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My US hire car. X5 3L quite decent
 
The highlands of Scotland.
Monika and I spent a week there last week and fell in love with the place. The best bit? There's no one there.
We drove a total of 1954 miles in a week. So, taking off the 936 mile return trip, we drove 1,000 miles around Scotland. It was awesome.
Very nice, Scotland is beautiful. We've just spent a week on the Outer Hebrides and the journey, once back on the mainland, down to Hamilton was one of the worst we have endured ever. A82 route, motor home hell and just incredibly slow driving.
 
So now the owner of an M2 manual:

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Considering it’s nearly 100HP down on new M2 it feels just as quick if not quicker, of course it won’t be quicker but fact it feels it is the big win. Also has a far more direct feeling and is harsher but it drives how I expect an M car to drive and not the rubbery mess of how new M2 felt. :)
 
Considering it’s nearly 100HP down on new M2 it feels just as quick if not quicker, of course it won’t be quicker but fact it feels it is the big win. Also has a far more direct feeling and is harsher but it drives how I expect an M car to drive and not the rubbery mess of how new M2 felt. :)
I still can't quite get over the weight figure for the new M2. I looked it up after it came second in the Auto Express Top 10 Best Sports Cars of 2023. It's 1700Kgs. For a 2 door sports coupé. I remember being a bit shocked - years ago, we owned a Mk1 Nissan X-Trail. A 4x4 SUV with a 2.2 diesel, 5 seats and a huge boot which weighed 1490Kg.

I can't wrap my head around where all the weight is going, but I can completely understand how the previous generation can feel quicker and livelier, even with a 100Bhp deficit.
 
I still can't quite get over the weight figure for the new M2. I looked it up after it came second in the Auto Express Top 10 Best Sports Cars of 2023. It's 1700Kgs. For a 2 door sports coupé. I remember being a bit shocked - years ago, we owned a Mk1 Nissan X-Trail. A 4x4 SUV with a 2.2 diesel, 5 seats and a huge boot which weighed 1490Kg.

I can't wrap my head around where all the weight is going, but I can completely understand how the previous generation can feel quicker and livelier, even with a 100Bhp deficit.


The new M2 is an odd one, the biggest improvement for me comparing to my OG is the ride compliance and the interior is a major step up. But the actual driving dynamics are somewhat woollen, rubbery feeling, BMW manuals have never been great but somehow the new M2 is worse than the one in my 45k mile OG which is still a tad rubbery but by no means as bad as what the new car was. In comparison to stuff like Honda, Porsche and old Ferrari's they really knew how to make a superb manual, the one in the M2 is not bad, its just OK but you'd have thought that BMW might have got themselves a Porsche Boxster and new Honda CTR, then figured it out. Anyway in the new M2 the manual is minor on the list as I found every input I gave the car just seemed to have a delay or soft feeling, it is hard to explain, now I have watched more reviews I see more press have been using the rubbery feeling comment I mentioned a few weeks ago when I put my feelings about the car but some also rave that the car is amazing, whereas I just found it underwhelming, and prefer the older one, but I do like my cars to focus far more on driving dynamics rather than comfort or gadgets something which the new M2 is superior at.

If someone is a buying a daily car the new M2 will serve them well, if someone is looking for a fun weekend or road trip car, then I'd not consider the new M2, for similar money get the older M2 CS or just save like 40-50k and buy an M2 OG.
 
There's also the factor that the new model looks absolutely horrendous. Call me a tart, but part of the ownership experience of a sports car is having something nice to look at, and the new M2 looks like it has some tragic body kit bolted onto it.
I know looks are subjective, but it seems like I'm not in the minority with that opinion either. Previous M2 nailed it, design wise.
 
There's also the factor that the new model looks absolutely horrendous. Call me a tart, but part of the ownership experience of a sports car is having something nice to look at, and the new M2 looks like it has some tragic body kit bolted onto it.
I know looks are subjective, but it seems like I'm not in the minority with that opinion either. Previous M2 nailed it, design wise.

It was better in person, but the one we borrowed had loads of carbon tat stuck to it and a odd looking exhaust, loads of people checked it out but is it because they are in love or a case of my god that is ugly. :D
 
It’s like the Desperate Dan chin on the car world, chiselled. That or it’s ready to appear in minecraft. The exhausts in new M2 are just Comical too.

It’s odd how everything you describe makes it the perfect car for day to day use on the roads yet you desire the performance that surely the supercars give or the raw driving of the clio? I still am amazed how narrow your garage is. No criticism just observation. :) Like if you were going on trip with some mates the M2 or clio would be the most accommodating?
 
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