///MBan said:
A couple of months ago I was at the stage where I was about to embark on some relatively major modifications on my Z4M coupe but wanted to make sure that my car was a 'keeper' before the point of no return. My friend has a pre-LCI M2 which I really like (he has a young child and manages the baby seat thing okay, BTW) and the Comp with the S55 has been really attractive to me for a while. So, I took a manual M2C for an extended test drive. I have to say that while the car is seriously fast and capable, it just didn't quite stack up as a replacement for my Z4M (having one in addition to the Z4 is another matter...). The gear shift action is probably worse than the Z4 and turbo lag is really apparent in the manual car (my friend's DCT M2 feels to have less lag), and, of course, the noise the S55 makes is pretty agricultural. So, despite being offered a pretty good price by the dealer, I declined and then went for a long blast in my Z4 and loved every minute of it. There really is no direct substitute.
This mostly echoes what I experienced with a DCT M4 Competition (F82) in comparison to my Z4MC. A friend let me had a quick B-road thrash in his a few weeks ago, while I thought it was extremely capable, much quicker than the Z4MC and very, very sharp handling it just didn't have the same sense of drama as my car.
Admittedly my car has nigh on obnoxiously loud exhausts (RPI) which sound AMAZING when you're on it which of course adds to the occasion when on a quick drive plus the S54's howl when upshifting at 8000 RPM or when executing a heel-toe downshift cannot be matched by the S55's, which does sound pretty good for a turbo'd motor, though I'm not sure if it pumps sound through the speakers..
The M4 had a very sharp and responsive front end, sharper than mine but mine had a bit better steering feel, it handles very, very well, is very quick and flexible, practical too and has huge potential when you start modding it.
I was driving it pretty hard, shifting at almost the redline, as it was on a twisty route I'm very familiar with but when I got out I didn't have that "I must have one!" feeling, I didn't feel shortchanged that I owned a Z4M and not an M4.. :idunno:
I'm sure though that much like the Z4M, both the M2 Competition and M4's are growers and owners will appreciate them better with experience as due to their substantial capabilities you need some time behind the wheel to get the best out of them.
I don't think there's a "correct" choice in the Z4M or M2 question. They do things a bit differently but they're both great to be honest.
. So I considering selling the Z4 and buying the M2 more practical yet still fun car?
