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      08-03-2015, 08:28 AM   #1
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M2 Vs GT350

I understand it is a hypothetical question. I am in the market for a performance car that will only be used for fun duties on weekends and date nights. It would be a 3rd car so no back seats necessary, etc.

I identified the M2 as the potential front runner for satisfying these wants in the ~$50k range.

Obviously we all want something special as well. Just not sure how special the M2 will be and I think that's the biggest unanswered question as of now. Time will tell.

The GT350 poses an amazing value and ticks all the boxes. I hope the M2 is not as conservative as some of you are saying. The limited options and colors has me hoping it will, in fact, be a focused street toy.

What do you all think? What would one also look at in this range for a new sports coupe?
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      08-03-2015, 08:55 AM   #2
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I am waiting for my M2 and am also looking at the GT350 and GT350R.

My only concern is getting an allocation for the Shelby.

I have a 1M and a Mustang Boss 302 and they are both amazing. Power and noise, the Boss wins. Looks and driving, the 1M.

But the new GT350 looks special.
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      08-03-2015, 01:46 PM   #3
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I agree. Specialness is what I'm after both in aesthetic appreciation and driving experience.

I may get crucified for saying this, but I just drove a m235i convertible today and while nice, was very soft in suspension and overall, underwhelming. It really put doubt into my mind about the M2.

So now I'm thinking about alternatives.
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      08-03-2015, 02:04 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ACZakka325i View Post
I agree. Specialness is what I'm after both in aesthetic appreciation and driving experience.

I may get crucified for saying this, but I just drove a m235i convertible today and while nice, was very soft in suspension and overall, underwhelming. It really put doubt into my mind about the M2.

So now I'm thinking about alternatives.
And you should get crucified if you think that the convertible would be anything even remotely similar to the M2. It weighs 3700+ lbs!

Go drive a coupe, then drive an M3/4. Add those together and divide by 2. That'll give you a rough idea of what the M2 will be like.
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      08-03-2015, 02:10 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W/// View Post
And you should get crucified if you think that the convertible would be anything even remotely similar to the M2. It weighs 3700+ lbs!

Go drive a coupe, then drive an M3/4. Add those together and divide by 2. That'll give you a rough idea of what the M2 will be like.
Love the math
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      08-03-2015, 02:13 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W/// View Post
And you should get crucified if you think that the convertible would be anything even remotely similar to the M2. It weighs 3700+ lbs!

Go drive a coupe, then drive an M3/4. Add those together and divide by 2. That'll give you a rough idea of what the M2 will be like.
That sounds accurate!
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      08-03-2015, 02:39 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uae247 View Post
I am waiting for my M2 and am also looking at the GT350 and GT350R.

My only concern is getting an allocation for the Shelby.

I have a 1M and a Mustang Boss 302 and they are both amazing. Power and noise, the Boss wins. Looks and driving, the 1M.

But the new GT350 looks special.
GT350R will be a monster... They could have kept weight down a little more, but still...

I assume if you get the car you will get A/C, etc considering where you live (UAE)?
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      08-03-2015, 02:58 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W///
Quote:
Originally Posted by ACZakka325i View Post
I agree. Specialness is what I'm after both in aesthetic appreciation and driving experience.

I may get crucified for saying this, but I just drove a m235i convertible today and while nice, was very soft in suspension and overall, underwhelming. It really put doubt into my mind about the M2.

So now I'm thinking about alternatives.
And you should get crucified if you think that the convertible would be anything even remotely similar to the M2. It weighs 3700+ lbs!

Go drive a coupe, then drive an M3/4. Add those together and divide by 2. That'll give you a rough idea of what the M2 will be like.
I know the vert is not a good representation so not sure it's even worthy. But even still, I expected more. It was very insulated.
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      08-03-2015, 02:58 PM   #9
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I personally think that ///M cars are so usable day to day, why would you only use them on weekends? That is what makes them so good.

So if a weekend car is what you are after, I say get something harder edged so it feels like more of an event when you do drive it.
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      08-03-2015, 03:15 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ACZakka325i View Post
I agree. Specialness is what I'm after both in aesthetic appreciation and driving experience.

I may get crucified for saying this, but I just drove a m235i convertible today and while nice, was very soft in suspension and overall, underwhelming. It really put doubt into my mind about the M2.

So now I'm thinking about alternatives.
lol, that's like saying you drove a 3 series convertible and and than saying it had a soft suspension so you will not get an M4.
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      08-03-2015, 03:22 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vantagesc
I personally think that ///M cars are so usable day to day, why would you only use them on weekends? That is what makes them so good.

So if a weekend car is what you are after, I say get something harder edged so it feels like more of an event when you do drive it.
I agree with your statement. My e92 M3 was amazingly practical for an early 20's guy living in a condo. But that's not what I'm after this go around.

Currently I drive a crew-cab truck for work and I love the practicality. It is also rewarding to drive in a very different way.

I just called my local Ford dealer and they said the 2 GT350's they are allocated were sold with large deposits long ago.
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      08-03-2015, 03:25 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ACZakka325i View Post
I agree. Specialness is what I'm after both in aesthetic appreciation and driving experience.

I may get crucified for saying this, but I just drove a m235i convertible today and while nice, was very soft in suspension and overall, underwhelming. It really put doubt into my mind about the M2.

So now I'm thinking about alternatives.
Next time you may want to take it out of Eco-Pro mode and try Sport or Sport+.
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      08-03-2015, 03:29 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chmura
Quote:
Originally Posted by ACZakka325i View Post
I agree. Specialness is what I'm after both in aesthetic appreciation and driving experience.

I may get crucified for saying this, but I just drove a m235i convertible today and while nice, was very soft in suspension and overall, underwhelming. It really put doubt into my mind about the M2.

So now I'm thinking about alternatives.
lol, that's like saying you drove a 3 series convertible and and than saying it had a soft suspension so you will not get an M4.
I understand the nuances of each model, but between the great reviews of the model and the "///M's" all over the car, maybe I erroneously expected more.

The thing is it's not a 335i. It's an "m235i". Just felt mislead.

Fwiw, the opinion of the salesman was it was going to be closer to the m235i and less like a 1m as far as aggressiveness. Which is what got me thinking.

I'm open to ideas obviously. And I'm #1 on the list at my BMW dealer for the M2. Just not sure I'm on the right track anymore.
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      08-03-2015, 03:35 PM   #14
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I would drive an m4 and then imagine that suspension on the m235i. But power will be less.
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      08-03-2015, 08:06 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ACZakka325i View Post
I understand the nuances of each model, but between the great reviews of the model and the "///M's" all over the car, maybe I erroneously expected more.

The thing is it's not a 335i. It's an "m235i". Just felt mislead.

Fwiw, the opinion of the salesman was it was going to be closer to the m235i and less like a 1m as far as aggressiveness. Which is what got me thinking.

I'm open to ideas obviously. And I'm #1 on the list at my BMW dealer for the M2. Just not sure I'm on the right track anymore.
Salesman still know very little about the M2. Not sure how he could come to that conclusion, likely a guess. I don't expect the M2 to be soft in any way. Otherwise what's the point of a baby M2 unless it performs as such.
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      08-03-2015, 08:19 PM   #16
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The recent GT350 ride alongs sound very promising! I'm still leaning towards the M2, but the GT is on the list (assuming MSRP is obtainable).
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      08-03-2015, 08:24 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindo View Post
Salesman still know very little about the M2. Not sure how he could come to that conclusion, likely a guess. I don't expect the M2 to be soft in any way. Otherwise what's the point of a baby M2 unless it performs as such.
Yeah, not sure why BMW would make this softer than the 1. Would image the salesman is just talking.
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      08-04-2015, 04:02 PM   #18
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Quote:
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Yeah, not sure why BMW would make this softer than the 1. Would image the salesman is just talking.
Agreed. Clearly the salesman is just stating his opinion but the fact that BMW is purportedly shoving navigation down our throats while at the same time limiting performance oriented options (CF roof, etc., etc.) is enough to give any reasonable person cause for pause.
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      08-04-2015, 04:48 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Die ///M Rakete View Post
Agreed. Clearly the salesman is just stating his opinion but the fact that BMW is purportedly shoving navigation down our throats while at the same time limiting performance oriented options (CF roof, etc., etc.) is enough to give any reasonable person cause for pause.
I could also argue that the parts from the M3/4, such as the suspension, brakes and hopefully direct mounted subframe is more hardcore than the parts from the e9x M3.

No one will really know until the M2 is released.
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      08-04-2015, 07:49 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by W/// View Post
I could also argue that the parts from the M3/4, such as the suspension, brakes and hopefully direct mounted subframe is more hardcore than the parts from the e9x M3.

No one will really know until the M2 is released.
Well we should know in 2 weeks, November, or maybe Jan 16!?
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      08-05-2015, 08:50 AM   #21
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By the time people start getting M2's here in the States, GT350's will be more attainable without as big of markups.
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      08-05-2015, 10:01 AM   #22
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GT350 fuel mileage

Don't know if mpg estimates are available for the GT350, but while I have heard an M3/M4 is in the high 20s, a GT350 will be likely be in the high teens at best. My reference is an E60 M5 that rarely was in the high teens.

Update: EPA 14 City 21 Highway 16 Avg, easy to get into the single digits with the left foot.
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Last edited by bim2er; 09-01-2015 at 05:15 PM.. Reason: New info
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