M2 - Scary?

[Shiv_P]

Hello all

I have been looking to buy an M2 for around 12-16 months, no rush as I have a car to use in the interim. Looking for an OG in LCI trim with DCT and icon headlights (my commute means I would greatly benefit from these with beam forming)
I have read a few comments on PH saying they are 'scary' to drive... I am not expecting a VW golf and have driven an M2 Comp on track with ESP etc on, but am concerned about this a little.

Are the reports true? Too scary to daily drive to work and back (20 mile round trip, 20-25 min drive)

Cheers

[bumskins]

Shiv_P said:

Are the reports true? Too scary to daily drive to work and back (20 mile round trip, 20-25 min drive)

Cheers

It's all relative. If you ask someone who drives a Peugeot 106 or Volkswagen Golf then probably yes, however if you ask a TVR or Ultima driver then no.

If you have experience of an M2 Competition on track and enjoyed it, then that's a good start.

[Square Leg]

Scary?

Mrs Leg used to drive mine from Nottingham to Hemel Hempstead in all weathers and all temps.
On Pilot Supersports too, no problems.

[Terminator X]

I owned a M2C for about 18 months, didn't cause me the slightest cause for concern.

TX.

[checkmate91]

M2C in normal (dozy) mode can be a very benign old Hector, even at this time of year on PSS tyres. Drive it in MDM mode with the intention of using all the available performance in the cold and/or wet and it's a bit of a handful (to put it mildly). Winters for outright confidence though, IMO.

[NumBMW]

Any car on sale today can be scary if you drive like a complete bell end. Don’t do that and you’ll be fine.
I’ve not driven one, but a friend has the first LCI and loves it.

Edited by NumBMW on Tuesday 7th February 23:00

[MDubyaB]

I have an E92 M3 and drove a friend’s M2 in the wet last year. I was on familiar roads and wasn’t hanging about. Car felt way less onside than my E92 in a slightly spiky short wheelbased way.
Some cars you jump in and trust straight away. This wasn’t one of them.

Not remotely scary just bimbling around.

[Michael-lxb9y]

not scary at all

coming from a high power m140i with skinny tyres and open diff to a stage 1 M2c was a dream, its far more predictable and controllable, obviously with any high power RWD you drive to the conditions but its definitely not scary , im driving in minus 5 today on semi worn PSS and its absolutely fine, if i stick my boot down of course it will lose traction but who wants to hoon it around in these temps and conditions?

The other day when it was 12 degrees could plant it completely with the tiniest of squirms, its fine

[Deep Thought]

Shiv_P said:

Hello all

I have been looking to buy an M2 for around 12-16 months, no rush as I have a car to use in the interim. Looking for an OG in LCI trim with DCT and icon headlights (my commute means I would greatly benefit from these with beam forming)
I have read a few comments on PH saying they are 'scary' to drive... I am not expecting a VW golf and have driven an M2 Comp on track with ESP etc on, but am concerned about this a little.

Are the reports true? Too scary to daily drive to work and back (20 mile round trip, 20-25 min drive)

Cheers

Thats exactly the spec of mine. I've owned it since start of December.

In Sport mode and pushing on, yes, theres power there that needs to be controlled. They're not like an A45 where it does it all for you. Gear changes also, when in Sport, you really need to be using the paddles, changing gear yourself to get the most out of the DCT (it has a habit of holding on to gears too long if left to its own devices).

In "Standard" mode though, its much more civil. Very driveable and the DCT box works well.

I dont use mine to commute as a WFH but yes i'd be happy enough to do that. It always feels very purposeful. Sense of occasion driving it, which is nice.

I fell in quite lucky with mine having ICON lights, i didnt go looking for a car with them. They really are brilliant. Much much better than the auto lights we had on our A45.

Harmon Kardon was a must for me - the standard sound system is pretty naff. Rear parking sensors was another must (cant remember if those were an option, but my car has them).

I've electric seats, heated seats, folding electric mirrors, comfort glass (is that the name of it? The darkened rears) and reversing cam also. All of those would have fallen in to my "nice to haves".

Edited by Deep Thought on Wednesday 8th February 11:44

Edited by Deep Thought on Wednesday 8th February 11:44

[cerb4.5lee]

Respect the throttle in cold/damp/poor conditions and you will be fine I reckon. Then wait for the warmer temps and dry weather to start exploring what it can really do.

I absolutely love my M4 in the summer, but I do get a bit frustrated with it over the winter though, because you have to respect it in poor conditions and be more gentle with the throttle in comparison.

[Stunters]

Throttle control is a very underrated skill these days when there's TC, ESP etc etc.
But its a skill well worth learning. Develop a sensitive right foot and no car will ever feel truly scary, in my opinion.

[cerb4.5lee]

Stunters said:

Throttle control is a very underrated skill these days when there's TC, ESP etc etc.
But its a skill well worth learning. Develop a sensitive right foot and no car will ever feel truly scary, in my opinion.

Both the 200SX and the Cerbera were really good at teaching me throttle control as you say. You definitely have more safety nets now in comparison, however I still personally treat the throttle with respect because that is what I'm used to doing.

[JapanRed]

My wife drives my F80 M3 as much as me and she’s not even into cars. No not scary at all. They are modern cars with all drivers aids. If you are driving normally, even pushing on there’s little drama.

[cerb4.5lee]

Square Leg said:

Scary?

Mrs Leg used to drive mine from Nottingham to Hemel Hempstead in all weathers and all temps.
On Pilot Supersports too, no problems.

The M4 has snapped on me even in all the gentle settings with the Pilot Supersports in the damp, and that was without hardly any throttle input as well. It likes to keep me on my toes I reckon!

I had more trust in the Cerbera in comparison(without any driver aids whatsoever), which seems odd to say granted.

[rallye101]

You absolute girl, what are you worrying about....

But, I'd borrowed an old lexus is220 and in minus 5 yesterday on a roundabout it's ass just disappeared, ice or ice plus diesel I had a right moment...

Glad I didn't have ps4s and 3 times the power..

[Dreds]

I’ve had an M2C as a daily for 2.5 years. Whilst I wouldn’t describe it as scary I think that it's not a car you can just mash the throttle to the floor whenever you feel the urge. If you give it a bit of power, even with the traction fully on, it will step sideways when the tyres are cold or it’s wet. It is however, exciting because of this. In the winter I often think about getting an xDrive but other than going a bit quicker I’m not sure it would make me feel the way the M2C does.

[AAAndy]

I owned an OG M2 manual for 3 years. It isn't scary.

But it isn't front wheel drive so if you have only experienced FWD/4WD before, just be mindful that the balance and traction dyanmics will be slightly different. That's all really and the same for any new car.

The traction control will keep everything reigned in, and you have the option of DCT mode or fully off as you get more confident and learn the car. Certainly don't let it put you off.

I loved mine, and worth considering a manual too. I found the manual much more enjoyable in these M2's (tried OG's and comps). The manual could also hold value better in the long run.

[GiantCardboardPlato]

It would scare me if I opened the fridge and one fell out but I think as a road car, no.

[CRA1G]

On my second DCT, used as a daily 15,000 Miles PA. Not Scary..? Easy and comfortable to drive when it suits me fun and exciting to drive when i want it to be. New Manual due in June that will be interesting..

[mmm-five]

I found the M2 quite forgiving and easier to drive at 9/10ths compared to my Z4MC...but I think that's down to BMW's dodgy suspension set-up on the Z4MC!