So, I test drove an M5 today...

[GammaZeta]

Out of the blue, I decided to test drive an E60 M5 today. White, with most of the options.

I must say, the M5 is an absolute, amazing, thrilling machine. I was shocked by how good it is.

The Good:

I loved the interior. I felt much smaller than it really was. In fact, the entire car felt so small, that I thought it felt smaller than the M3's I test drove. Sometimes I forgot there was a back seat.

The cabin is amazing. Everything is within reach. Perfect room for a larger gentleman like me. Seats are AWESOME!

The handling is amazing. I drove it down roads I was familiar with, mostly back roads. On corners I take my Z4M on around 50, the M5 felt it could take them at 90! I didn't actually push it to 90 with the salesman right there, but it FELT like it easily could have.

The comfort features are amazing...steering wheel adjustment, etc. All power.

The 8500 rev limit....droooooooool. Going 60 in second gear at 5,000 rpm's and STILL being 3,500 rpm's left is just freaky!

Does anyone have a recording of the exhaust? It's so good I want to put it on my Ipod and listen to it all day.

The Bad (or let's just say not AS good, since there are very few bad things about this car:

The speed. IT IS FAST. But it is also smooth and comfortable. It was absolutely fast, and I knew it, but it didn't FEEL fast except for those few launches.

The HUD. Maybe the one I used was broken? But to me it was too low, not visible enough and would fade in and out depending on the sun. Kind of disappointed in it.

The seat movements. I thought it was weird how the side bolsters moved, didn't really like it when you took a corner.

The transmission/flappy paddles. Didn't like it. A much better version than the M3 SMG, but it just wasn't that smooth or natural. Maybe it's me.

Other than that, a little more about the car I drove. 2010, 30,000 miles. Dealership got it from auction...I'll pass.

The OTHER concern I had was that some IDIOT decided to BLACK OUT the front reflectors with spray paint...AND HE JUST (POORLY) PUT TAPE AROUND IT!!!!!!! You could see the tape marks and over spray. Anyone that buys a $100,000 car and SPRAY PAINTS a freakin' reflector on the car is a moron. It also had some cheap China Ebay pedals.

Let me be clear. I am/was not in the market for an M5, I was just curious. I absolutely love that car. But it's not for me. Driving my Z4M home afterwards made me feel cramped. I would absolutely recommend the E60 M5. If you need four doors, speed and comfort, there isn't any competition...period.

[ZStig]

meh, I'd rather take a supercharged e39 m5

[Daemonblitz]

The sound of the 5.0L V10 is unforgettable...

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by Daemonblitz

The sound of the 5.0L V10 is unforgettable...

So is the gas mileage (or lack thereof)

[GammaZeta]

Originally Posted by mhughett

So is the gas mileage (or lack thereof)

Oh man, tell me about it.

I put it into M mode with about 80 miles reading out.

After a few minutes of spirited driving it was down to the 60's.

[thekurgan]

From what I've also heard, the E60M5 is quite reliable aside for the SMG unit. I've seen quite a few M5 and M6 lease turn ins that are in freakin' excellent condition too, but not one 6MT, probably because so few were ordered that way.

[Mueller944s2]

I think this says it all:

A German 4-door sedan:
2013 BMW M5 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and 23 mpg
2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S 0-60 in 3.3 seconds and 23 mpg

An American 4-door sedan:
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and 23 mpg
2012 Cadillac CTS-V 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and 19 mpg

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by Mueller944s2

I think this says it all:

A German 4-door sedan:
2013 BMW M5 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and 23 mpg
2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S 0-60 in 3.3 seconds and 23 mpg

An American 4-door sedan:
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and 23 mpg
2012 Cadillac CTS-V 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and 19 mpg

Dude ... hard to compare $100+k vehicles, no matter the country of origin, to $45-50k vehicles ... come on now.

[gferil]

Originally Posted by Mueller944s2

I think this says it all:

A German 4-door sedan:
2013 BMW M5 0-60 in 3.6 seconds and 23 mpg
2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S 0-60 in 3.3 seconds and 23 mpg

An American 4-door sedan:
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and 23 mpg
2012 Cadillac CTS-V 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and 19 mpg

Soooo...what you're saying are both German and American 4 door sedans are awesome?!

My Z4M is slower than all four of those AND gets worse gas mileage! Hahah...

Seriously though, the time I rode in the CTS-V was hands down amazing

[Mueller944s2]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

Dude ... hard to compare $100+k vehicles, no matter the country of origin, to $45-50k vehicles ... come on now.

Sorry, it was the best I could find for America, I mean I really did look hard. But if it makes the comparison any closer the Cadillac starts at $65k and the M5 starts at $89k. The only one over $100k is the Panamera at $175k. The whole point of the CTS-V was to compete in this market.

As for the Z4M, I don't think it's fair to compare that to any of these. I mean at the time it was built the Panamera Turbo S didn't exist, the CTS-V had just come out, and the Dodge was...a Dodge, while the Z was on it's way to the next generation.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by Mueller944s2

Sorry, it was the best I could find for America, I mean I really did look hard. But if it makes the comparison any closer the Cadillac starts at $65k and the M5 starts at $89k. The only one over $100k is the Panamera at $175k. The whole point of the CTS-V was to compete in this market.

As for the Z4M, I don't think it's fair to compare that to any of these. I mean at the time it was built the Panamera Turbo S didn't exist, the CTS-V had just come out, and the Dodge was...a Dodge, while the Z was on it's way to the next generation.

Yep, agree. CTS-V does sound great though; I wonder how it will hold up.

[ZStig]

same as the old cts-v

[KahalaM5]

I have an '08 M5 and love it. I've been lucky enough to own some other fantastic cars (E39 M5, E55, RS6), and really prefer the E60. The high redline and intoxicating exhaust note are partially offset by poor mileage and an overall lack of torque. And I actually like the SMG, as long it's never in auto mode.

[Mueller944s2]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

Yep, agree. CTS-V does sound great though; I wonder how it will hold up.

I think reliability is where the price difference comes in. Yea it can do 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, but how often? Yup, it can go 205 mph, but for how long? Whereas the BMW and the Porsche can accelerate like that every time they're driven for decades and can hold its top speed for long periods of time without hurting the car. I think the key here, and I apologize if I offend anyone, is that the Cadillac uses a corvette engine, GM. It's cheap to build, cheap to maintain, and puts out a lot of horsepower. People buying them aren't usually the type to constantly put their foot down off a stop light or take a high speed run, they like the specs that come with the car so reliability under stress isn't a huge issue. Don't get me wrong, I do think the CTS-V is cool! But being a Porsche/BMW guy, I see things in terms of how many decades can I push this car to the limit before it craps out...meaning I have to go German!