[RMB]

Originally Posted by Good 4 2 reasons

The manual shifter feel complaints from automotive press always amuse me. In order to have a better connected shifter, it requires removing materials designed to reduce NVH. People are right that the manual shifter in older cars was better. The NVH was also significantly worse. NVH would be the first complaint from the automotive press if a 70k luxury car had a more connected feeling manual transmission. In fact, I would argue that car does exist, the base 718 Cayman. Unless you are an enthusiast, most people would complain about the NVH riding in a 718 Cayman. BMW is trying to strike a balance between performance car and touring car. Would I sacrifice some NVH for a more connected manual gearbox, yes, but us forum members are in the minority of BMW customers.

That is a great point. Every review talks about the “analog” sports car experience. The NVH is there to make you feel more connected with your car…. A true visceral, old school experience. However, I personally would not enjoy having that type of car to commute in or drive on a daily basis. Not to mention it is difficult to be able to exploit that cars potential without going to jail on public roads. I don’t have a bank account large enough to track and write off a $400k car, and with the way people drive on public streets I don’t want to drive anything too expensive. Hence, BMW makes a very well rounded performance car and I am happy for that.

[ourlee]

Originally Posted by RMB

That is a great point. Every review talks about the “analog” sports car experience. The NVH is there to make you feel more connected with your car…. A true visceral, old school experience. However, I personally would not enjoy having that type of car to commute in or drive on a daily basis. Not to mention it is difficult to be able to exploit that cars potential without going to jail on public roads. I don’t have a bank account large enough to track and write off a $400k car, and with the way people drive on public streets I don’t want to drive anything too expensive. Hence, BMW makes a very well rounded performance car and I am happy for that.

This. I’m still honeymooning but by summer I’ll be parking this thing in Philly without a care in the world. And I test drove a manual and auto in 2023, my 25 is WAY faster (still in break in)

[M2M3M3]

Originally Posted by RMB

That is a great point. Every review talks about the “analog” sports car experience. The NVH is there to make you feel more connected with your car…. A true visceral, old school experience. However, I personally would not enjoy having that type of car to commute in or drive on a daily basis. Not to mention it is difficult to be able to exploit that cars potential without going to jail on public roads. I don’t have a bank account large enough to track and write off a $400k car, and with the way people drive on public streets I don’t want to drive anything too expensive. Hence, BMW makes a very well rounded performance car and I am happy for that.

common misconception that using a car on a road course track is more risky than driving the car on public streets. it is actually WAY safer and less risky than using a car on the street. are you driving faster? yes. BUT...YOU are in control, not the soccer mom texting in her minivan. there is far less traffic on a track. everyone is going the same direction. most tracks have nothing hard to hit if you go off a little. the other drivers have the same goal as you do. there are controlled rules about passing. the newbies have instructors in the right seat. you only have to go as fast as you are comfortable with. it is NOT racing.

HPDE track driving is massively less risk to driver and car than anything done on the street, especially "canyon carving".

and...it is light years more fun than ANYTHING you can do on the street.

[Bumpinjeep]

To add more fuel to the LCI power update fire, according to Motor Trend themselves, the pre LCI car is faster.
... but the real apples-to-apples is versus the 2023 manual M2 we ran through our gauntlet before, which hit 60 in 3.8 seconds (0.2 second quicker) while completing the quarter in 12.2 at 118.7 mph (0.1 second quicker and 0.2 mph faster).

Which is even more odd because those cars should weigh more since they technically have more features.

Of course the difference is negligible, one dip, or a slope in the road, or some pebble and you'd think one car for sure has more power because it's faster and I would bet in the real world, LCI & pre LCI perform identically (6 speed cars, the torque bump *should* benefit acceleration.

I think what we should all appreciate is the fact that unlike its direct competition, BMW still makes a tried and true manual, RWD, little muscle car that can do it all, track time, canyon carving, date night, parking lot pimpin. In an age where boring SUVs, electric vehicles, and sports cars that come with an auto only, we have a true, luxury DTM missile that you can option just about any way you like, even with a sunroof.

[junx]

Despite all of these rave reviews, I’ve literally only seen one of these in my city since it’s release.

[Saigonheat84]

Originally Posted by junx

Despite all of these rave reviews, I’ve literally only seen one of these in my city since it’s release.

That's better because every time one M2 roll by it get all the attention.

[two_three_two]

Originally Posted by junx

Despite all of these rave reviews, I’ve literally only seen one of these in my city since it’s release.

F87 was the best selling M car of all time and i still only see a small handful in the wild a year.

[techwhiz1]

Originally Posted by junx

Despite all of these rave reviews, I’ve literally only seen one of these in my city since it’s release.

I've only seen two IRL on the road.
We do have a few of them where I worked and I've seen them parked.

We also have a contingent of GT3 Porche owners along with Ferrari, McLaren and just about everything else

[600]

Originally Posted by two_three_two

F87 was the best selling M car of all time and i still only see a small handful in the wild a year.

Same. I have probably seen

[TrentMeister]

Originally Posted by hoyasaxa

That’s not lane centering you’re describing. You’re describing lane departure. Lane centering means you can take your hands completely off the wheel and the car will remain in the dead center of the lane without ping ponging back and forth.

Only autos get that feature.

[N54sDUSTxi]

Originally Posted by jmg

I'm currently in a loaner which does not have an iDrive controller... all touch. It's horrid. Like the worst thing I have ever witnessed in any loaner car. I hate it with a passion and whomever thought it was a good idea to lose the controller needs to be fired. The iDrive in the '25 M2 is heaven in comparison, but if BMW is leaning towards losing the iDrive controller in the future, I think that is a horrible horrible direction.

People said the same thing about BMW when they invented user toggled screens & iDrive button, which they still have pattoned. At this point, maybe we let bmw be the specialist