Ahoooo

Holy Shit, what a MACHINE is alllll I've got to
say!!!
A 2000 model with 9,300 miles for $67k.

I saw an ad in newspaper and went down to look.
Salesperson spent about an hour just showing me the features inside the showroom before we got it out on the road.

What I liked about the car:
275/35 18's on rear, 245/40 18's front (Michelin Pilot)
Wheels were brushed chrome
Anthracite Metallic color with black interior
Quad exhausts looks pisser
8 cylinder monster engine
Horsepower: 394 hp @ 6600 rpm
Torque: 369 ft-lbs. @ 3800 rpm (snapped my neck)
Handling (like on rails)
Three separate air bags for each front passenger
An engine that drops to the ground in an accident
Dual air induction through huge air vent on bottom of grill
No spare tire (you use an air can)
Every luxury feature you could think of including sensors in bumpers to warn when parking and a light in stick shift knob that shows gears in laser red.
Engine sound at idle outside the car is just right but in the car you don't hear much with sound proofing.

Dislikes:
Price

Test Drive:
A 21 year old salesperson drives it off the lot.
Going down route 1 he bangs a right at about 50
and then a sharp left after that and slams breaks on in store parking lot. My head was spinning. He had my interest!.
We get out and look at color of car outside of showroom - nice!
He tells me hop in.

I drive down this street and at red light he
says "hey, get on it now."
I semi-floor it in 1st and see the tach go up to 6500 as the car fish tails three times back and forth and leaves a smoke screen for those in back.
I glance in my rear view mirror and the other cars are like little dots back there. Your at 100 before you can blink. Hitting the huge oversize breaks brings the car to a legal speed.

We get on route 95 north into Maine and then come
back into New Hampshire. I pull back into the dealership lot, turn off the car and enjoy that electrical feeling like no other feeling I've ever had.

Do I spend 55k on a 2002 M3 with SMG or 65k on a 2000 M5? I really like the luxury features of the M5 and the performance. I have never been a BMW lover but this is one impressive car!!!
"I am now a BMW lover!"
Some day....

SidVicious

M5 all the way!!!

I'm going to try and get one for my next car.

someguy

I agree, it kicks ass. Great Value too

BTW, I went the the M5 driving school, that was fun

JRock

IMHO, the most practical yet performance car you can get for around 65K is an M5.
M3s are way overpriced and the M5 gives you a heck of a lot more room inside.
Besides you don't have to deal with the shitty color choices like the M3.

-J

astro

even tho my 2002 M3 with SMG is on the way, I'd say go with the M%...it's MUCH MUCH more car for the same money basically...

Ahoooo

I called up the local BMW dealership in town and there are 25 people on the waiting list of 2002 M3. They'll be more M3's around town than ford focus's.
I was just really impressed on how "put together" the entire car was. I could not find one thing on the car that I did not like. Every feature and placement of controls was thought out perfectly (oh well, 6 cd changer in trunk) but that is OK.
I'm going 100 in 4th and still two more gears to go.
I did learn that buying used saves you from having to pay the luxury car tax. Kelley blue book can not even tell me how much it is worth.

I WANT AN M5!
You only live once.

JasonT

Yep the M5 is something. I had fun in one for a week. My boss bought one when they first came out. It was a 2000. He "gave" it to me for a week while he was away. He also has an E55 AMG. so I was expecting the M5 to drive the same way. It sure didn't! That manual makes it WAY more fun. Great car for the peeps who can get one. I wonder what the insurance is like though

lead_sled_dog

It's certainly the next car on my list. I had a 540 for 3 months prior to my current CL-S and the M5 is definitely next. I need to find another job that doesn't add so many miles. I currently have 29K miles on my 17 month old CL.

SidVicious

I feel your pain when it comes to mileage. I have over 19K and my car was purchased in January. That's only nine months.

JRock

11,600+ miles and I've had it since the beginning of May.
(a little over 5 months)

Beltfed

If it was my only car, I would get an M5 (even though the clutch royally sucks)....if I had 2 cars, my daily driver would be an E55- great machine.