A double dose of vitamin M

Nigel prefers the BMW M2 because it's harder, faster and louder

In 2011, Japan was hit by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Amy Winehouse died of a drugs overdose and Justin Bieber released Never Say Never - all of which were grim news.

However, the heavens gifted us with something magical that year as well. In 2011, the BMW 1M Coupe was unveiled here in Singapore. Positioned below the equally desirable M3, the 1M was more affordable and its compact body and traditional manual gearbox gave enthusiasts a genuinely fun driving experience.

In this era of hybrid obsession, stupidly numb electric power steering, engine sounds piped in by computers and overly intrusive safety features, it's hard to find pure driving machines such as the 1M.

It sure isn't easy to replace such a beloved car but BMW did just that when it introduced the M2 Coupe - a vehicle that is smarter, more stylish and equally capable than the model it replaced.

The pint-sized M2 even harkens back to BMW's original M car, the E30 M3. It combines top sports car mastery and classic rear-wheel drive with the precision and agility of a modern M machine. And, its 3.0-litre turbocharged six-cylinder is a pure gem of an engine. The M2 pulses with 370bhp and 465Nm of sheer Bavarian hostility, and goes from 0-100km/h in just 4.3 seconds. In short, the new BMW M2 is everything the 1M was, and then some.

But, not everyone loves driving something so focused and so vulgar like the M2. If you still want a kick out of your commute but prefer something tamer, something dumbed down, there is the new BMW M240i Coupe. Sabrina, like many, would take the M240i in the blink of an eye and I completely understand why. It's much easier to live with and costs a whopping $69,000 (as of 25^th January 2017) less. You get a car that's almost as good, but is 'almost as good' really going to cut it?

Having the M240i is like bringing a knife to a gun fight. To enjoy proper M performance, you'd need a proper gun, something like a Beretta 92FS. It's also like listening to a Scorpions tribute band - it ain't the full monty.

The M2 is faster in a straight line, more exciting around corners and its flared body is simply nicer from every angle. After all, the M2 gets front and rear subframes pinched from the M4, with a track that's 63mm wider at the front and 69mm wider at the rear compared to the M240i.

Plus, while the M240i makes do with an eight-speed ZF-sourced autobox, the M2 gets a sharpened seven-speed M Division dual-clutcher similar to the M3 and the M4.

So, if you enjoy driving as much as me (but are a lot richer), save up and cough up the extra money for an M2. While the M240i feels more like a fast coupe, you can be proud to say your M2 is a proper sports car.
Sabrina is not about to let the M2 overshadow its little sibling, the M240i

Nobody shows off his or her academy diplomas like the Bimmer crowd. And while the M2 gets all the bragging rights at parties, the M240i keeps it smooth, simple and understated.

The M2 has been pushing its weight around ever since it launched amidst a frenzy of motoring press lauding its back-to-basics drivability, and crackling, burbling exhaust note. On its exterior, a bulging front and rear fenders, swollen wheel arches, and oversized air vents will appeal to some, while others might find this all a little too standoffish.

For something that looks less like an aggressive German bulldog on steroids, the M240i looks and feels identical on the inside, and is almost as quick.

Both cars are gifted with 3.0-litre turbo engines. But where the M2 is about outright explosive power, the M240i has been tweaked for speed and pace, as well as comfort.

In the race from 0-100km/h, the winner is the M2, with a sprint time of 4.3 seconds - albeit the 0.3 seconds difference between the two would have them neck and neck.

The M2 demands that you sit up and pay attention. It wants you to feel every bump and imperfection in the road. It will also most likely drive your partner mad with its bulldog-biting aggression and stiff suspension.

The M240i on the other hand is more accommodating. As a road car, it has a compliant ride that makes light work of uneven roads. Combined that with balanced handling and an engaging steering, you will never get tired of driving it.

In Sport mode, the M240i behaves quite like its hot-headed brother. A slight tap of the accelerator and the M240i picks up quickly and without hesitation.

Never mind that the M240i has 500Nm of torque over the M2's 465Nm (although an overboost function briefly bumps the M2 to the same figure), and is $69,000 cheaper, M purists will question its existence and say that it isn't a 'true blue' M offspring.

But if you're looking for a fast coupe you can drive everyday minus the theatrics and showiness, then the M240i is the more sensible sibling to live with.