I was cross shopping these 2 cars having come from an S3. The handling, turn in, suspension, and power delivery is way better in the M2. The RS3 gets off the line quicker due to AWD and I love the 5 cyl sound, but once the M2 is in 3rd gear it’s lights out for the RS3, the M2 pulls like a madman. You are spot on with the RS3 suspension being stiffer and it bounces around way too much (reminds me of the previous F87 M2) where as the M2 G87 absorbs the bumps while being stiff, like a good performance car should. I think they are both great cars it all depends what you need in a car, if you don’t need 4 doors for sure get the M2. Once I drove them back to back it was an easy decision for me to get the M2. Great vid!1
Just the opposite for me when I test drove both! RS3 just rips and grips everywhere and just feels faster to about 100 mph since you can actually use all the power without an issue with Quattro! RS3 is more usable in the cold, rain, of course, and we won't even mention wintertime! M2 owner I know traded it in for the RS3 after a test drive and said it was the best car he's ever owned after owning several bimmers!! Both great cars, and I'd like to have one of each in my garage, honestly lol!!
RS3 all the way. Better looking, more practical, better resale value, better sound. I've been driving a manual transmission in every one of my cars for the past 30 years until I got my '24 RS3 and I don't miss the manual at all.
@@michaelmich00 Actually not really. The current generation, most do. But a base M3 and M4 drop a decent amount. The M2’s aren’t dropping by much. Neither are xDrive Comps. Current RS3 8Y are going for MSRP or more on the used market
I own a 24 RS3, so I'm a bit biased lol, but your comment sums up the way I feel as well! 5 Cylinder Daza engine is an amazing engine with a character filled soundtrack!!
Honestly the Audi I5 is a pretty strong engine. Audi and BMW seems pretty good. However we've had issues with our BMW's we've owned. Never had issues with any of our Audis.
test drove both and its the m2 and its not even close m2 has 100 hp more (BMW are lying about the real hp numbers), rs3 feels front wheel drive, it rides higher, softer/less sporting steering, worse sounding engine surprisingly, its actually a bit more money base price, and no manual and most importantly the m2 is a lot more fun (and im a big RS guy. I daily an RS car).
Yeah the RS3 has some quirks. Once you do an exhaust and upgraded springs tho, it sounds amazing and starts to feel more responsive. But the M2 is great and I'll probably trade my Supra for one at some point lol
Got the RS3 8Y now, sportback. Fantastic car, superfast and comfortable at the same time. The only (minor) disappointment is the sound that doesn't come straight outta hell anymore, compared to my previous RS3 8V.
Meh, with the RS3 being lowered and having teh front lip on it, I'd say it looks way meaner. M2 needs to be lower and have some things added to look as aggressive
The 2026 M2 will come in Xdrive but only in the Z8 speed but with a bump in power to 500 hp. BMW always under rates it’s power. That’s the M2 I’m waiting for.
Insane how the m2 inside look futuristic while at the same time you see a classic manual gear box, while the rs3 look cheap and that lame flick gear box.
Honestly they seem to feel like the same quality for the interior. The little shifter thing in the RS3 keeps things out of the way which is kinda nice. Great to see a manual in the M3 tho
I have the 2023 RS3 in Turbo Blue like you.... Great car, owned it 18 months now (low low miles). Getting pretty good quote from dealerships to buy it (61k). Am I crazy to sell it for GR86 in manual transmission? I kinda wanna go back to basics. I know the obvious power difference and it will be different kind of fun. On the RS3, it's just so much power that you can get in trouble real quickly with the law (and living in NY, I'm not even utilizing half the potential). On the 86, you can the power daily and not having to worry about getting into trouble. If I crave the power, we have the '24 X3 M40i as family car lol What are your thoughts?
Not a bad way to go. We have the GR86 and it's a blast to drive! I made a video comparing it to my Supra. Both were the same level of fun, just different ways. The 86, you can drive it like you stole it, and you'll never hit 60 lol. So that could totally be a fun way to take a step back and just have a car you can drive hard and not break the law. X3 M40 is. fun family car!
@@BrosFOURRSpeed Yea I saw that comparison video, which is why I'm asking for your input LOL.... I also wanna keep the price around 30K range on my first manual car, so 86 is probably the best choice. I'm just afraid that I will be disappointed on the power coming from RS3.... appreciate your feedback.
You'll defiantly miss the power. However the GR86 is much more peppy then the older FRS and GT86. So it's not bad. We still find it fun to drive even coming from our other cars
Both great cars that won't leave their owners unhappy at the end of the day! RS3 is a little more versatile with Quattro, but the M2 has the manual option and can be a lot of fun as well!
Excellent video showing the pros and cons of both. I love both cars but I did buy the 2024 M2 with the carbon fiber roof and the regular seats, not the carbon sport seats. I’ve always been a manual shift guy but this time I went with the automatic. I found the stick too rubbery for my tastes. Put the auto in manual mode with the shift speed at S3 and BMW says it shifts at 150 milliseconds, which is close to a dual clutch. Backseat room is tight but I’m never back there so I don’t care much about that. Thanks again for a super video…well done! I almost forgot to mention the 10 level traction control which is amazing on the track. You can dial in the car perfectly to suit your performance level. The drift analyzer is cool to have but given the expense of 285/30-20” high performance tires, I’m not about to destroy $500 tires!
OH nice! Glad you are liking the M2! I'll probably buy one at some point when my Supra is too small. I'm torn on the manual or auto for it. Not sure if it would feel too similar to the RS3 if it was auto. So we'll see. Thanks for checking out the vid! We are adding some M2 parts to our website too. So if you want any upgrades let us know!
@@BrosFOURRSpeed depends on what metric you are looking at when you say "RS3 is a lot faster". As a Audi/VW/BMW fan I love all of them, so no bias here... I just think depending on your use case one each one could be better for you. The RS3 absolutely faster from a dig when looking at 0-60 and 1/4 mile times but as speeds increase the M2 takes over. When you are talking rolls M2 leaves RS3 in the dust. Again I love both and living in Colorado I'd love to have both...RS3 as my daily (especially in winter) and the M2 for when I want to do get rowdy and do track days or hit the canyons. Full transparency...I'm a F87 M2 Comp owner but have owned many VW, Audi and BMWs BTW - great work on the review!
@@pushdaenvelope Yeah that’s why I mentioned the real comparison comes down to if a potential buyers wants AWD or Rwd. A manual. And 2 doors vs 4. Both very similar cars just depends on what buyers want. Especially comparing the manual M2 to the RS3. RS3 is much quicker zipping around town and in the back roads. I plan on buying an M2 in a year or so to replace my Supra. But love what the RS3 offers as well
Traded my 2023 bmw m2 with bolt ons for a 2024 rs3. The m2 was a fast fast car, but I’m in the PNW and it rains often, completely useless in the rain. Lol also rs3 feels a bit more special tbh.
People forget how important traction is when buying a car with this kind of horsepower! Quattro gives the RS3 so much usability in all weather, and 4 doors is a plus imo!!
Great review and I like how you are not biased towards one. I had my 2023 G87 M2 with the 6 speed manual for over a year now and it’s simply the best car I ever owned. Coming from a MK3 Supra, S2000, and 135i, my only critique is the lack of steering feel, but that’s almost every new car with electric steering vs hydraulically-assisted. I agree that you don’t feel the weight for a 3750+ lb car. Car ride is actually much more comfortable than the 135i. Just keep in mind if you tune the manual, the torque isn’t recommended above 500, but you probably already know that with your Supra.
Yeah I think a basic tune and bolts ons can work for these. Would probably need a nice clutch for more aggressive tuning. But in a manual I wouldn't be chasing much more power. Probably won't even tune my Supra. Just doesn't crave more power being a manual.
I like both equally. I live in the Midwest so I’d go Audi, until BMW brings out an AWD M2! If I’m being honest, the Germans can’t make a great/solid standard transmission! My favorite manuals ever were my ‘08 Honda S2000, my 2006 & 2010 Dodge Vipers, & my 2012 Chevy Corvette Z06. My BMWs & my 911 manuals were all average at best. German manuals lack that solid rifle bolt accurate shifting. German manuals feel too rubbery with too much play in them! So - make my next BMW M2 AWD with an Automatic Tranny! 😂 YMMV👍
Yeah my manual Supra is much better feeling. Toyota built that transmission and it's amazing! I don't hate the M2 manual. It's very forgiving and still fun. But certainly could be more direct. Both are some fun tho! I've heard some rumors about 2025 having AWD. Would basically be an M4 Comp lol
Ok? Both have very similar prices and performance. There really isn't anything that truly competes with these two cars. As like I mentioned in the video, I get tons of comments of people saying they are cross shopping these two specific cars. So clearly enough people are looking to buy an RS3 or M2
Yeah I did a comparison with my manual Supra and a manual M2. Supra is certainly the drivers cars of the two when compared back to back. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lfriLa3ZijY.html
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fQehZcOObIg.html Here's my video comparing the Supra to the RS3. Personally I'd go M2 after my Supra. But if you really need the back seat practicality the RS3 is the way to go
M2 S58 > RS3 DAZA. if you want more power, go for M2. The same DAZA set the record 3 years back and never get faster cause it hit limit at 1400bhp while S58 is new. Even B58 is better than DAZA.
I think if the I5 maxes out at 1,400 HP, that's pretty good. Very capable engine and has been proven. M2 with the S58 is a blast too and can certainly make power. B58 seems about on par with the I5. I own a Supra and like it a lot. I5 sounds super cool tho
Get the S5, for 5K you can mod it into a MONSTER, 3.1 to 60. 10.9 quarter. And its comfortable and looks great. best car out there, if you know, you know.
S5 is a great car. But not on the same level as these cars in terms of true performance. Yes it will have power, but it's not the same level of handling and track performance. Very different buyer
One of those cars is absolutely painful to look at… I don’t love front-biased AWD systems, but I simply couldn’t walk into my garage every day and confront the hideousness of the M2. It looks like it was built from Legos.
The M2 is a better track weapon, yes (especially the 2025 with closer to 500 hp) but the RS3 is more unique and special and it's a great sleeper because people think it's a Corolla or something. Looking forward to the 2025 refresh which will fix the front grill, my biggest issue with the car (aside from being able to tune it). BMW will keep cranking out ugly, heavy M cars like cheeseburgers and honestly most of the owners are obnoxious
Yeah most people don't know the RS3 has a fast little motor! Both have a lot going for them for sure. It'll be interesting to see what a new M2 or RS3 looks like. I've heard things about both cars getting a refresh
Yeah but it's not as fun to drive. It's a step down in performance. Not the same ball game. Here's my comparison with the M340 and RS3. It's a better day driver, but not as good of a performance car. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cYCrxjs7Ucs.html
@Kenyon712 Yeah, an economy car you say was able to set a record in its class around the ring in Germany, and beat an 85k BMW M2 CS by a lot around that same track lol!
If I’m looking for a family car, a four door all wheel drive sedan with some power, RS4 would be it. But, if I’m looking for a fun, rear wheel drive, six speed, proper sport car, M2 all day long.
Yeah very true. Would be nice to have an RS4 again. RS3 is kinda like what the last ten RS4 was all about. But this should be a good family car to start with since the back is pretty practical for a small car
No it isn't. The RS3 specifically is an FWD layout. It has a mode to make it sort of RWD biased, but even that doesn't really make it feel like that. Plenty of info on this car talking about it's FWD characteristic
@@keanumunteanu the steering is definitely more direct. But the I5 is quicker off the line and in tighter roads. M2 has a lot going for it for sure tho
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cYCrxjs7Ucs.htmlsi=USqxrttYg_H1oDNY Here’s my video of the M340 vs RS3. Same price and 4 doors. As a performance car tho the M2 and RS3 are very similar in how they drive. Also like I mentioned in the video, I’ve had several comments of viewers wanting to see this video
Aside from the dash and upper doors feeling a bit cheaper. These cars feel at the same level. While there are some cheaper plastics in the RS3, it makes up for it by having genuine materials. Nappa leather seats in the RS3 vs fake leather in the M2. Carbon fiber on the dash and alcantara on the door inserts vs plastic on the M2. So yeah, they feel to be the same level
You can't really call either car beautiful. You have an econobox 4 door look with the RS3 but it is about performance, not looks. The M2 looks like molded concrete, a brutally ugly design with a tacked on display screen. It takes huge front tires on the M2 to hold that excessive weight in a curve. Because there is no aesthetic value in the M2 at all, I would give the win to the RS3 because aesthetics is still a component to me even though BMW and some others have given it up to save money on a their budgets.
After owning a m2 for a year its definitely not pretty, but that's what i like about it, it's more like a musclar bulldog look to it, if i wants something pretty i would've bought a c8 corvette.
Look is subjective. The M2 has lot of bold angular designs and wide stance. These design hues are either saturated or do not pick up well in picture and video. In person, I love the look of the car, as it is in your face bulldog look like @hpickettz34 mentioned, which constantly drawing my eyes’ attention to it. No complaint on the screen and IDrive8, it s not like BMW is the only one doing that, though I kind of wish they incorporated the screen on driver side into a digital speedometer like rs3.
@@BrosFOURRSpeed did a little research. They are single scroll, but there ARE two of them. This is only making me want to trade the Supra in on an M2 even more 😭
Not at all lol. These two have very identical performance. RS3 is quicker overall tho with the AWD. M2 has a bit more top end. Very comparable and similar cars
@@BrosFOURRSpeed I wasn’t talking about performance but just my opinion which car I would prefer, my bad for not specifying this. Both great cars for sure, i prefer the M2 though.
@@G82Watts so true! I’ve stopped caring much about how cars look. They always end up looking cool. When the new M2 and RS3 come out. People will hate it and say they loved the old one. Happens every time
In some ways sort of. But it doesn't handle as well as these and isn't as fast. Basic tuning on these cars can make 550 WHP to 700 WHP very easy. New GT is a lot of car for $10k less. But the German cars still have a leg up I think as a total package
@@BrosFOURRSpeed with 10k ford will install a 3.0 whipple with a warranty making 790whp Street speed 717 just did it how do you beat that for the money 65k 800 whp with a 3/36 warranty
I'd go for the RS3. Would only lease one tho. Every salesperson I have spoken with at Audi has told me you'll go bankrupt owning an RS car out of warranty 😂😂
Kind of silly if they actually like selling cars😂, and the RS3 and TTRS are both very reliable platforms that have a proven track record for well over a decade!! Every sales rep I've talked to says the opposite to me! These cars handle a lot of mods and power gains without an issue as well!
You' waste a ton of money leasing one. The new RS3 still goes for MSRP on the used market. Can buy one and drive it for a few years and sell it for what you paid. These are pretty easy to maintain as well
Currently torn between these two. For Chicago winter, RS3 seems like a more rational choice as my only car. But I have heard some 8Y RS3 owners are facing reliability issues already so that’s an ouch.
Yeah the AWD is great for that! Especially with s good set of performance all season tires. I havent heard anything bad about either car just yet. The M2 is probably a but easier to work on since the engine and transmission is more common in their brand. Regular servicing should keep the RS3 solid tho. Lots of owners rack up the miles in these
Both are a waste of money you could have any Corvette including the base C8 for that price. Like whats the point in paying more for less performance? bmw never won the 24hr lemans over the corvette despite competing for 20+ years. That should speak volumes as far as competitive performance goes. BMW and the RS audis actually can't even compete with the laptimes of the midpackage Camaro or Mustang on the Nurburgring which is actually both their home course. I love m3s and e30s and even owned one myself but were lying to ourselves if we're really trying to convince others that these cars are the best bang for your buck.
Not everyone wants a car derived from a racecar. These are both practical cars with space to put kids and extra items. Yes a new Corvette is a great sportscar for the money, and equally equipped costs closer to $85,000. Nobody wants a base C8. It's missing some key features that these cars will have like adaptive suspension, navigation, active exhaust and other features. I own a Lamborghini, so there wouldn't be a point to have another mid engine car. The RS3 is a great family sedan for us but it is also fun to drive and super fast. The M2 will end up replacing my Supra when I want a fun manual car with back seats.
Always the one troll that thinks he knows what's the best car for everyone, even know some people need a more useful performance car that is capable in all weather!! Get a clue!
@@BrosFOURRSpeed you say that "not everyone wants a race car" yet that would could contradict the purpose in why anyone watches this video. Lets face it, nobody means sound insulation and mpg when we're talking about spending 80k on a "performance car". a base z51 comes with all that you named actually and costed only 73k pre quarantine. you're also not addressing the fact that i said "any corvette" which includes previous generations like the C6-C7 z06 or ZR1 or even a 2018 ZL1 camaro/shelby for the same price all of which offer more performance and less depreciation for less money. My question still stands... whats the point in a bmw/audi in a conversation about performance and pricing? That's like comparing phiss to sh it in a flavor contest, its all bad 😂
@@speeddemon311 but that wasn't the point of the video now was it? All weather you say? Are you aware that a crappy rt challenger has more mechanical grip than awd crossover? Even more of a reason to save money and NOT buy a "luxury" brand for practical use. Buy American. I don't even like American cars I'm just speaking objectively.
@@ClarityRyZze ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HL53ejC18Mo.htmlsi=0y_OYFo3b-fRxamS Here’s my POV review of this M2. I have three review on this exact car on the channel. It’s a big sunroof for a coupe. I’d totally spec it with one
@@BrosFOURRSpeed You should try it. I drive a much slower BMW than your RS3, but it is fast enough for the city limits (with reasonable speeding over it). Drifting makes every turn/turnaround potentially fun. Just need to make sure no cops are around.
No idea what you're talking about. I cannot see why anyone would buy the RS3 other than a little bit more "practicality". Also, "drift capabilities" 🤣 The M2 is made to drift, the RS3 tries to emulate it badly; front biased AWD is awful. The S58 is a monster of an engine, an engineering masterpeice; it sounds and performs so much better than the RS3 5 cyl.
@@rustygates3367M2 looks bad and sounds so so. S58 with RWD is borderline useless. In real life RS3 will be faster and massively faster in not perfect weather.
@@Trithij Funny you say that when a RWD M2 beats the AWD RS3 on the Nordschliefe. M2 rank 90, RS3 rank 101. The M2 is also faster on the 1/4 mile. Its obvious you don't know much about the M2 and how incredible it handles and feels to drive. Its much more fun than the rs3. All reviewers agree with that. Also, I think the M2 looks amazing, much better than the RS3 with its big plastic grille.
@BrosFOURRSpeed Seriously I get you like it, and it grows on people after a while, which shouldn't be necessary, but the appearance is a letdown compared to such a beautiful design in the M2 comp to most people!! It's a polarizing design!
@@speeddemon311 The old one looked good too. It all BMW’s ended up looking the same over the years. Sometimes companies have to be bold to pace a new way. I’m sure when the next gen comes out. We’ll get people who say the old one was better. It happens on every car for every new generation
@BrosFOURRSpeed It doesn't happen for every car on every new generation! BMW is just on a roll in recent years because they have a new lead designer who has made many questionable decisions lol
@BrosFOURRSpeed your love of the brands performance has blinded you from seeing the boxy odd design this car truly has, and most agree, it's not a great looking car to put it nicely lol F series is peak BMW and that's a fact!! G series is plain sad overall!
