[j2dad5389]

I'm thinking about moving on from my F80 M3 sometime here in the near future and looking to move into a G8x. While the F80 is a blast and feels like it wants to kill you at all times, I'm looking for something a little more compliant. The roads down here in Austin, TX are absolute ass, and paired with the 20" 666m's, it's not a match made in heaven from a daily perspective.

And before anyone says anything ie maybe M cars aren't for you or look for a M40i variant, I don't want to leave M. I've had so many x35i's and x40i's and don't want to go back to them. Whatever they did with the G8x platform, it feels amazing from a suspension standpoint from the few times I've driven them. Sporty, yet still dailyable and comfortable.

I test-drove a g80 M3 and it was miles better than the f80 from a comfort perspective, while still retaining that sporty and stiff feeling. Haven't tried a G87 yet. I'm wondering if the G87's shorter wheelbase makes it harsher or if the difference is negligible. Cross-posting in the G80 forums after this to keep it fair and unbiased. Thanks, everyone. Best community ever!

[LeggoRacing]

Driven both and living in Austin I would say they’re similar. But I’m also used to track driving so a stiff ride doesn’t bother me too much. I’d wager to say the g87 has softer suspension than a m3 comp and lots of suspension travel. If you get one with factory HAS kit I’ll be a little stiffer than stock

[Vinknee]

I drove a G87 on MP HAS for a year in Brooklyn/Manhattan. It was definitely bit jarring over potholes and a bit “bouncy” at times but very tolerable, just have to be on the lookout for potholes as you do in any sports car, I personally had no problems

[j2dad5389]

Originally Posted by LeggoRacing

Driven both and living in Austin I would say they’re similar. But I’m also used to track driving so a stiff ride doesn’t bother me too much. I’d wager to say the g87 has softer suspension than a m3 comp and lots of suspension travel. If you get one with factory HAS kit I’ll be a little stiffer than stock

That’s relieving to hear. On another front and unrelated, do you ever find yourself missing some of the amenities that the g82 and g80 have? I wish the m2 had more options as far as packages and tech options, etc. . Kind of limited with paint choices and interior color too. I’m kind of big on that stuff lol. But at the end of the day it’s all about the drive anyway. If it drives good I could be sold on it.

[mike@x-ph.com]

the G87 is more fun to drive, but you lose out on the extra space.

its a matter of whats more important to you

[LeggoRacing]

Originally Posted by j2dad5389

That’s relieving to hear. On another front and unrelated, do you ever find yourself missing some of the amenities that the g82 and g80 have? I wish the m2 had more options as far as packages and tech options, etc. . Kind of limited with paint choices and interior color too. I’m kind of big on that stuff lol. But at the end of the day it’s all about the drive anyway. If it drives good I could be sold on it.

Yeah the m3/4 are more premium with options and all that. Hence the price difference. The g80 would likely be the best all around car but comes down to what you really want out of it. Find a dealer and drive them both. South Austin looks to have a few on the lot

[jas165]

See https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=30875046

[BIGW0RM]

I just went from a 22 G80 M3 to a 25 G87 M2 and I find the M2 to ride like sport felt in the M3. Its a bit jarring at times. I supose the shorter wheel base plays a part in that feeling.

The ride differences between comfort, sport and sport plus where much more noticable in the G80 M3 too. In my G87 M2, its not nearly as noticable.

[Dave07997S]

The G80 with its larger wheelbase I found was more forgiving.

[WWM3]

G80 and G87 drive similarly. G80 a little more comfortable, but the G87 still much more comfortable than my former F80 ZCP.

[jmg]

I've owned both a 2016 base F80 M3, F80 M3 CS, a G82 pre-LCI and now currently a 2025 G87 LCI.

The 2016 F80 M3 base model was a handful and indeed felt like it wanted to kill you.

The F80 M3 CS throttle response curve was changed and it improved, but still kept things very lively.

The G82 Pre-LCI was much improved as a daily driver, with more grip and a stiffer chassis. The car still tends to oversteer, thankfully, but didn't feel as peaky and dangerous. The G82's ceiling for performance is higher, but you also need to be closer to the limit than the F80 to really feel that excitement of high performance driving.

The G87 LCI, due to the shorter wheelbase seems, to me at least, to be the happy medium between the F80 and G80 M3/4. It's rear end is looser, the M2 seems to like to oversteer like the F80, but it's also a bit more controllable. The G87 and G82, unlike the F80, also now has the ability to fine tune how wild you want it with the M Traction Control variable settings. Overall, the car is more "fun" to street drive even when not at the limit.

As far as comfort, unlike the F87, the G87 M2 shares the same width as the big brother M4. So, front seating position is identical, and comfort is not affected in the front. The rear, however, is not suitable for adults for and extended period of time, as I find the ceiling much lower.

Ride harshness between the G82 and G87 is the same, as they share the same suspension components and the drive quality is identical. The longer wheelbase might make the G82 more stable at very high speeds, but you won't notice on street driving without breaking a few laws.

As a side note, the F87 is tighter in front, with the front seats a bit off-center. Personally, I did not find this distracting in the F87, but I only drove it on track and I did not live with it for extended periods of time on the street.

[JABCAT]

I've had my G87 for 13 months & 20k mi driving a good bit of time in Austin. Driving downtown can be harsh & a bit jarring. Personally, I feel the comfort chassis setting is too bouncy & the Sport+ will rattle your fillings out downtown. I drive almost always in Sport downtown & it's not bouncy, and just slightly less jarring than Sport+.

I just recently replaced the OE MPS4S with a set of Conti Extreme Contact DWS 06 (stock sizes) and that made the ride a little more compliant. I also have 15mm spacers on all corners & am at stock ride height.

When I start thinking the ride is harsh, I just hop in my wife's '22 X3MC with the 21" wheels & it rattles your brain even in comfort mode.

[OldButSmooth]

Having just traded my 2023 G87 M2 on a 2024 G80 I can give you my unbiased opinion on both cars.

The G87 M2 is a rawer driving experience, with the suspension in comfort setting the ride is still a little choppy with a tendency to feel every bump (more of a purist experience of old), not a bad thing just evident most of the time. The G80 is much smoother on the same pavement (I put this down to the longer wheelbase).

All n' all the cars remain similar as driver's cars, the thing is that the G80 does a great job of being a 330i daily driver until you choose to unleash the power of the M3. The M2 on the other hand remains an excellent 2+2 spots car that continues to punch above its intended weight.

Finally, I would conclude that the G80 especially in 6MT is the last of the genre and therefore the last of the iconic M3's that hark back to the original release in 1986.

Hope this may help.

[j2dad5389]

Originally Posted by OldButSmooth

Having just traded my 2023 G87 M2 on a 2024 G80 I can give you my unbiased opinion on both cars.

The G87 M2 is a rawer driving experience, with the suspension in comfort setting the ride is still a little choppy with a tendency to feel every bump (more of a purist experience of old), not a bad thing just evident most of the time. The G80 is much smoother on the same pavement (I put this down to the longer wheelbase).

All n' all the cars remain similar as driver's cars, the thing is that the G80 does a great job of being a 330i daily driver until you choose to unleash the power of the M3. The M2 on the other hand remains an excellent 2+2 spots car that continues to punch above its intended weight.

Finally, I would conclude that the G80 especially in 6MT is the last of the genre and therefore the last of the iconic M3's that hark back to the original release in 1986.

Hope this may help.

That helps a lot thanks. Is the g80 really that much more different? How would the g87 compare to the f80 if you have any experience in the latter?