When it comes to a rear-wheel-drive sports car available with a manual transmission we still have a few options. However, in a couple of years, those options will be down to just a handful of vehicles, with one being the BMW M2 that we had an opportunity to check out for a second time – only this time with a manual transmission.
BMW has had its fair share of criticism that revolves around the controversial styling of some of its vehicles, such as the BMW M3/M4, and the recent M2. While styling remains objective, the BMW M2 certainly does move the needle on the controversy scale but not nearly as much as the M3 and M4, with styling questions circling its rather large front grille. With the BMW M2, things are tamed a bit, and the size is just right for those like me who enjoy vehicles like the E46 M3. However, there’s something special in the BMW M2 equipped with a manual transmission in finding part of that old-school Motorsport-inspired feeling out of a smaller vehicle that puts out some serious power to the rear wheels.
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Powering the BMW M2 is a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6-cylinder engine that is said to output 453 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. However, I’m not going to kid anyone here, the M2 surely outputs more power than BMW puts on paper, which has been proven through dyno testing of the latest hot little two-door Bavarian. With my Brooklyn Grey test vehicle having its turbocharged engine mated to a 6-speed manual transmission coupled with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, there’s an enthusiastic edge that you find in such a configured vehicle, one that’s a bit more fun than what I experienced last year with my first brush of the new M2 only with an automatic transmission at that time.
Fundamentally, the manual transmission M2 with the Cup 2 tires and the $9,900 Carbon Package (M Carbon roof, Carbon Fiber interior trim, M Carbon bucket seats) transform the vehicle into something extra from what I remember. Not only are the M Carbon bucket seats some of the most aggressive seats for a sports car under $100K, but they hold onto you like a nervous mother holds onto her newborn – you’re not moving anywhere once you plant yourself in these seats. In fact, I would primitively warn buyers of the M2 – if you opt for the M Carbon buckets, you must try them out first to make sure you “fit” as they are not for everyone. Also, having the manual transmission in such a powerful rear-wheel-drive sports car is something that’s also not for everyone, considering once you turn off traction and stability control, you’re left to a tail-happy vehicle, which can be a lot of fun for the experienced, or a nightmare if you don’t respect the M2 and its multitude of drive settings. As far as drive settings, the numerous layers of options can be confusing to some but preconfiguring your M1 or M2 steering wheel buttons is ideal to bring up your desired settings. Though, there’s still the Sport and Track modes that bring up the proper visuals for the configurable digital gauge cluster and large color head-up display. This is an area BMW has room to make things simpler.
See Also: 2023 BMW M2 Review & Test Drive
Rowing your own gears is a fun experience, as most automotive enthusiasts from my generation would agree. The latest 6-speed manual is slightly notchy but a good notchy. While the clutch feels heavy initially, you tend to master the shifts after some quality time driving around town. There’s a hint of turbo lag from the engine under 2,500 rpm, but such can be easily mitigated with some crafty clutch slipping and the use of the launch control system that pegs the RPMs around 3,500 rpm, allowing you to dump the clutch and lets the Cup 2 tires do their thing hitting 60 mph in about 4 seconds. Mind you, the Cup 2 tires only do amazingly in warm and dry environments. Driving in the rain isn’t recommended unless you have some serious patience and a soft gas pedal foot. In fact, the Cup 2 tires and lightweight alloy wheels seem to transform the handling dynamics of the M2 versus the heavier wheels wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on my overall heavier Zandvoort Blue automatic transmission test vehicle last year. The Cup 2 tires are prone to picking up every loose rock and pebble on the road while giving you more assurance of pushing the M2 closer to its limits to explore all that the smaller-formed BMW can muster. The rears also break loose through second gear and on occasion, through third gear.
Regarding fuel economy, I hardly paid much attention because of all the fun I was having. However, I did notice that on the highway, the M2 manual was able to get around 26.2 mpg, which beats out the EPA figure of 24 mpg highway. The 16 mpg city EPA estimate is about right, but you’ll see worse as the M2 manual entices premium-fuel-burning fun!
Inside the BMW M2, you find a now-familiar cabin that’s been somewhat minimalized from previous generations of the 2 Series and other BMWs, of course. The use of the latest iDrive 8 system adds some complexity to the infotainment system, which has somewhat of a steep learning curve. Even after spending countless hours with BMW’s latest iDrive, I still discover new functions and features that an owner could appreciate over time. I welcome the redundancy of controls using the 14.9-inch touchscreen or iDrive controller and the physical buttons.
Having the automatic climate control fixed on the touchscreen is also part of that learning curve, which again could be liked over time by most. The integration of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remains, which seems to work more smoothly for connection to my iPhone over earlier test vehicles with the new iDrive setup (possibly from over-the-air updates over time).
From a pricing standpoint, the BMW M2 manual is an excellent compromise to the M4 if you don’t mind the smaller form factor. The smaller size of the M2, again, is reminiscent of the E46 M3, which isn’t a bad thing for those who don’t have a family to tote around. While all cars have grown in size, the M2 dials things back for purists looking for something more tossable on the street and something that doesn’t necessarily break the bank for a luxury-class vehicle. Still, the M2 isn’t exactly cheap, coming in at $75,695 for my loaded-up manual transmission test vehicle and a starting price of $62,200 if you take away its Carbon Package, Lighting Package, BMW M 50 Years emblems, and Live Cockpit Pro option.
