Copper
October 8th, 2009, 22:33
BMW M5. So far I like it. SMG is hard to get used to but always manually shifting makes that problem go away.
Overall, I miss the turbo kick in the pants of the RS6 (esp. my second one with the REVO mod) but once the M5 gets into the upper RPM range is is a real monster... just goes and goes until you run out of pavement (or go to jail). You just have to rev the snot out of it through each gear to get the performance band going. Unlike the RS6 which had power available very early and all through the RPM range and gears. iDrive is not as bad as I expected (mine is new though so maybe they have worked out the issues?) Once I set everything up with some quality time in the garage with the M5 is was set it and forget it. I like the "M" button to get instant setting changes to Performance when the random WRX or Mustang wants to "go for it".
Just wanted to drop in and say "hello" and let you know what my next toy was. I test drove just about everything out there over the last few months and am happy with the '09 Nissan Maxima for business and the new M5 for hobby.
I came close to getting a Nissan GTR. It was a hoot to drive but on the two separate test drives I was one I was challenged to race 4 different times. I don't need/want that kind of attention. It was a nice car and I would certainly recommend it to anyone interested but I was looking more for a hobby/daily driver that had a practical side to it like the RS6 and had a decent ride for when I'm stuck in Atlanta traffic trying to get to the other side of town to shoot some pool with friends (and we can all get in one car). My girls (4 and 1/2) love to ride with daddy so the 4 door M5 won out over the M6 and GTR.
On a side note: I've put 13K miles on the Maxima and am very pleased with it. It has better electronics and interfaces than the RS6 and M5. Bluetooth, voice command, navigation, iPod integration, MP3 Hard Drive, air conditioned and heated seats, rear passenger controls in the armrest dual sunroofs... all very nice. It's fairly quick as well and returns 27-28MPG Hwy regularly. For a work-mobile it is really great. I would also recommend the new Maxima to anyone shopping for a nice, reliable car. The new body style looks good too and I get tons of compliments on it without offending clients (it's a Maxima!).
They say power corrupts and I was badly missing the power from the RS6 so shopped for a hobby car and am happy with the M5.
Overall, I miss the turbo kick in the pants of the RS6 (esp. my second one with the REVO mod) but once the M5 gets into the upper RPM range is is a real monster... just goes and goes until you run out of pavement (or go to jail). You just have to rev the snot out of it through each gear to get the performance band going. Unlike the RS6 which had power available very early and all through the RPM range and gears. iDrive is not as bad as I expected (mine is new though so maybe they have worked out the issues?) Once I set everything up with some quality time in the garage with the M5 is was set it and forget it. I like the "M" button to get instant setting changes to Performance when the random WRX or Mustang wants to "go for it".
Just wanted to drop in and say "hello" and let you know what my next toy was. I test drove just about everything out there over the last few months and am happy with the '09 Nissan Maxima for business and the new M5 for hobby.
I came close to getting a Nissan GTR. It was a hoot to drive but on the two separate test drives I was one I was challenged to race 4 different times. I don't need/want that kind of attention. It was a nice car and I would certainly recommend it to anyone interested but I was looking more for a hobby/daily driver that had a practical side to it like the RS6 and had a decent ride for when I'm stuck in Atlanta traffic trying to get to the other side of town to shoot some pool with friends (and we can all get in one car). My girls (4 and 1/2) love to ride with daddy so the 4 door M5 won out over the M6 and GTR.
On a side note: I've put 13K miles on the Maxima and am very pleased with it. It has better electronics and interfaces than the RS6 and M5. Bluetooth, voice command, navigation, iPod integration, MP3 Hard Drive, air conditioned and heated seats, rear passenger controls in the armrest dual sunroofs... all very nice. It's fairly quick as well and returns 27-28MPG Hwy regularly. For a work-mobile it is really great. I would also recommend the new Maxima to anyone shopping for a nice, reliable car. The new body style looks good too and I get tons of compliments on it without offending clients (it's a Maxima!).
They say power corrupts and I was badly missing the power from the RS6 so shopped for a hobby car and am happy with the M5.