[PatientM]

If it wasn't for the M3/M4 you choose...anything you were cross shopping it with? And what led to your decision that I am getting this M car?

[Habber]

Originally Posted by PatientM

If it wasn't for the M3/M4 you choose...anything you were cross shopping it with? And what led to your decision that I am getting this M car?

Manual option.

[aldenleaf]

If not for the M4, I would have picked the 718 or new M2, but due to the really lacking interior of the 718 (infotainment is important to me), and that when I ordered the M4 the new M2 wasn't even announced yet, I have picked the M4, and have been very happy with my decision so far.

[geko29]

First choice for me was a 718 Spyder or GTS 4.0. But allocations for the former are unobtanium, and on the latter carry a minimum $25k ADM just to get on the list. Not willing to do that, or pay $140k+ for a used one.

CT5-V BW was also on the list, but my wife HATES Cadillac for some reason neither she nor I can clearly articulate. I don't want to listen to that for the next 12 years.

[Sandy Eggo]

Blackwing (4 or 5). Manual was a requirement for me for this purchase, with a strong preference for 4 doors.

[MaxechosM3]

It was a process of elimination.

Started > Lotus Emira - didn't want a launch edition > Cayman GTS - 20k ADM said screw that > Ford Raptor - Ordered and waited, but ended up canceling after a year of production delays > M3 Comp Xdrive - was able to take over a cancelled order and now have one after waiting 2 months.

[ManQso]

2014 911 C4S, was in the middle of negotiations and my M3 popped up en route to a dealer unspoken for. Decided 4 doors (3 kids), plus new warranty on $85k car was better option for me. Once I took it out for a spin I knew it was the right decision.

[thebigcheese]

Currently i drive a pretty modded 19 S4 and will be getting the M3 CS. That being said, i looked at everything. Wanted an RS5 but didnt feel like that much of an upgrade from my S4 after the mods. Looked at porsche too but the ADM was terrible so pushing that off for now. For this category it seemed pretty limited to me. What i want to do is wait until next year and order a GT3 or RS for a weekend then drive the CS during the week. Didnt like caddy, merc, or the new audis really.

[maverick618]

I started looking at the WRX and Golf R, then used M3/M4s, then decided on a new M3. Briefly considered the RS3 in the middle of my 10mo wait bc I was getting impatient.

Really wanted the 6MT so left the options limited. Very glad I waited.

[vbb]

Originally Posted by PatientM

If it wasn't for the M3/M4 you choose...anything you were cross shopping it with? And what led to your decision that I am getting this M car?

I am a fan of cars and trucks. Always have been.

I'm the new owner of a 2022 M4 manual and I've owned probably 20 or so vehicles in the last 15 years with some overlap, so I've done a LOT of cross-shopping. I've owned everything from a 911 Turbo to a bro'd up lifted Tundra, and I've done a pretty critical analysis of what I look for in vehicles, which ones I've kept the longest and which ones I've bought more than once.

There has been something to like about almost all of the vehicles that I've owned and there are a lot of categories that are considered. Performance, practicality, price, reliability, style, tech, comfort, gas mileage (though to be honest, I haven't considered that last one a whole lot) all play a role. I've found that there isn't any one vehicle that checks all of the boxes. I think you need at least 3, if not 4 different vehicles to truly cover everything.

Right before I bought my car I was looking at the RCF (would have been the 2nd one I've owned) the C63S, the Panamera 4 and 4S, the M4 competition and the base M4. I like sporty luxury coupes and sedans that have tech and modern amenities, but also track-worthy performance. I don't mind that comfort features make cars slower on the track, so I didn't want to sacrifice luxury for a faster 0-60 time. I like cars that sound and look good. But finally, and the factor that mostly directed my choice, I like manual transmissions. I've had many cars with ZF autos or dual clutches, but really thought about it and decided that I just don't enjoy paddle shifting and always end up just leaving the cars in full auto. If I'm going to shift gears, I want to have a 3rd pedal. Of all of the cars I've owned, just under half of them have been manuals, and some of those I daily drove. I don't really get tired of it. Thankfully it isn't often that I'm in heavy traffic and it is flat where I live, so a lot of the things that can make manuals less than ideal aren't parts of my regular driving experience.

The M4 has the comfort, tech, and luxury to make a great daily driver, more performance than I will use, the fun factor of the manual, and it is unique enough that I don't see a dozen of them every week. I rather like the looks, especially in the right colors and with some light modifications like wheels, suspension and trim/lip kits. I'm very happy to be back in a BMW.

TL;DR - The manual transmission was the tipping point for me.

[jmg]

My options at the time were:

718 Cayman GTS, 981 Cayman GT4, F82 M2 CS, F82 M2 Comp, and GR Supra.

I fell in love with a fully speced G82 on the dealership floor with the flow through wing and emailed my CA. They had an allocation, so I took it that night and custom ordered one. The G82 was overall, more capable than the above other cars I mentioned, but still had the interior tech and amenities that I wanted. The GR Supra was too hard to get without a markup, and I wanted to wait for the manual.

[Gizmo 335i]

Would have to have a 6MT. Blackwing, or possibly supercharged american muscle e.g. a bitchin' Camaro ZL1 or a modded Mustang. Too bad the M8 doesn't have a 6MT option

[BGM-M3COMP]

Originally Posted by PatientM

If it wasn't for the M3/M4 you choose...anything you were cross shopping it with? And what led to your decision that I am getting this M car?

Something NOT BMW?

C8 stingray, charger widebody hellcat, GT500, CT5-V blackwing, IS500.

C8 stingray - too long to get (which is ironic because i ended up on the list for one anyway which should be coming in spring)

Charger - used one with i think 6k miles, they wanted 78k which was a decent price back then. But where i'm from, the car would get stolen from my driveway the first night i took it home.

GT500 - markups have started, local dealer wanted 10k non refundable deposit with NO estimate time of arrival

CT5-V blackwing - 12+ month wait time, no guarantee on MSRP depending on how many allocations (guess they borrowed tactics from corvette)

IS500 - not sure why i didn't consider this harder lol. I guess i was too busy thinking about the above cars.


Something BMW?

M2, M340, M3 (didn't want the M4 after i saw the way it looked).

First time M owner, first time BMW owner. Figure go for an M3 since i started to like BMW's with the F80. M2 was too small. And M340 i knew i would regret.

Went for the M3C.

[forumlurker]

Tacoma. Finally moved out of the city so I felt like it was time. Was gonna be a taco bro living that overland life. That lifestyle intrigued me. Ended up going with a G80 instead luls.

[TomzBmw]

Ordered my 2023 M3 Comp xDrive as I've always wanted an M car and the M3 was always the one I wanted. It's a weekend fun car because there is just something about a sports sedan that I love.

Only car I cross shopped was Porsche 718 GTS 4.0. To keep pricing comparable, I configured the 718 with just a few options (great right out of the box). However with the M3, I could get everything I wanted plus some mods. $ for $, the M3 gives me a lot of performance and I'm just drawn to it. In the end I ultimately decided when I move to Porsche, I want it to be a 911, but that's just out of reach right now.

My 2011 Z4 3.0 scratches my two seater convertible itch because it's a blast to drive, though not nearly the performance of these cars.

[Rono63]

Pretty unusual but I was originally thinking of a Z4 to have a roadster. I have never had one and wanted to experience the 2 door convertible.

When I built it for the 20th time on the BMW site I realized that for not much more I could get a G82. I have always dreamed of a proper M car so that's what I decided on.

Hopefully sometime in the future I can get a Z4 to add to the garage.

[luckylingy]

I've driven BMWs exclusively for 30 years, so I never considered cross-shopping other brands. The car is my DD, so AWD is an absolute requirement. I appreciate comfort and technology as well as speed. And I prefer to "fly under the radar" of non-enthusiasts.

I was this close to assuming a lease on a M340 xDrive when I was chasing an M3 Comp xDrive allocation, but I ultimately backed out. An M440 xDrive would have been a decent compromise but just that -- a compromise. I was leery of 'harsh ride' critiques of the X3M; otherwise, that'd have been an obvious alternative. (My spouse drives an X3 M40i, and the ride's firm but fine.)

Looking beyond BMWs, if I could find a decent one for similar money as a new M4, I'd consider a used 911 Carrera 4 or E63. Given used car values these days, maybe a GLC63 would be more realistic. Not sure I'd consider Audi, and I know I'd never look beyond German brands.

[Forzanerazzurri]

Interesting to see so many cross shopping the 718. Two completely different cars.

[2011ninja]

M550; took one for a test drive.

It had the steering feel of a jet ski.

Super luxurious awesomeness sound system.

[Predatar]

I would love a 6 cylinder nonturbo like the 718 GTS. But the mark-ups on Porsches, particularly those really popular models are just awful - $15-20K; more for the 718 Spyder or GT4. Carerra GTS, etc. are just as bad or worse.

The value proposition of the M4 is attractive in its own right.

[meechy6ix0]

M2CS/M2C - Didn't have a job when they were available new. All the ones I called in for were spoken for.

C8 - I'm not paying over MSRP and taking on a loan that will be upside for even longer than usual.

718 GTS 4.0 - Also not paying over MSRP.

Challenger REWB - Still have one on order, but just wasn't happy with the Scat Pack I drove, and power wasn't the issue.

ZL1 - May still go this route, but I just love the M details.

GT500 - Had a chance to get one for MSRP, but I couldn't put up with the interior. Same for the Mach 1.

Supra - Looks like Nigel Thornberry. Ugly.

Z4 M40i - Honestly, I still want one, but I can't imagine paying near M car prices for a baby M.

C63S - Couldn't find one for a reasonable price. Not paying over MSRP.

RS5 - Just doesn't match up to the new M cars, being a generation older.

RCF - Couldn't find one, and they are ugly IMO.

Rubicon W/ Xtreme Recon Package - Really want one, but not ready to give up on sports cars.

TRX - Apartment won't lend itself to any good use with a truck that big.

[SeanWRT]

The M3/M4 LCI (the real one). LOL