[MachinesWithSouls]

Hi all

While I normally review press cars, the xDrive system in my X3 took a few days off, so I ended up with a 228i loaner from my local dealer. Having not spent much time with a 2 GC beforehand, I thought I’d give it a proper review.

While the car offered nimble handling and a good punch off the line, I was a little disappointed with the overall fit and finish, ride quality and feedback from the car. It felt more Mini than BMW to me. If you have one, I do hope you enjoy it, but for the money they want, even for a base, I might look elsewhere for more driving enjoyment.

https://machineswithsouls.com/2022/1...-coupe-review/

[markb50k]

Thanks for the review. I’m very pleased with my M235 GC!

[cukeuk]

Firstly, the M235i isn't all wheel drive and I feel the reviewer obsessed about the 2GC sharing components with the mini. Tiny trunk? Come on it compares with the Audi A3 saloon with the GC being 5 litres bigger. Mine has iDrive 7, not 8 so I dunno what you were driving.
As far as fit and finish is concerned, I came from a B9 A9 and the GC isn't far off what set a benchmark for interior quality from Audi. Fit is good, finish is good and everything you touch has a mark of quality.
All in all not a very good review at all really due to inaccuracies..

[Erebor]

Originally Posted by cukeuk

Firstly, the M235i isn't all wheel drive

Whell, what is it then?

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by cukeuk

Firstly, the M235i isn't all wheel drive and I feel the reviewer obsessed about the 2GC sharing components with the mini. Tiny trunk? Come on it compares with the Audi A3 saloon with the GC being 5 litres bigger. Mine has iDrive 7, not 8 so I dunno what you were driving.
As far as fit and finish is concerned, I came from a B9 A9 and the GC isn't far off what set a benchmark for interior quality from Audi. Fit is good, finish is good and everything you touch has a mark of quality.
All in all not a very good review at all really due to inaccuracies..

The M235 is only available with xDrive. The 228 I reviewed is available with front or all.

Trunk is tiny for a sedan, especially considering it replaced a 3 Series in a lineup.

It should be iDrive 7, sorry, I’ve had 8 on the brain. And I don’t insult the interior - it’s identical to a $100,000 car. A problem more for the 8 series than the 2.

Otherwise, review is accurate.

[alpinewhite3]

Originally Posted by MachinesWithSouls

Hi all

While I normally review press cars, the xDrive system in my X3 took a few days off, so I ended up with a 228i loaner from my local dealer. Having not spent much time with a 2 GC beforehand, I thought I’d give it a proper review.

While the car offered nimble handling and a good punch off the line, I was a little disappointed with the overall fit and finish, ride quality and feedback from the car. It felt more Mini than BMW to me. If you have one, I do hope you enjoy it, but for the money they want, even for a base, I might look elsewhere for more driving enjoyment.

https://machineswithsouls.com/2022/1...-coupe-review/

Respect your opinion and your review but a couple of things:

1) You need to re-test this car with the M sport package. I've driven both and it's a totally different experience. Looking at your signature, Im sure you know any modern BMW without the m sport package (including the 3 series) has been neutered for the masses. The current 3 series has one of the numbest, feedback less, slow steering racks ive ever driven.

2) Ride quality is definitely stiff with the M sport package- but it's also very stiff in the 3 series. This is much more compact car with a shorter wheelbase.

3) Most buyers choosing a 4 door subcompact coupe will likely not care about trunk space. This car does not replace the 3 series. It fits in below to compete with the Audi a3 and Mercedes CLA and the former A class.

4) Mini coopers are some of the best handling cars in the world and are considered premium level cars now. While it does sit on a mini shared platform, that platform was developed by BMW and this car's suspension and steering are completely different.

5) Digital dash is now standard equipment on the 2GC. Regarding fit and finish, materials, etc I will concede it is not at the level of a 3 series. But have you sat in an Audi A3/Merc A class or CLA? (the competition) The A3 feels like a Jetta inside. Cheap hard touch surfaces, plastic everywhere, etc. I think BMW has done a decent job for the price point and vs the competition. Quality and build construction are excellent. Everything seems solid to me. I'm sure the stripper loaner they gave you was missing even basic options.

[MachinesWithSouls]

This was a 22, which did not have the dash.

Trunk space matters. I have to review all aspects of the car.

Interior quality is fine. The car lived a hard life as a loaner I’m sure, but for what the car costs, it doesn’t bode well considering I’ve been in BMWs with 100k miles that rattle less.

You shouldn’t need anything M to have fun. Remember the basic goodness of a regular E46? Why can’t we have that?

And a MINI is fine but I wouldn’t call it “best handling” by any means. A GTI is better.

[alpinewhite3]

Originally Posted by MachinesWithSouls

This was a 22, which did not have the dash.

Trunk space matters. I have to review all aspects of the car.

Interior quality is fine. The car lived a hard life as a loaner I’m sure, but for what the car costs, it doesn’t bode well considering I’ve been in BMWs with 100k miles that rattle less.

You shouldn’t need anything M to have fun. Remember the basic goodness of a regular E46? Why can’t we have that?

And a MINI is fine but I wouldn’t call it “best handling” by any means. A GTI is better.

Those days are long gone and they're not coming back. Nothing in the current BMW line up is even remotely close to the e46 or even E90. I had both without the m sport package and they were a blast.

The 2GC is not perfect by any means but i respect BMW for not only making it but bringing it the States. A fun, nimble, relatively lightweight, subcompact car that is easy to toss around with pretty standard BMW luxuries and build quality. It gets a lot of unjustified hate from BMW purists who have never driven it.

I had the G20 330i for 3 years. It's too big, too heavy and no longer fun to drive.

I drove the new GTI as well. It's fun but the interior has been cost cut to death and the new all touch screen/ capacitive touch buttons are an absolute nightmare and deal breaker for me.

[cukeuk]

Originally Posted by MachinesWithSouls

This was a 22, which did not have the dash.

Trunk space matters. I have to review all aspects of the car.

Interior quality is fine. The car lived a hard life as a loaner I’m sure, but for what the car costs, it doesn’t bode well considering I’ve been in BMWs with 100k miles that rattle less.

You shouldn’t need anything M to have fun. Remember the basic goodness of a regular E46? Why can’t we have that?

And a MINI is fine but I wouldn’t call it “best handling” by any means. A GTI is better.

Trunk space, when reviewing a car, should be compared to other vehicles in the same class. You stated the trunk space was tiny which is totally untrue and incorrect and gives the wrong impression.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by cukeuk

Trunk space, when reviewing a car, should be compared to other vehicles in the same class. You stated the trunk space was tiny which is totally untrue and incorrect and gives the wrong impression.

This car replaced an F30 - it’s much smaller and not nearly as useful.

[cukeuk]

The f30 is a 3 series, a class up from the 2GC so it will be. The 3 series has a boot space of 480 litres whereas the 2GC is 430l..

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by cukeuk

The f30 is a 3 series, a class up from the 2GC so it will be. The 3 series has a boot space of 480 litres whereas the 2GC is 430l..

Your use of the metric system tells me you’re not from round these parts.

In the US, we had a detuned F30 called the 320i. It costs the same as a 2 GC does now. To me, if a car is replacing another, it draws a direct comparison, regardless of class.

If the “boot” is a good size for you, excellent, but compared to an F30, it’s smaller, in liters or inches.

[cukeuk]

Class of cars, this clearly states where the 3 series compared to the GC which is in the compact size class based upon the 1 series, therefore smaller all round. Price has nothing to do with it. No one is arguing that the boot is smaller, but tiny it is not. I'm speaking from an owners point of view who frequently holiday's with two full sized suitcase and two small ones, and the rest.

[Erebor]

Originally Posted by MachinesWithSouls

This car replaced an F30 - it’s much smaller and not nearly as useful.

This car has absolutely not replaced an F30. The F30 has been replaced by the G20.

The 2 series GC is a new class which has no predecessor. It is though closely related to the 1 series, which it basically is and is therefore in terms of space, comfort, features, etc. a F20 successor.

[cukeuk]

Originally Posted by Erebor

This car has absolutely not replaced an F30. The F30 has been replaced by the G20.

The 2 series GC is a new class which has no predecessor. It is though closely related to the 1 series, which it basically is and is therefore in terms of space, comfort, features, etc. a F20 successor.

I think we're in agreement there. The 2GC is a series 1 with a boot.

[Erebor]

Originally Posted by cukeuk

I think we're in agreement there. The 2GC is a series 1 with a boot.

Yes, it's basically a 1-series. F40 for the 1, F46 for that Van thing, F44 for the 2 Gran Coupe. All the same.

[alpinewhite3]

Just FYI trunk space in cubic feet:

2GC - 12 cubic feet (best in class)
Audi a3- 10.9 cubic feet
Mercedes CLA- 11.6

For reference-
F30 320- 13 cubic feet.


Per BMW, the 2 series gran coupe is mechanically unrelated to any previous or current model sold in the United States and is more closely related to the 1 series sold in the rest of the world.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by alpinewhite3

Just FYI trunk space in cubic feet:

2GC - 12 cubic feet (best in class)
Audi a3- 10.9 cubic feet
Mercedes CLA- 11.6

For reference-
F30 320- 13 cubic feet.


Per BMW, the 2 series gran coupe is mechanically unrelated to any previous or current model sold in the United States and is more closely related to the 1 series sold in the rest of the world.

Right so, smaller.

The 2 is a MINI. The F30 isn’t related at all, and I never implied it was.

Does the usual consumer care about such things? They do not. They will instead ask why the car is smaller than the one they are trading in. The 2 isn’t packaged nearly as well due to its fwd origins.

[alpinewhite3]

Originally Posted by MachinesWithSouls

Right so, smaller.

The 2 is a MINI. The F30 isn’t related at all, and I never implied it was.

Does the usual consumer care about such things? They do not. They will instead ask why the car is smaller than the one they are trading in. The 2 isn’t packaged nearly as well due to its fwd origins.

I would put an asterisk in there and say the usual *American* consumer.

This car, along with the related 1 series, sells really well in the rest of the world. Hence, it will likely be discontinued in USA because people here want to drive around in land yachts (that's all they can fit in...)

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by alpinewhite3

I would put an asterisk in there and say the usual *American* consumer.

This car, along with the related 1 series, sells really well in the rest of the world. Hence, it will likely be discontinued in USA because people here want to drive around in land yachts (that's all they can fit in...)

A 320i xDrive weighs less than a 2 GC, despite being larger in physical size.

Europeans prefer smaller vehicles for many reasons, naturally the car will sell better there. I wouldn’t pin a car’s reputation on it selling well (or poorly).

[cukeuk]

Keep going because all you're doing is demonstrating your car knowledge is wanting.

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by cukeuk

Keep going because all you're doing is demonstrating your car knowledge is wanting.

Empty insults won’t prove you right sir.