F10 M5 - Impressions afetr 1200 miles
Discussion
The M5 is booked in for it's running in service on Thursday so finally I'll be able to experience the full 552bhp and 7000+rpm which I am rather looking forward to.
So, intial thoughts? It's fapping awesome!
It basically just does everything incredibly well. Most of the time, I drive the short distance to work or crawl into London with everything in full comfort/eco/auto mode and it's just effortless - far, far better ride than any BMW I have ever had before, and reminds me of how I think a sporty Jag should ride, poised but supple.
The M-DCT box is perfect in full auto-mode, shifting into 7th and using all of the torque very early when you're pottering, but holding the gears longer if you need to give it a prod. Driving it like this, I am seeing 22mpg ish which considering it doesn't even warm up on the 1.5mile drive to the office, is quite impressive for a 552bhp lump.
Then on autobahns it will glide along with the cruise set at 95 leptons, quiet and comfortable 5up with a fantastic sound system whilst returning 27mpg.
And then the fun stuff! I was out of the house early yesterday to go mountain biking (bike fits in easily with the seats down and front wheel off) and the drive there takes me across some fantastic, wide sweeping A-roads, interspersed with roundabouts and with M-Mode selected (engine in Sport Plus, Gearbox in M3, Suspension in Sport and Steering in Comfort is my preferred combo) the car really does come alive. Massive grunt in any gear (keeping it below 5krpm) means overtaking several vehicles at a time can be done safely and easily and the grip though fast and slower, tight corners is just massive.
The roads were dry and even in a straight line, the TC light flickered and unobtrusively reigned things in a little when changing from 2nd to 3rd at about 50, and then from 3rd to 4th at 70, so unleashing the full 552 horses may do wonders for Michelin's share price!
I can't really fault it to be honest. No, it's not as involving as the 997 would have been and it's obviously quite thirtsy, but I knew all of this and think it was the perfect choice.
So, intial thoughts? It's fapping awesome!
It basically just does everything incredibly well. Most of the time, I drive the short distance to work or crawl into London with everything in full comfort/eco/auto mode and it's just effortless - far, far better ride than any BMW I have ever had before, and reminds me of how I think a sporty Jag should ride, poised but supple.
The M-DCT box is perfect in full auto-mode, shifting into 7th and using all of the torque very early when you're pottering, but holding the gears longer if you need to give it a prod. Driving it like this, I am seeing 22mpg ish which considering it doesn't even warm up on the 1.5mile drive to the office, is quite impressive for a 552bhp lump.
Then on autobahns it will glide along with the cruise set at 95 leptons, quiet and comfortable 5up with a fantastic sound system whilst returning 27mpg.
And then the fun stuff! I was out of the house early yesterday to go mountain biking (bike fits in easily with the seats down and front wheel off) and the drive there takes me across some fantastic, wide sweeping A-roads, interspersed with roundabouts and with M-Mode selected (engine in Sport Plus, Gearbox in M3, Suspension in Sport and Steering in Comfort is my preferred combo) the car really does come alive. Massive grunt in any gear (keeping it below 5krpm) means overtaking several vehicles at a time can be done safely and easily and the grip though fast and slower, tight corners is just massive.
The roads were dry and even in a straight line, the TC light flickered and unobtrusively reigned things in a little when changing from 2nd to 3rd at about 50, and then from 3rd to 4th at 70, so unleashing the full 552 horses may do wonders for Michelin's share price!
I can't really fault it to be honest. No, it's not as involving as the 997 would have been and it's obviously quite thirtsy, but I knew all of this and think it was the perfect choice.
I would love one & I love how relatively discreet they look considering all the power they have, I am sure once it's run in it will blow your mind! Enjoy. I'm having my 1200 mile service done tomorrow and cant wait to let rip.
A question for you Galahad--- In M mode do you use the paddles? I find them awkward as they move with the wheel where in my GTR they were fixed.
My M2 mode is set up for full sports plus with MDM. If I go to auto then everything stays in sports plus but the M2 symbol isn't displayed. Am I still in M mode?
A question for you Galahad--- In M mode do you use the paddles? I find them awkward as they move with the wheel where in my GTR they were fixed.
My M2 mode is set up for full sports plus with MDM. If I go to auto then everything stays in sports plus but the M2 symbol isn't displayed. Am I still in M mode?
I had the same issue with the paddles when I first got my M5, coming from a Maserati where they were much larger and fixed.
So initially, particularly when I was running the car-in, i didn't use them. Once I started driving the M5 more spirited I have started to use them, they could still due with being larger though......
I noticed the same, particularly as I have the MMode settings on the HUDs and as soon as you move the gar selector to select 'D' mode the HUD's return to normal setting, but all other settings are retained?
So I guess strictly speaking M1 & M2 are the settings you program, the key one being MDM....
So initially, particularly when I was running the car-in, i didn't use them. Once I started driving the M5 more spirited I have started to use them, they could still due with being larger though......
I noticed the same, particularly as I have the MMode settings on the HUDs and as soon as you move the gar selector to select 'D' mode the HUD's return to normal setting, but all other settings are retained?
So I guess strictly speaking M1 & M2 are the settings you program, the key one being MDM....
Edited by w5pwr on Monday 22 April 13:46
I was test driving an M6 at the weekend and honestly I never ever knew a car could perform so well. The gear change is pin charge, the power is relentless and the noise is out the world.
Just felt out of this world.... have been doing man maths since but can't no way justify it, I have the M Bug - tempted to go for a e60 m5 V10 to keep me occupied for the new few years
but the new gen M6/M5's .... what dreams are made of
Just felt out of this world.... have been doing man maths since but can't no way justify it, I have the M Bug - tempted to go for a e60 m5 V10 to keep me occupied for the new few years
but the new gen M6/M5's .... what dreams are made of
Well its your choice but 1.5 miles a day in the m5, thats not going to do it any good and just backs up my joy that high mileage cars are cheaper despite driving probably fewer but longer trips. Other than that though brilliant write up and a fantastic car I would love to have the choice to drive so nice one.
(Obviously aware the drive could be due to a medical condition too so not judging based on physical just my mechanical sympathy!)
(Obviously aware the drive could be due to a medical condition too so not judging based on physical just my mechanical sympathy!)
To be fair, I cycle when the weather's dry and I don't have any meetings to go to, but most days I'm in the office first thing and then out and about for a good chunk of the day so it doesn't make sense to leave the car at home - sadly walking wouldn't be so safe as it's down country lanes with no pavements.
Not ideal for the car I guess, but always a good excuse to take the long way home and a 5 minute commute works well with young kids!
Not ideal for the car I guess, but always a good excuse to take the long way home and a 5 minute commute works well with young kids!
Ok so it has now been serviced and I can open the taps.
F*ck me is it quick! The agression of the engine past 5rpm is insane and the whole car now feels much more alert even in sleeper mode.
M2 mode with MDM enabled and you can effortlessly steer with the throttle in second or third in the dry (not tried it in the wet yet!) and I've had the TC light flickering going from third to fourth quite a few times which is quite interesting..
MPG has dropped from about 20 to 16 this week but I frequently arrive at home or the office with my heartrate rasied somewhat which makes me smile.
F*ck me is it quick! The agression of the engine past 5rpm is insane and the whole car now feels much more alert even in sleeper mode.
M2 mode with MDM enabled and you can effortlessly steer with the throttle in second or third in the dry (not tried it in the wet yet!) and I've had the TC light flickering going from third to fourth quite a few times which is quite interesting..
MPG has dropped from about 20 to 16 this week but I frequently arrive at home or the office with my heartrate rasied somewhat which makes me smile.
Galahad/SNEL/Skrambles/DT/w5pwr - another noobish question which I think I know the answer to, does the car 'creep' when you take your foot off the brake? Has a gear been selected and just won't move until accelerator input or does the gear engage and car moves from the instant you hit the gas pedal? How does it work in stop-start heavy traffic for example in full auto mode? Is it a pain or non-issue for you? I'm guessing it will also depend on if you moved to the F10 from a full auto car or manual
I prefer to be on the brake or on the throttle but it will creep forward slowly if you let it.
I'm usually in cruising around mode if the stop/start is on. I find it great and love to hear the v8 start up when you take your foot off the brake. If you are at an island and it has cut out and need to pull onto the island quickly it is very quick on restart and shooting forward. Compared to my A6 CVT it's brilliant-- that fecker used to try and kill me at every island with its reluctance to pull away and it didn't even have stop/start!!
I'm usually in cruising around mode if the stop/start is on. I find it great and love to hear the v8 start up when you take your foot off the brake. If you are at an island and it has cut out and need to pull onto the island quickly it is very quick on restart and shooting forward. Compared to my A6 CVT it's brilliant-- that fecker used to try and kill me at every island with its reluctance to pull away and it didn't even have stop/start!!
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