E39 M5 Is It Significantly Sportier Than A Monaro ?

[redgriff500]

Hi guys,

I want a V8 manual family car.

I bought a 385bhp Monaro and frankly I was very disappointed it sounded fantastic but it drove more like a Merc than a sports car - I sold it within a month.

Is the M5 a significantly sportier drive ?

[zip929]

I had an e39 M5 and I must admit it was a fantastic car.
I have never driven a Monaro so cannot compare, but the E39 M5 is one fine tool.
Still miss my car!

[996 sps]

redgriff500 said:

Hi guys,

I want a V8 manual family car.

I bought a 385bhp Monaro and frankly I was very disappointed it sounded fantastic but it drove more like a Merc than a sports car - I sold it within a month.

Is the M5 a significantly sportier drive ?

Mate I was the same with the M5, read Evo mag said how good it was I personally couldn't wait to get shot of it.

Disappointed with it.

[C8PPO]

I owned a MOnaro VXR for 4 years and a mate had an E39 M5 at the same time.

I don't think either car is "sporty".

[anonymous-user]

redgriff500 said:

I want a V8 manual family car.

I bought a 385bhp Monaro and frankly I was very disappointed it sounded fantastic but it drove more like a Merc than a sports car - I sold it within a month.

Is the M5 a significantly sportier drive ?

I think you'll find the problem you're experiencing is simply the weight of the cars. They are "big". So performance and handling is good for a big car but will never feel like, for instance, a Lotus.

Probably the closest you'll get to what to what you're looking for is an M3 .... if it's big enough.

IMO sports saloons tend to have a very harsh ride so end up neither fish nor foul. Personally for a family car I think it's often better to settle for a "good" car than a "fast" one. Then keep a nice sportscar for yourself!

[redgriff500]

I have a feeling you guys may be right and an M3 may be the correct car, just I really wanted a V8.

I can't justify the M3 V8 and I'm told the Audi V8 isn't as much fun as the E46 M3.

[Matt0177]

Should have gone VXR8 it's no slouch

[RedLeicester]

996 sps said:

Mate I was the same with the M5, read Evo mag said how good it was I personally couldn't wait to get shot of it.

Disappointed with it.

Likewise, granted I came from a Cerbera, but the M5 was just an exceptionally fast saloon car. Not sporty.

[Max M4X WW]

Two cars time!

[soda]

I own a Monaro, driven a couple of m5's. They are not sporty cars.

Both are large, heavy and powerful. Neither is particularly precise or nimble compared to a sportscar.

FWIW M5 will be a bit more planted in the handling department, Monaro a bit more lairy when pushed.

[Tango13]

The e39 is NOT a sports car, trust me I own one.

If you want a sports car then go buy a Lotus. The e39 M5 is a saloon car capable of moving four people from A to B at .5 beyond warp with zero drama.

Provoke it and then you'll get all the oppo' lock action you want but that is not what they are about, they are an motorway cruise missile that can and will hussle on a fast A road if needs be but at 1800kg they lack the point and squirt of a Seven or similar.

[redgriff500]

Matt0177 said:

Should have gone VXR8 it's no slouch

Matt you (and it seems all modern car manufacturers) are confusing speed with "sporty" they are not and never have been the same.

The ability to drive at warp speed with zero drama is the opposite of what I want.

[RoadToNowhere]

OP, have you driven an S4? The manual B7 Avant may surprise you. Not as "driver" focused as an M3, but big, fast and very stealthy. A great all rounder.

[Frances The Mute]

I've been driving a lot of M5's lately and have been left a little underwhelmed.

They're too cossetting so your sense of speed and feedback is diminished. The E34 is a better chassis in my opinion which makes the car feel more organic and engaging to drive when compared to the E39.

I'm more than a little gutted as the E39 has been on my wishlist for some time. You could dial out some if the softness with some decent suspension/chassis mods but that course of action isn't for everyone.

[kambites]

I think you're going to struggle to find a "sporty V8 family car" unless perhaps you can stretch to an M3 or RS4. Of course even they feel more "saloon car" than "sports car", but they come much closer.

[Mastodon2]

redgriff500 said:

The ability to drive at warp speed with zero drama is the opposite of what I want.

Maybe it feels different inside but I've seen a Monaro with a full custom exhaust system disappear off down a sliproad and from the outside at least, lacking drama would have been the opposite of how I'd describe it.

Did you do a readers rides thread about your Monaro a few weeks back when you got it, or am I thinking of another member?

[redgriff500]

Mastodon2 said:

Maybe it feels different inside but I've seen a Monaro with a full custom exhaust system disappear off down a sliproad and from the outside at least, lacking drama would have been the opposite of how I'd describe it.

Did you do a readers rides thread about your Monaro a few weeks back when you got it, or am I thinking of another member?

Mine had the full exhaust and it sounded amazing.

It was fairly quick - easy sub six seconds to 60 but didn't feel that quick.

Feedback was lacking and it the gearing is far too high.

It was a good cruiser and was very easy to drive slowly - ie the exact opposite of my old Griffith which wanted to go 120+ everywhere.

I suspect only the Cerbera does what I want - just I wanted some crash protection for the kids and some reliability and build quality for me.

[Fire99]

redgriff500 said:

I suspect only the Cerbera does what I want - just I wanted some crash protection for the kids and some reliability and build quality for me.

Sadly, I'd agree with you. I'm racking my brains for something close that's a bit more 'dependable'.

I guess a MG ZT V8 with a supercharger will be too sensible.
Jaguar S-Type R ?

Both a bit heavy I'd guess..

I can only think of non-v8's M3 or maybe a Mitsubishi Evo, if you want dramatic but 4 seats.

[McClure]

Maserati Gransport? 4 seats, mental V8, much more reliable than people give Maserati credit for...

[redgriff500]

Jag R's are all Auto (NOT sporty)
Rover doesn't appeal

Gran Sport is on my list of future cars - bit expensive and thirsty really plus the capacity to produce a HUGE bill, 4200 GT is as the name suggests a bit too refined.