Only BMW M Left With RWD!!
Discussion
I'm not sure if this will play into the hands of BMW M or have the opposite effect??
The stats in the article below suggest that over 90% of buyers are opting for the AWD AMG variants over the RWD versions.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...
TBH & i know it's all about personal preference & i have owned several Audi RS's but i think if the F10 M5 had some trick AWD system that allowed most of the traction to be distributed to the rear, however bring the fronts into play when needed, it could possibly be the best all round car. Every couple of weeks i have to drive a 550+ mile round trip from Lancs to Suffolk, but now the weather is turning i doubt i'll be taking the M5 when the all day temps arrive at sub zero & if a hint of snow is forecast then i'll defo be taking the wives Q5.
The stats in the article below suggest that over 90% of buyers are opting for the AWD AMG variants over the RWD versions.
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...
TBH & i know it's all about personal preference & i have owned several Audi RS's but i think if the F10 M5 had some trick AWD system that allowed most of the traction to be distributed to the rear, however bring the fronts into play when needed, it could possibly be the best all round car. Every couple of weeks i have to drive a 550+ mile round trip from Lancs to Suffolk, but now the weather is turning i doubt i'll be taking the M5 when the all day temps arrive at sub zero & if a hint of snow is forecast then i'll defo be taking the wives Q5.
If you fit decent winter tyres, there are very, very few days/places in the UK where you would have trouble in an M5 where you would not also have problems in a softroader. Decent winter tyres will get you much further than a 4x4 with summer tyres. With the M5 and it's M Active differential unless there is snow over 6 inches deep or sheet ice it won't be a problem. Other drivers with summer tyres however are a different story and will probably impede your progress regardless what you're driving. I've use my E39 M5 with winter tyres and 'simple' LSD in snow with no problem at all.
8 inches of snow in Jan 2010, no problem, I had to go shopping because all the home delivery drivers were stuck.
about 4 inches of snow on a 1 in 5 hill, no problem
I even pulled a Range Rover Sport out of a ditch after it had skidded of the road on one occasion.
An M5 with xDrive, or whatever they want to call it, will very probably be an option on the F10 replacement, but it will add weight and probably make the dynamics of the car even worse.
8 inches of snow in Jan 2010, no problem, I had to go shopping because all the home delivery drivers were stuck.
about 4 inches of snow on a 1 in 5 hill, no problem
I even pulled a Range Rover Sport out of a ditch after it had skidded of the road on one occasion.
An M5 with xDrive, or whatever they want to call it, will very probably be an option on the F10 replacement, but it will add weight and probably make the dynamics of the car even worse.
TBH, i've never really considered Winter tyres on a performance cars, in much the same way i'd not consider a bike rack, caravan mirrors or a tow bar
Can they really make that much of a difference to a car such as the M5 as i can't imagine they're designed with such cars in mind, more your average family hatchback.
Can they really make that much of a difference to a car such as the M5 as i can't imagine they're designed with such cars in mind, more your average family hatchback.
W8PMC said:
TBH, i've never really considered Winter tyres on a performance cars, in much the same way i'd not consider a bike rack, caravan mirrors or a tow bar
Can they really make that much of a difference to a car such as the M5 as i can't imagine they're designed with such cars in mind, more your average family hatchback.
It's really the opposite way round, it's cars on wide ultra high performance summer rubber which most need a separate set of winters. Most average family hatchbacks would be perfectly fine with some all-season tyres all year round.Can they really make that much of a difference to a car such as the M5 as i can't imagine they're designed with such cars in mind, more your average family hatchback.
W8PMC said:
TBH, i've never really considered Winter tyres on a performance cars, in much the same way i'd not consider a bike rack, caravan mirrors or a tow bar
Can they really make that much of a difference to a car such as the M5 as i can't imagine they're designed with such cars in mind, more your average family hatchback.
I've run winters on my 911 and m3, Michelin do the Pilot alpin range designed for high performance cars they make the car terrific fun in the snow...Can they really make that much of a difference to a car such as the M5 as i can't imagine they're designed with such cars in mind, more your average family hatchback.
Try some..
Wills2 said:
A 4x4 shod with high performance summer tyres will be useless compared to a RWD with winter tyres in the snow.
I looked at a new X5 this week it was on 20" wheels with rear tyres 315mm in width I can't image it would go anywhere in the snow.
It wont. Which is my X5 fitted with said tyres is being fitted with its winter boots on Tuesday;)I looked at a new X5 this week it was on 20" wheels with rear tyres 315mm in width I can't image it would go anywhere in the snow.
Cheib said:
Wills2 said:
A 4x4 shod with high performance summer tyres will be useless compared to a RWD with winter tyres in the snow.
I looked at a new X5 this week it was on 20" wheels with rear tyres 315mm in width I can't image it would go anywhere in the snow.
It wont. Which is my X5 fitted with said tyres is being fitted with its winter boots on Tuesday;)I looked at a new X5 this week it was on 20" wheels with rear tyres 315mm in width I can't image it would go anywhere in the snow.
I'll probably end up buying some winters for the f10 too. It's even more necessary on the RWD car. It's even more expensive though, especially as I want 20" winter alloys rather than 19"s, and preferably with the Michelin Alpin PA4s which look like great tyres - it's gonna cost about £3.5-4k
Terminator X said:
4WD?! GTFO 
TX.
Who mentioned 4WD?;)TX.
I said AWD which is vastly different. Nowadays the performance variants are heavily RWD biased & the fronts are only brought into play under certain conditions.
The GT-R for instance is RWD 95% of the time. Front wheels are only engaged under launch conditions (makes sense) with the front wheels at an angle off centre of less than 5-10 degrees. In corners the front wheels only engage if the back gets very out of shape. TBH it wasn't that good in the snow even with snow mode engaged, so does support the argument for Winter tyres which i'll now start to investigate.
Traction is a huge issue in the F10 M5 as even pootling away from lights under the lightest of acceleration, the TC light's flickering away & can feel the £20's emanating off my tyres. Totally controllable but not sure i want to be spinning up all the time.
W8PMC said:
Nice one Please can you let me know where you sourced those? Having never looked into Winter tyres, are the Alpin's considered the best available & is the cost reflective of the performance?
A bit of info on the Alpins: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Michelin-Pilo... Please can you let me know where you sourced those? Having never looked into Winter tyres, are the Alpin's considered the best available & is the cost reflective of the performance?Skrambles said:
A bit of info on the Alpins: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Michelin-Pilo...
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