M3 or M5

[paoloh]

I used to own an M5 new shape and sold it in favour of a Z4MR. Finding it a little small for me.
Now here id dilema. Test drove new M3, spec'd it up and it'll be £58k'ish and only a 3 month wait. I could get a nearly new M5 for that. Thoughts please?

[belleair302]

E39 M5 with a decent exhaust and some proper brakes. M3's are nice cars but lack something in my eyes and the Z4M is lovely but build quality is questionable. The Alpina is a much better bet.

[RS4john]

belleair302 said:

E39 M5 with a decent exhaust and some proper brakes. M3's are nice cars but lack something in my eyes and the Z4M is lovely but build quality is questionable. The Alpina is a much better bet.

BUT the RV on them is poor, I would look around and find the new M3, the RV will hold much better than the M5 and it will sell much quicker if you wish to move it on.

[john_r]

You know you want to come back to the dark side...

[Cyclone1]

I'm personally not keen on the new M3 although I'd need to drive one first to back up my current opinion. I'd take the M5 though as it is a step ahead in the performance field. I know people will bleat on about how fast cars are around a track, but 99% of the time these cars are driven on the road as a means of safe transport.....therefore I'd take the M5.

Jules.

[paoloh]

john_r said:

You know you want to come back to the dark side...

I am very tempted. My old E60 pic is still on profile and she does look great. Also M3 has no head up display.....

[Bogracer]

I had an MCoupe before the M5 so I fancied a V8 for a change.

The E39 M5 is fantastic. From covering 3000 miles in 8 days on a high speed tour of Europe, and I mean 120+ in double glazed comfort. Lyon, Route Napoleon, Cannes, Monaco, Lake Garda, Milan, Venice, Stevilo Pass, Zurich and Paris. A trip to the Nürburgring, Le Mans. Also used as a family bus, ferrying my new born child from Hospital. An epic and involving all round chassis with a stonking V8 sound track.

And cheap £20k will back you the best used.

The new M5, whilst technical brilliance, feels a little sanatised by comparison. I have considered upgrading. I am going to go for a M3 CSL and get an X3 3.0Sd for the family bus, still does 150 mph mind and 36 MPG, now the used prices have softened.

The M3 also brilliant. If you are doing more track-days and Nürburgring-ing, go for an M3. The whilst the M5 great fun on track it is a heavy car and eats brakes and tyres.

You won't be disappointed with either.

[PK1970]

Go for a change get an M3..... I've driven (not owned) an M5 and an M6 great cars, but there's something about the latest M3 that made me buy it! It's awesome!

[RS4john]

PK1970 said:

Go for a change get an M3..... I've driven (not owned) an M5 and an M6 great cars, but there's something about the latest M3 that made me buy it! It's awesome!

The best colour too, nice looking job.

[MK4 Slowride]

PK1970 said:

Go for a change get an M3..... I've driven (not owned) an M5 and an M6 great cars, but there's something about the latest M3 that made me buy it! It's awesome!

Alpine White :dribbles: I love that car so much.

With regards to the OP, tough choice but if the different in price between an M3 & M5 is marginal for you then get another M5, perhaps a Touring as they're proper rare and I regard the E61 in Sport and above spec to be the best looking estate car there is. However, it's in very close competition to the Alfa 156 GTA Estate.