30k sports car with back seats, is M2 Comp beatable?

[shiversaint]

It's time to move on from my 991.1 Targa 4S (hit me up if you are interested), and I think I'm going to downgrade and save for a year before I switch into a proper supercar.

I'd like to stay around the 30k mark therefore, and I would ideally have back seats so I can put the (small) dogs in with us. I do about 5k miles a year of solely domestic driving, so being able to drive like a daily quite important (TVR etc therefore out), and I don't have a garage right now. i also explicitly want to try a different manufacturer to Porsche so no Cayman/Boxster or 996/7.

Every bit of research keeps taking me back to the M2 Comp as pretty much the most car for the money at that pricepoint - well liked, reliable, surprisingly practical and so on.

I don't really want to budget creep too much, as it likely means waiting more than I want to for my next move.

Other options I've considered are F-type V8R, ropey early R8s, M4 Comp, M3 Comp and C63.

M2 still feels like the "sensible" choice in this situation - or I just shelve it and get a comfy cheap barge for a year....anything else that I've missed?

[Billy_Whizzzz]

I went M2 comp to 997.2 C4S and while the M2 felt savage, the tactility of the 997 was in another league. Since gone down the 981 Spyder route which is in another league again. I like M cars but only as daily hacks.

[M.F.D]

What about an E90/E92 M3? You'd get a properly good example for that money (probably some change too) and it's a car that can do it all. The S65 is a peach too. I drove a fettled M2 Comp in manual guise on track a few months ago and it was an awesome car, but the V8 M3 would win me over in terms of engagement personally.

Wildcard option - Yaris GR-Four with circuit pack?

[Miocene]

Not the last word in handling, but a Mustang for the V8 noise?

[fflump]

A Maserati Granturismo Sport is in budget both with auto-manual and full ZF box options.

A pretty good option at this price point as the Sport had number of improvements when introduced in 2012/13

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407081...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409174...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407021...

That said, the M2 Comp looks a very good option too and probably a bit more nimble on the twisties.

[shiversaint]

Maserati is actually a great suggestion, so much more presence than a M2.

My only fear would be getting out of it, I guess trading out will result in trousers being well and truly pulled down....

[jimmsy]

It really depends on what you want back seats for. Child seats, M2 is probably fine, and has a great balance between nice car and usability. If you need adults there, then an M3 might be best. If you want something different, that will hold its value and have more character, a Mustang might be a good choice, but again for children, not adults.

Outside choice with the best residuals (and for a specific age/size of kids) an Evora is a good thing to try.

[M.F.D]

GR86? In terms of driver involvement and dynamics it can run with the big boys, could be a great option to daily until you take the plunge on something more exotic?

[bennno]

I’d rather a Mustang gt - simply needs a set of Ford racing performance coils and a roush back box.

[LeeM135i]

Mercedes C63S coupe, killer noise, space in the back for little ones, very comfy daily if not the last word in handling prowess. Chose mine over a 991.1 as it made a much better noise and was fun at road legal speeds.

[fflump]

shiversaint said:

Maserati is actually a great suggestion, so much more presence than a M2.

My only fear would be getting out of it, I guess trading out will result in trousers being well and truly pulled down....

You'd probably be right they will not be as easy to move on either in the trade or privately without a chunky haircut. That said if you buy and sell privately and buy well then you can afford to be competitive when you sell it on.

The thing V8 Maseratis do well is give the driver a sense of occasion at all speeds.

[shiversaint]

jimmsy said:

It really depends on what you want back seats for. Child seats, M2 is probably fine, and has a great balance between nice car and usability. If you need adults there, then an M3 might be best. If you want something different, that will hold its value and have more character, a Mustang might be a good choice, but again for children, not adults.

Outside choice with the best residuals (and for a specific age/size of kids) an Evora is a good thing to try.

As said, back seats are literally just for two small dogs, the 991's are currently sufficient, to give you context. I do not and will not carry people in the back of this future purchase.

An Evora is always tempting but it feels too much like third car territory for me, but maybe I need to look at one. I'm not sure it being ungaraged on an open drive is a good idea either.

[ZX10R NIN]

If I was going for a BMW I'd go for the M3 over the M2 imo they look so much better & hving driven a few I feel that they're the better car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408283...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202409254...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312154...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406120...

But I'd go for the Evora they can be driven daily (updating the connectivity is very easy) with ease & they're proving to be very durable:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408122...

[Billy_Whizzzz]

M.F.D said:

GR86? In terms of driver involvement and dynamics it can run with the big boys, could be a great option to daily until you take the plunge on something more exotic?

Choose one over an M2? No chance whatsoever.

[cerb4.5lee]

I'm a big fan of the M2, but I'd go(and I did) with the M4(or the M3 if you need to seat 5).

[Mouse Rat]

My first thoughts was Jag xk or xkr.
Beautiful looks. Thunderous V8. Well built, great to drive and luxurious. Relatively low running costs.

[Jonstar]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Choose one over an M2? No chance whatsoever.

Depends what you like, having driven both the GR86 is the better drivers car.

[bennno]

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Choose one over an M2? No chance whatsoever.

But then who’d chose an m2 over a Mustang GT or C63?

[Over over under steer]

I sold my 2019 M2 competition after four months because it was by far most boring sports car I’ve ever had. It was quiet, very effective, but completely unengaging at any sort of sensible speed on the road.

[cerb4.5lee]

bennno said:

Billy_Whizzzz said:

Choose one over an M2? No chance whatsoever.

But then who’d chose an m2 over a Mustang GT or C63?

Spot on, and it is always different strokes for different folks as you say. We're lucky that we still have straight six twin turbo engines, and naturally aspirated big V8's now really, because the dull world of EV's are closing in very fast now rightly or wrongly I reckon.