Darkmann

Happy new year everyone. Hope 2002 brings you and your familly more joy. Anyway, man, I never liked MB's, never. Now I can't stop driving my wife's '01 E430. 8.3K miles since 09/01!!! and I love it. 95% of it has been highway, and a lot of that has been in the 85-90mph range on MD50 or DE13. What a car!!! 100 fels just like 55 and, knock on wood, I haven't encountered any cops yet. I gotta say, with all it's quirks, this E430 is an awesome drive. Now, if I can sell my 300ZX turbo and her old Integra, I am getting me a 5 series Bimmer - jusy like the 5-spd. Any commnts on the Bimmr????

Drew

Thanks for the New Year wishes ... and right back at ya!

The M5 is an awesome car. Lots of friends with them, all love their beasts ... and all have had at least one problem or another with them though (clutch-problems; extreme oil-consumption, etc.). However, even with those faults, they all still rave about their car.

Have you ever driven a M5? An E55? The ride/feel is different in both cars .... and I suggest you drive both before you make up your mind. (BTW: even my E55 rides much better to me than my friends E430-Sport ... when crusing the highways and when testing the limits of adhesion as well!).

If it takes you a while to sell your ZX and Acura ... then you may be in time for the new E-Class models coming out next year (with the new version of the E55 coming out in '03). Rumor has it that a variety of transmission options will be available.

Regards,

JamE55

Bimmers are great cars!! My friend who just bought a 530i looks nice! For some reason the seats on bimmers hugs your back better??

E 4.3

I'm not knocking the Bimmer 5-series at all so you can keep reading, but be willing to explore your options. A couple of years ago when we got the Lexus, we compared 2 other cars in its price range.

They were the BMW 528i and (I'm almost embarassed to say) the Acura 3.5RL. The RL was nice, just boring. Don't even consider it. The Bimmer was nice too, but a little too small for our family. My wife and I are both 5'10" and we have a 3'3" son that is a little over 2 1/2.

The Lexus has been great. Comparable features and options, extreme reliability, and a lower cost. If you are looking in the 530i or 540i range, check out the Lexus.

If you want a M5 or just have to have a manual tranny, then there is no other sedan like it. My personal preference has always been the E55 (E50, E500, 500E, etc.), but you might be like us when deciding whether to buy another GS and do not want two cars with the same body style.

Drew

I second E-4.3's sentiment when it comes to Lexus:

- Both Vic55 and I are former GS-400 owners: for the money, no better bang-for-your-buck ... IMHO.

- My wife refuses to part with her Lexus SUV ... as a matter of fact, she's on her second one in 3 years (diff. color this time!). She had the choice of any SUV she wanted ... didn't like any but the Lexus.

Here's service for ya: My wife's Lexus dealer even comes to her office ... drops off a loaner-lexus ... and takes her car in for service. When the service has been completed ... they drop off her car, and pick up her loaner.

Drive 'em all b/4 you decide: its all subjective.

Vic55

I have owned 3 Lexus autos in the past, while none of them come close to the sheer power that my E55 has to offer they are indeed good cars. I know someone will say "Well they are just Toyota's" and that's true, Toyota is the father company but these cars are still awesome when it comes to fit and finish, and reliability.