I had a great test drive day and scored some time in both the M8 Competition Coupe and Alpina B8 Gran Coupe. :-)

I've long loved the M850i Coupe and Gran Coupe, as they have the V8 muscle and grumble that I adore, plus good handling and incredible comfort. I thought that the M treatment of the M8 series would be so track-hardened that the car would be spoiled for touring and commuting, but I’m happy to say I was plain wrong! The M8 has not been turned into a track monster at the expense of daily usability; it is still a pleasure on the road.

Here are a few details: The V8 is the star of the show, with a loud and varied song, entertaining upshift whumps, and gobs of power. Although the M8 weighs over 4200 lbs, it still feels nimble and rewarding in the corners. It communicates road texture through the steering and seat.

The M8 is near the end of its run, so its interior and exterior design are not BMW’s latest, but I’d argue that just makes the M8 more fetching and functional. It avoids the M3’s beaver-teeth grill and keeps more hard-button controls.

I drove the Alpina B8 Gran Coupe, too, and Alpina has a different take on what makes the ultimate 8 series.

In place of the M8’s shouty performance and sporting tautness, Alpina tunes the B8 for a wafting ride, coats the cabin in extra-fine leather, and works harder on keeping outside noises outside. And yet, you still can enjoy the V8’s growls when you dip into the gas.

(The B8 has 612 hp, just 5 hp shy of the M8. I didn’t notice the deficit!)

My favorite thing about the B8 is how special it feels, even at slow speeds. It’s cosseting and luxurious, yet still makes noises to please petrolheads. If I had a soul-crushing LA commute (and the means), I’d daily drive a B8.

But ultimately, it was the M8 that won my heart. (I wrote more about it here.) The M8 does both raucous fun and comfortable cruising and makes me feel like a superstar driver from behind the wheel!