[cbertels]

The bummer is no one does a great job providing a loaded luxury car in a small package. For example, maybe I want all the plush ride and tech gadgetry of the 8 series, S class, etc. without having to pilot a barge. The 4-series may be capable, but I can't get rear seat heating or the highest-end audio option? Maybe it's hard to justify 100k for a smaller sedan comparing them to the lengthy higher-tier counterparts.

[VIERsr]

Originally Posted by harcos

Here a comparison article about RS3/A45/240i :
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-re...edes-amg-a45s/

This is one of the most exhaustive reviews ever done on these cars.
I've never driven the A45S, but I agree with them about the RS3 and M240i.

At first, the Audi wows you with its great and iconic sounding engine and seems like a rocket on wheels, but after a while when you start to push really hard you clearly feel some flaws, such as the annoying turbo-lag, the dated gearbox, the heavy nose and the strange behavior of the 4WD system too governed by electronics and little by mechanics, sometimes understeering, sometimes oversteering, sometimes neutral, never the same, all but predictable and definitely front biased. Exciting at the beginning and always very fast, but boring and not much entertaining after a while, too "fake".

The BMW is totally the opposite, it feels very composed right away and may seem slow, dull, but when you really start driving you discover a beautifully balanced chassis, a RWD feel with no gimmick driving modes to activate and a real mechanical interaction, and the well known lovely straight 6, strong but gentle and always ready to push (but in a softer way than Audi's angry 5-pot). It definitely requires more time to be discovered and appreciated.
And yes, a well-tuned torque converter transmission can be better than a dated dual-clutch box.

In any case, I don't see any possible comparison to the M4 or 8 Series; they're too far apart in terms of performance and handling (M4) and luxury (8er), respectively. The only common point is that all three are small and uncomfortable in the back seats, despite their size.

[Beemer5to3]

Anyone who's saying the M240 / 2 series is comparable to the 8 clearly have never driven one. M240i is clearly a fantastic car which serves a purpose, but I'd not be trading my 8 for one at any point.

[GOLFFRR]

baby 8

[J400uk]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

Anyone who's saying the M240 / 2 series is comparable to the 8 clearly have never driven one. M240i is clearly a fantastic car which serves a purpose, but I'd not be trading my 8 for one at any point.

Sorry but you have a 520d so I'm not sure how you're qualified to comment on this?

As mentioned in my earlier post I've agreed to trade in my 8 for a new M240i. Admittedly I've not driven the latter yet, but I've had an F23 M240i and lengthy drive in a new M440i so I've got a fairly good idea of what to expect...

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by J400uk

Sorry but you have a 520d so I'm not sure how you're qualified to comment on this?

As mentioned in my earlier post I've agreed to trade in my 8 for a new M240i. Admittedly I've not driven the latter yet, but I've had an F23 M240i and lengthy drive in a new M440i so I've got a fairly good idea of what to expect...

I've clearly not updated my profile then! I've got a G15 840i and I've had a go in the new 2, albeit a 220i - lovely little car, and the M240i will be a fantastic car, but completely chalk and cheese with an 8 was the point that I was making…two very different cars that serve very different purposes, so comparing the two is a bit daft.

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

I've clearly not updated my profile then! I've got a G15 840i and I've had a go in the new 2, albeit a 220i - lovely little car, and the M240i will be a fantastic car, but completely chalk and cheese with an 8 was the point that I was making…two very different cars that serve very different purposes, so comparing the two is a bit daft.

Which totally different purposes do they serve then?

[Beemer5to3]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Which totally different purposes do they serve then?

The 8 series is a comfortable luxury GT car, the M240i is a small sports coupe. Can't really put it more simply than that?

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

The 8 series is a comfortable luxury GT car, the M240i is a small sports coupe. Can't really put it more simply than that?

The M240i weights as much as a luxury GT these days which is an impedement for tossing, but brings composure while cruising. It's not really smaller than the 8 series, in fact it can host 2 passengers on the back seat more easily. It has the better engine and Xdrive and the more recent transmission. I fail to see where the 8 series would justify its premium.

Agree, the 8 series doesn't look as much as a dinky toy and more as a high class coupe, but it's also that boyish boxy design that appeals to me and doesn't abate capability in any way.

[P1]

It might look goofy, but it sure is getting good reviews.

[JustChris]

The 8 series and the prior 6 series are a mystery to me.

Not the price, the fact that the rear seats have less room than a 4er or a 2er… bizarre!

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by JustChris

The 8 series and the prior 6 series are a mystery to me.

Not the price, the fact that the rear seats have less room than a 4er or a 2er… bizarre!

Agree
Specifically the previous 6er.
At least 8 series has foldable rear seat in case you need more trunk room.
But both have nice and luxury cockpit. I can say the most beautiful dashboard….

[xmanpro]

Can't wait to add a m2c to the stable.

[Hpirx]

2 series: Performance small coupe.
4 Series: Performance/practical mid size coupe.
8 Series: Big Sexy coupe.

What I don't understand is why the obvious comparison car to the 2 is never mentioned, the Z4!
That's the real sports coupe. If I was'nt so hung up on AWD, I'd seriously consider it.

[J400uk]

Originally Posted by Hpirx

What I don't understand is why the obvious comparison car to the 2 is never mentioned, the Z4!
That's the real sports coupe. If I was'nt so hung up on AWD, I'd seriously consider it.

I had a Z4 M40i before my 840d!

I agree with you it’s a big shame they don’t have xDrive. Also in the UK it has an older version of the B58 with less power. So the M240i looks a lot stronger

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

Let's all be honest with ourselves here. The 8er is really a 6er and the 2er has gotten big enough to be the 4er… so we're really comparing a 4 to a 6… this m240i is basically the coupe version of the 3er.

I kinda got that - 8 is a bigger 6, 4 is a bigger 2 but now 2 is even bigger so it's a 3.5 - right?

[unfoundnemo]

Originally Posted by MadBimmeRad

I kinda got that - 8 is a bigger 6, 4 is a bigger 2 but now 2 is even bigger so it's a 3.5 - right?

The 8 is actually a tad smaller than the 6 was, more like a 5.97.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by drumhorn

I showed my wife an interior shot of the 8 series and she thought I was showing her a picture of my car.

Plus, the back seat of the 8 series has less room than 2 series.

So yeah, except for the more power engine, I'm not sure why anyone would get the 8 series over the 2 series. And to be honest, at that price, I wouldn't even consider the 8 series.

And the 2 series has less room in the back than the previous 2 series. Figure that one out.

[NGT2]

These reviews are just hell bent on having a contrarian end point and outsmarting themselves. They just explained all the reasons I'd ever need to buy one, and then claimed it was missing something… yet they couldn't identify what. I couldn't drive the 2 daily because I need a family size sedan. But when I'm able to keep two vehicles, the 2 is on my list for that second car that's just for me. I don't think it's bad that the 2 is a smaller 4. Just like I appreciate my 5 being similar to a mini 7.

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by Beemer5to3

The 8 series is a comfortable luxury GT car, the M240i is a small sports coupe. Can't really put it more simply than that?

Because a 8 is heavier, less agile, less practical, double the price and less dynamic? Don't follow your reasoning at all.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Because a 8 is heavier, less agile, less practical, double the price and less dynamic? Don't follow your reasoning at all.

Wait. How is it less practical?

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by drumhorn

I showed my wife an interior shot of the 8 series and she thought I was showing her a picture of my car.

Plus, the back seat of the 8 series has less room than 2 series.

So yeah, except for the more power engine, I'm not sure why anyone would get the 8 series over the 2 series. And to be honest, at that price, I wouldn't even consider the 8 series.

Yeah, My wife laughed about your comment.

Keep telling yourself everything that will justify your thoughts.
However, the 2 Series doesn’t hold a candle to 8 Series in every aspect.