Power
Great usable powerband. Boost comes in at ~3000 rpm and the S55 pulls hard until the next gear.
Ride and Handling
Typical M car dynamics. Ride gets a little rough with 666M 20” wheels, but corners flat with responsive, well-weighted steering.
Value
Performance, pedigree, and potential that’s tough to beat in sub-$50k market, especially as long as Porsches and Corvettes remain artificially elevated in price.
Interior Space
Competition seats + sunroof + coupe roofline = very little headroom.
Braking
Stock brakes leave something to be desired from an M car. Might be pad compound.
Cost to Maintain
It’s a BMW. Get a warranty.
Power
5/5
Dashboard
Logical and beautiful controls/infotainment in the F30/F80 generation BMW 3/M cars.
Braking
Emergency stops are not a problem
Cargo Space
Very tight trunk space compared to the M3 sedan due to convertible top mechanism.
Cabin Noise
Lots of rattles/squeaks from the top mechanism on a rough road when the top is up. Rattles/squeaks disappear when the top is down, and the car comes alive.
Ride and Handling
Handling is good, but ride can be rough on bad roads.