Had a solo go in an M5 yesterday
Discussion
I couldn't beleive it when the guy offered me the keys and said 'have a go if you want' 
My gut reaction was to say no but a little voice somewhere else said 'shut the feck up idiot and take the keys to the very fast very expensive third-party insured only car'
So I did. Twas a pre-bangle job in black with 53K up. Pootled around very clunkily learner-style for 15 minutes or so waiting for the lights round the rev counter to go out, finally realised the last few weren't supposed to then opened it up a bit... my god does that thing move. I wasnt up for too many heroics in the corners bearing in mind the insurance situation but it certainly settles down well at speed, I found it easier to drive fast than slowly if that makes sense. Its capabilities in every respect felt practicaly unlimited to me, nothing I did made it feel anything less than composed, accurate and reassuring. And the power... my god the power!! The thrust from 2K+ in any gear is just awesome. I was on roads around my old 6th form college that I knew well so I knew when the roads opened up and the only way I can describe it is: when you see a straight, open bit of road you open up the throttles and bang through a couple of cogs and it's like in star-trek when they go into warp drive. The stars all drag backwards into lines, the ship kind of streaks forwards and BAM its gone, outtathere. Just awesome, the ability to squirt accross large distances makes you redefine what actually constitutes a straight. I mean loads of cars are 'nippy' and punch you in the back 0-30, or 0-60, or even 0-100 but this thing just pulls and pulls like an angry bull. There's no end to it. A different league entirely.
And you know what... when I got back he says 'did you remember to press the sport button?'.... DOH!
My gut reaction was to say no but a little voice somewhere else said 'shut the feck up idiot and take the keys to the very fast very expensive third-party insured only car' So I did. Twas a pre-bangle job in black with 53K up. Pootled around very clunkily learner-style for 15 minutes or so waiting for the lights round the rev counter to go out, finally realised the last few weren't supposed to then opened it up a bit... my god does that thing move. I wasnt up for too many heroics in the corners bearing in mind the insurance situation but it certainly settles down well at speed, I found it easier to drive fast than slowly if that makes sense. Its capabilities in every respect felt practicaly unlimited to me, nothing I did made it feel anything less than composed, accurate and reassuring. And the power... my god the power!! The thrust from 2K+ in any gear is just awesome. I was on roads around my old 6th form college that I knew well so I knew when the roads opened up and the only way I can describe it is: when you see a straight, open bit of road you open up the throttles and bang through a couple of cogs and it's like in star-trek when they go into warp drive. The stars all drag backwards into lines, the ship kind of streaks forwards and BAM its gone, outtathere. Just awesome, the ability to squirt accross large distances makes you redefine what actually constitutes a straight. I mean loads of cars are 'nippy' and punch you in the back 0-30, or 0-60, or even 0-100 but this thing just pulls and pulls like an angry bull. There's no end to it. A different league entirely.
And you know what... when I got back he says 'did you remember to press the sport button?'.... DOH!
A few months ago I had a new M5 for the day. It's a long story, but my BMW 330 was being serviced and they'd messed up my courtesy car so they gave me an M5. I didn't refuse.
I have to say, it was a cracking drive but felt quite a bit slower than my TVR. In fact, it didn't feel too much quicker than my 330. Also, I hated the indicator lever - I couldn't get it to cancel very easily - infuriating. That said, they are seriously good cars.
I have to say, it was a cracking drive but felt quite a bit slower than my TVR. In fact, it didn't feel too much quicker than my 330. Also, I hated the indicator lever - I couldn't get it to cancel very easily - infuriating. That said, they are seriously good cars.
srebbe64 said:
A few months ago I had a new M5 for the day. It's a long story, but my BMW 330 was being serviced and they'd messed up my courtesy car so they gave me an M5. I didn't refuse.
I have to say, it was a cracking drive but felt quite a bit slower than my TVR. In fact, it didn't feel too much quicker than my 330. Also, I hated the indicator lever - I couldn't get it to cancel very easily - infuriating. That said, they are seriously good cars.
You left the hand brake on then...!!
Donut said:
A few months ago I had a new M5 for the day. It's a long story, but my BMW 330 was being serviced and they'd messed up my courtesy car so they gave me an M5. I didn't refuse.
I have to say, it was a cracking drive but felt quite a bit slower than my TVR. In fact, it didn't feel too much quicker than my 330. Also, I hated the indicator lever - I couldn't get it to cancel very easily - infuriating. That said, they are seriously good cars.
You left the hand brake on then...!!
Or forgot to push the //M button to unleash the full 550bhp
sleep envy said:
And you know what... when I got back he says 'did you remember to press the sport button?'.... DOH!
Doesn't give more bhp like the current M5, 400 --> 501 bhp, all it does is sharpen up the throttle and steering responses
But it does make a big difference - my mum described a BMW 645 as "feeling all slow and 'wallolwy'" without Sport mode engaged.
The sport button tends to be shunned by experienced M5 drivers since it renders things almost too highly strung and the stress free nature of the ordinary delivery is lost.
I've found the only advantage is when on the m-way at serious speed when it undeniably has a minor 'turbo effect' the moment you twitch ankle.
The sport button neither has any effect on power output: it would seem that few if any standard cars actually produce at true 400bhp.
Despite that, take the limiter off and it is a 180+ mph supercar, something I verified this week before running out of straight road.
Quite what the new E60 must be like I dread to imagine: the chaps at WRC (Silverstone) hace dyno'd standard cars with mid-500 bhps and it's their contention the new car is effectively a detuned 600bhp lump.
Which is why when my old one's done 100k miles, I'll be after one of these.
I'll never stop trumpetting these machines, they are incredible.
I've found the only advantage is when on the m-way at serious speed when it undeniably has a minor 'turbo effect' the moment you twitch ankle.
The sport button neither has any effect on power output: it would seem that few if any standard cars actually produce at true 400bhp.
Despite that, take the limiter off and it is a 180+ mph supercar, something I verified this week before running out of straight road.
Quite what the new E60 must be like I dread to imagine: the chaps at WRC (Silverstone) hace dyno'd standard cars with mid-500 bhps and it's their contention the new car is effectively a detuned 600bhp lump.
Which is why when my old one's done 100k miles, I'll be after one of these.
I'll never stop trumpetting these machines, they are incredible.
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