OLD SCHOOL

An M-car with (stupendous power and) a manual gearbox - old-school enough for you?

- DHRUV BEHL

The revs build to a crescendo. The exhaust note makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. As you heel-and-toe, while braking for a roundabout, you’re fully immersed in the act of driving. The whole car feels alive – it’s buzzing – and you’re an integral part of the experience.

No, I’m not talking about the brand new M2, but a BMW from three decades ago. A standard four-door 325i. Six cylinders, manual gearbox – everything you need, and nothing you don’t.

The fact that the car in question has my name on it betrays the fact that I’m an out-and-out BMW fanboy. Add to that the fact that the previous generation M2 is one of the most engaging machines I’ve ever driven, and you get the sense that this is likely to be quite an entertaining comparison.

 But let’s start with some issues. You see, before the previous generation M2 was launched in India towards the end of 2018, I drove a 6-speed manual version of the car in Spain – and absolutely loved it! But when BMW brought the car to India, it was only offered with a 7-speed DCT. Now there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that gearbox. In fact, for all practical purposes, it’s superior in every way. But here was a BMW built for the sole purpose of being as entertaining as possible, and, in my book, that equates to making the driver use all his or her limbs and faculties to row the gears and, at the same time, play footsie with a trio of pedals.