[MPR]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Was ur xi stick? Wow i had a chance to buy a s2k 4 years ago. White on red. Red top. It was pristine. Shifter felt so strong and nice.

No, it was an auto -- my wife couldn't drive manual and I had to get a car that she was able to drive.

White and red was a good combo, my buddy had one. I don't think there was ever a red top. Do you mean white paint / red interior?

The transmission was awesome in that car, Honda did a great job on the S2000. I really hope they bring it back. The F20C engine was a beast, forged internals and at the time was (maybe still?) the highest power production naturally aspirated motor @ 120 hp per liter.

[2one3E90]

Originally Posted by MPR

No, it was an auto -- my wife couldn't drive manual and I had to get a car that she was able to drive.

White and red was a good combo, my buddy had one. I don't think there was ever a red top. Do you mean white paint / red interior?

The transmission was awesome in that car, Honda did a great job on the S2000. I really hope they bring it back. The F20C engine was a beast, forged internals and at the time was (maybe still?) the highest power production naturally aspirated motor @ 120 hp per liter.

Crazy. I know it mustve been a beast. But a 328i na prob felt fun to riigjt?

[MPR]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Crazy. I know it mustve been a beast. But a 328i na prob felt fun to riigjt?

It was a good daily driver I guess, just had nothing exciting about it. Maybe it was the x-drive, or me comparing it to the S2000 I had immediately before it.

[dragonsi]

Hopefully it will be released with a manual in a few years

[dragonsi]

Originally Posted by 2one3E90

Crazy. I know it mustve been a beast. But a 328i na prob felt fun to riigjt?

The N52 was SLOW.

[redcars]

One of the cars I miss the most is my Integra. It was light and nimble. You floored it and worked the 5 speed in everyday traffic. The 230i and M240i are both too heavy, but cars under 3,000 lbs are probably gone forever.

[MPR]

Originally Posted by redcars

One of the cars I miss the most is my Integra. It was light and nimble. You floored it and worked the 5 speed in everyday traffic. The 230i and M240i are both too heavy, but cars under 3,000 lbs are probably gone forever.

That car was fun, too. I had a 97 Integra GS-R, which was stolen and stripped. I upgraded to the S2000 with my insurance payout.

[GWIZ]

My 230i only goes 155mph.

[Fahfoofnik]

In the middle of month 2 of owning a 230i. Coming from a manual gearbox (Mini Cooper S), I do at times miss having the 3rd pedal. Other times, when in city or suburban traffic, it's a relief to not have to row my own. The trans is really good in this -- best automatic I've driven.

The 255hp is more than enough; personally I'll never "need" more power than that. My short commute in the suburbs & that I don't track this car puts it in the sweet spot for me.

This is my first (true) BMW, and for the price -- the 230i has the best combination of power, speed, and luxury/comfort/techonology plus sportiness I wanted. The price was at the limit of what I could afford. Sure, the xDrive would've been great in this climate, but outside of 3 years I've lived in the Midwest my entire life and have both never had snow tires nor all wheel drive: no issues without either.

For the 4 years I'll own it -- and right now -- "no ragerts." So much fun to drive, and seems like I get a compliment from someone every time I drive it (must be the Thundernight color).

[desertspotter]

imho, the key in the 230i is balance.

it's not the fastest but it's pretty fast
it's not light, but in the G42 range is one of the lightest and compared with M240i about 100kg less almost all of them in the front axle.

For me, the mayor caveat for the 230i it's the B48 engine sound, it's not really good.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by CarsAndGuitars

In 2014 to avoid buyers remorse, my wife *made me* get the larger Hemi Scat Pack (392 / 6.4L vs the 5.7). After 3 years, I got a little tired of keeping on top of it all the time, and went to an Audi A5. I gave up the power for manners. Talk about engineering out the fun.

I didnt have many regrets getting out of the Challenger itself, but counted the days till I got out of my Audi lease 5 months early.

My new 240 is in the same league as the Dodge in straightline (maybe exceeds it) and I can easily state is the best car I have owned in 40+ years of driving.

Bought a Challenger Scat Pack in Dec. 2017. Two months later for reasons that seem nonsense now I traded it in for a 2018 Hellcat.

Fast forward to Nov. 2020 and I traded in the Hellcat for a 2020 Scat Pack this time with a 6-speed manual.

Put just over 8K miles on the Scat Pack -- but was never that happy with it although I liked it better than the Hellcat -- and read a review in the WSJ on the 2022 BMW 230i. Sounded like the car for me. Traded in the Scat Pack for the BMW 230i.

Liking the 230i very much. Would be perfect if it could be had with a manual. But the auto is nice enough.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by desertspotter

imho, the key in the 230i is balance.

it's not the fastest but it's pretty fast
it's not light, but in the G42 range is one of the lightest and compared with M240i about 100kg less almost all of them in the front axle.

For me, the mayor caveat for the 230i it's the B48 engine sound, it's not really good.

Think you nailed it. Balance.

Have you experimented with the engine sound settings?

[snb3]

I could wait for a 230 or wait longer for a 240. We also had an e46 325 & e90 328, both autotragics. I don't disagree w/ 240 vs 230 either way.

I do not equate 328 vs 335 = 230 vs 240. The 230i is comparable to the 135/335. Those were more than fast enough for me. Only time I would need the 240 would be when I'm asking to hurt myself.

[Hoody007]

Originally Posted by snb3

I could wait for a 230 or wait longer for a 240. We also had an e46 325 & e90 328, both autotragics. I don't disagree w/ 240 vs 230 either way.

I do not equate 328 vs 335 = 230 vs 240. The 230i is comparable to the 135/335. Those were more than fast enough for me. Only time I would need the 240 would be when I'm asking to hurt myself.

I agree. To be honest my old 330Ci (225 HP) was more than enough to get in trouble with.

But that straight-6 is SO nice…

[GWIZ]

Don't buy a car you think you'll regret! Like more power? Get the M240ix. Like more agility? Get the 230i. You can't go wrong with either as long as you know what brings you driving satisfaction the most.

[azuki]

Originally Posted by GWIZ

Don't buy a car you think you'll regret! Like more power? Get the M240ix. Like more agility? Get the 230i. You can't go wrong with either as long as you know what brings you driving satisfaction the most.

Well said! End the 230i/M240 debate! I don't think I ever drove past 100mph in my entire life...oh wait I did once in nevada when i was in a road trip from dallas to cali 15 years ago.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by dragonsi

The N52 was SLOW.

Yes it was and thirsty in city driving. Nice sounding engine, generally solid (Sans VANOS solenoids and typical E chassis leaky oil gaskets) and good mileage in highway sprints.

But yes the N52 NA 6 in line was a bit slow off the line. I also believe the competent but otherwise unremarkable GM derived 6 speed automatic held the engine back even more.

[zinner]

Originally Posted by MPR

If I bought a 230 I would regret not getting the 240 every day

If you got the 240 you would regret not getting the M2.

[meyer1son]

Originally Posted by zinner

If you got the 240 you would regret not getting the M2.

That’s funny 😄

[MPR]

Originally Posted by zinner

If you got the 240 you would regret not getting the M2.

I wouldn't, either would my bank account. It's too big of a jump in price for a marginal jump in performance; I don't track my car so what it would give me is irrelevant. If it was an extra $5k, then I'd possibly go for it just because.

[donnyfontaine]

Originally Posted by zinner

If you got the 240 you would regret not getting the M2.

A 130hp jump is worth a little under $10k for me, another jump of 40hp or so (plus stuff that makes it a better track car and worse daily car) is not worth the extra $15-20k the M2 will cost

I do think bmw have done great with this range and making a few different great options for distinct use cases

[buckybadger]

M240i of M2 over base 230i any day.
The base version is going to be slightly lighter and nimble, but overall not as exciting as the more powerful variants in different driving conditions.