Discussion
ExecutiveAction said:
JNW1 said:
Either a 5 or a 7 are bigger than I'd want but if I was looking at something around 5m long - which both are - a difference of 16cm (or 6") wouldn't strike me as terribly significant. The difference in size in moving from a 5 to a 7 is less than in moving from a 3 to a 5 and personally I think once you're in something as big as a 5 you'd barely notice the slightly larger footprint of a SWB 7 - whichever way you cut it they're both big cars!
Yes, but the 5 series is and always has been a sweet natural handling car. The 7? I don’t know, but more weight doesn’t help. The 3 series is just too small for business use. I am however curious on your comment on the 3-series - in what way do you consider one just too small for business use?
ExecutiveAction said:
Boosted_8 said:
I would say test drives are in order. Your selection criteria is very subjective and can’t really be settled by other peoples opinions.
Trouble is, I can’t find a dealer who has a demonstrator available for a test drive. Do you have rear steer on yours? ExecutiveAction said:
The 3 series is a very nice car, no question, but my reasons are:-
1. I may have to transport 5 adults in comfort over long distances.
2. If I am doing a lot of business miles, I personally like a lot of metal round me.
Fair enough but for both of the requirements you've outlined above wouldn't a 7 be a better bet than a 5? Negligible increase in size and weight, more refined and probably no more expensive when the higher level of discount and standard spec is taken into account. Probably a nicer quality interior as well, the main downside is that horrible grille! 1. I may have to transport 5 adults in comfort over long distances.
2. If I am doing a lot of business miles, I personally like a lot of metal round me.
ExecutiveAction said:
Trouble is, I can’t find a dealer who has a demonstrator available for a test drive. Do you have rear steer on yours?
No heavy options on mine such as Sunroof, rear wheel steering, and active roll bars.Curb weight is just over 1800kg as a result.
Handles better than equivalent Audi V8's as the motor isn't hanging over the front wheels. I have not driven an E63 for comparison mind.
JNW1 said:
ExecutiveAction said:
The 3 series is a very nice car, no question, but my reasons are:-
1. I may have to transport 5 adults in comfort over long distances.
2. If I am doing a lot of business miles, I personally like a lot of metal round me.
Fair enough but for both of the requirements you've outlined above wouldn't a 7 be a better bet than a 5? Negligible increase in size and weight, more refined and probably no more expensive when the higher level of discount and standard spec is taken into account. Probably a nicer quality interior as well, the main downside is that horrible grille! 1. I may have to transport 5 adults in comfort over long distances.
2. If I am doing a lot of business miles, I personally like a lot of metal round me.
ExecutiveAction said:
JNW1 said:
ExecutiveAction said:
The 3 series is a very nice car, no question, but my reasons are:-
1. I may have to transport 5 adults in comfort over long distances.
2. If I am doing a lot of business miles, I personally like a lot of metal round me.
Fair enough but for both of the requirements you've outlined above wouldn't a 7 be a better bet than a 5? Negligible increase in size and weight, more refined and probably no more expensive when the higher level of discount and standard spec is taken into account. Probably a nicer quality interior as well, the main downside is that horrible grille! 1. I may have to transport 5 adults in comfort over long distances.
2. If I am doing a lot of business miles, I personally like a lot of metal round me.
ExecutiveAction said:
JNW1 said:
ExecutiveAction said:
The 3 series is a very nice car, no question, but my reasons are:-
1. I may have to transport 5 adults in comfort over long distances.
2. If I am doing a lot of business miles, I personally like a lot of metal round me.
Fair enough but for both of the requirements you've outlined above wouldn't a 7 be a better bet than a 5? Negligible increase in size and weight, more refined and probably no more expensive when the higher level of discount and standard spec is taken into account. Probably a nicer quality interior as well, the main downside is that horrible grille! 1. I may have to transport 5 adults in comfort over long distances.
2. If I am doing a lot of business miles, I personally like a lot of metal round me.
But leaving that aside only you know what you want/need your car to do; I can see that an M550i is going to be more driver focused than (say) a 540i or 740i but if I was spending most of my time wafting up and down motorways - and the ability to carry adult passengers was a priority - I think the 7 would arguably be the best tool for that particular job (and dare I say it perhaps even with one of the 6-pot diesels under the bonnet!).
ExcitableBoy said:
ExecutiveAction said:
Yes, but not for the requirements I mentioned earlier. It may help if I explain that my model executive car is the 1968 Jaguar XJ6 4.2 litre. It was big but handled well, for its time. I see the 5 series as a worthy successor. Not the latest XJ, no way!
John Q Business: making deals; and trolling. JNW1 said:
Which sort of reinforces my point as BMW's equivalent to the XJ always been the 7-series - an XF is more the 5-series equivalent IMO!
But leaving that aside only you know what you want/need your car to do; I can see that an M550i is going to be more driver focused than (say) a 540i or 740i but if I was spending most of my time wafting up and down motorways - and the ability to carry adult passengers was a priority - I think the 7 would arguably be the best tool for that particular job (and dare I say it perhaps even with one of the 6-pot diesels under the bonnet!).
I think that it is more accurate to say that the current XJ is Jaguar’s equivalent to the 7-series. What the original XJ offered was power, agile handling, internal comfort for 4/5 people, within a body whose size and driving position inspired confidence, without being too big. For me, the 7 series is just too big, but the 5 series does exactly those things. The XF is a brilliant reinterpretation of the Mk.II / S-Type, but a little cramped in the back. Yes, if wafting on motorways with 5 passengers was my absolute priority, you would be right. But it’s not. I said in my first comment that my first priority is driving pleasure - the others are important but lower down the list. This could be my last ICE daily driver. If it’s not fun, why bother?But leaving that aside only you know what you want/need your car to do; I can see that an M550i is going to be more driver focused than (say) a 540i or 740i but if I was spending most of my time wafting up and down motorways - and the ability to carry adult passengers was a priority - I think the 7 would arguably be the best tool for that particular job (and dare I say it perhaps even with one of the 6-pot diesels under the bonnet!).
ExecutiveAction said:
JNW1 said:
Which sort of reinforces my point as BMW's equivalent to the XJ always been the 7-series - an XF is more the 5-series equivalent IMO!
But leaving that aside only you know what you want/need your car to do; I can see that an M550i is going to be more driver focused than (say) a 540i or 740i but if I was spending most of my time wafting up and down motorways - and the ability to carry adult passengers was a priority - I think the 7 would arguably be the best tool for that particular job (and dare I say it perhaps even with one of the 6-pot diesels under the bonnet!).
I think that it is more accurate to say that the current XJ is Jaguar’s equivalent to the 7-series. What the original XJ offered was power, agile handling, internal comfort for 4/5 people, within a body whose size and driving position inspired confidence, without being too big. For me, the 7 series is just too big, but the 5 series does exactly those things. The XF is a brilliant reinterpretation of the Mk.II / S-Type, but a little cramped in the back. Yes, if wafting on motorways with 5 passengers was my absolute priority, you would be right. But it’s not. I said in my first comment that my first priority is driving pleasure - the others are important but lower down the list. This could be my last ICE daily driver. If it’s not fun, why bother?But leaving that aside only you know what you want/need your car to do; I can see that an M550i is going to be more driver focused than (say) a 540i or 740i but if I was spending most of my time wafting up and down motorways - and the ability to carry adult passengers was a priority - I think the 7 would arguably be the best tool for that particular job (and dare I say it perhaps even with one of the 6-pot diesels under the bonnet!).
You did indeed talk about driving pleasure in your first post but you also said you'd started by looking at the 530d and for anyone considering one of those I just think it's worth thinking about the equivalent 7 as well. Moreover, you said in a subsequent second post that the problem with the 7 is it's too big and that's really what I'm taking issue with - the difference in size and weight compared to the equivalent 5 is negligible and therefore to be happy with a 5 but dismiss the 7 on the grounds of it being too big makes no sense IMO.
But yes, if you want a last hurrah with an ICE daily driver (which I fully understand) I agree the petrol is much more desirable and that would in turn steer you more towards the M550i type of car - probably best to leave it there!
Boosted_8 said:
ExecutiveAction said:
Trouble is, I can’t find a dealer who has a demonstrator available for a test drive. Do you have rear steer on yours?
No heavy options on mine such as Sunroof, rear wheel steering, and active roll bars.Curb weight is just over 1800kg as a result.
Handles better than equivalent Audi V8's as the motor isn't hanging over the front wheels. I have not driven an E63 for comparison mind.
Can I query the curb weight? BMW says the EU weight is 1990kg. DIN would therefore be 1915kg. How did you get to 1800kg if you don't mind me asking? Or is the BMW quoted weight the maximum possible weight of the car with all the options ticked?
Roma101 said:
Boosted_8 said:
ExecutiveAction said:
Trouble is, I can’t find a dealer who has a demonstrator available for a test drive. Do you have rear steer on yours?
No heavy options on mine such as Sunroof, rear wheel steering, and active roll bars.Curb weight is just over 1800kg as a result.
Handles better than equivalent Audi V8's as the motor isn't hanging over the front wheels. I have not driven an E63 for comparison mind.
Can I query the curb weight? BMW says the EU weight is 1990kg. DIN would therefore be 1915kg. How did you get to 1800kg if you don't mind me asking? Or is the BMW quoted weight the maximum possible weight of the car with all the options ticked?
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