Can the BMW M2 be your only car? We’ve been finding out
Car changing is a big deal
Timon Werner Pachmayr, senior reviews editor for Carwow Germany, has been living with a BMW M2 for a week to see if it can handle daily life, as well as the racetrack.
The BMW M2 isn’t a car which screams “sensible daily driver”. With 480hp going to the rear wheels only and a sleek and sporty two-door profile, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was pretty impractical.
But can this fun sports car also double as a daily commuter? To find out, I covered more than 600 miles in a week. I took it on a long weekend climbing trip with three friends, plus all their luggage and equipment. Is the M2 capable of being more than just a sports car, or is it completely out of its depth in everyday life?
The boot is surprisingly spacious
The BMW M2 has a 380-litre boot, which is 40 litres more than you get in a VW Golf R. It may not be as easy to load as a hatchback, but I easily managed to fit luggage and climbing gear for three people. It looks like a car built for a track day, but the BMW M2 can swallow more luggage than you’d expect.
Three adults actually fit
This is another positive surprise . With three people on board, the space was significantly better than you’d give this coupe credit for. Obviously, this is no 5 Series Touring or a sensible family SUV, but for a two-door the M2 is remarkably usable.
Rear legroom is perfectly acceptable for a car this size. The only real dealbreaker is that sloping roofline; anyone over six feet tall will quickly find that headroom in the back is at a premium. It’s fine for shorter trips, but for long motorway stints, you’ll need to be very good friends with your passengers.
Carbon bucket seats look aggressive, and they’re just as brutal on your back
Moving to the front, our test car was equipped with Carbon Bucket Seats. They look really cool, and offer incredible lateral support when you’re pushing through fast corners.
However, on a long motorway journey, they are pretty hard on your back. I can’t remember the last time a car gave me back ache over a medium-distance drive, but the BMW M2 managed it. I also found the strange hump in the middle of the seat cushion annoying, as it got in the way of my thigh when pressing the brake pedal.
It’s a shame, because the rest of the M2 isn’t too bad for long distances. On the motorway, I managed to get 29mpg without having to drive like a tortoise. For a 480hp sports car with wide tyres, that’s not too bad.
It’s fast and stable at higher speeds, but it’s not what you’d call relaxing. You feel every expansion joint through the steering, ruts in the road pull at the car, and that direct feedback – which is brilliant on a B-road – eventually becomes exhausting on the motorway.
Adding to this, our test car had no adaptive cruise control. In a car costing more than £70,000, that feels a bit stingy. Adaptive cruise control is available, but it’s a £550 optional extra.
It’s not great in town, either
The M2 is also a bit of a chore in the city. It’s not unusable, just tiring. Even in “Comfort” mode it can be a bit jerky when pulling away, and it’s a bit fidgety over bumps as well.
Even more annoying: our test car didn’t have a 360-degree camera. Given the car’s width, low ground clearance, and low front splitter, that makes tight car parks a bit stressful. You find yourself desperately wanting a front-facing camera to judge how close you are to kerbs.
On a twisty road the M2 makes sense again
Once you leave the motorway and head for a twisty road, the M2 is in its element. On tight bends it feels incredibly precise. The steering is direct, the car’s reactions are sharp and the rear-wheel drive layout provides a dose of liveliness that many modern performance cars lack.
As a car for enjoying at the weekend, I can’t think of many better options than the BMW M2.
Verdict: It can do “daily,” but it won’t make it easy for you
So, does the BMW M2 work as a daily driver?
Yes, if you know exactly what you’re signing up for. It is more practical than its aggressive looks suggest. The boot is large, the rear seats are genuinely usable and the fuel economy is somewhat reasonable on long trips.
However, it’s not the best performance car for long distance driving. The carbon seats are too aggressive for daily driving duties, and it’s not all that refined either. Going for the standard comfort seats does help a lot, but something like an Audi RS3 is more comfortable.
The BMW M2 is a thoroughbred sports car that happens to be usable everyday. If you want a comfortable daily, look elsewhere. But if you want a car that is so much fun on a B-road that you’ll voluntarily take the long way home, it’s worth putting up with the M2’s foibles.
Car change? Carwow!
Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.
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