2023 M2 on the way so here I am

[Allpaw]

Hi everyone,

brand new member. Joined because I recently put down a deposit for the new M2 and wanted to join the BMW community to keep up to date on your BMW ownership experiences, community events, and so on.

Previously drove a 3 series for a couple of years but let it go during COVID due to full remote working and have been sharing the wifes car since. However, its time for a new toy. Was deciding between the TTRS, A45 AMG and the M2. After 6 months of handwringing, dealership visits and poring over youtube video's, finally committed to the M2.

Why the M2? TTRS is the fastest, solid interior, great overall package and immediately available, but for some reason just didnt excite me. The Merc has a phenomenal interior, great performance and so on, but is very pricey for a hatch and then there's those fake exhausts. The M2 has challenging looks but over the period they grew on me. It seemed to me that, in theory, it would provide the best driving experience which is ultimately what I am looking for. Great engine, decent interior, new tech and, well, its an M car which I've always aspired to own one day.

Enough of my blabbering. Look forward to engaging with y'all.

Cheers
Jason

 

[r0ckf1re]

M2 ftw,


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CK4LIFE]

Welcome and congrats on the machine

 

[Wayno@135]

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the new ride, I'm sure you are going to enjoy it

 

[Allpaw]

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the new ride, I'm sure you are going to enjoy it

Thanks. Keen to see the reviews coming out from when the embargo ends tonight

 

[TBP88]

Thanks. Keen to see the reviews coming out from when the embargo ends tonight

Would love to know your order process at BMW? Also - what colour did you opt for and manual or auto on the gearbox?

Will be cool, I think you're one of the first with the new M2 on the forum!

 

[Nish_H]

Congrats. How long is the wait before you take delivery?

 

[zabbo]

Welcome and congratulations on what should be an awesome machine!! Please keep us in the loop with the delivery process.

 

[TBP88]

Reviews came out this AM, watched one from TSP, they seem impressed. Looks like a solid enough car - excited to see your impressions and your spec on it! I still find it hard to love from images alone, but I saw a black M240i the other day and from the back it actually looked pretty damn cool - hoping the M2 similarly looks better in person.

Still can't get away from thinking it's not as pretty as the last M2 or the 1M, but in general that's got far more to do with general car size these days.

 

[Allpaw]

Would love to know your order process at BMW? Also - what colour did you opt for and manual or auto on the gearbox?

Will be cool, I think you're one of the first with the new M2 on the forum!

The process was very easy. Came in to spec it out - took 5 minutes because I knew what I wanted and frankly there's very little to actually choose from in terms of options. Waiting time is apparently 3-5 months, but the salesperson felt it would be 4 at a maximum. No idea if he's right or not.

I chose black - its high maintenance but of the 5 colours available its by far my favorite. I initially chose manual, but after the reviews came out I re-specced to auto. The reviews seem to indicate that the auto is better matched to the car in the sense that its better able to extract the full performance out of it owing to shorter gear ratios and so on. Obviously with auto you lose the driver involvement, but I'm not a purist and will be equally as thrilled with the auto.

 

[Allpaw]

Congrats. How long is the wait before you take delivery?

Thanks bud. I'm told between 3-5 months. Hope thats true!

 

[Allpaw]

Welcome and congratulations on what should be an awesome machine!! Please keep us in the loop with the delivery process.

Thank you, I will

 

[Allpaw]

Reviews came out this AM, watched one from TSP, they seem impressed. Looks like a solid enough car - excited to see your impressions and your spec on it! I still find it hard to love from images alone, but I saw a black M240i the other day and from the back it actually looked pretty damn cool - hoping the M2 similarly looks better in person.

Still can't get away from thinking it's not as pretty as the last M2 or the 1M, but in general that's got far more to do with general car size these days.

Its definitely not as good looking as the last M2. The looks are...challenging. But they have grown on me a lot. I also suspect black is one of the better colours to get it in, although I would have chosen black anyway.

The reviews are mixed. The car is generally assessed to be very good, but problems creep in when comparisons are made with its predecessor. People loved the previous M2 for its great looks, great performance and driving dynamics. A real drivers car. The new M2 is not quite the same. Its not as pretty, it performs better, buts its heavy and actually much more stable so less 'playful'. Apparently BMW designed it first and foremost to be a formidable track machine (despite the weight issue...) For some people, the lack of playfulness is a big negative. For others the improved handling and stability is a positive. It's clearly a very capable car - but as always, it just depends what one is looking for.

 

[TBP88]

Its definitely not as good looking as the last M2. The looks are...challenging. But they have grown on me a lot. I also suspect black is one of the better colours to get it in, although I would have chosen black anyway.

The reviews are mixed. The car is generally assessed to be very good, but problems creep in when comparisons are made with its predecessor. People loved the previous M2 for its great looks, great performance and driving dynamics. A real drivers car. The new M2 is not quite the same. Its not as pretty, it performs better, buts its heavy and actually much more stable so less 'playful'. Apparently BMW designed it first and foremost to be a formidable track machine (despite the weight issue...) For some people, the lack of playfulness is a big negative. For others the improved handling and stability is a positive. It's clearly a very capable car - but as always, it just depends what one is looking for.

You're a brave man to order without a drive! Respect. I drove a last gen M2Comp auto car. Was stunningly fast pickup from 30 or 40km/h upwards is unreal. The new one has like 60hp more. It must be a true beast.

Ja, I think the general trend has been negative on BMW looks this gen, the new cars are all just so big that the packaging becomes messy.

One thing the new M2 is a *HUGE* leap forward is on interior quality, the M240i has a stunning interior and the M2 even more so. The M touches, the big screens. If you're a tech freak it'll be heaven! Keen to see it when it lands - please keep us updated.

 

[Monte]

Congrats. I can't wait for your review on the car. The previous gen M2 Comp is an amazing car.
I am sure you will not be disappointed with the new one.

 

[Allpaw]

Congrats. I can't wait for your review on the car. The previous gen M2 Comp is an amazing car.
I am sure you will not be disappointed with the new one.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I'll certainly provide my thoughts and pics here when I get it.

I've actually been invited to an event this weekend where the car will be showcased. This will be the first time I see it in the metal. I'll take some pics and post them here with my impressions.

 

[TBP88]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I'll certainly provide my thoughts and pics here when I get it.

I've actually been invited to an event this weekend where the car will be showcased. This will be the first time I see it in the metal. I'll take some pics and post them here with my impressions.

Please do! Is there going to be a driving/ride along opportunity at this launch event or is it purely a show and display thing?

This new M2 is probably, from an enthusiasts point of view, the most important model BMW make, so hoping you and the other pre-orderers are impressed.

 

[MR_Y]

If rear seats are not needed, I guess the only real competition to the M2 is a used Cayman GT4?

 

[TurboLlew]

Very keen to hear a 'real person' reviewing this. Even the paid-for/influenced reviews have not really loved it universally. Having seen it in person, my opinion has unfortunately only gotten worse on the styling, but this doesn't matter if it is an absolute blast to drive. I'd be interested to know how close your spec came to an M3/4 which (according to throttle house anyway - they are usually aligned to my views) is in another league of fun and engagement (which I'd have hoped would be in the M2's favour). That being said, reviews these days can't really be trusted and we all have preferences. When buying a car like this, it is often more head than heart and more the lovable faults/characteristics that get you (which is why Audis are always excellent yet always so boring and never really sought after used).

I doubt you will be disappointed once you're behind the wheel and even then I doubt you will find it difficult to move on if you are.

On the manual front, it has become very tiring hearing people think you aren't a purist if you don't buy a manual, while happily driving heavily damped manuals with soft clutches and (my pet hate) auto rev-match. I think going auto was the right choice and you shouldn't feel 'bad' about it. The manual hype (I am sorry to say) is dying. Anyway the "but I wish it was manual" crew just don't put their money where their mouths are when it comes to buying new or used cars. With modern powertrains, DCT and auto boxes provide not just the 'faster' experience on a track but can actually be better mated/more engaging even in the real world. Modern manual boxes are not what they used to be (or what people imagine they will be like) and this also factors into decisions of those actually in a position to buy them... Manuals IMHO are best with high revving NA motors (GT3/4, E9x etc). These are a fraction of a fraction of cars on the market today.

I will say I absolutely loved the GT4 driving experience EXCEPT the bloody auto rev match which couldn't be turned off in sport mode for some bizarre reason (at least the sales person couldn't do it). If you are not in love with your M2 then perhaps go and drive one of those.

 

[Allpaw]

Please do! Is there going to be a driving/ride along opportunity at this launch event or is it purely a show and display thing?

This new M2 is probably, from an enthusiasts point of view, the most important model BMW make, so hoping you and the other pre-orderers are impressed.

BMW is one of the main sponsors at this event so I suspect they will merely be displaying the M2, probably amongst other models. I have no information about it other than the salesperson letting me know I could see it there in person - and the dealership sprung for a ticket for me, which was thoughtful. The demos should be arriving on showroom floors quite soon, so that will be an opportunity to actually trial what I'm buying.