To One Reviewer, the M2 is the Best BMW M Car on the Market
Although BMWs are known as the ultimate driving machines, some of them are more ultimate than others. Those with an “M” badge outdo regular BMWs in terms of appearance, power, prestige, and, most importantly, performance. According to automotive journalist and Youtuber Doug DeMuro, the M2 is the most ultimate driving machine of them all. He calls it the “best current BMW M car.”
Why? Its size – in more ways than one. DeMuro loves the M2 for its relatively compact dimensions. Given the 2 in its name, it’s smaller than the M3 and the even larger M5. The M2 is also down on power compared to its corporate cousins, but that’s a plus to DeMuro. The 365 horsepower and 343 lb-ft of torque from its turbocharged 3.0-liter I6 is accessible on the street, even though those figures pale in comparison to those cranked out by the monster twin-turbo V8s of other M cars.
BMW went big on the blue stitching in the interior. It’s hard to miss. So is the fact that BMW offers the M2 with a six-speed manual transmission. It really stands out to DeMuro, who loves it for its linear clutch and easy-to-place shifter. The gearbox is so slick that it makes rev-matching easy. The hard, one-mode suspension makes flat cornering equally trouble-free.
The M2’s handling and tossable nature give DeMuro a great sense of confidence behind the heated steering wheel, which causes him to give it the highest praise for any current BMW M car he’s driven.
There’s a lot to be said about a small package with usable power and a manual gearbox (the new Mazda MX-5 Miata comes to mind), but what do you say? Is the M2 the best M car out there right now?
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
