#Rivals How does the BMW M2 stack up to the competition? Lets find out

The BMW M2 is the latest offering from BMW’s M division, it is essentially a baby M3/M4 and for some car enthusiasts it reminds them of the E46 M3. To see if the M2 can live up to the expectations of many I have decided once again to compare it to some already well established sports cars. Firstly we have the the Porsche 718 Cayman S which is one of the best handling sports cars there is, secondly we have the Nissan Nismo 370Z which is oldest car here but still one of the best and finally there is the beautiful Alfa Romeo 4C. So can the M2 beat these great sports cars? Lets find out!

Engines

All sports coupes need some grunt under the bonnet thats what makes them sporty in the first place, the four cars here all have different engine types and configurations but each and every car here has enough power to leave boy-racers behind!

M2
The BMW uses the same engine as its bigger brother the M3/M4 which is a marvellous 3.0L twin turbo straight six. However, the baby M car has to use a de-tuned engine compared to the M3/M4 otherwise it would affect sales of the M2’s bigger brother’s .
The numbers:
Horsepower: 365HP
Top Speed: 155MPH
Torque: 343lb-ft
0-60:4.5 seconds (Manual) 4.3 seconds (Automatic)

Cayman S
When the Cayman was first released people could not understand why Porsche had made it as it sat in the middle of the range looking like a 911 going puberty. However the third generation Cayman uses a 2.5L Flat four engine which is turbocharged giving it a Subaru like rumble!
The numbers:
Horsepower: 350HP
Top Speed: 177MPH
Torque: 310lb-ft
0-60: 4.6 seconds (Manual) 4.4 seconds (Automatic)

Nismo 370Z
Nissan’s ‘Z’ cars have always been ridiculously good but in some aspects they have been forgotten due to living in the shadow of the Skyline’s and the GTR much like the Cayman living in the shadow of the 911. But the re tuned Nismo 370Z definitely steps out of that shadow with a 3.7L naturally aspirated V6!
The numbers:
Horsepower: 339HP
Top Speed: 160MPH
Torque: 273lb-ft
0-60: 5.2

4C
The Alfa Romeo 4C is easily one of the most spectacular looking cars currently in the world right now, the 4C uses a 1.8L turbocharged engine from their Giulietta hatchback which sounds like a terrible prospect. However, its light meaning that it has the performance to be able to match the much more powerful cars on this list.
The numbers:
Horsepower: 240HP
Top Speed: 160MPH
Torque: 258lb-ft
0-60: 4.5 seconds

Drivetrain

A typical sports coupe has to have excellent response, furthermore they have to be easy to drive in everyday situations. Which is what makes them more accessible than super cars. Traditionally, sports cars are front engined and correct wheel drive… I mean RWD but the new generation of sports cars is different!

M2
If BMW want to be the best in the sports car sector it has to have a slick automatic gearbox to please show offs when they use launch control and a manual option to keep enthusiasts happy which is exactly what they have done!
Gearbox(s): 6-speed manual or 7-speed double clutch automatic DCT gearbox
Weight Distribution: 50:50

Cayman S
Porsche have perfected the sports roadster recipe over the years with the Boxster, so surely the hard top Cayman can pick up some tips?
Gearbox(s): 6-speed manual or 7 speed PDK automatic
Weight Distribution: 50:50

Nismo 370Z
Nissan have also been making sports cars since the 1970’s with the 240Z and possibly before that with the Datsun 510 so the 370Z should have the same muscular feel to it!
Gearbox: 6-speed manual
Weight Distribution: 55:45

4C
The Alfa 4C takes inspiration from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale which was a road and race car so has it picked up some of the old Alfa’s flair?!
Gearbox: 6- Alfa TCT automatic gearbox
Weight Distribution: 41:59

Suspension

You cannot have a sports coupe without actually doing something about the way it stops and steers, which is why these manufacturers have gone to great lengths to make them the best as possible.

M2
BMW have re-worked the 2-series’s setup to produce the M2 by making it lower, wider and longer than the M235i
Suspension: Multi link front suspension at the front and five link rear suspension (Yes five links!). With adjustable dampers. (Borrowed from the M3/M4)
Steering: Electronically assisted power steering with 3 drive modes (Normal, Sport and Sport+)
Brakes: Steel Brakes or Carbon Ceramic with six pot front calipers and four pot rear calipers. (Also borrowed from the M3/M4)

Cayman S
The Cayman is one of the sweetest handling sports car the world has ever seen all that Porsche needed to do for the new 718 Cayman S was do a bit of tweaking here and there!
Suspension: Lightwieght springs and strut suspension developed by the Cayman GT4. (But not as good)
Steering: Variable steering ratio, power-assisted.
Brakes: Four-piston aluminium calipers front and rear.

Nismo 370Z
The regular 370Z apparently has a very firm ride well it should do because its a bloody sports car! So fans of comfort won’t enjoy the work that Nismo has done to the 370Z’s suspension.
Suspension: Double wishbone suspension at the front and Multi-link suspension at the rear
Steering: Electronically assisted rack and pinion steering
Brakes: Ventilated disks with 4 pistons at the front and 2 at the rear

4C
The 4C is apparently one of the best handling cars there is so it should fair well in this part:
Suspension: Double wishbone suspension at the front and Multi-link suspension at the rear
Steering: Rack and Pinion power steering (Yes no electronics here!)
Brakes: Brembo ventilated disks 4 pistions at the front and rear

Styling

For a sports coupe to stand out from the crowd I believe that it has to look like it means business, which means wide arches, lip spoilers and exclusive wheels

M2
The regular 2-series looks a bit boring in my opinion as it is meant to appeal to the masses, however the M2 is a whole different story as it is only for a select group of people. The M2 is wide and has a rear-end that looks so fine that it would make girls give up squatting. With is 19 inch black and silver wheels and four tail pipes the M2 looks like it means business!

Cayman S
The new 718 Cayman S looks average at best in my opinion. I don’t really like the front bumper as it doesn’t look menacing enough. Granted that it is the ‘S’ model and not the GTS or GT4 but the second generation Cayman was edgy and looked like it had places to be. However, as we move round the back of the car the story does get better as the rear brake lights are joined by one strip of plastic and hides a tiny duck-tail wing.

Nismo 370Z
The Nismo version of the 370Z features extra-wing , extra angry styling and extra red accents over the regular car. The new wheels do suit the car very nicely and a re-design of the rear means that they can throw away the old rear wing and put of a nice ducktail wing. Furthermore, the tail pipes borrowed from the GTR are fistable!

4C
I’ve said it and i’ll say it again the Alfa Romeo 4C is one of the worlds most beautiful cars in my opinion, it uses styling influences from the Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. The round rear taillights and the general shape of the car is influenced by the 33 Stradale. The 4C also features the beautiful 5 ‘Pepper pot’ wheels that look sublime from any angle.

Pricing

Now whats the point of buying one of these cars when you won’t ‘splash the cash’ which is why all of these cars cost between the £37,000 and £51,000 price mark which is a lot but think about what you are getting!

M2
Base Price: £44,080
With some options:
Paint: Long Beach Blue- (No cost option)
Wheels: 19 inch M black and silver wheels- (No cost option)
Interior: Black Dakota Leather with carbon fibre inlays- (No cost option)
Extra equipment:
Harmon Kardon HI-FI: £600 (I like my music!)
Total Price: £44,680 (Manual) £47, 180 (With the M DCT Gearbox) Not bad for a proper M car

Cayman S
Base Price: £48,834
With some options:
Paint: Sapphire Blue Metallic- £558
Wheels: 20 Inch Carrera S wheels- £971
Wheel paint: Satin Black- £615
Interior: Black leather with Sports seats: (No cost option)
Extra equipment:
Black Tailpipes: £162
Total Price: £51,140 (Manual) £53,062 (PDK)

Nismo 370Z
Base Price: £38,850
Paint: Storm White: £550
Wheels: 20 inch Rays wheels: (No cost option)
Interior: Nismo cloth with Recaro seats- (No cost option)
Extra equipment:
Rear parking system: £365
Nissan Tracking System Advanced: £999
Total Price: £39,680 Very competitively priced

4C
Base Price: £50,250
With some options:
Paint: Rosso Alfa- £750
Wheels: 19 inch 5 hole wheels- £950
Interior: Black leather red stitching- £1,000
Total Price: £52,250

Conclusion

Now that I have chosen to compare four cars rather than the usual three it has made the decision of choosing one harder!

Well, after some deliberating and looking through the stats of each car, if I has handed £53,500 and told to buy one of these cars I would buy the Alfa Romeo 4C! It really is something special, the 4C is like a mini Ferrari in my mind and who wouldn’t want to look out of their window to see one of the most drop dead gorgeous cars on their drive way. Furthermore, Jeremy Clarkson said that ‘You can’t be a true petrol head until you’ve owned a Alfa Romeo’ well this is one that I would be delighted to own! Also If I was to spec this car to perfection I would add the £2,000 racing pack which gives you gold wheels, race exhaust, race tyres and a small carbon fibre wing.

The M2 is brilliant at what it does however I fear that it will also become too popular amongst regular people, which is why the 4C is different as most people don’t know what it is and those that do will appreciate it. The Cayman S may also be the best to drive but I don’t really like the looks of it, and the 370Z is great value for money and a great car but it is really dated and slightly under powered.

Other cars that are worth mentioning:
Audi TTS: Looks great, very fast but its just a way of saying that I can afford a Golf R but choose to pay £10,000 more! Anyway, if I was forced to buy a TT I would wait for the TTRS
Hyandai Genesis: Looks OK but its not available in the UK.

Hope you enjoyed reading this!

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