[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Ricochet48

Disagree overall. 9/10 'normal' people would not turn their heads at a RS3, most would just think it's a A3 with a ricer bumper.

- Side profile -- BMW wins hands down, much sportier looking as it's a coupe

- Rear -- BMW's is more aggressive, but uglier due to the spaced tails (but can be remedied a bit with the M spoiler), Audi wins

- Front -- Both are aggressive, but the Audi's looks like a big open mouth, and very odd with a thiccc US plate in the middle. The BMW's is polarizing, but I feel it wins here too with normal sized kidney grills and some aggressive shapes.

This 💯 also the Audi interior. Yikes.

[beamer-dreamer]

Originally Posted by e90335e36m3

Interesting, strange to say but I've never liked the design (specifically the proportions) of any 1 or 2 series, including the 1M and M2. All of them have weirdly shaped front and rear lights, short asses, I don't know it's kind of like the E36 318 Ti, just odd looking cars. 3 series and up is where BMW got it right, alas until the G82.
I have only driven BMWs for the past 18 years, always thought they were the best in their class design wise, now not so much. They are either too much or not enough. Apart from the M5, X5 I wouldn't buy any BMW.

based on your description.. are there any coupes that you like? that don't have "short asses" ?

i personally choose the M240i because it has a long hood, and an aggressively sloped back window... reminds me of early mustangs, plymouth baracuda, and even the first Ford mavericks

[MrFoxy]

Originally Posted by TheJerseyDon

M2 RWD will not be that much quicker in 1/4 mile. It will be more of a track car. To be fair there are very few cars that can put up a fight with a modded RS3.

The M2 will come with or have an X-Drive option all day long mate

[e90335e36m3]

Originally Posted by beamer-dreamer

based on your description.. are there any coupes that you like? that don't have "short asses" ?

i personally choose the M240i because it has a long hood, and an aggressively sloped back window... reminds me of early mustangs, old Mercury Cougars, and even the first Ford mavericks

I have two coupes myself, the M4CS and an e92 M3. Love both designs.

[MrFoxy]

Originally Posted by Game

Agreed. if anything the RS3 screams "entry level" to me whereas the M240 does not....

Exactly mate

[zipstic]

Originally Posted by MrFoxy

The M2 will come with or have an X-Drive option all day long mate

The insiders on this forum say the G87 M2 will not come with X-Drive or have it as an option. We'll see what happens.

[MrFoxy]

Originally Posted by zipstic

The insiders on this forum say the G87 M2 will not come with X-Drive or have it as an option. We'll see what happens.

They said that about the M3-4 as well mate, no way there not putting an xdrive into this new M2. Maybe not at launch but it'll come. Just like the M3-4 has now.

[Game]

Originally Posted by MrFoxy

They said that about the M3-4 as well mate, no way there not putting an xdrive into this new M2. Maybe not at launch but it'll come. Just like the M3-4 has now.

Yeah definitely not coming at launch. Honestly I hope it stays that way.

[TruthOne]

It's crazy that an RS3 is 70k and has manual seats, that is a total WTF move

[Ricochet48]

Originally Posted by JustChris

This �� also the Audi interior. Yikes.

Ya, you have no choice on interior colors with the $70K+ RS3 either. Meanwhile the M240i has several very solid options, including a sporty af red.

If I needed four doors I would get a M340i with plenty of $ to mod, or go M3 any day instead of a RS3.

[sikotic]

Originally Posted by MrFoxy

They said that about the M3-4 as well mate, no way there not putting an xdrive into this new M2. Maybe not at launch but it'll come. Just like the M3-4 has now.

This was my concern as well, I would really like to see an X-Drive but from what I've heard its not coming either. I think they are worried it will be too close to the M4 at that point but I hope they do.

[Limegrntaln]

Not a fan of the new RS3. Audi had it together, back in 2013-2015 with the RS5. That was a good looking car. They had it together, back then. The new "battle of the grills" is getting out of hand. The M240 isn't the greatest looking car, but it's better than the Audi. And this video just goes to show the RS3 isn't an M3/4 competitor, it's a M lite competitor. And not even a 3/4 series, a 2 series, competitor.

[MPR]

The RS3 and S3 aren't that nice, especially with all of that fake piano black mesh on the outside..and way over priced. I'm surprised Audi would go that cheaply on their 3-series flagships.

I cross shopped both Audis and the M240i back in 2019. At the time I liked the Audis more than the outgoing M240 modeI but decided to hold off for the 22 Audi redesign and I ended up not liking them at all. I had no idea that the 240 was due for a redesign, which surprised me and won me over. The solid reviews sold me without a test drive.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by MrFoxy

They said that about the M3-4 as well mate, no way there not putting an xdrive into this new M2. Maybe not at launch but it'll come. Just like the M3-4 has now.

I noticed the opposite. Running narrative for years before the G8X unveiling was that it will get the same AWD system as the M5.

With the M2 I've only heard RWD and the option for an MT.

[Germanauto]

Was in the neighborhood so stopped by my local BMW dealer. They didn't have any M240s on the lot, have no allocations, and have no word on when the RWD variant will launch.

I'm pretty excited for the M2. Should be a helluva a car for hopefully a reasonable price. Sign me up if it'll be in the low $60ks.

[EXE46]

G42is too heavy for what it is, 100KG less curb weight on the G42 would have been great. Imagine that against the RS3. Anyhow, still waiting for the RWD G42 as well as the M2C to debut before making any decisions. I will not buy a G42 XI.

[MPR]

The M2 will likely start in the low 60's, spec'd into the 70's. Crazy money for the lowest end of the M spectrum. Plus it'll be a wait, and spending that kind of money with potentially missing parts due to chip shortages, that wouldn't sit well with me. For what the M240 is, you can't beat it. Almost double the power with better fuel economy than my 2.0L Subaru BRZ

I personally do not track, need good fuel economy, reliability, and prefer comfort as the 240 will be my daily. I can't justify the extra 20K+ just to say I have a 'true M', when I wouldn't use it. I'd be like that soccer mom who wears Carhartt.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by Game

Yeah definitely not coming at launch. Honestly I hope it stays that way.

I seriously doubt the new M2 will have room for that xDrive system

With extra m bracing I doubt it would really fit

[pikkagtr]

The RS3 at least has a bespoke engine and it is more special
The other car being the TTRS
Same BMW B58 being used in the pedestrian X3 M40i for crying out loud
And every other 6cyl BMW under the sun

[MPR]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

The RS3 at least has a bespoke engine and it is more special
The other car being the TTRS
Same BMW B58 being used in the pedestrian X3 M40i for crying out loud
And every other 6cyl BMW under the sun

Who cares? The B58 is solid, if it ain't broke, dont fix it

[Ricochet48]

Originally Posted by EXE46

G42is too heavy for what it is, 100KG less curb weight on the G42 would have been great. Imagine that against the RS3. Anyhow, still waiting for the RWD G42 as well as the M2C to debut before making any decisions. I will not buy a G42 XI.

It's 200lbs heavier comparing xDrive to xDrive. That's with a 3.5" increase in length & 2.5" in width (due to the CLAR platform), 19" vs. 18" wheels/tires, a M differential (huge deal), additional bracing (to make it 40% stiffer), 2 more speakers, a bigger amp, and likely some safety improvements. Oh and of course like 50 more hp.

Ya I'd say the whole too heavy thing is played out. This isn't a Miata or FRS.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by MPR

Who cares? The B58 is solid, if it ain't broke, dont fix it

It's an absolute gem of an engine

In my opinion better than the other two

The tuning potential is absolutely amazing