I Want to Drive the M2 Manual!

After the test drive, since I kept saying “It was so good! So good! Really great!” the dealer said,

Shall I check if we have any manual cars in stock now?

They checked, and there was one black manual M2 available, priced around 10 million yen including options.

I said, “Hmm… I think sports cars look better in bright colors like blue. Also, sorry, I still have payments on my current car, so I can’t buy right away…” and politely declined (of course).

Still excited, I told my husband, “After the 320i, I want to try an M2 used!” He said,

Whoa! That’s quite a leap! But Mina, you’re still a bit nervous about Porsche manuals, and your mindset really shows when you drive. I think the reason you enjoyed the M2 so much is not just the car itself but also because it’s not a Porsche, so there’s no mental barrier, lol.

I asked my husband what he thought about the M2:

Well, I heard from the dealer that the M2 Competition is like the Porsche GT3 in positioning, so I expected it to be pretty hardcore, but it was actually very easy to drive. It felt more like a regular 911 in Porsche terms, which is probably why Mina found it easy to handle. But since I usually drive the more race-oriented GT3, the M2 isn’t really for me. Also, compared to Porsche, I felt the rear stability and grip were a bit less… It was raining during the test drive, and when taking a medium-speed corner, I felt like I could easily slide the rear by stepping on the throttle. I guess I prefer cars with a bit more stability and planted feel. But for someone who wants a sporty car that can handle daily driving, it’s a great choice. Actually, I found myself more interested in the new 320i.

When I said, “But the new 3 Series doesn’t come with a manual, so I don’t want it,” the dealer laughed and said,

Usually, in families, the husband wants the M2 and the wife prefers the 320, but we’ve never seen the reverse—wife wants the M2 and husband wants the 320. You two are completely opposite from the norm (laughs).

Test driving the BMW reminded me once again that there are so many great cars out there. I want to keep trying various cars regardless of brand or transmission type.