Urban city driving

bep · 05-05-2019, 02:01 PM

I am moving from the suburbs to a very densely populated city neighborhood (Washington, DC). I was considering buying an M2 but suddenly I realized my commute will be mostly on residential streets with a posted speed limit of 30mph. My only opportunity to open up and enjoy the car will be on weekends. Anyone in a similar situation? Would that be worth the investment or should I keep my econobox?
thanks

Yvette · 05-05-2019, 02:13 PM

If money is not a problem, why not?

Poffman · 05-05-2019, 02:28 PM

I daily mine and I really enjoy it. I have stop and go for portions and the exhaust burbles keep me sane.

M2C89 · 05-05-2019, 02:39 PM

If it's your only car it may not be worth it, but ultimately it's for you to decide. No one here can tell you what's best for you

akkando · 05-05-2019, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bep

I am moving from the suburbs to a very densely populated city neighborhood (Washington, DC). I was considering buying an M2 but suddenly I realized my commute will be mostly on residential streets with a posted speed limit of 30mph. My only opportunity to open up and enjoy the car will be on weekends. Anyone in a similar situation? Would that be worth the investment or should I keep my econobox?
thanks

You can hear the exhaust more with the windows down at speeds below 40 than above 40.

The only reason I would get a different car is if the roads are like Syria or something.

Also the car is really not that fast above 80, but feels fast to 60, so lower speed driving might be the most fun.

M Fifty · 05-05-2019, 03:08 PM

If you're in DC, the subway is really very good. Getting to/from the station at each end might be a bit cold in February, but otherwise...

Obvs, if you are becoming a 'Beltway Bandit' it's important to flaunt it...

DanG · 05-05-2019, 08:44 PM

I daily drive mine and can easily have stop and go traffic. I got a DCT so the traffic wouldn’t be a pain.

Love my M2. I am glad I have it.

Saberwalk · 05-06-2019, 01:07 PM

Daily drive mine from Rockville to Downtown DC. Only problem is the poor quality of roads. Reality is that during rush hour you are only doing 30 or 40 mph anyway even on the beltway. That said, spring to late fall, with the windows down, car in Sport+ nothing better. The M2 is just a more visceral and raw drive than any car I have owned before and I totally enjoy it whether going at an unmentionable speed or 5 mph in bumper to bumper. Your mileage will vary so you should test drive it under those conditions, which I did, to make sure its worth it to you.

GregoryK · 05-06-2019, 01:36 PM

Tesla Model 3. Same money. Quicker (if you get the quick one) and way less polluting. These car eat gas on short runs.

RAM_F30_F87 · 05-06-2019, 03:16 PM

My driving is primarily local in Sport+, love the burbles.

Mosely · 05-06-2019, 04:23 PM

I daily drive 4-5 miles of traffic city streets to work every day, break 40-50 maybe once or twice, still love it and open it up on the weekends or late at night.

ddk632 · 05-07-2019, 06:10 AM

It would be worth it for me.

My daily driving mostly consists of kid school runs in traffic and local grocery getting.

Sometimes I think it would be cool to get an i3 for that stuff, but my budget is for one car, so I would rather have the M2 hands down over any econobox.

I have a smile on my face even doing the small daily stuff when driving the M2. Well, mixed with a bit of the ole' rage of the road from time to time dealing with these Miami drivers who can't make left turns properly, but I digress...

OldDominion_M2 · 05-07-2019, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bep

I am moving from the suburbs to a very densely populated city neighborhood (Washington, DC). I was considering buying an M2 but suddenly I realized my commute will be mostly on residential streets with a posted speed limit of 30mph. My only opportunity to open up and enjoy the car will be on weekends. Anyone in a similar situation? Would that be worth the investment or should I keep my econobox?
thanks

DC roads would scare me a bit but go for it! Try and make it out to the Virginia back roads once in a while to make it worth it.

F87_LCI · 05-07-2019, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregoryK

Tesla Model 3. Same money. Quicker (if you get the quick one) and way less polluting. These car eat gas on short runs.

SMH...f-that.

@ OP...go burn some dinosaurs bro!

mr_lab_rat · 05-07-2019, 06:47 PM

I daily drive mine. Manual gearbox too. Slow speeds don't bother me, the MPE sounds great any speed.

///M TOWN · 05-07-2019, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregoryK

Tesla Model 3. Same money. Quicker (if you get the quick one) and way less polluting. These car eat gas on short runs.

Wrong forums perhaps.

The M2 is a very special little car.

Tesla M3P is great, but Model 3 Performance unfortunately looks exactly like a Base Model 3.

GregoryK · 05-08-2019, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M TOWN

Wrong forums perhaps.

The M2 is a very special little car.

Tesla M3P is great, but Model 3 Performance unfortunately looks exactly like a Base Model 3.

Could not agree more. I'm sure you have seen this.

Interesting to say the least.

hz101 · 05-08-2019, 03:09 PM

I agree with those who said DC roads were crap. With M2's stiff suspension, the ride quality is going to be far from pleasant for daily use.

ForniteFever_01 · 05-08-2019, 10:37 PM

If you like the M2 and are okay with how it rides on rough roads, I say why not? It's an absolute blast to drive around town even at low speeds.

pruettfan · 05-09-2019, 03:47 AM

The M2 is fun at any speed. Frankly probably more fun on surface streets than out on a freeway at a constant speed.

LuvMyE92 · 05-09-2019, 07:40 AM

I'd suggest that you wait and see how things are before you buy the car. Do you have or want the opportunity to go for weekend drives? How much money can you spend? Will you have room to park two cars? Lots of questions...

Averagej0e · 05-09-2019, 07:31 PM

I bought my M2 last October in LA after I totaled my ISF. Made a move to DC in February and clocked about 300 miles since then. The main reason is I now walk to work. My rational side would say to sell the car but it's not really my strong suit. I let it ripped on the weekend when I'm in a spirited mood and the grins are worth every penny.

DC/Maryland streets are f'kin horrible, especially after snowing season. It's better now as most of the potholes have been fixed but still crappy. As you said, speed limit is around 30 MPH and speeding cameras are all over the places. Traffic is incredibly congested and much worse than LA and flooded with horribly impatient dumb ass drivers. If I have to commute in DC, I'd rather taking a metro or Uber/Lyft than riding my car and risk bending the rims.

That said, had I not bought the car before I moved to DC, I would invest M fund$ in SPY and get a metro pass.

05-05-2019, 02:01 PM	#1
bep New Member 4 Rep 14 Posts Drives: Carless Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	Urban city driving - advice I am moving from the suburbs to a very densely populated city neighborhood (Washington, DC). I was considering buying an M2 but suddenly I realized my commute will be mostly on residential streets with a posted speed limit of 30mph. My only opportunity to open up and enjoy the car will be on weekends. Anyone in a similar situation? Would that be worth the investment or should I keep my econobox? thanks
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05-05-2019, 02:13 PM	#2
Yvette Major General 761 Rep 7,408 Posts Drives: M Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (19)	If money is not a problem, why not?
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05-05-2019, 02:28 PM	#3
Poffman Lieutenant 494 Rep 492 Posts Drives: 2010 M3 Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Seattle iTrader: (3)	I daily mine and I really enjoy it. I have stop and go for portions and the exhaust burbles keep me sane.
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05-05-2019, 02:39 PM	#4
M2C89 First Lieutenant 408 Rep 363 Posts Drives: 2020 M2 Competition Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	If it's your only car it may not be worth it, but ultimately it's for you to decide. No one here can tell you what's best for you
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05-05-2019, 03:08 PM	#6
M Fifty Banned 846 Rep 1,962 Posts Drives: M2 & 330CI Join Date: May 2018 Location: The Interweb iTrader: (0)	If you're in DC, the subway is really very good. Getting to/from the station at each end might be a bit cold in February, but otherwise... Obvs, if you are becoming a 'Beltway Bandit' it's important to flaunt it...
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05-05-2019, 08:44 PM	#7
DanG Major General 10739 Rep 6,958 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 AW DCT Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2018 BMW M2 [7.74]	I daily drive mine and can easily have stop and go traffic. I got a DCT so the traffic wouldn’t be a pain. Love my M2. I am glad I have it.
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05-06-2019, 01:07 PM	#8
Saberwalk Private 27 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2018 RWD DCT M2 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Rockville, MD iTrader: (0)	Daily drive mine from Rockville to Downtown DC. Only problem is the poor quality of roads. Reality is that during rush hour you are only doing 30 or 40 mph anyway even on the beltway. That said, spring to late fall, with the windows down, car in Sport+ nothing better. The M2 is just a more visceral and raw drive than any car I have owned before and I totally enjoy it whether going at an unmentionable speed or 5 mph in bumper to bumper. Your mileage will vary so you should test drive it under those conditions, which I did, to make sure its worth it to you.
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05-06-2019, 01:36 PM	#9
GregoryK Captain 505 Rep 780 Posts Drives: M2 '18 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Tesla Model 3. Same money. Quicker (if you get the quick one) and way less polluting. These car eat gas on short runs. __________________ "I would rather cry in a BMW than smile on a bicycle." Ma Nuo
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05-06-2019, 03:16 PM	#10
RAM_F30_F87 Lieutenant 197 Rep 430 Posts Drives: 2017 M2 LBB 6MT; 2012 328i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Central PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 BMW 328i Sport ... [0.00] 2017 BMW M2 [0.00]	My driving is primarily local in Sport+, love the burbles.
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05-06-2019, 04:23 PM	#11
Mosely Lieutenant 594 Rep 450 Posts Drives: '18 M2 \| '20 X5 \| '07 E92 Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: SoCal iTrader: (1)	I daily drive 4-5 miles of traffic city streets to work every day, break 40-50 maybe once or twice, still love it and open it up on the weekends or late at night. __________________ IG Photo Gallery: instagram.com/dr_m2sko/
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05-07-2019, 06:10 AM	#12
ddk632 Chief Senior Executive Managing VP of Orange Sales 585 Rep 2,581 Posts Drives: 17 BMW F87 M2 6MT MG HBDGR ! Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Aventura, FL iTrader: (2)	It would be worth it for me. My daily driving mostly consists of kid school runs in traffic and local grocery getting. Sometimes I think it would be cool to get an i3 for that stuff, but my budget is for one car, so I would rather have the M2 hands down over any econobox. I have a smile on my face even doing the small daily stuff when driving the M2. Well, mixed with a bit of the ole' rage of the road from time to time dealing with these Miami drivers who can't make left turns properly, but I digress...
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05-07-2019, 06:47 PM	#15
mr_lab_rat Major 566 Rep 1,094 Posts Drives: 2017 M2, 2018 X1 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	I daily drive mine. Manual gearbox too. Slow speeds don't bother me, the MPE sounds great any speed.
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05-08-2019, 03:09 PM	#18
hz101 First Lieutenant 171 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2021 M3C Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Baltimore, MD iTrader: (1)	I agree with those who said DC roads were crap. With M2's stiff suspension, the ride quality is going to be far from pleasant for daily use.
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05-08-2019, 10:37 PM	#19
ForniteFever_01 Private 167 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	If you like the M2 and are okay with how it rides on rough roads, I say why not? It's an absolute blast to drive around town even at low speeds.
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05-09-2019, 03:47 AM	#20
pruettfan Brigadier General 1622 Rep 3,402 Posts Drives: 2017 M2, LBB, DCT, Exec Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ iTrader: (0)	The M2 is fun at any speed. Frankly probably more fun on surface streets than out on a freeway at a constant speed.
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05-09-2019, 07:40 AM	#21
LuvMyE92 Occasionally frequent poster 3005 Rep 2,745 Posts Drives: CT5V-Blackwing Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: RTP NC, USA iTrader: (0)	I'd suggest that you wait and see how things are before you buy the car. Do you have or want the opportunity to go for weekend drives? How much money can you spend? Will you have room to park two cars? Lots of questions... __________________ Current inventory: F22 & G05 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing w/3 pedals Past: E24,E28(3),E34,E36,E37,E38(2),E39(4),E46,E89,E92 (obviously),F01,F06,F10,F30,F87,G12,G30(2),G82(2)
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05-09-2019, 07:31 PM	#22
Averagej0e New Member 13 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 DCT Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Silver Spring iTrader: (0)	I bought my M2 last October in LA after I totaled my ISF. Made a move to DC in February and clocked about 300 miles since then. The main reason is I now walk to work. My rational side would say to sell the car but it's not really my strong suit. I let it ripped on the weekend when I'm in a spirited mood and the grins are worth every penny. DC/Maryland streets are f'kin horrible, especially after snowing season. It's better now as most of the potholes have been fixed but still crappy. As you said, speed limit is around 30 MPH and speeding cameras are all over the places. Traffic is incredibly congested and much worse than LA and flooded with horribly impatient dumb ass drivers. If I have to commute in DC, I'd rather taking a metro or Uber/Lyft than riding my car and risk bending the rims. That said, had I not bought the car before I moved to DC, I would invest M fund$ in SPY and get a metro pass.
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