tool fan said:
I like it....I like it alot............and if I win the lotto tomarrow, that spot on ebay is mine. Most everyone I know really disliked the new 5er .....at first. Then i took them for a ride in mine and now a few people I know are purchasing one. The old 5 is nice...but in terms of performance and driver friendlyness, it can't touch the new five. I had a 96 528 and it was fun, but my 2004 530i is a blast....the funnest car i have ever owned. Give it a chance!! Take one for a spin. Hell the Maybach is the ugliest luxery car to hit the streets in years and people are selling their souls to own one.
I've sat in the new 5 twice now: once at the Chicago auto show and once at a dealer. I've spent a good deal of time in the 530i at the dealer recently when I had two ignition coils replaced. Anyway, while I didn't get the chance to drive it (don't think the salemen would let a 20 year old like me take one for a spin), after sitting in it, I don't think that I would want to. The first reason being that I find the exterior appaling--subjective, I realize, but in the end, aren't all style-related judgments? Secondly, and more importantly, I find the interior design, particularly the dash, to be ackward and unappealing.
Honestly, I was supremely disappointed with the quality of the materials. Sure the steering wheel was nice, but there was way too much black plastic on the lower part of the dash, and the parts seams didn't match up quite evenly. You could see a noticeable gap between the passenger side glove compartment piece and the center, lower dash. Also, the opening on the bottom the dash reminded me of my sister's 93 Camry--the last thought I should have when I sit in a new BMW. Additionally, the plastics didn't seem to be of the same grade as those in my 3er...far less visible texture.
However, to BMWs credit, the seats, both front and rear, were both attractive as well as extremely comfortable. The doors closed with a solid clunk, and I have no doubt that the car's structural rigidity is as good, if not better, than the previous 5er. Nonetheless, I find these to be of little comfort when the dashboard and general ergonomics are so unattractive. After hopping from the 5er to the an E500, I found myself gravitating toward the M-B.
With two strikes against it in my book, I don't think the new 5er's driving dynamics, however wonderful, would be enough to win me over. It could be the best driving car in the world, but if I'm embarrased to have my friends drive in it to dinner on Saturday night, it sure as hell doesn't make me want to buy one.
![[V]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_disapprove.gif "Disapprove [V]")
Formula 1 V-10 or not, I sure as hell would not want one. I can stomach (barely) the ground effects and wheels on the 545i, but those wheels and front spoiler are plain ole hideous if you ask me. Gimme a previous gen. M5 with the 400hp 5.0 V8 any day, and I'd be more than happy....![[:(]](/images/smilies/frown.png "Frown [:(]")
![[rofl]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_rofl.gif "ROFL [rofl]"){kind=icon}
![[:p]](/images/smilies/tongue.png "Stick Out Tongue [:p]")
the sexy one named porsche.