Magazine stats don't tell the whole story...the car's power is phenomenal, especially on the highway. I have beaten a 993 Porsche and a Corvette, and run neck & neck with an F355 Spyder. Remember, this is a sedan.

Oil consumption. Under-engineered clutch. Minor generic glitches. I would love (even) stronger brakes and less understeer. I will mention fuel economy, but c'mon...it's a 4000 pound car with 400 horse.

Like others on this thread, I fell in love with M5's over a decade ago in my teens. Bottom line: as of this moment, there are faster cars on the road, but they will probably cost you more money, and will DEFINITELY cost you two doors. This car absolutely rules. Weaknesses are very minor and surmountable. My biggest problem is, what in the heck to buy next (if ever, wink wink)...I drove a new 911 recently and the car had no torque! Why on earth would I pay more for it than the M5...??

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GS400, M3, M Roadster

Acceleration, handling, refinement

Harly looks like a supercar. Horrible gas mileage, worse than the BMW X5.

WOW. Nice steering, great European sound system. This performs like no other sedan can. Very impressed with acceleration and braking is just awesome. Very overpriced, watch out for that, but if you can afford one.....

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1992 Corvette (not even close to M5) and an old Mercedes S class.

SPEED, COMFORT, SPACE for people and stuff, POWERRRRR( oh yeah, faster then you will ever be able to go)

Look like a normal car from the outside unless your a real car guy but drive better than a Ferrari! It really a car that lets its action speak louder than words(looks)

If God drove a car, it would be this one!!!

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Nother like this car. Except its baby brother M3

ALL

Sorry, can´t think of one.

This automobile offers what no other car has so far; bullet performance, super handling, exquisite building quality and SPACE for 5 peolpe and the laguage to go with them... Driving to work, stretching out on the highway or some serious pounding laps on the racetrack - I don+t have to choose, this jewel will listen and command. Worth every penny. I simply adore this car and anyone who hasn´t had my fortune yet - what are you waiting for? Drive it - at least once!

400 ponies under the hood

NONE!!!, IT''S PERFECT

This car is the best sedan ever made in the face of the earth period. It combines supioer styling with luxury and brutal power

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HUMMER, Lamoborghini VT Daiblo

None

None

best car car ever driven

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None

None

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C ya

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Engine, comfort, safety- this is a super interstate hauler. Classy styling.

Heavy, steering feel could be better, brakes are a little soft feeling, inability to begin in sport mode, Nav system is slow, audio system is boomy, a few mysterious rattles and squeaks here and there. No spare tire. Finally driving in snow is a no-no.

BMW set out to build a car in which the sports car element would astound the luxury car element; and where the luxury car element would do the same to the sports car element. They succeeded.

The M5 is a docile luxury car with a surprisingly supple suspension, fairly quiet ride, and all the amenities one could ask for in terms of luxury and safety. However, if one were to get aggressive with this car, the luxury element is shrugged off and the M5 becomes a serious sports sedan, nearly a sports car in its feel. There is minimal body roll, dive and squat. The ability to move a 4000 lb object with so much force is really something to behold. The styling is such that you go unnoticed by most other people on the road- so theres the stealth effect if you desire that sort of thing.

If you are someone who truly enjoys driving, has the means, and needs an every day car, this is it!

On the downside, BMW should include a real spare tire instead of their silly fix a flat kit and they should have a snow wheel and tire package option. They shouldnt put the burden on the customer to go to the aftermarket for snow driving. The stock tires are just not made for snow driving. I hear that with proper snows, one can manage snow quite easily.

Never the less, it gets 5 stars for value because it is nearly alone in its ability to be a sports car and/or a luxury car when one desires it. In that sense it is a fantastic value. Overall, it is so unique and the weaknesses are really more like minor nits, it still desirves 5 stars.

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E36 BMW M3

IT JUST KICKS ASS AT EVERYTHING IT DOES!!!!

She's a bit thirsty when it comes to oil.... Lacks it's own identity, for an 80 K car it's a little to similar to even the 3 Series

Against all the sports cars I've ever driven i'd rate this car at third behind only the F550 Maranello and the Porsche 911 Turbo. However it's handing and abilities are similar for a lot less money. It's comfort level and interior setup both make it a notch above the Mercedes CL AMG55 which has the incredibly stupid COMAND system. If you have the money and you want girls to give you nice looks at stoplights then you should have heard enough by now!

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Porsche 911 Turbo, Aston Martin DB7, Ferrari 550, Mercedes CL

An Engine to die for (0-60 in 4.8 seconds! Wow!!). Sweet engine whirl.
6 speed manual- that's the only way to drive a sports car really.
4 door, 5 passenger sedan- Porche, Corvette need not apply.
Great ride, luxurious, hush cabin- Porche, Corvette need not apply.
Sports mode- the car just turned into a jet plane.
Telepathic handling.
User-friendly GPS.
No more car-envy driving down the road, EVER.

Price is high, and car is impossible to find.
Not everyone like to drive a stick.
Once you get past these two items (more like weaknesses of the owner rather than the car), the car has no weaknesses and no peers.

I want a car that I can comfortably travel in, and yet is fun to drive. I know the M5 is it when I first learn about it in 1998. This car is that and so much more. It has endless power. Driving over the Grapevine Grades in 6th gear, the engine doesn't strain at all. The car is just as quite, just as grippy and stable at 130 mph as at 70 mph. In winding country roads, it goes excatly where you think the car should go. Seems like the steering wheel is linked to my brain, not my hands. It inspires so much confidence that I think (I know) I can take any curve at any speed. The drive to Big Sur was the most fun I ever had driving. The 18" tires and suspension make all the difference in the handling. I never realized what these components can do to the handling until I drove a 540i without the sports package, no comparison. There is a lot more gadget in the car than I would ever use, but everyone else OOHs and AAHs over them, so it's cool.
Another perk, BMW offers a driving school in South Caroline, so I can test the car flat out. There is no way I can do that under normal road conditions without risking jail time. I can't wait to see what its feels like to do 150 on a track, or corner at .98g. (hope I don't loose my lunch)

This car costs a lot, and probably will be expansive to maintain. But if I'm not itchy to get a new car every 3 years, (after driveing the M5, what else is there?) that will actually turn out to be the cheapest car I can own in the long run. Me and my M5 will live happily together for a very, very long time.

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BMW 735i - Not even close to the driving satisfaction of the M5.
MB 380 SLC- Beautiful car, musch less sophisticated because of the vintage.
Lexus SC300, 5 speed- For the price, it's an acceptable alternative.
MB ML320, Honda Odyssey, - totally different utility, unfair to compare.