I thought this was an interesting review over at the M5 board.
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=46638
M5 VERSUS FERRARI F 40
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I finally got my M5 in 2001 black/black luxury. Wanted to get a new one, but they were all sold out. I really hate the new Bangled up look, so I wanted to get a classic M5 before it was too late. am a big M fan, and already have an M3.
As promised, I can now give you some feedback on the car, as it compares to my Ferrari F40 and Maranello, as well as my Carrera.
To give some good news right upfront, I was VERY impressed with the car. It surpassed my expectations. I thought it was a heavy big, car..... It is a great driver car. I love romping on fast back roads. (being in New York/ CT, my personal track is the Taconic with no traffic, of course. Those from here will understand.....) I track other cars, so I won't abuse the M5 on the track.
1. First of all from the outside, it is a beautiful car. As beautiful as the best designs from BMW and top luxury sport designs. As it gets older, the M5 is gaining a timeless classic look, including the wheels ( I believe BMW designs the best looking stock/factory wheels, head to head with the Ferrari wheels).
2. From the inside, I feel very "with the car" in the M5. Great seats, steering wheel, controls etc. I guess we all feel at "home" in the M cars. The driver position is easy and confortable on the BMW. The dash's simplicity is as beautiful as the one in the original design of my Carrera. Unfortunately that BMW simple german fighter plane look is now all gone with the arrival of the Bangle " designer furniture" interiors. The Maranello inside tells you that you are driving an italian muscle car, with the huge hood seen from the steering wheel and the beautiful hump of the air intake projecting towards the nose of the car, while you are inside. The M5, instead, is very similar to the F40; very simple dashboard, you do not see much of the hood at all, so you can concentrate on the road and its surface.
3. On the road, the best two things are 1) the handling and 2) the M engine. The car stays flat and planted, with not that much lean at all. Very impressive for such a big car. Those who think the car is heavy and does not handle will be surprised by how great it is to drive fast, with its direct responsiveness. The engine has got great torque and a great mix of typical M engine sound and V8 character. But it revs out very nicely. I would say that regardless of actual power output, the M5 engine is as exciting and engaging as the F40 engine and the Maranello's. The F40 is airplane-like, with its whoosh and take off/flaming/popping of the waste gate, the Maranello's engine is a great clockwork of wizzing and sizzling, spinning inner gears, the M5 an iron fist in a velvet glove.
4. The least liked things are: !) shifter 2) brakes . The shifter is OK but certainly not as great as the Maranello' shifter ( the best gearbox of all the cars I have driven in my life, a pleasure in itself). My M3 shifter is more precise, smooth and a pleasure to use than the M5. Only the Carrera shifter is worse. When cold, I literally have a hard time in going from 1st into 2nd. After a mile, or so, then the oil/syncros warm up and it goes in fine. The service manager tells the usual: they are all like that....
Is that really true?
The brakes are ok, but seem to make an effort to slow down the car, with a bit of rumble/noise, which may be perfectly ok because the car is so smooth,quiet. The hard work of the pads when coming down at speed is heard quite brutally as you rapidly reduce speed. By the way, in terms of aerodynamics, BMW has done a great job, you can hear only the air swhooshing at speed and at 130-140 mph the car tracks very smoothly and straight as an arrow.
The best brakes of course are the F40's, with the Maranello a strong second. I love the "direct" race feel of the F40's no booster brakes ( A lot of effort, but amazing fine control, which is key when trail braking).
Finally, on fit and finish, the M5 is almost as good as the Maranello, especially the interior, the details of the full leather applications, and quality of controls, trim, accessories of the M5 are a work of art.
In sum:A wonderful, fast, elegant, supercar. I believe it is "a Ferrari with 4 doors". BMW should take it as I compliment, especially given that have two Ferraris, I am Italian and love driving fast, on the track or the road, all the time.
Thanks for you wonderful help with this amazing site. Much appreciated your advice and shared passion.
See you on the road ....
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M A T T A S I N A R I
NEW YORK CITY
2001 M5 black/black/lux
1990 Ferrari F40
2000 Ferrari Maranello black
1984 Carrera black
1996 M3 Cosmos Black
Crappy Range Rover HSE to go to dealers and buy parts
various R1's, Honda Fireblade, Honda NSR 250 Sport Production racing bike, Ducati 996 SPS
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