Bmw 230i(G42) vs BRZ/GR86

[Hiroba Games]

Hi everyone,

I am in a different situation here and i need some help because i cant decide, In my country (Turkey) tax depends on engine size so when Brz/gr86 come with bigger engine it pushed its price really high. If a car has less engine size than 2.0l you pay little bit less tax. So Bmw 230i (g42) with m sport comes the same price as the Brz/Gr86

First of all base price for the Bmw 230i is 36k $ when we add M sport+ M Handling packages it comes to 41k $ and Gr86 is 30k $ but i will pay the same price for both cars. I owned a 2014 Brz and i love the car so much but i never had a bmw and i never drove a new one. Bmw specs are looking pretty good i will drop some information and pics and if anyone knows the engine of the 230i or ever driven cars close to that like 430i or previous gen 2 series please help me thanks a lot. Some people will say test drive it and decide yourself but problem is we dont have a chance to test drive those cars we order and wait we only have options like 218i with 1.6l engine and no m handling packages to test drive. Same for the twins i cant test drive it. I wonder your opinions about it, which one you prefer ?


Bmw g42 230i specs

2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder
255 hp
295 ft-lbs
8 speed automatic
0-60 5.5 seconds
Curb weight 3519 lbs
Rwd with M Sport Differential (optional but i added it to price)
Weight distribution %51.6 front %48.4 rear

[Poogchomp]

Get the twin if you want a manual or a more sporty leaning car. Get the BMW if you want more of a GT car.

[boy_racer]

Personally i'd go with the GR86 6MT .You can't beat that manual feeling.After that my major factor would be weight ,BMW is almost 300kg heavier if not more.BMW Service and OEM parts are too expensive even for small things and it doesn't matter if it is a new car or a 10years old.I had a BMW K75 motorcycle two years ago and genuine parts were too expensive for no reason.And i have a lot of friends with BMWs or MINIs and i know.So i believe after 5years of ownership you may end up pay far more for the BMW than the GR86.Otherwise 2series coupe are fun to drive cars but more on the GT side.With the new GR86 interior being much improved i wouldn't think of the bmw.BMWs are too common in this part of the world where you live so GR86 will be more unique and it will not lose value.

I don't think you will enjoy the 2series as much as the GR86.

[bcj]

That's a tidy looking BMW. Didn't know that they still make front grills a reasonable size.
May want to get in on that action before the car becomes 1 giant grill.

[tawheed]

I've severely disliked both of the modern BMWs I've owned including a manual F80 M3 and a manual M2 Competition. Both felt like they had about 300 layers between each input and the car. I had an M235i manual prior and that was even worse. The last BMW I had that I liked was an E90 M3.

[Yoshoobaroo]

I’ll echo those thoughts as a long time BMW driver. The BMW won’t be nearly as much fun. You may get close with an older car, like an E36 M3, but the newer cars aren’t meant to be as driver focused anymore.

If you want a sports car, get the Toyobaru,

If you want a luxury coupe that is a perfectly capable performer, but you’re not that interested in driving, get the BMW.

[Kona61]

Originally Posted by Hiroba Games

Hi everyone,

I am in a different situation here and i need some help because i cant decide, In my country (Turkey) tax depends on engine size so when Brz/gr86 come with bigger engine it pushed its price really high. If a car has less engine size than 2.0l you pay little bit less tax. So Bmw 230i (g42) with m sport comes the same price as the Brz/Gr86

First of all base price for the Bmw 230i is 36k $ when we add M sport+ M Handling packages it comes to 41k $ and Gr86 is 30k $ but i will pay the same price for both cars. I owned a 2014 Brz and i love the car so much but i never had a bmw and i never drove a new one. Bmw specs are looking pretty good i will drop some information and pics and if anyone knows the engine of the 230i or ever driven cars close to that like 430i or previous gen 2 series please help me thanks a lot. Some people will say test drive it and decide yourself but problem is we dont have a chance to test drive those cars we order and wait we only have options like 218i with 1.6l engine and no m handling packages to test drive. Same for the twins i cant test drive it. I wonder your opinions about it, which one you prefer ?


Bmw g42 230i specs

2.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder
255 hp
295 ft-lbs
8 speed automatic
0-60 5.5 seconds
Curb weight 3519 lbs
Rwd with M Sport Differential (optional but i added it to price)
Weight distribution %51.6 front %48.4 rear

I’ve got a G20 M340i, and used to extensively drive a friends F22 M240i. Also have my A90 Supra.

They’re going to be entirely different cars, I can tell you that. The new 2er from most reviews seems to be luxury first and sporty second. It’s also auto only obviously. If you are serious about driving involvement and don’t care about more frivolous things, the clear choice is the 86. The BMW is much better though as a daily and is going to be a much more premium car no doubt.

I will echo other people’s sentiment as I’ve also had an E36, E92, and F80 M3s as well, and it’s interesting to see how the new BMWs have become increasingly luxury focused without any real emphasis on feel. They somehow feel very artificial to me while also not transmitting much useful feedback to the driver. I really don’t find the G20 fun to hustle on canyon roads because of this.

[Sasquachulator]

Originally Posted by bcj

That's a tidy looking BMW. Didn't know that they still make front grills a reasonable size.
May want to get in on that action before the car becomes 1 giant grill.

BMW's taillight game has been pretty bad lately too. 2 series gran coupe looks bad (since it looks like SUV taillights stretched to fit the sedan butt) and this 2 series 2 door coupe pretty bad as well. I think the updated X3 looks like this 2 series tails...horribad.

I kinda got used to the 4 series nostril grilles...but every time i look at them on the new M3 and M4....its just horrible.
The 7 series grille is just wierdly oversized for the car....

[Hiroba Games]

My choice for twins will be MT if i had one it is bad that i cant test drive bmw. I had brz and that car is amazing to drive. Thanks for all the answers for now it looks like i should choose twins if i want fun car but in the other hand bmw looks like it will be better choice for daily driver car but my concern is like you guys said it is an expensive brand in every way. It is a hard choice if you think that both cars are gonna cost me around 100k$ �� so that is why i need every opinion i can get.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by Kona61

it’s interesting to see how the new BMWs have become increasingly —

You misspelled disappointing

[Kona61]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

You misspelled disappointing

Well, can’t say I disagree lol. Look at what car I’m buying.

[TommyW]

700 lbs is a big weight difference. The 86 will be more responsive to driving inputs and be a better drivers car if that's what you're after

[Perzeus]

This is a tough one. The BMW normally cost quite a bit more than the twins. And you get quite a bit more luxury for it. The infotainment is the best in the business, the G generation interiors are also pretty spot on. It's also a real 4 seater with decent luggage space. But. It will not drive anywhere near as good as the 86. BMW does not make sports cars, they do make sporty luxury cars. The steering is numb, the chassis is usually good but the weight is always noticeable. It will cost a lot more to run. And this one really is ugly like all the new ones. I now drive a 435d, and the thing is a rocket on wheels. It is loaded with tech. But it is missing a lot of the involvement and precision. For that I will probably get the 86 as soon as they are available here. But if I had choose only one car, I am not sure which one I would take.

[Jegan_V]

Obviously this forum will have bias favouring GR86 and BRZ. That said I'll echo what most have said, BMW today isn't quite like how it used to be. I had a big post ready but I think I rambled too much and deleted it.

I'll also echo in favour of the E90, the oldest BMW I've driven and easily the best of the BMWs I've driven. Alas I've heard from many others that this is not even BMW at their best. Leaving me to wonder how much I would've enjoyed the E46, E36 or the E30.

For me I think my issue with modern BMW is they chose specs and refinement especially them chasing for as many crossover buyers. I miss the old more stubborn BMW insistent on RWD, NA I6s and excellent driving dynamics.

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