Test Driving the BMW M2

After looking up the M2 Competition on the official site, it says:

“Experience the ultimate driving feel that thrills your senses on both the circuit and public roads.”

I see… it’s kind of like the GT3 in Porsche terms.

The M2 Competition is equipped with a 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine, boasting 410 horsepower and 550 Nm of maximum torque. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds—impressive performance.

Its dimensions are length: 4475mm, width: 1855mm, height: 1410mm.

Since my 320i has 180 horsepower, it’s amazing that this compact body packs more than twice the power. Also, I was surprised that the width is as wide as 1855mm, even though it looks small. I heard the rear fenders stick out quite a bit.

The rear seats can accommodate two people, and it feels much roomier than the back seats of a 911. Adults can sit without their heads touching the roof, and it’s spacious enough for kids.

The M2 offers a 6-speed manual with an auto-blip feature on downshifts. By the way, the test drive I took at the dealer was in the automatic M2 Competition.

First Impressions Driving the M2 Automatic

Inside, the M2 features exclusive carbon fiber trim, giving off a high-quality sports car vibe. When I started the engine, it roared loudly. “Wow… this is the M engine sound!!” Hearing that sound made me feel like, “Alright, time to drive!”

The steering wheel is a bit thick, which I actually prefer. The seat adjustment levers and air conditioning controls looked just like those in our 320i (F30), so it felt surprisingly familiar despite being my first time driving it.

The exit from the dealer was a slight downhill slope, so I tried to let the car roll forward by releasing the brake, but there was no creep at all. I learned that because it uses a DCT, it basically has no creep.

The M2’s performance felt very powerful. The body is solid, and it has plenty of power and torque, but because it’s relatively compact, it feels like you’re fully in control.

This is fun!!!

Speaking of Porsche manuals, I still get a bit nervous and have to psych myself up before starting. (Well, I only drive manual a few times a year, so frequency is part of it.) But with the M2, probably because I’m used to BMWs, I didn’t feel nervous at all. Instead, I felt, “This looks like it’s going to be fun to drive! It would be even more fun with a manual!”

Also, the brakes felt fantastic. Pressing hard, it stopped powerfully. The handling was precise and predictable, reminding me of Porsche. The ride was firmer than the Cayman I drove before but not as soft as the Boxster—firm, smooth, and with a strong road grip.

Since it’s a track-oriented model, I expected the suspension to be super stiff, but this smoothness makes it perfectly fine for city driving.

During the test drive, there was one spot where the dealer said, “You can step on the accelerator a bit here!” I pressed the pedal a little more, and the speed shot up to ○○ km/h (can’t say)…! The acceleration was strong but not terrifying like the Panamera Turbo or GT3 at home. It was powerful and felt fun!

At one point, the dealer said, “Since we’re here, want to hear the M2’s engine sound more? Shall we open the windows?” We did, but a few mosquitoes flew in while waiting at a red light, so I had to frantically shoo them out and close the windows again (laughs).

During the drive, I kept saying,

M2 is so nice—I want one!

The dealer replied,

I think Porsche owners expect to wait a year or more for a new car delivery, but with the M2, delivery usually takes about 4 months. Also, we get one M2 every month, so if the specs match your preferences, you can have it within a month of purchase!

Wow, really? That’s great—I want one (*_*)

We chatted like that, and before I knew it, the test drive was over and the M2 was back at the dealer.