Is the f10 M5 a fun car?
Discussion
I'm toying with 'investing' in a fast car again......I sold my m3 DCT saloon a few months ago and really wish I hadnt
I'd have another m3 in a heartbeat, but having had three already, I'm minded to try something else
The f10 m5 is a fave car of mine and I have driven a friends car extensively......but with the greatest of respect do haven't ever driven it hard or gone silly in it as its not mine to abuse!
My question is, is the f10 m5 a fun car?..,sure it's fast, very fast.......beautiful interior especially in the individual colours with piano black trim.....but I just don't know if it's a proper drivers car
My last few cars have been m3, e60 m5 ( hated it due to smg), c63, GTR, 997... C
I'd be really interested to hear experiences from m5 owners as for sub 40k they are looking like stinking vfm
I'd have another m3 in a heartbeat, but having had three already, I'm minded to try something else
The f10 m5 is a fave car of mine and I have driven a friends car extensively......but with the greatest of respect do haven't ever driven it hard or gone silly in it as its not mine to abuse!
My question is, is the f10 m5 a fun car?..,sure it's fast, very fast.......beautiful interior especially in the individual colours with piano black trim.....but I just don't know if it's a proper drivers car
My last few cars have been m3, e60 m5 ( hated it due to smg), c63, GTR, 997... C
I'd be really interested to hear experiences from m5 owners as for sub 40k they are looking like stinking vfm
If you are looking for fun why not look at a 1M? It's much more 'fun' to drive than the M5 and will continue to hold its value better.
However...........even though the 1M is better to drive for 10% of the time (when you go for a blast), for the other 90% of the time the M5 is a much nicer place to sit.
However...........even though the 1M is better to drive for 10% of the time (when you go for a blast), for the other 90% of the time the M5 is a much nicer place to sit.
It seems mad to say a 550hp car isn't "fun"..but..there are more fun cars out there... The steering lacks feel, the throttle mapping is wrong and exaggerates the turbo lag...and the front end just isn't sharp enough.
It feels bigger and heavier than e60 and e39 m5s...
Of course its biblically fast, comfortable and better looking than all predecessors...but fun..? Not for me...
I preferred my c63 and was genuinely pleased to be back in it after an extended test drive in an m5...
Just my 2p
It feels bigger and heavier than e60 and e39 m5s...
Of course its biblically fast, comfortable and better looking than all predecessors...but fun..? Not for me...
I preferred my c63 and was genuinely pleased to be back in it after an extended test drive in an m5...
Just my 2p
I can't think of any alternative to mine that I would like as much or have as much fun in. Its my daily driver 25K miles so far in 11 months, I need 4/5 seats for transporting the kids. Regularly drive it with paddles, sports plus with MDM on and its so rapid .. not just on the straights but on the twisty ones too. Feels like a much smaller car most of those times but occasionally you are aware of its weight. The E63 doesn't appeal in the same way. I may go M6 next time??
Edited by Jonny TVR on Friday 7th November 09:28
They're stunning everyday cars and even better for those occasional long journeys on more open roads, where they are simply sublime.
They can feel a bit heavy at times and perhaps a bit wide for B-road fun, although they do feel smaller and handle rather well for the size.
As an all-round package, I see very little that touches them, but it does really depend on what you want from the car.
I had the pleasure of an M4 for a couple of days recently and could not wait to get my beast back, it just feels far more substantial, well built and of course is brutally fast.
Get one, you would not look back!!
They can feel a bit heavy at times and perhaps a bit wide for B-road fun, although they do feel smaller and handle rather well for the size.
As an all-round package, I see very little that touches them, but it does really depend on what you want from the car.
I had the pleasure of an M4 for a couple of days recently and could not wait to get my beast back, it just feels far more substantial, well built and of course is brutally fast.
Get one, you would not look back!!
I run mine as a every day car. With regular four hour drives to the south coast you get out feeling just the same as getting in - a lot of people have commented that it was more comfy than their sofa's. About 90-100£ to fill up on the higher octane, it will get about 450-500 miles depending on how hard you push it.
I do short runs to the shops and in economy mode/comfort it is great to pootle about in, and very comfy. It can get five big lads in (rugby on a saturday), plus kit in the boot fine.
It's hugely impressive at low speeds as it is at top speed, I have driven it hard a couple of times, it's scarily quick and stable - no issues at 165+. The heads up allows for fluid gear changes from the paddles. Turning off DTC turns it into a different animal - only in the dry mind.
I would prefer maybe a little more exhaust noise from a big V8/TT (currently looking at aftermarket exhausts, and down pipes). You don't notice the "stereo exhaust" (there is a comparison on the youtube with the fuse pulled).
I didn't purchase it for fuel efficiency, i purchased it for a comfy daily which is subtle, which i could put my rugby gear in and golf clubs, as well as holding several suitcases, but with a little pizz-zazz when you want it.
If you want a balls out, skin of your teeth ride then the M5 is not for you, look at a GTR or another M3.
I previously owned a tiger kit car - that is what i miss.
I do short runs to the shops and in economy mode/comfort it is great to pootle about in, and very comfy. It can get five big lads in (rugby on a saturday), plus kit in the boot fine.
It's hugely impressive at low speeds as it is at top speed, I have driven it hard a couple of times, it's scarily quick and stable - no issues at 165+. The heads up allows for fluid gear changes from the paddles. Turning off DTC turns it into a different animal - only in the dry mind.
I would prefer maybe a little more exhaust noise from a big V8/TT (currently looking at aftermarket exhausts, and down pipes). You don't notice the "stereo exhaust" (there is a comparison on the youtube with the fuse pulled).
I didn't purchase it for fuel efficiency, i purchased it for a comfy daily which is subtle, which i could put my rugby gear in and golf clubs, as well as holding several suitcases, but with a little pizz-zazz when you want it.
If you want a balls out, skin of your teeth ride then the M5 is not for you, look at a GTR or another M3.
I previously owned a tiger kit car - that is what i miss.
mb26 said:
It seems mad to say a 550hp car isn't "fun"..but..there are more fun cars out there... The steering lacks feel, the throttle mapping is wrong and exaggerates the turbo lag...and the front end just isn't sharp enough.
It feels bigger and heavier than e60 and e39 m5s...
Of course its biblically fast, comfortable and better looking than all predecessors...but fun..? Not for me...
I preferred my c63 and was genuinely pleased to be back in it after an extended test drive in an m5...
Just my 2p
We had very different experiences or perhaps just tastes as i found the C63 to be everything i wouldn't want in a mid sized coupe/saloon other than the sound which was epic. It among other things felt very dated but then it is at the end of it's life so i suppose to be expected.It feels bigger and heavier than e60 and e39 m5s...
Of course its biblically fast, comfortable and better looking than all predecessors...but fun..? Not for me...
I preferred my c63 and was genuinely pleased to be back in it after an extended test drive in an m5...
Just my 2p
I'd never expect everyone to agree on what makes a good/bad car but siting steering feel, mapping & turbo lag makes me thing you were driving a donkey as all of those things are near on perfect in the F10 M5. Agree the steering when in full attack sports mode take s bit of getting used to but in every mode it certainly doesn't lack feel. Styling is subjective so what one person likes another probably won't. I owned an E60 M5 & again the one thing the F10 doesn't feel is heavier than it's predecessor & by chance i happened to borrow an E60 M5 a few weeks ago & it felt very wrong compared to the F10 (did sound better though).
Is the car fun is a good question & it depends on ones definition of fun. I find it great fun driving round in a car that does everything so well & doesn't pretend to be something it isn't. It's great on a motorway cruise, exciting on the B roads (I agree more exciting cars exist) & very capable on track (I agree more capable track cars exist), but very few cars out there can do everything very well, but the F10 M5 certainly does.
Edited to say my previous car was one of the new A8's & prior to that i had a 620bhp R35 GT-R & the best analogy i can give you is the F10 M5 is basically both those cars morphed as has the luxury of the A8 & the performance near as damn it of the GT-R.
Edited by W8PMC on Friday 7th November 16:50
The f10 m5 is definitely a fun car. I've had mine for 2.5 years now and use it 5 days a week.
The sound has gotten louder with age - on start-up it sounds very, very good; at lowish revs, it sounds quite menacing; at high revs, it just scares the crap out of people. It doesn't have the volume of the c63 unless it's at high revs, but it's so much better than a c63 that the Merc is just not even in the same league. I couldn't care less if the e60's V10 sounds better because there were so many downsides to that car that I don't regret getting shot of it.
The acceleration is just brutal, with virtually no lag from low revs; it's relentless. DCT is seamless. Even at low speeds (something the e60 was rubbish with), it's silky smooth. I tend to do manual shifting until the car's warmed up properly, auto mode for traffic or when I'm tired, manual for 90% of everything else and it's very rewarding. I'd recommend getting into an f10 and giving it some in 2nd and 3rd: after that, come back and say it's not fun!
Handling is very good for a big car. It's far more agile than it looks. On narrow roads/lanes, it does feel very wide - I can really feel that when commuting in London, where lots of other drivers don't know what lane discipline is, bikers are all over the place, and lorries just don't care. But, that goes with a big car; it's the only thing that's made me think about getting into something smaller, like an RS5.
I don't know what other saloon I'd buy to replace my f10, unless a new model m5. The m6 doesn't excite me at all as a proposition; if I want 4 seats, I get into a proper sports car which is smaller, not bigger than my m5.
The sound has gotten louder with age - on start-up it sounds very, very good; at lowish revs, it sounds quite menacing; at high revs, it just scares the crap out of people. It doesn't have the volume of the c63 unless it's at high revs, but it's so much better than a c63 that the Merc is just not even in the same league. I couldn't care less if the e60's V10 sounds better because there were so many downsides to that car that I don't regret getting shot of it.
The acceleration is just brutal, with virtually no lag from low revs; it's relentless. DCT is seamless. Even at low speeds (something the e60 was rubbish with), it's silky smooth. I tend to do manual shifting until the car's warmed up properly, auto mode for traffic or when I'm tired, manual for 90% of everything else and it's very rewarding. I'd recommend getting into an f10 and giving it some in 2nd and 3rd: after that, come back and say it's not fun!
Handling is very good for a big car. It's far more agile than it looks. On narrow roads/lanes, it does feel very wide - I can really feel that when commuting in London, where lots of other drivers don't know what lane discipline is, bikers are all over the place, and lorries just don't care. But, that goes with a big car; it's the only thing that's made me think about getting into something smaller, like an RS5.
I don't know what other saloon I'd buy to replace my f10, unless a new model m5. The m6 doesn't excite me at all as a proposition; if I want 4 seats, I get into a proper sports car which is smaller, not bigger than my m5.
Wills2 said:
I test drove a CP M5 in the summer and would describe it as a powerful bruiser of a car not a "fun car", fantastic in it's own right and very impressive but I jumped back in my CP M3 and it felt much more alive.
Define fun relative to a car? I found lapping Nordschleife in my M5 a lot of fun & getting close to 3 minute laps round Spa was also a lot of fun. Beauty was I had fun driving there & back too which isn't something that can be said about more track focussed cars.Was I the fastest on track? hell no, but was i embarrassed by any other 4dr family saloons? hell no.
Video for F10 M5 Spa Francorchamps► 17:26► 17:26
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbCTX5R_W5Y
18 Sep 2014 - Uploaded by Paul Clarkson
A few laps of Spa Francorchamps in my F10 M5. What a great track & the barge performed ...
W8PMC said:
Wills2 said:
I test drove a CP M5 in the summer and would describe it as a powerful bruiser of a car not a "fun car", fantastic in it's own right and very impressive but I jumped back in my CP M3 and it felt much more alive.
Define fun relative to a car? I found lapping Nordschleife in my M5 a lot of fun & getting close to 3 minute laps round Spa was also a lot of fun. Beauty was I had fun driving there & back too which isn't something that can be said about more track focussed cars.Was I the fastest on track? hell no, but was i embarrassed by any other 4dr family saloons? hell no.
Video for F10 M5 Spa Francorchamps? 17:26? 17:26
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbCTX5R_W5Y
18 Sep 2014 - Uploaded by Paul Clarkson
A few laps of Spa Francorchamps in my F10 M5. What a great track & the barge performed ...
Paraphrasing my views on the GG thread on the M5:
The M5 is my daily - I have other cars for pure kicks. Modern cars lack tactility and connectedness so I don't buy them for those reasons. That's the price of progress (NVH, crash protection, electronic safety net etc). There's a long running thread on the Porsche forum about the 991 GT3 - in the early part of the thread there's a big divide between hardcore earlier 911 purists and the later more comfort-seeking maybe less skilled non-motorsport trained buyer of the new car. The earlier cars push all the right buttons for me and require years of skill and experience to master. That's what I want from a sports car. That's why the 991 doesn't interest me.
But for a daily I don't apply the same criteria which is why the F10 makes sense to me. It's got to carry the family plus luggage in comfort, have toys that make the menial tasks less challenging like reversing camera, HUD, a decent info/entertainment system, comfy seats with lots of adjustment. The M5 is super comfortable and has a fantastic cabin.
It can do the fast stuff. I recently shadowed an F430 who was having fun through some roundabouts onto an NSL dual carriageway. The M5 was glued to the Ferrari all the way. We were 5-up with luggage so I suspect the F driver must not have expected that.
I find MDM is a little tame if truth be told. It doesn't require much skill to punt the M5 down a B-road, or kick the tail out and control the slide. The M5 is not as lairy as I expected. It's dead easy to drive really fast. Which is good for some and bad for others. I also partly echo the points on mapping, throttle response and lag. They're not perfect - for example, there's a bit of creep at low speeds. The old E39 is a benchmark in this regard but then that's going back to the argument that I prefer the total control of earlier cars.
Fuel economy is a revelation (I used to have a V10 M6 which drunk like it had a hole in the tank). I get around 28mpg on the motorway, average low 20s including the school run.
The synthetic nature of the noise has never once registered with me. If no one had told me, I would have assumed it was entirely natural.
The M5 is my daily - I have other cars for pure kicks. Modern cars lack tactility and connectedness so I don't buy them for those reasons. That's the price of progress (NVH, crash protection, electronic safety net etc). There's a long running thread on the Porsche forum about the 991 GT3 - in the early part of the thread there's a big divide between hardcore earlier 911 purists and the later more comfort-seeking maybe less skilled non-motorsport trained buyer of the new car. The earlier cars push all the right buttons for me and require years of skill and experience to master. That's what I want from a sports car. That's why the 991 doesn't interest me.
But for a daily I don't apply the same criteria which is why the F10 makes sense to me. It's got to carry the family plus luggage in comfort, have toys that make the menial tasks less challenging like reversing camera, HUD, a decent info/entertainment system, comfy seats with lots of adjustment. The M5 is super comfortable and has a fantastic cabin.
It can do the fast stuff. I recently shadowed an F430 who was having fun through some roundabouts onto an NSL dual carriageway. The M5 was glued to the Ferrari all the way. We were 5-up with luggage so I suspect the F driver must not have expected that.
I find MDM is a little tame if truth be told. It doesn't require much skill to punt the M5 down a B-road, or kick the tail out and control the slide. The M5 is not as lairy as I expected. It's dead easy to drive really fast. Which is good for some and bad for others. I also partly echo the points on mapping, throttle response and lag. They're not perfect - for example, there's a bit of creep at low speeds. The old E39 is a benchmark in this regard but then that's going back to the argument that I prefer the total control of earlier cars.
Fuel economy is a revelation (I used to have a V10 M6 which drunk like it had a hole in the tank). I get around 28mpg on the motorway, average low 20s including the school run.
The synthetic nature of the noise has never once registered with me. If no one had told me, I would have assumed it was entirely natural.
I test drove the AMG's many times trying to like them, not for me, the gearbox is naf, and the car just goes nothing for looks wise, very Old Man.
I do not see the M5 as "a fun car" in the respect of a quick blast around the back streets, it's more sophisticated than that.
Fast deceptively fast instant in the Sport+ settings and prohaps too fast in traffic as most people can't judge just how quick you are approaching.
I liked mine a lot but the M6 GC Comp Pack is in a different league IMO.
It steers better, Handles better, puts power down better, and looks great.
Horses for courses I suppose.
Fun car = M3 for me, 4 doors and great on tight back roads, but don't ask me to swap my M6 or an M5 for one.
I do not see the M5 as "a fun car" in the respect of a quick blast around the back streets, it's more sophisticated than that.
Fast deceptively fast instant in the Sport+ settings and prohaps too fast in traffic as most people can't judge just how quick you are approaching.
I liked mine a lot but the M6 GC Comp Pack is in a different league IMO.
It steers better, Handles better, puts power down better, and looks great.
Horses for courses I suppose.
Fun car = M3 for me, 4 doors and great on tight back roads, but don't ask me to swap my M6 or an M5 for one.
Earlier this summer we had a family holiday up on the Isle of Skye. Very few traffic police, and no traffic cameras. I don't think I've had many other more enjoyable driving days - the M5 was in its element.
Is it a fun car? Undoubtedly so. It is astounding how quickly the thing will cover ground when driven hard.
Is it a fun car? Undoubtedly so. It is astounding how quickly the thing will cover ground when driven hard.
W8PMC said:
Wills2 said:
I test drove a CP M5 in the summer and would describe it as a powerful bruiser of a car not a "fun car", fantastic in it's own right and very impressive but I jumped back in my CP M3 and it felt much more alive.
Define fun relative to a car? I found lapping Nordschleife in my M5 a lot of fun & getting close to 3 minute laps round Spa was also a lot of fun. Beauty was I had fun driving there & back too which isn't something that can be said about more track focussed cars.Was I the fastest on track? hell no, but was i embarrassed by any other 4dr family saloons? hell no.
Video for F10 M5 Spa Francorchamps? 17:26? 17:26
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbCTX5R_W5Y
18 Sep 2014 - Uploaded by Paul Clarkson
A few laps of Spa Francorchamps in my F10 M5. What a great track & the barge performed ...
But that's just my opinion which doesn't count for a lot.
Wills2 said:
I understand you love your M5 and I agree it's a superb car I just found my CP M3 more engaging. (jumping from one to the other)
But that's just my opinion which doesn't count for a lot.
This may be a stupid question, but what's a CP M3? For M5 it's Competition Pack but i don't believe their is a Competition Pack for the M3.But that's just my opinion which doesn't count for a lot.
I've never had much interest in the M3, as for my tastes it's too small a car (i accept it isn't small but i've always preferred slightly bigger cars). Smallest car i've owned since being able to afford half decent metal is the B7 RS4 & that was cramped in the back with my driving position so was really a 3 seater & therefore a 3 Series would not suffice. That said, i can accept it's naturally more agile due pretty exclusively to its 400kg lower weight so totally get your point, but for me that doesn't equal fun as ownership & being the 'Ultimate Driving Machine' require so much more when i'm parting with my hard earned. Yes i really do love my F10 M5 which has taken me by total surprise.
Another analogy brings into play the R35 GT-R as this was certainly the fastest car i've ever owned & the most accomplished on track (mine was running an SVM Stage 4.25 level of tune so around 630bhp). Now although this car was quicker on track & the B roads than my F10 M5 could ever be, it might surprise you to know that the difference for instance around Spa was less than 5 secs a lap & Spa is a long track. Had my front tyres been new & had my balls been bigger i reckon i'd have got within 1-2secs a lap, but i'll try harder when i return next year. Having said all that, which car do you think's the more engaging?
Bottom line is it's all horses for course as all these cars are epic machines & i'd be &/or have been happy with all of them. I purely try to have a fantastic road car, luxury cruiser & capable track car in one package & for me the F10 M5 has turned out to be the best, although naturally their has to be the odd sacrifice here & there to get the complete package.
Interesting thread. Ive just bought an F10 so hope to soon find out how much fun it is. For me i dont have very big expectations. As per Harris I have older focused metal in the garage for real action and from the M5 i want an amazing everyday car thats roomy, comfy, luxurious, has a boat load of on road presence, is chock full of toys and has monstrous performance on tap when i require. Given that i'm going into this with that kind of expectation and positioning, my hunch is that i'll actually be pleasantly surprised as far as the 'fun' stakes go. I certainly found the car to be a marvel on the test drive, jaw droppingly accomplished and polished, effortlessley 'state of the art'. It made the C6 RS6's that I was considering feel almost prehistoric.
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff