[wj100]

I have an incoming G87 and this is the first time I've ordered a car without test driving it first. For those who were in the same boat, did you test drive your M2 before signing the paperwork, or just trust you were going to be happy with it?

I've had M cars before and the owner feedback and reviews are obviously positive, but it feels strange not driving before buying.

Current owners, what did you do? Thanks...

[kimchee411]

Rented it on Turo. Just took a look for you and there's a 6MT in Falls Church.

[menikmati]

CarMax also allows for 24-hour test drives if there is one near you that has it in-stock.

I have never personally done it but it may be an option.

[Squidget]

You can also try and test drive a g80. It's 80% the same (interior, electronics, braking, etc.). Then just imagine a car like that, but slightly smaller, more nimble and tossable, slightly less fast in a straight line.

There are other differences at the limits, but most of them wouldn't be things you could sense in simple test drive anyway.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by wj100

I have an incoming G87 and this is the first time I've ordered a car without test driving it first. For those who were in the same boat, did you test drive your M2 before signing the paperwork, or just trust you were going to be happy with it?

I've had M cars before and the owner feedback and reviews are obviously positive, but it feels strange not driving before buying.

Current owners, what did you do? Thanks...

No test drive. I was quite sure I would be happy with M2.

At my age I have owned a fair number of cars over the years and have yet to find one I couldn't stand. I get the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel set and I'm good. Sure some of them I test drove. Some I could have but didn't. But those that I drove just confirmed what I already believed would be the case. The car would be just fine. And those I didn't test drive proved to be just fine, too.

Yeah, after some miles I may sour on a car but enough miles that a test drive would not help. If a test drive included a service visit then maybe...

My lesson is if I feel a car no longer suits me for whatever reason to find a replacement ASAP. The car I no longer desire will never be worth as much as it is at the moment.

It so happens the M2 was fine during my post purchase test drive. Which wasn't enough of a test drive to know anything about the car other than it was driveable. Just a 1/2 mile to/from a gas station to let the salesman pay to fill up the fuel tank. And on one of the worst roads I've ever been on. I swear the Dakar Rally committee would have rejected the road as being too bad.

But I had a nearly 200 mile drive home. By the time I got home I had to hug the car before I walked away and closed the garage door.

[DSTR]

No test drive at all. Im beyond pleased. Enjoy it! I didnt test my 17 M2 either lol

[BigKutta]

I never drove an M2 before I bought my F87. The thousands of reviews on Youtube had me assured I would love the car. However, when it did arrive, I did drive it a couple of miles to make sure there were no obvious issues with the car. Then I went in for the paperwork (deposit was already down beforehand of course)

[Aramis1919]

Never driven an M2, but I did enjoy a test drive of the new G42 M240i X-drive before buying.

I was surprised how quick and torquey it was.

[DrewNewM2]

I test drove a few G80s and then recently found a used G87 and test drove at dealer. I would probably buy even without test driving though.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by Aramis1919

Never driven an M2, but I did enjoy a test drive of the new G42 M240i X-drive before buying.

I was surprised how quick and torquey it was.

Dont expect the stock G87 to be a torquey as the G42 M240...let me rephrase that, the stock G42 M240 has more torque than the stock G87. It will definitely have more jump out of the hole than the G87. If you are tuning the G87, that is a different story.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

I never drove an M2 before I bought my F87. The thousands of reviews on Youtube had me assured I would love the car. However, when it did arrive, I did drive it a couple of miles to make sure there were no obvious issues with the car. Then I went in for the paperwork (deposit was already down beforehand of course)

After I bought my M2 I drove from the dealer to a hotel/restaurant some nearly 5 miles away from the dealer. That was my test drive. I was hungry sure but it also gave me a chance to experience the car to ensure there were no issues.

After a meal then I had another nearly 5 miles drive back when I passed the dealer and another 5 miles drive east before I reached the exit to take I49 south which aimed me towards home.

[Ravenseal]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

Dont expect the stock G87 to be a torquey as the G42 M240...let me rephrase that, the stock G42 M240 has more torque than the stock G87. It will definitely have more jump out of the hole than the G87. If you are tuning the G87, that is a different story.

The G42 doesn’t have “more torque” than the G87. The engines are tuned differently. Don’t make stupid misrepresentations.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by Ravenseal

The G42 doesn’t have “more torque” than the G87. The engines are tuned differently. Don’t make stupid misrepresentations.

Ok, the G42 is tuned to have more low end torque which gets out of the hole faster. How is that, make you happy?

[sl0m0]

Drove a g80 and g82, knew the shorter wheel base would be nothing but an improvement. I love the car, have no regrets about not driving one before.

Definitely check turro or CarMax or something, but I don't think you will be disappointed.

[Squidget]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

Ok, the G42 is tuned to have more low end torque which gets out of the hole faster. How is that, make you happy?

The second part is still not technically true. Getting off the line is traction limited. Xdrive is what gives it an advantage 0-60.

But yeah, low-end torque does make the G42 more "civilized" and easier to drive around town, since you can stay at lower revs.

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by Squidget

The second part is still not technically true. Getting off the line is traction limited. Xdrive is what gives it an advantage 0-60.

But yeah, low-end torque does make the G42 more "civilized" and easier to drive around town, since you can stay at lower revs.

This, plus it’s not a difference in “tune” in the sense that the engines are physically different, so the S58 has less low-end torque because it has two larger turbos, as opposed to one smaller turbo that spools up faster and dies earlier.
Plus, the S58 has much lower compression ration than the B58, which makes it naturally less energetic before boost comes in.

[akumachu]

I actually got to test drive the G87 back in April when the first one arrive at a dealer that I talked to before. I had about 20 minutes on it during a lunch hour and plenty of traffic without much open road in Boston area.

I couldn't tell much from it except experienced the sales person didn't know how to turn off the fan on the iDrive screen.

I do autocross so I knew that there is no way to actually *learn* enough about the car on a test drive but I wanted to drive it anyway

My allocation is in now and expecting it in late October, just in time for the winter so I won't be *learning* much about it until next autocross season.

[Aramis1919]

Autocar magazine UK tested a 2023 M440I X-Drive 8 sped ZF auto and 2023 M2 with a 6 speed manual box recently.

The figures are interesting. For example, with both cars running in 6th gear the M2 marginally shorter geared at 27 MPH/1000 RPM compared to the M440i at 27.5 MPH/1000 RPM.

40-60......440i/4.8......M2/7.5
50-70......440i/4.9......M2/6.8
60-80......440i/5.2......M2/5.6
70-90......440i/5.3......M2/4.9
80-100....440i/5.4......M2 5.1

As expected, the B58 M440i pulls harder until the revs rise when the M2 takes over at about 90 MPH.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by Aramis1919

Autocar magazine UK tested a 2023 M440I X-Drive 8 sped ZF auto and 2023 M2 with a 6 speed manual box recently.

The figures are interesting. For example, with both cars running in 6th gear the M2 marginally shorter geared at 27 MPH/1000 RPM compared to the M440i at 27.5 MPH/1000 RPM.

40-60......440i/4.8......M2/7.5
50-70......440i/4.9......M2/6.8
60-80......440i/5.2......M2/5.6
70-90......440i/5.3......M2/4.9
80-100....440i/5.4......M2 5.1

As expected, the B58 M440i pulls harder until the revs rise when the M2 takes over at about 90 MPH.

Comparing a 8AT to a manual is not really much of a comparison that I would put any credence in.

[M_Power Rob]

My point when comparing the G42 vs G87 and sayingbthe G42 has more low end torque is this....

If you look at a dyno chart for each (or valid specs), where is the max torque reading and at what rpm (an actual dyno chart works best for visual). Its also best to compare apples to apples...from what can be found online (not a P1 owners dyno figures) are of a G42 RWD and G87 8AT. I believe mist specs that are out for the G42 are for the xdrive but it has torque maxing out at 369 @1800rpm, G87 is 405 @2650rpm. The G42 will pull harder and get the jump on the G87 out of the hole (from a true launch from break, not rolling).

[Aramis1919]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

Comparing a 8AT to a manual is not really much of a comparison that I would put any credence in.

Provided the gearing is the same (which it is) I would say it is a direct comparison.

It's not that surprising. The twin turbo M2 lump thrives on revs. The B58 is more of a 'stump puller'

[M_Power Rob]

What can a tune do? I have a 2018 B9 S5. The stock torque is 369 @1370 rpm. My car has the following: AWE intake and intercooler, exhaust, highflow catted downpipe, turbo inlet with stage 2 tune and tcu tune. Here is my dyno chart (it is custom tuned by a local tuner for the streets "stop light to stop light"):