[FryCookOnVenus]

I'm on the waitlist for a G87 and don't want to end up starring in a YouTube video titled, "Idiot BMW Bro Wrecks His New M2!"

I currently drive a Mk7 GTI 6spd which is fun, but it's FWD and only 230hp. The M2 will be my first properly fast car and the first RWD I've owned in almost 20 years. Any advice on what to expect and how to adapt?

Will it be like a Dodge Viper, trying to kill me if I lift off in a corner? Will it be like a Mustang exiting Cars and Coffee, hellbent on destroying the nearest telephone pole if I give too much throttle?

I enjoy spirited driving and am a good driver (aren't we all??) in the sense that I'm conscientious, take the responsibility seriously, and have decent situational awareness, vision and coordination from a lifetime of competitive sports, but I don't know much about managing the dynamics of a car like this and want to be safe and responsible, while enjoying what the car can do.

Any advice on what to expect? Other than visiting a driving school or getting some track time, any recommendations on how to safely learn the behavior and limits of a car that could cause some trouble in the wrong hands?

Thanks, and hope to see you out there!

[Xspeedracer]

You are definitely a candidate for a HPDE track school event with an instructor

[M_Power Rob]

Well, yes, it will be much different than a 230hp FWD car.

It wont be your friend in the snow.

Its not a V8 so you wont sound like a mustange coming out of C&C but it should (I say should since I haven't driven it yet) handle better.

I have an Audi S5 tuned to 560 torque so I can guve those Stangs a run fir their mo ey in a stop light to stop light challange but the S5 is AWD (a different format than the XDrive). I also have the M240 and have kicked the back end out playing around. The bigger meat in the back of the M2 should help a little there.

Bottom line, you will just need to drive it and get used to it (what it can and cant do and how to best handle it's power).

[Xspeedracer]

Had a 2003 GTI 1.8T track car with 270WHP lots of track experience as well but still in the same boat going from Fwd to Rwd with more power should be lots of fun

[BRAKE!]

Keep traction on while you’re getting used to the car and it should be fine.

Smooth inputs always - whether it be throttle or steering. The more jerky, the more you’ll break traction. Having said that these cars are tuned so that you can correct oversteer

I think you’ll be very surprised how much grip these cars have (despite what many say) and how intuitive it is to correct oversteer. Chassis tuning is amazing from factory

[GrannyShiftG80]

keep dsc on

[DBV]

First off, congrats on the preorder, any word on when your car is scheduled to arrive?

I would suggest getting acquainted with RWD in general. Perhaps rent a mustang or something with enough grunt (V8?) to get you used to being pushed rather than pulled, as is with FWD. That would give you a good idea of the dynamics of RWD and how they differ from FWD.

As mentioned, an HPDE or similar will give you a chance to edge your way towards the limits of a RWD platform, while still having the safety net of a closed course to play with.

You've got some time on your hands until the M2 gets here, use it to try out all kinds of cars you can get your hands on (advice I'd give anybody actually to improve their driving skills and situation awareness). Borrow friends' cars, rent cars, go for test drives.

The biggest mod but also the biggest detriment to an enjoyable driving experience is driver skill. Improve that, and you will have a better time!

[IronEgg]

I have same concern before getting hands on the g82 m4 as it is also my first rwd car. However after owning it for nearly 2 years, I gotta say it is really safe in the rain and winter if you have the right tires and dsc on. So no worries buddy.

[jimmyrp]

Another option instead of HPDE would be an intro to autocross course, or actual autocross events. Where I'm at, we have a two day event for people new to autocross. Both options would be good.

You seem like you're conscious enough about things that it won't be an issue. But if you are being an idiot, and you don't have experience being past the limit in a rwd car, you can do some damage.

Catching/saving a car when it's past the limit is all muscle memory, meaning you need to have a lot of experience being in those situations, to be able to react accordingly on the street. The only way to safely get that experience, is either HPDE or autocross. So if you do want to have a little fun on the streets (on empty streets/back roads), you'll be a lot safer if you have a good amount of events under your belt.

[CodeSlinger]

Speaking as someone who went from ~150hp FWD -> 320hp RWD -> 435hp RWD in a couple of years you really just need to respect the car. Don't floor it on a corner in wet conditions, don't turn traction off if you aren't on a track or an area with lots of runoff and always have the right tires for your situation.

Ultimately you can do just as much damage in a Mitsubishi Mirage if you drive it with no regard for yourself or others.

[zero21]

Thank you for being honest and posting something slightly vulnerable. It's high time more people are honest with themselves and others to highlight knowledge sharing and training.

Too many people think they're amazing drivers and/or have incredible talent that do not. Education and training are key - take a stick-shift course, get some track time, etc.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by zero21

Thank you for being honest and posting something slightly vulnerable. It's high time more people are honest with themselves and others to highlight knowledge sharing and training.

Too many people think they're amazing drivers and/or have incredible talent that do not. Education and training are key - take a stick-shift course, get some track time, etc.

Yup...all it takes is money to purchase a Tesla Plaid but how many of the people purchasing them have the ability or know how to drive a 1,000hp car that handles like a piece of crap.

[bitcore]

Originally Posted by Allenssmart

keep dsc on

This is the way. Don't turn traction control off unless you are in a very wide open, safe space where spinning out of control won't harm anyone else or yourself.

Go to a high performance driving school.

[kyrix1st]

I would say the opposite. Keeping the DSC off is the only way to finding out the true balance of the car. I am appalled by how many think 400+bhp is slow when all they are doing is killing power from abrupt throttle & subsequent DSC engagement.

[bitcore]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

I would say the opposite. Keeping the DSC off is the only way to finding out the true balance of the car. I am appalled by how many think 400+bhp is slow when all they are doing is killing power from abrupt throttle & subsequent DSC engagement.

True, you don't know what sliding is like until you disable the safety nets.

This is why you go to a high performance driving school: to learn how this behavior occurs in a safe manner with guidance from instructors - instead of "trying it out" on a street with pedestrians, other motorists, and hazards.

These are 2 ton blocks of metal. They can, and do, kill. Imagine spinning out, smashing into a curb, and rolling over a pedestrian. Manslaughter. Let alone the thought of a $70K total loss due to willful reckless driving - that's hard enough pill to swallow for many.

Leave traction control on (edit: on the streets), until you *know* what you are getting into and have practice recovering from a loss of traction.

Have fun, be safe.

[driz]

I'm in the same boat, switching from a Megane RS3 to the M2. First things I will do is do training and trying to find an open place where I can test limits before I even start thinking to go the track.

[deladude]

Autocrosses are a great way to get to know your car and how to handle it at its limits. Its certainly not the same as proper track time/training but they are much more accessible for most folks.

I also love getting my cars on a frozen lake to really understand the handling dynamics when traction is at a premium. Up here in VT we often have a snowcross courses setup at some point on Lake Champlain, and its amazing fun.

Join up with your local sports car club and have some fun

[Xspeedracer]

What it comes down to is be safe be aware and it’s not a Mustang at a car show don’t drive it like one on the road keep the high speed antics to the track period

[FryCookOnVenus]

Originally Posted by DBV

First off, congrats on the preorder, any word on when your car is scheduled to arrive?

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about my question. To answer yours . . .

According to my dealer, I am second on the list. He thinks I'll be able to drive off around October or November. We'll see!

[dominoM]

Getting to this a little late. I drove two consecutive RWD M cars as daily drivers for about 15 years in the Colorado front range area. I had limited garage space and funds at the time, and I was dedicated and good at driving in the snow. The one thing that is absolutely necessary is dedicated snow tires, such as Bridgestone Blizzaks or similar (there are a lot of good winter performance tires to choose from these days). My preference was to have a set of winter wheels and tires, preferably in a slightly smaller size (on my 1M I ran 235s all around). You can probably search around the M forums for some common choices. Having said that, I've been in an X3 for a daily as of late (kids and dogs), and now have space and funds so the M2 will be my warmer-weather car.

[Beenz]

It is so refreshing to see a question like this, we were all there once.
Most of the advice already posted is pretty good… don’t drive like a tool, leave the nanny aides on, do some courses to find your own limits before finding the car’s limits…

Something more specific for you, in addition to all the above… you will find the increase HP and RWD will break traction on lower throttle inputs as compared to a lower HP FWD. But the resolution is the same, which is take your foot off it!
Once you learn the car a bit more you should find that you can get back onto the throttle slightly earlier in the RWD, as the physics arnt fighting FWD understeer. But you will need to be gentler/ smoother with the throttle reapplication so as to avoid oversteer.

Have fun but not too much fun 😁

[LTJohn]

2 Bits of Advice:

1)Driving School. (Radford Racing or similar) and then some HPDEs. Great fun.

2) don't screw around on the streets. Modern cars like the M line are faster than pure race cars were just a few years ago. And streets have not been designed with run-off room.

Side note: you learn by mistakes, so you need to do this away from others. Hence, enrolling in a driving school!