M2 or M235i

[individj]

i would also take an M4..personally...looks hot & has a great engine

 

[325iSmk2]

I understand the hyper around the m2, as its "rare" and new , but i I would take a second hand m4 over a brand new m2 personally.

I would too. A great deal of appeal of the M2 is its pricing as a "bargain" M, in "normal" markets. Every review mentions this. It's not supposed to be, and isn't, better than the M4 by any metric. The price gouging by speculators here in SA twists the whole proposition around - you're paying for exclusivity, but make no mistake you're not getting the same/better performance.

 

[thisISmyothercar]

I understand the hyper around the m2, as its "rare" and new , but i I would take a second hand m4 over a brand new m2 personally.

I would too. A great deal of appeal of the M2 is its pricing as a "bargain" M, in "normal" markets. Every review mentions this. It's not supposed to be, and isn't, better than the M4 by any metric. The price gouging by speculators here in SA twists the whole proposition around - you're paying for exclusivity, but make no mistake you're not getting the same/better performance.

This is all true, I agree that right now a slightly used M4 is a much better deal. There are some low mileage 2014 models that could be had for around R900k. Given the choice between that and paying R1.2m for a new M2 the M4 is the easy decision. Now if I had to choose between a brand new nicely kitted M2 with M-DCT and a 2014 M4 with 25000km on the clock both for R900k, it would be a much harder decision.

These distortions are certainly temporary though. BMW themselves are not making any money for the scarcity, the dealerships are unashamedly collecting massive premiums in the name of short-lived "exclusivity". It won't last, if demand is so high BMW are incentivised to increase supply and they certainly will as they are able to.

I look forward to having this discussion in a year's time when prices have normalised.

 

[Reese130]

I understand the hyper around the m2, as its "rare" and new , but i I would take a second hand m4 over a brand new m2 personally.

I would too. A great deal of appeal of the M2 is its pricing as a "bargain" M, in "normal" markets. Every review mentions this. It's not supposed to be, and isn't, better than the M4 by any metric. The price gouging by speculators here in SA twists the whole proposition around - you're paying for exclusivity, but make no mistake you're not getting the same/better performance.

I don't think it's very fair to be judging one car better than another when you haven't actually driven the car that your judging. It's easy to sit and read stats and say that an M4 is the better car. Which in stats and figures and numbers it is and no one can argue that. However on paper and in reality are 2 very different things. I drive a manual M235i and I drove it to test drive an M4 with a full akrapovic exhaust fitted.
Without a doubt I had more fun in my 235 on the way home. The M4 was too soft and civilised.
No offense but I trust the 99% of car journalists that have actually driven the M2 and the M4 that say that the M2 is the better M car to drive. More fun more involving more rewarding. Surely they cant all be wrong? But the M2 is not as good on paper.. that doesn't bother me, I don't race anyway.

 

[dlk001]

I drive a manual M235i and I drove it to test drive an M4 with a full akrapovic exhaust fitted. Without a doubt I had more fun in my 235 on the way home. The M4 was too soft and civilised.
No offense but I trust the 99% of car journalists that have actually driven the M2 and the M4 that say that the M2 is the better M car to drive. More fun more involving more rewarding. Surely they cant all be wrong? But the M2 is not as good on paper.. that doesn't bother me, I don't race anyway.

Some journalist say M235i is not fun and 228i is better? There was a long article written comparing them.

 

[KaosHunter]

I drive a manual M235i and I drove it to test drive an M4 with a full akrapovic exhaust fitted. Without a doubt I had more fun in my 235 on the way home. The M4 was too soft and civilised.
No offense but I trust the 99% of car journalists that have actually driven the M2 and the M4 that say that the M2 is the better M car to drive. More fun more involving more rewarding. Surely they cant all be wrong? But the M2 is not as good on paper.. that doesn't bother me, I don't race anyway.

Some journalist say M235i is not fun and 220i is better? There was a long article written comparing them.

My brother has a 220i and I can tell you now it's very numb with practically zero sound. Gets very boring very quickly especially with the ZF box. The most involving part about it is the fact that the gears are so short and you hit redline faster than you can think about changing to the next gear. Then again I still haven't driven a M235i so I can't compare.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[dlk001]

I drive a manual M235i and I drove it to test drive an M4 with a full akrapovic exhaust fitted. Without a doubt I had more fun in my 235 on the way home. The M4 was too soft and civilised.
No offense but I trust the 99% of car journalists that have actually driven the M2 and the M4 that say that the M2 is the better M car to drive. More fun more involving more rewarding. Surely they cant all be wrong? But the M2 is not as good on paper.. that doesn't bother me, I don't race anyway.

Some journalist say M235i is not fun and 220i is better? There was a long article written comparing them.

My brother has a 220i and I can tell you now it's very numb with practically zero sound. Gets very boring very quickly especially with the ZF box. The most involving part about it is the fact that the gears are so short and you hit redline faster than you can think about changing to the next gear. Then again I still haven't driven a M235i so I can't compare.

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Sorry. my bad I meant 228i and not 220i. But here are reviews including M2

M235i - There's no connection whatsoever to what the front wheels are doing. With the M235i, you steer until you hear squealing and rely on the larger rear tires to hold on if you get it a little wrong.

228i - The steering: light as a feather but as truthful in your hands as an electric rack could possibly be. In the 228i, though, you can actually drive the thing, you don't even touch the brake before the right-hander, and then you haul leeward with a brush of the brakes. There's always enough grip, and if you ask for too much, then just relaxing your hands on the wheel brings you right back to where you need to be.

In the track's final turn, the 228i is also better to drive than the other cars. The M235i doesn't really confirm available grip on corner exit, and there's a lot of metal barrier to hit if you get it wrong, so you wait. The M2 turns in fine, but with stability control deactivated, the torque wants to step the back end out. So again you wait, feathering the throttle until your wheel is straight after the apex. The 228i? You plant the throttle and let the tail hang. There's not enough power to make this strategy dangerous, and there's plenty of steering feel to correct on corner exit if you need it. It inspires total confidence and makes you feel like you're a better driver than you probably are.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a29245/bmw-2-series-comparison-test/

Here is another article comparing 228i vs M235i

http://jalopnik.com/the-bmw-228i-is-the-best-enthusiast-bimmer-you-can-buy-1662847106

 

[VictorMike]

Sorry. my bad I meant 228i and not 220i. But here are reviews including M2
/snip

nice stories

/snip

Unfortunately, none of that matters to people who are only impressed by acceleration times, which seem to be a majority of the forum members here.

 

[325iSmk2]

Sorry. my bad I meant 228i and not 220i. But here are reviews including M2
/snip

nice stories

/snip

Unfortunately, none of that matters to people who are only impressed by acceleration times, which seem to be a majority of the forum members here.

Similarly, 99.9% of people will never take their 228i or 235i to the track and will never experience the nuances described above, while you can experience the sound and acceleration of the N55 daily.

 

[VictorMike]

Similarly, 99.9% of people will never take their 228i or 235i to the track and will never experience the nuances described above, while you can experience the sound and acceleration of the N55 daily.

Very good point.

 

[tn002]

I personally think you should buy what you want after doing your homework. Shouldnt read too much into what motoring journalists say as it comes down to personal preference. They have their own bias. At the end of the day you will drive it, pay for it & live with it. So the most important opinion is your own not anyone elses.

 

[VictorMike]

I personally think you should buy what you want after doing your homework. Shouldnt read too much into what motoring journalists say

A bit contradictory no?

Agree with the first part, but definitely read as many reviews as possible.

So, someone who wants driver involvement would go for a 228i, drag racers should go for the M2, and people with any sense should just get an E39...

 

[individj]

the only thing i can think of when comparing the 228i & 235i is weight up front. i can't see how it can be better in any other way...maybe it feels slightly better in the twisties.

 

[peanut125i]

Heavier front axle will have a detrimental handling impact on fwd car (notable example newer model alfa gtv 6 vs the 2l), not sure it will make such a big difference on rwd car. I have never driven a car with a 6 cylinder engine though so probably completely wrong. Tho if I was buying a 2 series it would be the 228 seeing as I can't afford the others.

 

[KaosHunter]

Well I'm sure the weight up front was taken into account by the engineers and that's why the weight disturbution is 50:50 on almost all BMW'S.

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[avalanx]

Only wait for the M2 if you are really willing to pay the premium. A 2nd hand m4 then definitely poses far better value.

However there are compelling reasons to buy an M2 over an M4 regardless. I would say buying the M235i right now would not be a bad way to go about it considering the huge premium you would have to pay for the M2. On top of that it is a very nicely specced car, with the ZF box or manual it won't be a track machine but will still fair well. The after market M diff is always an option along the line if you do feel so inclined.

 

[tn002]

What I meant by doing your homework is do things like test drive ther car, Read up the technical details on it, subscribe to forums to hear what fellow passionate owners have to say (I place more value on their views than that of the media) & if you're married make sure you get the buy in from your other half :=):

 

[VictorMike]

if you're married make sure you get the buy in from your other half :=):

This is rule No.1, obviously :rollsmile:

 

[individj]

Well I'm sure the weight up front was taken into account by the engineers and that's why the weight disturbution is 50:50 on almost all BMW'S.

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ja but its 50;50 of more weight lol but i also don't see it being a big diff but i haven't driven these cars ..i know they're all good though

 

[dlk001]

Sorry. my bad I meant 228i and not 220i. But here are reviews including M2
/snip

nice stories

/snip

Unfortunately, none of that matters to people who are only impressed by acceleration times, which seem to be a majority of the forum members here.

Similarly, 99.9% of people will never take their 228i or 235i to the track and will never experience the nuances described above, while you can experience the sound and acceleration of the N55 daily.

The review was about driving on normal roads and track. Anyway, its their opinion.

Personally I prefer M4 any day because its power delivery is engaging.