Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans BMW 5-Series BMW 5-Series Sedans
12657 messages, Last post on Nov 05, 2009 at 6:14 PM
You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
WOAH! I drove an M5 with the V10 and SMG, and I'm not talking about a drive down the main street in town. That thing is just ridiculously fast, and I didn't even have the M button pressed! In a stretch of asphalt no longer than a football field and a half, we got to 80+ mph right before having to use the brakes for a sharp left that faded into a gradual sweep. Here's a pic of the car I'm talking about here, for those who haven't seen one.   I think I want an M5, but with 3 pedals. SMG was nice enough, but I would prefer 3 pedals with that kind of power. My wife had test driven a 530i previously and was not too happy with it (I suspect it was the color choice of white outside and grey inside with the metal trim vs wood). But the M5 was incredible, save the red interior (blah). If she didn't need 4 doors and our retirement fund, I'd love to get an M6. BTW, the Z4 M roadster is a blast to drive too, and as fast or faster. There is just NO practical use for a Z4 M roadster. But man, is it a kick in the pants to drive (in manual trim too!)  -Paul |
|
|
Replying to: erickpl (May 17, 2006 4:54 am)  Best Regards, Shipo
|
|
|
Replying to: shipo (May 17, 2006 6:00 am) I don't auto-x like brave or div do, but I sure do have fun when I get a chance to open em up in a safe environment. Happy Birthday! -Paul |
|
|
Replying to: shipo (May 17, 2006 6:00 am) |
|
|
Replying to: markcincinnati (May 17, 2006 4:37 am) Being familiar with Japanese bikes, I'm long since used to optimistic dry weights, optimistic speedometers, and optimistic tachometers. There's always speculation as to where these numbers come from, but the SAE beef concerned what accessories were to be driven by an engine when measuring its output. Alternator? Water pump? Radiator fan? A/C? We should all know that the above items collectively account for dozens of "parasitic" hp, except that its pretty hard to drive without most of them. Since I don't know that many of us are intimately familiar with just how the different OEM's actually measure the hp, I wouldn't be overly impressed by numbers which might be "optimistic", but would instead focus on real world measures, such as heads-up 0-60 and 1/4 miles times, and comments by testers who (consistently) say that "BMW's seem to get the most from their ponies". With bikes, the bike rags now strap them to a certified dyno, set them on calibrated scale, and then run them through the quarter, which is normalized for altitude and pressure. Until the car rags do this, too, all these claimed HP numbers are just that, claimed. I'm not saying that the Japanese cars don't offer a lot for the money, they frequently do, but there's a reason many of us willing to pony up considerably more for a German ride, and there's a reason such cars have a market, notwithstanding any supposed HP deficiency. |
|
|
Replying to: markcincinnati (May 17, 2006 4:37 am) I will simply put, they (530, E, A6) are better cars, and they cost $50K). Are they worth the difference? don't go there, no need, least of all just whisper, don't argue
|
|
|
|
|
IMO, it's ridiculous to compare a 5 series with a Camry. Reported horsepower alone is a poor and simplistic measurement. Horsepower to the wheels is different than horsepower out of the back of the engine. Further, that doesn't even take into consideration the WEIGHT of the vehicle, the distribution of that weight, etc, etc, etc, which are EXTREMELY important factors. A friend of mine had told me many years ago (when I commented to him about the seemingly low reported HP numbers of BMW) that "BMW horsepower is unlike anyone else's". I didn't know what he meant until I drove one. My new '07 530i is now "in transit", and I can't wait! Of course, perhaps I should by a Daihatsu Charade and "pocket the cash". After all, it was car of the year in Malaysia! Naaaaaaa, I'll stick with the Bimmer. That being said, sales figures don't tell the story of which is a better car either. McDonald's may be the world's biggest restaurant, but I'm pretty sure they aren't the finest. What if we were all given a free car to drive. A Camry or a 530i? I don't think we'd see too many Toyotas on the road. Happy birthday shipo. We took up a collection and we bought an M5 for you. Now if I could just find the fob..... |
|
|
Thanks gang. [Blush] Regarding the $25,000 car (V6 Camry?) beating a 530i in a straight line, a few thoughts occur to me: 1) Who cares? If you want the BMW to go faster, just opt for the V8 or failing that, the V10. 2) Comparably equipped (or at least as comparably as possible), the Camry ain't no $25,000 car. 3) If straight line acceleration is the be all to end all in determining which sedan is the best, then wouldn't something like a Neon SRT4 or WRX STi be considered the best? After all, both of them will handily destroy the 530i and the V6 Camry in straight line acceleration (and any number of other metrics as well). When I got my 530i I made the decision not to opt for the V8 version. Why? Well, even though I love power and speed, and even though I'm sure I would have very much enjoyed the intoxicating power of the larger engine, I realistically decided that the 530i was fast enough and satisfying enough. The truth is that after I picked it up in Munich I was able to allow it to stretch its legs on the Autobahn and even the lowly 3.0 liter engine was easily able to accelerate up to the top speed governor. During the three years that I had it I cannot remember even a single time when I really and truly wished for the larger mill. Best Regards, Shipo |
|
|
Replying to: erickpl (May 17, 2006 4:54 am) |
|
|
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIPO!!! May you never find yourself at the wheel of a FWD Asian Econo-Drone...
|
|
You are here:
Forums
Sedans BMW 5-Series BMW 5-Series Sedans
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2011 BMW 5 Series
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
