[essiii]

Hi all, been away from the babybmw scene for a while, but currently considering whether an M2 Competition makes sense as my next vehicle...

I'm aware I'm chasing the impossible, but I'm wanting a car that makes me smile when I see it on the drive, can easily fit me, wife, 1 year old son and all associated tat for a day out/short break away, and will let me thrash it for a day on track without going into limp mode/lighting the dash up like a Christmas tree. I'm no pro driver, but I like to think I'm a pretty decent paced amateur!

I guess the hypothetical question is if you took a stock M2 Competition (I'd put Castrol SRF brake fluid in it) and tried to do a full day on track in it, at a proper pace;

• would the brakes quickly overheat and fade to nothing
• would any sort of road/track hybrid tyre get chewed up at the rear and scrubbed away at the front
• would the engine/transmission get so hot that the ECU puts you into some sort of limp mode

If anyone's got some real track experience in this car I'd love to hear it.

Then let's assume I wouldn't be able to leave it completely standard for long, because I've got that disease, any experience of manual vs auto transmission strength when it comes to remap? The Litchfield stage 1 map (520bhp with 510lbft) sounds pretty incredible, and I fancy a manual box, but my gut tells me that the manual clutch is less likely to put up with that than the auto box?

 

[padders]

Would you need to carry the 1 year old in the back? If so I'd say forget it.

 

[essiii]

Would you need to carry the 1 year old in the back? If so I'd say forget it.

Yeah, on occasion it'd be nice. Rear seats not roomy enough for a bulky kids seat?

 

[padders]

The 2 coupe is surprisingly small in the back, you can fit short 2 adults in (just) but access is pretty tricky and it is this that would concern me. You could do it I'm sure, I mean lots of our parents and grandparents managed with tiny 2 door cars in the 70s and 80s but it wouldn't be my first choice. It also probably isn't the best vehicle to keep a child happy, sleep for instance might be tricky with the ride and noise. I mean him not you!

 

[essiii]

The 2 coupe is surprisingly small in the back, you can fit short 2 adults in (just) but access is pretty tricky and it is this that would concern me. You could do it I'm sure, I mean lots of our parents and grandparents managed with tiny 2 door cars in the 70s and 80s but it wouldn't be my first choice. It also probably isn't the best vehicle to keep a child happy, sleep for instance might be tricky with the ride and noise. I mean him not you!

Yeah, all good points, taken on board. Realistically the volvo will remain on family duties for the most part, I just figured rear seats might give us an option that something like a cayman wouldn't. But maybe it's an option that would actually be pretty useless!

 

[padders]

If you are thinking Porker, There is always the 911*...



*Ok not a serious suggestion, there is even less room in the rear of those, even the latest 992 models which can at least fit an adult. They are also slower than a M2C unless you get something higher than the base model.

 

[Davey M]

I have used my M2 to ferry the kids pretty much daily since they were 2 . Once they are forward facing not really an issue. I think rearward facing seats would be hard work.

 

[massie8250]

I have used my M2 to ferry the kids pretty much daily since they were 2 . Once they are forward facing not really an issue. I think rearward facing seats would be hard work.

Exactly this, my son is 8 months and whilst we manage with a rear facing baby seat, very much looking forward to him being forward facing. I don't think the rear is particularly small, more than adequate for children. We also have a golf as a second "family" car, and it is only the 5 doors than make it more practical, the boot in the m2 is larger and better for transporting pram etc.

 

[mlcman]

A while ago I was at the exact same position you describe, dreaming of being able to manage this achievement of "daddy's fun car plus light daily kids duties" but after a "preview" with another 2-door 4-seater car before jumping in a M2C I decided I should just come to peace with the fact it would not be compatible with my requirements at this time of my life.

Granted I had two kids aged 2 and 6 to carry at the back but the biggest trouble was the little one anyway. The issues I came across: Carrying so little kids around is not the easiest most relaxed experience as you might know already. They often don't want to either get in or come out and trying to do that and secure them in place while bending from the front doors towards the back, pulling / pushing at the same time was not the best treatment for my lower back, or my nerves... Then as mentioned already a rear-facing seat is nearly impossible to fit unless the front passenger is really short but the trouble does not stop there as even when front-facing, the possibility of them soiling (that's the best case) or scratching/damaging the back of the nice Competition seats while getting in and out of the car is high.

At the end, I accepted that even though technically possible, the kids needs and habits at this age would create such a worrisome experience for me (did they scratch it? did they soil it? are they comfortable enough? should I put more strain on my lower back to convince them to come out? ) for a car that I would treat as a little bit more special, that it wasn't worth it trying to compromise everyone's experience, possibly ending in taking it out on them just because I wanted to have my cool car right now.


Just as a conclusion and not to be taken as a suggestion as I don't know your particular needs, I ended up with a 5-door M140i xDrive which after a few mods already done and a few more in my list is providing me more fun than I ever expected being not a true M car and all. I take care of it but I treat it will less obsession than I would a M2, the 5-doors are helping so much with entering/bucking them up/exiting, and the practicality of a hatch's boot is hard to beat, we even did a few full family drives in it already despite having another main family car. I am also taking it to the 'Ring this April having already visited a local track and having an amazing time. I would still love to have a M2C don't get me wrong, it's just become irrelevant until both kids are 6-7+ years old and can both behave themselves and need less stuff to go around.

 

[pem10]

Probably doesn't make sense for most of the reasons above.
On the other hand life is short so I say go for it.
My youngest was in the back of a Puma ( the original one) until he was 6.
Having said that I didn't care about it like I would a M2C😄

 

[CJ19]

No track experience yet from me, but regarding manual and kids….
I love my manual, I test drove both, to me the manual feels so much more involved (cliché I know, but it really does). I fitted the M performance gear knob by reusing the orange stitched boot and a plastic eBay clutch stop and it made it even better. It’s not the smoothest in 1st gear and sport+ throttle, but learning it’s ways is half the fun.
There’s also the added benefit that manuals are rarer and I hope it holds its value slightly better because of this.

Regarding the kiddies, we have three, 7 months, 4 and 5. I have two front facing iso-fix seats for the bigger kids. Admittedly, we also have a big family car that we use at weekends.
For me, the M2 is fine, you just have to remember the kids, for example, I’m considering suspension mod next but don’t want to go too low due to school speed humps.
It also depends on the kids, mine know they’re not allowed to touch daddies car, they also love being in it due to the “pop pop bang bang” as they call it 😂. They get in the back fine and I remind them not to touch anything orange when climbing in/out.
This all sounds like I’m proper strict, but the way they treat both cars is night and day, they also love going in my car so because they quickly learnt to respect it and they don’t go in it often, I’ll go on an extended drive home from school, back around the dual carriageway and give them a blast of acceleration and they’ll be giggling every time I lift of and the burbles kick in.

 

[essiii]

Appreciate all the input here guys. I didn't say, but we've got an XC90 that'll remain on family duties (2 dogs plus child) - the M2C would be 95% for my pleasure, I just didn't want to completely shoot myself in the tit by getting a 2 seater - sounds like it'll be usable for the odd father & son trip out when he's forward facing.

So, the more interesting stuff - track use! Seems like there's a fair few solutions to any track related brake issues, whether that's just uprated pads and fluid or going the whole hog with an Alcon/AP Racing kit. I guess it's just the transmission that concerns me - is 500 lbft of torque (after the inevitable remap) going to destroy a manual clutch.....

 

[CJ19]

I’ve not been watching Joe Achilles M2 track car build, but I know his is a manual, he might have a video on his YouTube channel that’s relevant?
Another point is manuals are a lot more common in the US and there’s a lot of M2’s pushing some serious HP and torque on the US forums, maybe worth a scout around.

 

[essiii]

Just to wrap this up.... ended up putting down a deposit on a 2018 M4, collecting it next week. Cheaper than an M2 comp, barely any heavier, bit roomier in the back, some trick bits like carbon roof and HUD. Cheers for the input received!

 

[CJ19]

Very nice, congrats essiii. Post a pic and let us know what you think of it.
I considered a F80 M3 myself. But with all three “little darlings” still in either boosters or car seats, we still wouldn’t have used it when we all went somewhere, so didn’t see the point. Maybe when they’re older, out of seats and the prices have dropped (considerably) I’ll consider the new M3 touring.