Derek FSU on why he dumped his brand new E60 M5...
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Yep, that's me. Having been on the M5 waiting list for two years, months before I bought the E, I couldn't pass up on the car.
It is truly an amazing car in the areas in which it is built to compete. I DOMINATED every porsche in the solo run group this weekend minus 1. Not only did I eat them alive in the straights, but I caught them in the curves. That is truly unheard of for a 4,100lb family car. It is no different or less amazing than our E besting Cobras and ZO6's on the dragstrip. I took an instructor for the ride on the last day who raved about the new Maserati sedan UNTIL our ride was completed. His quote was, "that car is amazing out there. It kills the Maserati."
I think the M5 is a 12.6 car in the quarter mile with proper driving, something I have not accomplished yet. I also think it's probably the most versatile car I've ever driven. Carry your clients or family around town and to meetings, run a sub 13 second quarter mile, and run with and pass sportscars all day long on the track.
Soooo, why am I selling it. One word- Noble. I don't need a versatile car that can run on the track because I have a Noble that will destroy the M5 and nearly any other street legal car in the world. IMO, the E is more comfortable and more luxurious. And most importantly, my wife likes the E because it is "smoother" to drive.
With all that love for the M5, let me clarify it's most serious shortfalling in my opinion- no low end torque. You can have a ball in the E from 0-45 and never brake the speed limit. In the M5, you need some great curves or you have to wind out 2nd gear. Make the E handle like the M or give the M some low end testocerone plus a nip & tuck here and there, and you've got the perfect car. But watch out for the Noble!
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Funny enough, I can totally understand where he's coming from, the M5 was designed as a road going F1 car w/ four doors, while the E55 is clear in it's intent and purpose in being a four door sedan w/ comrfort and ameneties, and a hardcore engine w/ a stupid amount of torque that you can use EVERYDAY. As where in an M5 you can only use 8,000 revolutions on a track, however often you track? Both are great cars, but fulfill two very different rolls, and after some thinking, I'd rather have an E55 than an M5...anyday.... because I do burnouts on a daily basis
AND the E is tons sexy and has a real emotional appeal about it. Will be interesting to see how the E63 stacks up...