2017 M2 or 2017 Grand Sport, looking for perspective

[Fr333zy]

Hi everyone,
Brand new to the forum, wanted to post in a place that isn't brand loyalist, to just hear what other enthusiasts think. Also, I realize this will be long, so I really appreciate anyone reading through the whole thing and weighing in.

I'm looking to get some perspective on buying a car, and hoping to help solidify my thoughts towards one or the other. There are a lot of pros/cons with each, and a bunch of important factors that I'm trying to sort through, but I'm having trouble. I've spent months going back and forth. Any and all thoughts would help, and hopefully I can get a bit more sorted out as to which I want. I thought about going to BMW and Chevy forums, but realized that I'll get biased responses on each. I'm not a brand loyalist, I just want a fun car. So here I am.

I'm 33 and a gearhead at heart. I'm an avid motorcyclist, currently with a Ducati and a Harley, and a frequent track day rider. While I have never owned a sports car, I have driven/rented everything from Camaros to Porsches, from S2000's to a Lamborghini Gallardo. I'm a fan of autosport, and of cars, not tied to any brand.
I have been saving for a long time so I can buy a real sports car. I'll be only driving it on weekends/vacations, as this is a 3rd car ('07 Tacoma and a '15 XC60 (my wife's)). I'm looking to take delivery next April or May.

The 2 cars I'm trying to decide between are the 2017 BMW M2, or the 2017 Corvette Grand Sport.
I've narrowed my list of perspective cars down to these 2 from 15. I'm not looking for other suggestions, so please don't spend time trying to approach that angle.

The list I've ruled out:

• 2017 Camaro SS/1LE
• 2017 Cayman/Cayman S
• 2016 Cayman S
• 2017 Mazda Miata RF
• 2017 BRZ/Toyota 86
• 2017 Focus RS
• 2017 Subaru WRX STI
• 2017 Audi S3/RS3
• 2017 Camaro ZL1
• CPO Audi R8
• CPO Dodge Viper.

I've test driven everything on this list that is currently available, and for one reason or another they're all ruled out.

Things that I'm looking for in a car:

• Manual transmission
• Exciting/fun to drive at "normal" speeds
• Sounds and looks really good
• Can carry 2 medium suitcases, enough for a week away with my wife
• Comfortable for long drives/roadtrips
• Hard accelleration/great handling
• The X factor, some kind of presence that draws looks or stands out
• Not super common on the road (I live in New England)

My thoughts on each car:

2017 Corvette Grand Sport - I rented one for 4 hours/150 miles last weekend.
Looks amazing/low/wide in person, great V8 noise, very fast acceleration, love the HUD, like the cooled seats, good storage, gets looks/thumbs up/attention everywhere, handles great, Android auto, feels special to drive, crushed all the reviews, faster than many cars that cost a lot more, targa removable roof, selectable rev match, magnetic ride.



2017 BMW M2 - I've only been able to test drive an M240i as there are no dealers within 200 miles with one in stock I can test drive. I have seen one in person though, awaiting customer delivery.
Looks great, wide stance, reviews peg it as the best M car BMW currently makes, can comfortably fit 4 adults under 6' tall, more practical, less expensive, sounds awesome almost Porsche like, awesome fit/finish.

Here are the things I'm struggling with:

• Cost - Putting $40k down the Vette would be about $500/month, while the M2 would be $300/month. I can easily afford either, but am not sure if the extra money saved with the BMW is worth it. I could put less down on the BMW, keeping more in the bank, to hit the same monthly cost of the vette.

• Nice weather vs anytime - I feel like the Vette is more of a "only drive it when it's nice weather" car, while the BMW I don't think I'd feel bad about driving it if it's misty/raining. When I rented the Grand Sport, I got caught in a microburst near the end of the drive and the car did fine in the rain, but did have a propensity to want to spin the rears, even in rain mode, due to the "slick-like" tires and the massive torque/power.

• Passengers/luggage - The Vette can easily fit 2 medium suitcases as well as a few bags, but the BMW also can fit 2 adults in the back reasonably well. At 6'4" I didn't quite fit, but my 5'10" salesman fit fine with an inch over his head. Mostly the car will be carrying just me, or me and my wife, but the BMW is roomier.

• Last of the big v8's - I feel like I might "miss out" if I don't get the Vette, on one of the last great V8's with the LT1. It sounds great, makes a ton of power, and with all the hybrid performance cars, rumors of a mid engine Zora C8, I am worried that I'll regret not trying something like this.

• Limited run M car - While BMW hasn't said they'll limit the M2, it's right now a 5-6 month wait to get one, and it's semi-exclusive in that they aren't making huge numbers. To buy one for next spring, I need to put a non-refundable $5k down now. I don't think I like the idea of it being non-refundable when I haven't even driven the exact car.

• Exotic look/feel - The Vette is super low, like looking up at Mustangs low. It got looks everywhere I drove it, and it felt "special". The BMW is one of those cars that enthusiasts will know, but doesn't look that different from a normal 2 series (at a glance at least). Not sure how important this is, but I felt special in the Vette, not in the M240i.

• Fun to drive on normal roads at normal speeds - The Vette was a riot, however it isn't even really awake until at least 50mph+, and really until it gets up in the RPM bands. It has tons of power across the board, but I'm wondering if my perfect driving record will fare better in a car that's a little less likely to provoke lots of speed. I want something that's fun from 35-50, which the vette surely was, but I'm wondering if after the excitement wears off, that I'll feel held back with such a fast car. I could always go do trackdays or something though...

• Looks - Both look great, but in their own way. The M2 is compact-ish, with a bulldog stance, and seems more nimble. The Vette has a more supercar stance to it, wide, low, and it screams "I'm faster than you" compared to most cars. It has real road presence.

• Dealership experience - Both are top notch. MacMulkin in Nashua is the 2nd largest Vette dealer in the country, and really top notch. Tulley BMW just across the street is huge, and I'd say even a bit nicer. Everyone was friendly, they have top notch facilities, and really seemed like a great place to take the car for work/service.

• Worry about dings, scrapes - I feel like with the Vette I will perpetually be worried about door dings though I'll always park either car way out by itself. The Vette is pretty low, I feel like I'll have to be mindful of not scraping on speed bumps, crappy roads, etc... I feel like the BMW I won't have to worry as much about either thing, though will park as far out as I would with the Vette, and rarely ever running errands with it. When I drive with either car it will be for fun, or for a weekend trip, not for shopping/crowded areas.

• Heart vs some measure of practicality - I feel like my heart likes the no compromises approach to the Vette, and that it would always be a thrill. I think the BMW would likely offer 90% of the fun, wrapped up in a more practical package, that costs less.

• Depreciation - Doesn't matter to me that much, but is the Vette going to take a 20k hit immediately while the Bimmer might hold value better? I plan to own the car for 5-10 years, then trade futher upmarket to something like a GT3.

Final thoughts:
At this point I'm planning on the Vette, but I'm working with BMW to see if they can find an M2 anywhere that I can try driving. They've offered me to try an M4, which is very similar performance-wise (0-60 same, skidpad g's same, stopping distance same, etc...). I might try that just to see. I won't spend the money on a car I can't drive, so if nothing works out between now and Spring, the Vette will be what I get.

Anyway, thanks for reading, sorry it's so long. I appreciate anything could help with the choice.
Thanks
-Fr333zy

Edited by Fr333zy on Sunday 18th September 22:07

[ZX10R NIN]

The Vette looks amazing but there's one car that seems to be missing from your list & that's the Mustang GT350R it sounds amazing & has battered pretty much all comers in the reviews I've seen the downside is the waiting time my uncle who lives in the US ordered his in June & got told Jan 2017.



Out of the two you've listed I'd go for the Vette.

[Fr333zy]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Vette looks amazing but there's one car that seems to be missing from your list & that's the Mustang GT350R it sounds amazing & has battered pretty much all comers in the reviews I've seen the downside is the waiting time my uncle who lives in the US ordered his in June & got told Jan 2017.

Thanks man. I've seen a few in person. I love the sound and they are arguably a fantastic car, but I'm not a fan of the looks. It just doesn't do it for me.

[ZX10R NIN]

The M2 will be great on the track but for feeling special everyday I'm not sure the M2 will cut it, I had the F80 M3 for a while & it was unquestionably fast when you were on it but the rest of the time it was a bit meh.

At low speed it didn't feel special the interior felt a bit low rent for the money I'd spent, then the was the exhaust note, despite changing it & unplugging the pumped in sound (all of which made it sound better) it's just not a great note.

I sold it in the end I just didn't click with it, the M3/4 fitted with the CS pack is a slight improvement but test drive one to see if you like the drivetrain.

[Fr333zy]

ZX10R NIN said:

The M2 will be great on the track but for feeling special everyday I'm not sure the M2 will cut it, I had the F80 M3 for a while & it was unquestionably fast when you were on it but the rest of the time it was a bit meh.

At low speed it didn't feel special the interior felt a bit low rent for the money I'd spent, then the was the exhaust note, despite changing it & unplugging the pumped in sound (all of which made it sound better) it's just not a great note.

I sold it in the end I just didn't click with it, the M3/4 fitted with the CS pack is a slight improvement but test drive one to see if you like the drivetrain.

That's helpful, I think I will try one out just to see what the drivetrain is like. What did you replace it with, and how do you like it from a fun perspective?

[ZX10R NIN]

Fr333zy said:

That's helpful, I think I will try one out just to see what the drivetrain is like. What did you replace it with, and how do you like it from a fun perspective?

I bought it to replace my CLK63 mainly because I felt like I wanted a change but the rawness along with the engine note just made the M3's life hell, on top of that my partner bought an Alpina D3 (after having to sell her beloved C63) which rode better & had a more special interior which makes you not question the purchase price & then there's the drive which can even make low speed progress feel good.

The money saved went on some choice mods & now my CLK63 is a peach it puts a grin on my face just on start up, let alone when I unleash the full 500+ ponies there is a downside which is I don't use it very often due to them going up in value.

So my daily is a 400+bhp CLK55 & a 300+ CLK320cdi (for the longer motorway runs) all in all I've come to realise the newer the car in most cases the less feel due to them trying to be a jack of all trades rather than being the range topping bad ass.

I would say that the V8 M3 is a car worth (if you don't mind used) looking at as it has sharp handling & a grunty V8 that enjoys revs also the VF engineering supercharger kit turns it into a 911 Turbo chaser.

[LasseV]

Corvette for surely, if you can really afford it? It is more special, good looking, long history etc. And that wicked v8.

[Fr333zy]

LasseV said:

Corvette for surely, if you can really afford it? It is more special, good looking, long history etc. And that wicked v8.

Yep, affording it is no problem, and my plan as it stands is to go with that. If I can get a test drive in the M2 (working on it), that'll help either solidify that decision or change my mind. I will say, the LT1 is probably the best sounding engine I can think of...
Thanks for the perspective.

[ZX10R NIN]

IMO I'd be going for the Vette