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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
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There's no doubt in my mind that a BMW 5er is worth 2 Camrys. It shouldn't even be a discussion. BMWs are about so much more then horsepower (as it has been said many, many times before). BMWs are about balance, steering feedback, responsive suspensions that hug the road but aren't too harsh, road feel, linear brakes with a pedal that's easy to modulate. Within 2 minutes of driving my friend's 1995 E36 325i (Loaded to the gills with Sport Package, Stick, Sunroof, Leather, and I think he even had it individualized to be lowered from the factory) I felt like it was my car that I had been driving for years. I had very little experience driving stick at the time and I was pulling off crisp, perfect upshifts and seamless rev matching downshifts. Before I knew it I was driving 100mph Going from downtown Buffalo to my friend's apartment. As a car nut I would love to have a V8 powered BMW, but the straight six has more than enough power for me. I'd even be happy with a 184 hp E46 325i. I have enough trouble keeping my 4cyl Prelude under 80mph.
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Replying to: rich545 (May 17, 2006 7:27 pm) I don't think Honda spends two cents on a Camry. 
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By 25K I didn't just mean Camry only. Soon all the lowly Accord/Altima V6 will be on part power-wise with the 50K BMW530/E350/A6. There is no doubt that these 50K cars are better ones, more solid, better dynamic and balance (means chasis/suspension/sheet metal, though electrial things like NAV/audio etc seems to be just a wash). Those extra 25K has to be somewhere. I was disappointed with most of the responses I got though... all too defensive and not much rational there (sorry, said what I read). I am 39, married with 2 kids, drive a 97 camry V6 for 9 years, thinking about my next car. That camry is now worth about 2.5% of my annual household salary or 0.5% of my net asset. So I do have some freedom of choice. I drove or sit in all of them, For an automatic tran., driving under 80MPH on a highway, I am hard-pressed to know which car I am sitting on. Where I live (SF metro) doesn't have much of any place (highways, <80MPH) to utilize the full potential of the car either. So, the only reason for me to spend 50K on an AUTO trans. sedan (instead of said a porche, M3, or even a 325 manual) is... well I was hoping you can fill those blank, not meant to be a troll. |
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If the Bangle designs are so bad, why are BMW's so successful these days? And why are other manufacters immitating them? If the bass mouth Audi was so awful, why did Audi have a record year? I have been a long time Mercedes guy until I traded my 2001 E430 for a 2003 Audi allroad biturbo 6spd manual that was 7 grand less (new)! Why, The mercedes was boring! I got a car with less HP and am much happier! THe audi is great. Now Audi does not make a manual tranny in anything bigger than the A4. So I m looking at either the X3 or a 5 series sedan. I tested a 525 (auto only at dealer) and without looking at the spec times I found the smaller engine entirely satisfying. Why? Cuz it handled excellent! A part of me is still a bit of a HP whore and might consider the 530. I also have to consider AWD issue even though IM in central North Carolina. I don't care for all the tech toys so important on many cars. Navigation seems to be the benchmark gotta have accessory. Rear cameras and active cruise also. I have Active cruise on my Sienna Minivan because it was packaged. I want a car with soul. Not perfections, not insulated from the world, but an interactive driving experience. Not a 7 series, S-class or LS lexus. Damm nice cars! If I were spending that kinda of money I'd get a M5, or E55, or Audi RS class. By the way, pictures today showing some new sheetmetal changes on the 5series, this for 2007? Check this picture out. link title
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Replying to: bargamon (May 19, 2006 10:45 am)  While the picture is rather small, it looks like my two most significant complaints about the Banglesque E60 have been erased, namely the headlights and the trunk lid/rear lighting. Now if I could only arrange things so that my annual milage drops from my current 30K+ to my more normal 12-15K, I might once again be in the market for a ride in the LPS class. :-/ Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: markcincinnati (May 17, 2006 7:36 pm) Your everywhere! |
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Recently I bought my son a 2002 Subaru outback. Large 2.5 4cyl Boxer Engine. 5ok miles in mint condition. Its a very nice car, good on gas for AWD, comfortable and does the job. Im very impressed! Why? I paid 12k for it! I drove it for a few weeks and was thinking maybe Im spending too much on cars! Then I drove my 03 audi allroad and it all came back to me why. CUz its really really nice! Not necessary mind you, does not get me there any differently, but its a luxury I choose to indulge. 0-60 is overrated. "it got a Hemi" is not the end all for most cars. If it is, then get max HP for the money and be happy! Life is short. |
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Replying to: shipo (May 19, 2006 11:00 am) I think they made a mistake by labeling it an M5 (as do others) but it looks like the next 5 series. Is this a 2007 thing? Its been 3 years since the current 5 is out. |
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Replying to: ctl (May 19, 2006 10:24 am) The new e60 styling first caught my eye and, after one test drive, I was hooked! The excitement of driving the BMW continues to this day, which is something that the Camry never offered. |
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