturers entirely. You should be considering the GT350 or a Corvette.

So true Bro! The M2 is going to be awesome! what i like most about it though is what an all rounder it is!! super car one minute, practical cruiser the next..I actually find supped up normal cars more exciting than proper sports cars for some reason lol. I just know this M2 is going to feel special/exotic in a different way to a 911 say..