In Love With a BMW M Coupe
There are a few major benefits to being an automotive journalist. The biggest one is getting to drive a new car every week, including the latest sports cars or other beasts of impracticality, with no strings attached. When I got a shot at spending some test time with the new BMW M coupe, I gladly grabbed the keys and headed to the parking lot for a quick toss around town midday. I just couldn’t wait for the drive home.
Of course our town is downtown Chicago, and the streets, they ain’t so friendly. I was still surprised to find some great open moments. Heading west from downtown I could see the United Center to my left as I navigated the narrow side streets of the West Loop. Once known for meat-packing, the area is now home to ritzy lofts and restaurants. The route back downtown found an amazingly wide-open two-mile stretch that delivered more thrills than any highway I hit during the rest of the weekend.
The M coupe seems faster than its 330-hp V-6 six-cylinder engine would suggest. It gets to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, but it feels faster than that. The tachometer actually has a redline that adjusts depending on the engine temperature. How cool is that? And the six-speed shifter’s shift-pattern diagram lights up at night. Again, how cool is that?
The car emits a sense of total control for the driver. You might be a little more reckless than you normally would because the car responds so darn well. The steering wheel was meaty, requiring a mighty grip at all times. Maybe it was this constant attention to the most important input device that aided in my seemingly precise driving.
Why would anyone want to give this car back? Well, despite the fun factor, you wouldn’t want to commute in it every day unless your left leg needs some physical therapy — yes, the clutch is that heavy — or your drive to work includes roads named 66 or PCH. For most sports car buyers this won’t be a problem, nor will the rough ride and acrobatic entries and exits you’ll be making.
During a few more days of driving the fun factor still won out because I personally fell in love with the car. Sure, it’s a bit odd looking from some angles, but the M4 coupe delivers a unique driving feel compared to anything else on the market — think Corvette, Porsche 911 and even the M4 roadster — at a price that’s actually quite competitive — starting at $50,000. Who wouldn’t fall in love with that?
Related: BMW Z4 M Roadster: My Take
