lexusfan

Are any of you guys considering trading in your E55 for the next M5?

I have seen a few 530i's and to be quite honest, I think the ugly appeal that it had once is fading away. As for SMG, what are the pros/cons of that transmission?

I've heard that Lexus plans on making a 470 HP GS, any of you guys considering that?

ThemisN

First the lexus..being a current, and soon to be ex-lexus owner, I can say that if lexus made a car like that i might stay. However, i think they said it would bea hybrid, and i dont like the new GS styling. so 2 strikes there.

New m5...i was never really set back by the exterior so much as the interior. getting away from the driver oriented layout, using worst materials, cheaper feel, not-as-good-as-the-6-series interior design, and the idea of the i-drive...all make me stay away. I for one wanted the m5 for the manual tranny. If its only smg, they def lost me as a customer forever...or until they get the car back up to par.

norb

Of course some of us are, there aren't many players in the sports sedan category anyways.

EX-BEEMER

No way! As you can tell from my screen name I am one of the hordes of dis-enchanted Beemerphiles. I could never spend that much money on that abortion no matter how well it handles. It may be seven years (next design cycle) before I can see myself in any type of five series.

As for the Lexus...that's another story. If you could put Lexus quality and reliability into a true performance sedan...I'm there. I'm not overjoyed with the new GS styling but it's not nearly as bad as the new E60 M5. We'll se what happens with the powerplant, I'm betting on it not being a hybrid.

krispykrme

i have two spot on the wait list. Although most likely one will be switched to the M6.

However, I still found 6 series to be very hard to look at. However, M6 will be lighter and slightly more powerful than the M5 (at least for the M6 CSL version).

I am really hoping that M6 CSL will make its way here in U.S. But it's still a fugly car.

I actually do really like E60. However, at B-fest this year out of 300+ car I saw a whopping 2 E60 and one E65. So it's obvious that a lot of BIMMER HEAD does not like new designs.

norb

M6? Is that because it will make a better track car? You know because it fits you better? That's why you're getting 2 M5's right?

krispykrme

no, because M6 CSL will get a slightly bigger engine than M5. As far as fitting me better goes, i do not think so. I sat in a 645i this weekend and it just feel weired.

FIXEDupW209

werd krispey i thought that you were gonna get 2 m5's because that car suited you in the sence that you could not fit in any other car. So now a 6 series? if you are having troubles getting into a 5 series then how are you gonna fit in the 6? the CSL wont make it to the US and even if it does the car will be around 120k so why not get a turbo? thats right because you can't fit in a turbo but then how would you fit in the 6 series? that thing is real small inside and the visibility is nonexistent.

krispykrme

Where did I say i have problem getting into a 5 series. I do not fit 6 series well. In fact, I just felt very out of place in the 6. If you read my previous post, I clearly stated that I felt very strange in a 6. And yes, I could not see out of the back that well.

BTW, I actually can fit into a turbo okay (although, still very close to my stomach) . I just do not have desire to own a porsche (don't ask me why). Just not a fan of porsche. They are great cars. But I just never had desire to own one.

stephens

Stop yanking his chain, give the guy a break!

FIXEDupW209

i did not get a chance to read your earlier post as i was writing my post...fair enough on the 6 series, i was just a bit surprised because earlier you wrote that the 5 series was the perfect car for you(size wise) so i was surprised when you said you were thinking about the 6 series considering it is smaller.

krispykrme

no problem. I just feel very out of place in a 6. The only reason that I am even interested in the M6 is the rumour of that 5.5L V10.

Otherwise, I wouldn't want to have a hunchback whale in my garage. See, I do not like all BMW either. I think the new 6 and 7 are the most ugliest car there is.

MelsE55

There are two that I know of, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles

W210

I also find them extremely ugly. The 7, 5, 6, 4, X3, updated X5, updated 3 (what's wrong with the original headlights?).

It's amazing that BMW manage to consistently screw up the replacement or facelift models of their cars.

ThemisN

While i dont like the rear of the 7 all that much, i did like the headlight setup....they seem to be screwing up that refresh by keeping hte same outside shape of hte headlight but removing the "eyebrow" blinker and putting it on the side...just looks like there is a lot of space that doesnt make sense now...

I DO agree about the 3 series, it looked good before...and its worse now with the refresh.

the 5, i dunno, but the x's are fine i think...and I saw a 6 in the flesh the other day in black, and I liked it...prob lessens the effect of the Droopy face with the darker color..

TexE55AMG

I traded out my 2001 m5 for my E55....I did not even consider the new M5. Too long of a wait and too ugly.....The rear apron on the new 5 series screams cheap plastic. The eyebrows on the headlamps are cartoonish..etc, etc, etc....

My guess is that there will be additional customers like me backlashing against BMW until they complete a new redesign and direction and publicly flog the bungler Bangle.

As for the 6 series discussion....I think it is the least obscene of the Bangle bunch but I much prefer the Aston Martin DB9!

krispykrme

I must be blind. Almost everyone I talked too thinks the 6 looks decent while the new 5 looks like dirt.

I am probably the only one that think new 5 looks fine and the new 6 looks like dirt.

The front end of new 6 looks like it is still sleeping. Just look tired. The rear end looks like a whale. It's just ugly.

I need to take a class in art appreciation. I just do not know why 6 is much better perceived.

MelsE55

Maybe it is the ugly friend syndrome.

The 5 series is so damm ugly that anything from BMW that is remotely good looking is considered an object de art.

stephens

I had the same theory!

Mattar

being an E39 M5 owner I’m really disappointed with the new 5 Series shape i hope it grows on me though everytime i look at one on the street i feel really sick

MB Fanatic

As much as I like the 5 series in Black and how the M5 looks in Black. I wont be getting it for one reason. The interior looks like crap. Its cheap, and in fact looks cheaper than my new Honda Accord which i use as my daily driver for around the town things. The interior is hideous, fugly, cheap, probably rattles like a ****, and it is a real big disgrace to the BMW name.

W210

Absolutely agree. BMW has much to learn from VW and Mercedes (even from Porsche in my opinion), as far as interior quality is concerned.

xyzpl

The new 5 tail light looks like it came of of the SUbaru WRX....

absent

I have #3 spot,will take it unless the interior is as bad as the 645.

amg55

New M5: no way. Let the backlash begin so that BMW will be forced to return to making beautifully designed driver's cars.

6 Series: I agree with KK--back end looks fat and bloated. Headlamp set up looks passive and Oldsmobile-ish.

Lexus GS: Lexus competing in the aggressive sport sedan market is like Schwinn deciding they'll go head to head with Harley Davidson in the cycle market.
Lexus has zero respect among sport enthusiasts because to date Lexus has shown zero ability to make a car that's exciting to drive.
They pump Valium in the drinking water at the engineering/design center at Lexus.
Add all the horsepower you want---a GS will still be boooring and get no respect on the street.