chiromikey

i've actually spent a decent amount of time in this car in the past and my impressions are probably exactly what one would expect. the e is a much more comfortable and refined ride while the m is a sports car in disguise. the e's sportiest suspension setting is closer to the m's softest so it's not hard to imagine how much better the m takes on corners. even though i give it a hard time (well, the owners anyways), the m is no slouch. it builds speed very deceptively compared to violently in the 55. i miss the old v8 growl of the new motor but at full revs you know it's an agressive v10. braking is also better than the amg. the smg is great...as long as you're manually shifting. in auto mode it can be driven quite smoothly but even with the tranny in the faster s5 mode it still takes too much time to shift while cruising. obviously, it's a manual transmission so you can't expect miracles. the worst part is kickdown time when you stomp on it, which can be measured with an hourglass. when manually shifting and especially downshifting, it's AWESOME! as cool as the smg is, i still miss the 6 speed of the e39.

imho, the interior of the e is nicer and more comfortable. the m's dynamic seats react quicker than ours because they're mechanical instead of pneumatic but they also sometimes make squeeks when working. the seat cooling pushes air instead of pulling it which probably works a bit better but they're LOUD. that's okay, because the m's stereo is one of the best oem systems i've heard, making ours sound like a economy car. idrive is okay for the driver who knows how to use it but sucks *** when you constantly have to change the radio/cd player all the time because your wife doesn't know how to do it.

gas milage and oil consumption are stupid and you better have stock in an oil company if you want to feel justified in the least bit driving it.

there's really no winner when comparing the e55 and the m5. to me they're as apples and oranges as comparing the e to a sports car. besides both having 4 doors they're really targeted at two different markets. if my buddy didn't buy his first, i'd probably have an e60 right now. as it is, i think i'm more satisfied with the e55. different strokes for different folks for sure.

stevebez

I agree. The cars are just so different. Whats even more remakable is how close the performance is and how two different design philosophies can get so close. Its craqzy to try and say one is better than the other. Each car is just better suited to a particular type of enthusiast - and marketed as such. Lets face it only enthusiasts will buy an M an AMG.

Two great cars in their own right ... I guess if I was mbe 10 years younger I would be racing around in an M5 ceteris paribus. I would however still envy the blown 55K's grunt.

I have NEVER been in a road going car of any description that is normally aspirated that left me with a plugged in your seat feeling that you get with a F/I car when the torque rush comes in. My first taste of this came in a 930 Porsche as a 10yr old passenger ... and I was converted ever since to FI - and still am. Screamer engines just dont do it for me ... but I do appreciate the M5 for what it is - I absolutely loved the E39(?) ... and still do.

I am more partial to turbo's than S/C (more from an efficiency stand point) and the way a turbo can potter around off boost like a Fiat Lupo - but when you want to wack it - its a rabid beast. With a S/C - clutch system you get the same effect but with everything up front and nothing left for the top end.... which kinda leaves me wanting... It also grinds me that we "waste" around 100hp just to run the S/C ... and thats without a bigger pulley.

Eurosport

now THAT is so not true, i wish it was though...
unfortunately lots and lots are bought as status symbols, and never driven anywhere close to how some of us enthusiasts drive them

deaguero

chiromikey: Right on the Money!!!

Coalman

Frankly, I'm not sure I could beat a new M5 with my bone stock E55 and I can only imagine that the problem would be worse with mods. My car has been running very strong and I've been having one hell of a time controlling the torque off the line. Any agressiveness at all below 20 mph and I just spin the tires and the engine pulls the power. (This is with ESP on and car in S mode.) It's really getting quite frustrating.

chiromikey

traction (or lack of it) will certainly lose a race for you. where are you located? wondering about the type of surface you're on. also what tire are you running. i recently switched to toyo proxes t1r and was AMAZED at the grip i get with them...i'm talking 1.71 60ft times. these are relatively cheap 19" street tires, not drag radials or auto-x tires, and they're more quiet than the michelin ps2's that i replaced.

OzE55

Thank-you. I appreciate the comparison.

stevebez

You are right - there are a bunch of AMG owners who dont even know how many cylinders their cars have let alone how many spark plugs ...

I would guess its less so for the M's - its a more sporty design - and perhaps those guys are more petrol headed than the AMG clan who tend to be the "older" crowd shall we say... )

Coalman

I have PS2's and am driving on relatively decent roads. Still have some ash from winter, but the problem has been there since before winter. I may look into the toyo proxes. Thanks.

newton22

Do you own a red or yellow Elise?

Scott in H-town

Blue. Here's a pic. (you probably recognize the building in the background)

vraa

Is that the dentists office? Where is that building?
I should know this, but I don't

Scott in H-town

The Unocal building near Sugar Creek.

vraa

Darn I was close. I'm at the Comerica Bank building often on Sugar Creek Blvd. Or maybe it's Bank of America, I forget -- but it's the tallest building in Sugar Land (which isn't saying much).

MACHC5

Never drove an M5... but spent a whole day thrashing a new M6 a Lambo a Ford GT and Bentley Turbo.

The only one that really impressed me as a drivers vehicle... more then my 2005 E55K or my Supercharged 2005 DENALI was............"The Lambo"

Sometimes it pays to pay a rental Company before you buy...