GTP Cool Wall: 1998-2002 BMW M Coupe

[Leonidae@MFT]

I like big butts and cannot lie. Sub Zero.

 

[Snorevette]

I find myself flip-flopping between loving it and not really liking it fairly regularly. I'm gonna go with a low cool, though.

the z4 is cooler tho

 

[Crash]

Too bad the US market Ms are so under-powered compared to the Euro models.

First 2 years of the M Coupe got a warmed-over US-only S engine with significantly less power than their European counterparts, but the last 2 years of the M Coupe got the same E46 M3 based engine that Europe got as well for the last 2 years of production run.

The first two years of this and the M Roadster were the last M cars to not get the same engines as the European versions.

 

[niky]

It's a fast BMW. A rich man's toy with a pig nose. Should be uncool.

But it's a modern BMW... WITHOUT THE HOFFMEISTER KINK.

Sub-zero. I always catch myself staring when one goes by.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Solid cool.

Not many of these left now, small car with a lot of power, can only mean fun!

 

[Conza]

First time I've voted 'meh'.

I think the only thing the Z3 had going for it was that it was a roadster, take that away and... You've got an E36 3 series with an E30 trailing arm suspension, only two seats and a shooting brake, with a slightly different face... Just reads meh to me, its kind of a nothing car.

I don't even think its uniqueness gives it too much distinction either.

 

[TheCracker]

The fact that it's a shooting break not a roadster is the defining feature that makes it cool.

 

[Conza]

Shooting brakes can be cool, and many modern ones and classics are, but not with two seats, that's just contradictory.

Besides having a roof (more practical, stiffer, ect), is less cool, literally

 

[Heldenzeit]

First 2 years of the M Coupe got a warmed-over US-only S engine with significantly less power than their European counterparts, but the last 2 years of the M Coupe got the same E46 M3 based engine that Europe got as well for the last 2 years of production run.

The first two years of this and the M Roadster were the last M cars to not get the same engines as the European versions.

Ah, good to know. I thought it just followed the E36 in terms of engines. Still high cool.

 

[C-ZETA]

Such a juicy looker. Probably my single favourite Beemer. No M3s for me thanks...(but an M5's not bad)
Sub-zero.

 

[Centroid]

They made an ugly uncool car, uglier and even less cool. Seriously uncool.

 

[mustafur]

Sub Zero, it's a hatchback therefore it held the record as most powerful Production Hatchback till 2010 when Audi Released the RS3.

I was obsessed with this car as a kid.

RWD and 50/50 Weight Distribution means this car will remain epic.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

I nominated it, but wasn't sure of regular cool or SZ. The stance is something else, the wheels were fantastic, it came in some daring colours, and it sounded absolutely awesome. The M Coupe is one of my earlier car enthusiasm memories, and I remember not even understanding why I thought it looked cool, since I knew it was based on a roadster, and was young enough to tend to only care about the typical poster-fodder supercars. It's zany: the anti-German German car.

Ended up with SZ.

 

[Dennisch]

I like to see it as a sort of European version of a Viper. Looks best when it's an all black version.
Plenty of power, NA L6 with an awesome sound. High cool for me. Misses out on SZ because it's not an E24.

 

[ScottPuss20]

I drove it in GT5 and it really sucked. Not a fan of it.
Uncool

 

[Tornado]

 

[Wiegert]

I drove it in GT5 and it really sucked. Not a fan of it.
Uncool

I wish I had the stones to use such sound reasoning.

 

[Liquid]

That means any car featured in GT4 is uncool because understeer.

 

[Bopop4]

That means any car featured in GT4 is uncool because understeer.

The Alpine 1600S in GT4 had oversteer.

 

[Crash]

Polarizing looks, but the large rear haunches make it look aggressive while still retaining classiness. And to own and drive one of these is to not care about what others think of you.

I will own one of these some day.

Sub zero.

 

[ScottPuss20]

I wish I had the stones to use such sound reasoning.

I'll provide a better reason, eh?
Yes, shooting brakes are cool but this one doesn't take my fancy.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Seems about where I expected it to be. Surprised by the amount of "Meh" votes; it doesn't seem like a very middle-of-the-road car.

Now, what to nominate next...

 

[Azuremen]

First 2 years of the M Coupe got a warmed-over US-only S engine with significantly less power than their European counterparts, but the last 2 years of the M Coupe got the same E46 M3 based engine that Europe got as well for the last 2 years of production run.

The first two years of this and the M Roadster were the last M cars to not get the same engines as the European versions.

Honestly, some of us don't mind the warmed over S engine because it is easier/cheaper to keep running and drops the value of the cars into justifiable weekend cars. Real world performance didn't seem to suffer too much either, so can't complain too much about that either.

 

[Crash]

Honestly, some of us don't mind the warmed over S engine because it is easier/cheaper to keep running and drops the value of the cars into justifiable weekend cars. Real world performance didn't seem to suffer too much either, so can't complain too much about that either.

You're absolutely right, the American engines made the respective M vehicles significantly more affordable than their European counterparts. As you said, also helps keeps maintenance costs down, which frankly, I agree is a good thing as well, especially with M cars.