2013 Z vs 2017 M2 vs 2018 Type R

Magic Bus

The post below is one I put on the BMW forum for the M2 vs Type R. Listed at the very bottom, I've added some additional thoughts between the Z & Type R

Yes I know it's FWD, 4 doors and looks are polarizing, so please let's not go there. I'm comparing it from a spirited driving, street only, daily driver perspective, exactly what my M2 does.

First of all, finding a Type R at MSRP was much harder than getting my M2 at MSRP when it was launched back in 2016. I was able to secure a M2 and do ED in May of 2017, exactly when I wanted and got 5% off of MSRP.

My son is a 26 year old engineer who works in a secure facility and can't use his computer or phones for personal use, so he asked me to assist in finding one for him. The Hawaii Honda sharks are all asking $10k over MSRP. So after 4 months of calls, email & messages, I finally secure one for MSRP $35,595 + doc fee of $195 from a dealer in KC, Missouri. They included a 30 day trip permit and pick up from the KC airport. My son can now register and pay HI sales tax in HI. So we made this father son road trip using motorcycleroads.com as one of our guides. 950 miles of road driven fun from KC to Dallas, ending it with the Titans vs Cowboys MNF game.

Believe the hype on the Type R, it's very good! First of all the seats are nice, they're supportive, comfortable and well bolstered. It holds you in very well if you are of average build, but not sure you'd be comfortable if you are on the wider side. Overall the interior can't match the M2, but hey it's $23k less. I'm also not a techy person but the center screen display seemed okay, comes standard with GPS, Apple Car Play and satellite radio for 90 days.

The M2 beats the Type R on straight line accleration but the power delivery of the 4 cylinder turbo is very good and linear like our M2, with very little turbo lag on hard acceleration pulls. We didn't go past 5k for the 1st 600 miles per Honda break in recommendation but did go to redline after. It's very impressive as I felt it kept pulling on strong to the redline of 7k. Also impressive was the absence of torque steer on hard acceleration. I only felt it once during our trip. It happened about 3.5k as the front wheel hit an uneven bump, a split second after I started gassing it out of a turn.

The Type R steering feels very accurate and nicely weighted, maybe just a smidge heavier than our M2. And on straight line highway driving, it wanders less than my M2. Still can't beat hydraulic though, as some of the feedback wasn't there. One area where I miss my 370Z.

Staying on the topic of feel, you can definitely tell the Type R is 300 lbs less than our M2. On quick hard turns, body roll feels close to the M2 but the Type R feels more nimble. Probably why it can run the Nurburgring in a very fast time.

Ride is an interesting one. The Type R is firm but never harsh and could easily be used as a daily driver plus mountain carver. The M2 is smoother on better roads but can be a little more harsh vs the Type R on rougher roads.

Clutch is a little heavier on the Type R, but it's travel is shorter than my M2, and I have BMS stop with 3 washers! It's pick up is just a little higher than my M2 with 3 washers, so pretty darn good for stock. Clutch pick up is easy and smooth like the M2, much better than the abrupt nature of my 370Z. Type R would be my favorite clutch with the M2 & BMS stop an extremely close 2nd.

Shifter on the Type R is very good. It's shorter vertically and horizontally vs my M2. I had to recalibrate my brain when driving the Type R as I went from 2nd the 5th a few times before getting the hang of it. The shifter is also not rubbery like the M2, but the gates aren't as well defined as the 370Z. However if I had to pick one out of the 3, it would be the type R.

Brakes felt good and strong but not overly sensitive. However I don't feel the type of driving which I did, would make me the best judge of this.

Sound, my M2 has the Fabspeed sport cat and ASD coded off. No contest here at all, M2 by a knock out! Even stock, M2 all the way.

Overall I was very impressed and enjoyed driving the Type R. If I was 26 years old, I would absolutely love it. Maybe if it wasn't for the looks, I could forgive the exhast note, save $23K and be driving a Type R now. Nah, I'm older and enjoy my M2 too much.

Other notes from this KC delivery program. Yes, I treated my son for the trip and shipping of his car back to HI, but it was more than worth it. I don't know how to measure the cost for the time and experience with him, but it's an extremely better deal than having him pay $10k extra to the Honda sharks here in HI. Also the Type R gets tons of attention. I was really surprised to see the amount of thumbs up on the road, as well as all the positive comments, cell phone pics by males & females of all ages at the gas stations and restaurants we stopped at.

Addtional thoughts on the Z vs Type R.

Steering feel of the Z is hard to beat, the Type R is very accurate and nicely weighted, but the Z wins here, I guess you can't beat hydraulic.

Sound, put a full catback or just axle back and the Z wins this easily. I don't think it would matter if the Type R had a different exhaust.

No hand brake on Type R, just electronic switch.

Straight line acceleration, not sure who would win, but I'm guessing it's close. On a twisty mountain road, I think the Type R would win, it's also a couple hundred lbs lighter than the Z. Not saying it's more fun, but I do think it's faster here.

Ride, Type R is just a tad firmer, but feels like it handles better with speed on rougher roads vs the Z. The Z felt like it bounced a little more.

Shifter, the Type R is shorter, vertically and horizontally. I really liked the feel of the gates on the 370Z, very well defined, I don't think I ever miss shifted in my Z. I did miss shift a few times on the Type R, but I'm sure familiarity would definitely make me better.

Looks, while subjective, definitely the Z for me.

Practicality, it's pretty, obvious, Type R.