Drove one today. Didn’t suit me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fast and I think it looks pretty good.

I don’t like the gauge cluster, tach is hard to read. I asked if it could be changed, can you just have “normal” gauges? After thumbing through various menus and sub menus, the answer was no. this is a problem for me overall with new cars, too much tech!

felt too insulated, you got to be speeding to feel the speed. Gearbox, drove the manual. Not great. It’s ok. Mostly the clutch I didn’t like. Hard to describe but feels like it’s got two stages. First is a heavy spring, then a loose spot. Made it hard to feel the clutch engagement.
my thought on the gearbox, auto, double clutches are so good that manufacturers are not putting much effort into manuals these days. It’s nice that they have one for an option, just think I’d opt for the flappy paddles.

this car had the $10k carbon package. The seats are nice, but getting in and out, not great. Don’t think I’d spring for the extra $10k. Rather have the standard seat.

i wanted to drive it because I thought it might be a good fit opposed to the $200k 911. But as it turns out, if you drive an S, it’s going to take a lot to impress you.

curious if anyone else has driven one or owns one, what your take on it is.

 

I owned an F82 M4, so not the same car but I had similar feedback. M2 is more nimble but still very numb, been lucky enough to drive both. BMW manuals need a clutch stop and upgraded shifter bushing to feel better, but it's no Honda transmission. I think M2 is hard to beat HP/$ if that's what you care about. Keep in mind the new M2's are ZF8 not DCT, but ZF8 are pretty damn good for a regular auto.

I sold my M4 and have been track prepping my S2000 since it's just much more fun to drive. Way less power but I smile way more. I'm hunting for a 911 as my next "cars and coffee" car - I won't consider another M car just yet.

 

M died 2013 imo

 

I am on my second M2. Had a 17 with DCT for 4 years and now have had a 21 Comp DCT for about three years. Can't beat the DCT even when compared to the HP 8 speed. As for the 23/24 M2 I love the tech and the dash. It takes a while to get use to but after a few months you won't go back. The display does change depending on the drive mode. Now the S2000 is a totally different car but I don't miss it. The S2000 is what it is. As for the clutch and shifter you replace the clutch pedal and the shifter itself and this transforms the car but I would still do the auto. I have first right of refusal for the new M2 CS at my dealer so we will se what that turns out to be.

 

There is a spring under dash on the clutch pedal,it can be removed for a better feel,as well as cdv removal both improvements for better feel.

 

I have the new M2 manual totally different than the S
more like a German muscle car great on the highway at high speed tons of grip
not as nimble or fun to drive as the Honda around town

 

that’s a pretty good sum up

 

Yeah, I'm sure the M2 is a great car, but I think it has now crossed over to side of it being engineered to pass magazine reviews, vs the side of being a driver centric car. They had metrics they needed to make, needed to be this fast, have these ammenities, cost this much, and if there's any room left try to make it a drivers car. The best drivers cars tend to buck trends or conventional wisdom, and this new M2 doesn't do that. Not to say it's not great car, or not a drivers car, Chris Harris seems to like it, but greatness usually is spawned from being unconventional.

The question I find myself asking more and more with cars like the new M2, and really the entire M lineup, is at what point do you have to really consider an EV? I don't ask myself that while driving a Miata or an S2000. Give me lightweight, a good manual, a charismatic engine, no nannies, I don't care about ring times. But I do find myself asking that question while driving... a GTR? Or the new M3. And while both don't sound terrible, they both don't have sound tracks that make me want to own them, unlike a V8 or an aircooled flat six, or even a well sorted four banger (cost is a consideration too). Because as much as BMW owners love to discuss ring times and such, most M cars aren't seeing the track with any sort of regularity. They're being used like muscle cars for the most part, but instead of wearing denim they're wearing wool, the difference is that BMW has enough nannies and the drivers have enough assets and liabilities to keep them from plunging into crowds, but otherwise they're the same but different. They're great cars to drive around in, have powaaaaa, and that's pretty much it. In which case, might as well get an EV. Drive around in total comfort and have insane amount of powaaaa.

Because no one is going to buy the new M2, at even half the price, solely for the chassis tuning alone if it didn't come with that motor. It's why the Camaro is deceased while the Challenger and Charger live on (a little longer).

Truth be told, I think if they styled the M2 better, it'd be a hit. BMW fanbois were more upset with the front grilles than they were with weight increase.

 

I own both an ap1 s2000 and a manual 2020 M2 Competition (F87). Totally different beasts but I think both have their place. Haven't driven the new generation yet, but the M2C really shines if you live somewhere with moderately twisty/fun roads that you drive daily. Its got the attitude of an angry little bulldog and even after 4 years I still cackle every time I step the back end out. It is so nicely balanced and the rear diff employs some sort of voodoo magic that keeps everything smooth and controllable. It is very fast, and comfortable. I've driven mine from TX to PA and from PA to GA and its never skipped a beat or left me feeling worn out like I do after a few hours in the s2000 ( which admittedly has bucket seats and stiffer coilovers). The shifting feel of the M2 is of course not as good, but its very stout and I think the complaints about rubbery this or that and no feel are a bit overblown. the s2000 is extremely analog feeling in comparison but the M2C is digital in the best way possible. If I were getting a new one I wouldn't worry about all the extra options, base is more than good enough and IMO is a pretty great value as far as drivers cars goes. I cant see myself wanting much else until maybe I can swing a "P car" but that quickly reaches double the price and I ask myself "Is it really worth that much more?"

 

I agree with most of the first paragraph. The sad part is people who like what we like is probably HALF of the sales of the M2, and the other half are the ones who don't care what it weighs, or how it handles, or if it has steering feels, they just care they can afford the payment, and it goes really fast when you hit the gas. I have not driven the new M2, but my educated guess is that the nannies take a lot away from what makes a "driver's car" a driver's car, but as long as you can turn those off I suppose it does not matter.

Car Throttle has rumor #473 about the return of the MR2. This rumor is not electric, but a small mid engine car with the GR Corolla engine for what sounds like a ridiculously high price. While I just argued against tiny turbo engines in another thread about an hour ago, would I take a lightweight mid engine car with some power, sound, road feel, excitement and a manual over an M2 and an electric even if they are much faster? 100%

And I was upset with both the ugly front end of the M2 and the weight. I saw one car shopping a week or so ago and I liked the interior, but it did not look that much better in person on the outside. Still kinda fugly.