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In Reply to: M5 vs. 540-all around drivability posted by cliff on April 20, 2001 at 18:37:03:
But hey. It depends what you want from the car, and where you're going. Is it a weekender? A second car? If so, and you have an open wallet, I see no reason to choose the lesser model. If it's a daily commuter, the 540i with a slushbox would be my choice (or, dare I say, the AMG Benz).
The M5 is definitely a "hands-on" experience, and can be very satisfying to punt through the twisties at high speed, working the stick like you were Juan-Manuel Fangio. The chassis is superior to that of the E-class, and thus more rewarding when pushed to the limit.
However. All the fun and Herculean shove comes at a price. For example, the clutch is not the easiest to live with, regardless of what existing owners may say, and there are numerous mutterings about clutch problems. I don't get along with BMW manuals, same as I don't like Mercedes manuals. Certainly if you are a regular queue-dweller or live in the city, you must think twice about what it is that you're buying -- i.e. a modern day V-1 missile designed for the open road. In the city it looks good but goes nowhere fast, same as everyone around you.
As a Ferrari-owning friend says, "These days a powerful car means one thing: that you're always on the back of a queue."
How true :)
Jamie -- London, UK.
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