As the title says, I’m looking to get my first BMW and I’ve whittled it down to a manual F87 M2C. I was considering an M3/M3C but I think I like the size of the M2C more.
Coming from a FWD biased AWD Golf R, how is the transition? Is the M2C more difficult to drive and learn the mechanics of a 400+hp RWD? Is the ride more compliant?
The Golf R is an auto and I absolutely love the Golf as my daily driver. Instead of trading up for the M2C I was thinking of adding the manual M2C for a weekend car.
Is there other BMWs or other cars I should consider? I was looking at 997 911s,981 Caymans, and E92 M3s but the M2C seems to have that right blend of modern tech and raw performance.
I’ve never driven a Golf R, but I suspect the M2 will be trickier to handle. I consider it an “intermediate car” when you turn off the electronic assists. Obviously, if you leave them on, the car will be relatively safe, but still feel “looser” than a Golf R.
Assists off, it will still generally tend towards understeer, but power oversteer is absolutely an option any time you’re in the three lower gears near the limit. Nothing crazy difficult to catch and it oversteers in a smooth predictable manner. But the wheelbase is short and you’re dealing with turbo lag. Harder to keep in a straight line than my old 350z, but easier to save than anything mid engined.
Other cars to consider might be a C7, maybe a Mach 1 mustang or a zl1 Camaro if you want straight line speed. The M2 is a lot more practical and easy to drive than those cars, but you want a weekend ride, so it might be worth putting up with less refinement.
I thought about a Mistang Gt350 but just unsure if I can pull off the American muscle hah