| Author | Message | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Junior Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 244 Registered: 4-2002 |
Will an M5 do faster laps than a 328? Interesting question. Given stock tires, the M5 wins hands down. How do I know? I have a 328. A recent student of mine at Road Atlanta had an M5. There is no comparison regarding the straight line speed of the cars. M5 is in a different zone when it comes to that. Braking, the M5 is better. Cornering, the M5 has it again given the rubber it wears compared to the 328. Change sway bars on the 328 and give it equivalent rubber, well, then I don't know. M5 is faster on straights but the weight difference will matter. Friend of mine who is a good track driver was driving the M5 also. Given his lap times, I know I could not equal them in my 328. While he is faster than I, he is not that much faster than I. We both have 328's and 944turbos. Time marches on. Cars improve. The 328 is 13 years old. Compare it to a 1989 BMW. Time does not stand still even for Ferraris. | ||
| Roger Arlen (Rogera)
New member Username: Rogera Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2002 |
The M5 isn't designed for the track, but it is remarkably competent in that environment. When I got my M5 I had a 1997 Porsche C2S and I was able to do the same lap times in the M5 as in the Porsche. I now have a 360 and it will soundly trounce the M5 on the track, but of course they are very different cars of very different weights. The upcoming supercharged E55 will likely dethrone the E39 M5, at least until the next gen M5 is released. For those who care, following is an mpeg of a lap at Thunderhill in the M5, from inside the car. http://www.motorventures.com/videos/m5_thunderhill.mpg | ||
| Peter S�derlund /328 GTB -88 (Corsa)
Junior Member Username: Corsa Post Number: 249 Registered: 4-2001 |
Frank, no dreaming. I've just done it. The M5-driver felt very insecure in the bends due to lack of response. The M3 could keep up with the pace. My 328 have very very good communication since I changed to Ohlins racing shocks and had the wheel alignment done to a more track friendly set up. Ciao Peter | ||
| Lawrence Coppari (Lawrence)
Junior Member Username: Lawrence Post Number: 243 Registered: 4-2002 |
This summer at a PCA event at Road Atlanta, a student of mine had an M5, year 2001, I think. I was really surprised by the speed of the car. It had a manual tranny. It was rather amazing. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 270 Registered: 3-2002 |
there seems to be a trend showing itself here in this thread.......lots of ferrari owners with m5's. guess that need for speed just doesn't go away even when we are transporting the family around.......... | ||
| todd a tiede (Apex)
New member Username: Apex Post Number: 9 Registered: 7-2002 |
Robert, No contest; M5. Drivability, fun factor and flat out performance deficit with the Audi. There is no finer cabbage burner available. The Benz is very nice, but the choice of the walker brigade. good luck! todd | ||
| arthur chambers (Art355)
Member Username: Art355 Post Number: 627 Registered: 6-2001 |
Robert: I have a 2000 A6 with the 2.7T motor. With a chip, that motor makes about 310HP, the car is more balanced than the 4.2, and is quite a bit quicker. The chip is the racing chip used in the S4, and it raises the boost quite a bit. Depending upon how long you would keep the car, this should effect its reliability in the short run. However the M5 is a GREAT car, but very pricey. If your budget lets you get the M5, I'd go that way. Art | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1313 Registered: 9-2001 |
Peter, no disrespect but if you think you can take an e39 M5 with a 328 you're dreaming. Even on the curvy sections the M5 will destroy a 328 ! I have had a 1986 328GTS and have driven it at Road Atlanta just as I now drive my M5. There is no comparison...its not even close. With equal drivers the M5 would lap the 328 on an average road course in 10 laps or so. Don't get me wrong, the 328 is a fine motorcar and I loved mine. But performance has changed a lot from the 1980s to now. A 2000 Honda Accord will give a 328 a good run at the track and will likely beat it at a stoplight drag race. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 267 Registered: 3-2002 |
before i bought the 512tr, my m5 was the best car i had ever owned. i had a dinan chip in there, and got as far as 185mph and it still felt like a vault. audi doesn't yet have it all together, but might with the next one. in the meantime i agree with doody that there are probably some great deals to be had on used m5's right now. | ||
| Roger Arlen (Rogera)
New member Username: Rogera Post Number: 7 Registered: 5-2002 |
I have an E39 M5 and it is the best all around car I've ever owned. It has performance to rival the world's best sports cars, is luxurious in a non-pretentious way, and build quality is fabulous. If it's possible for $70K to actually be a value in a car, this is it. | ||
| neal ezra (95spiderneal)
New member Username: 95spiderneal Post Number: 16 Registered: 3-2002 |
i have 2 neibhbors, one with m5, other with 4.2 and have driven both and m5 is head and shoulders above. its faster than my 348 spider and super comfortable. its was pretty good on a watkins glen track day too. 4.2 is just a nice sedan. manual tranny makes all the difference. get m5 if can afford it. good luck | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 713 Registered: 7-2001 |
How about trade the Audi for a used XJR. You'll pick up a lot of horsepower and have something to keep you entertained until the new M5 comes out. | ||
| Jason Biggs (Jason179)
New member Username: Jason179 Post Number: 33 Registered: 8-2002 |
an Audi A-6 4.2 versus an M5 is like the video we saw of the F40 racing the audi S4..there is no comparison. The M5 will out perform the audi in everyway IMO. | ||
| Robert Jude Klein (Rjklein4470)
Junior Member Username: Rjklein4470 Post Number: 160 Registered: 3-2002 |
My 4.2 has about 25k on the ticker, and I was going to look for a M5 with about the same. My sister just sold her 4.2 on ebay for about 35k, and got the CLK 500 so jellouse. A M5 with about 25k on the ticker is selling mid 50's, and that is where I am at this point and time. I really do not what the Benz, and really liked how understated the Audi, and BMW are. Thanks for all the feedback | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 435 Registered: 11-2001 |
jimpo1 - you can get some super deals on pre-owned M5s right now. it'd be a great holdover until whatever new model ships. i agree though that buying a new one might be a not-great idea. doody. | ||
| Andrew Menasce (Amenasce)
Junior Member Username: Amenasce Post Number: 212 Registered: 10-2001 |
M5 ! Its a RWD car and has a 6 speed gearbox ! The Rs6 is just marginally faster but its Auto only and 4WD  | ||
| Peter S�derlund /328 GTB -88 (Corsa)
Junior Member Username: Corsa Post Number: 248 Registered: 4-2001 |
Hmm.. I've never seen any M5 in my rear mirror after a few corners in my 328, could be that small spot though... . They can't cope with the corners in a comparable way. Ciao Peter | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 707 Registered: 7-2001 |
At this point, why buy either? Both are due for a major updating in the very near future. Sit on your 4.2 for another year or 2, then have the first new M5 or A6 hotrod replacement. | ||
| Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
Member Username: Kennyh Post Number: 371 Registered: 8-2001 |
Yeah, get the RS6- which is basically your same car, but with a twin turbo 450 horse engine- good for 0-60 in 4.5 (supposedly). | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 183 Registered: 4-2001 |
I would opt for the M5 even the RS6 is supposed to be faster 0-60. But if you want something that has speed and comfort, what about the new Merc E55 which will have 500bhp. It will have more space than the M5 and more exclusivity. | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 307 Registered: 5-2002 |
Here are the pics of the new 2003 5-series http://pc99.detnews.com/autosinsider/sneakpeek/index.hbs?myrec=20 | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1232 Registered: 9-2001 |
Frank good point about the 745 - I though I was alone in disliking its looks - especially the rear | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1307 Registered: 9-2001 |
I currently have a 2000 e39 M5 and previouly owned a 1991 e34 M5. Both were/are daily drivers and were/are occasionly driven at track events. The M5 is a great car which is faster and handles better than a lot of so-called sports cars out there. I have seen many a surprized look at Road Atlanta by Corvette, Camaro, Porsche and Ferrari drivers when I pull up on there tail and pass them at the exit of turn 7. While it is heavy, it still does better than a lot of much lighter cars out there. And, it has the luxury and size of a German 4 dor sedan. I can take my children to soccer on Saturday and take it to the track on Sunday. All and all I find it the best car I have ever owned. I am on the waiting list for the next M5 which is supposed to have a 500hp V10. But, if it looks anything like the new 745i I may pass and hold on to my e39 a little longer. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 433 Registered: 11-2001 |
ron - any pointers to pics of the new 5 series? the last ones i saw made me want to barf up a lung :-). maybe bangle "fixed" it? the S8 is a sweet car. they are quite difficult to find in the US. as i understand the story, audi didn't originally intend to import them into the states. i believe it's been out in europe for a few years now. it's apparently not a monster like the M5 is, but it "don't suck none" either. i talked to two audi dealers in new england and both of them told me that audi was importing a tiny number of them (like two per dealer) and basically you could only get one if you were sleeping with the owner of the dealership. oddly enough, the 2 or 3 S8s that i've seen on the road had women at the wheels ;-) they wouldn't even take a deposit or discuss the car. it was an oddity, not a part of the model line. fyi - my data is from just before the US release, so maybe the lightened up? i dunno. if i needed a fast 5-seater sedan again, i'd be AWFULLY hard pressed though not to pick up an E39 M5 instead. and i'm a big audi fan (it snows here). doody. | ||
| Mr. Doody (Doody)
Member Username: Doody Post Number: 432 Registered: 11-2001 |
i had an E39 M5 and have driven the A6 4.2. stick shifts aside......... the M5 has it all over the A6. aside from the 1.8T, the audi engines are not very tunable. i was annoyed when i bought my A4 once i learned that the 2.8 was basically not tweakable and i shoulda bought a 1.8T. live and learn. if you thought the new 7 series had some "questionable aesthetics" you may not be a big fan of the new 5 series, IMO. definitely check out the S6 (is the RS6 available in the states?). but still, it is highly likely that the bmw is going to handle better, have better road feel, and have more power no matter what. you will NOT be disappointed by an E39 M5. it's a great car. my two pennies, fwiw. doody. | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 306 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wayne, I've seen pics of the new 5-series and it's REALLY looks nice.. With the new M5 coming in 2004 with the 450HP V-10 engine, I'd wait for that to come out and get that.. If you haven't seen it, believe me it will be worth the wait.. Doesn't Audi make a S8 that is suppose to be Audi's answer to the F456. I think it has a top speed at 185 mph... Someone help me with this...... | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 294 Registered: 8-2002 |
Here is AutoWeek's story on the RS-6. By the way, I forgot to mention that Audi's "6" series is also about to undergo a major re-do. Have patience. http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=coverstory&loc_code=index&content_code=06966600 | ||
| L. Wayne Ausbrooks (Lwausbrooks)
Member Username: Lwausbrooks Post Number: 293 Registered: 8-2002 |
Robert, why aren't you considering the Audi RS6? It's really Audi's answer to the M5. Personally, I have to have a manual gearbox on any car I drive, but you're already driving a 4.2 now. Also, if you care, the 5 series is about to experience a major re-do. That's just something else to ponder. If it were me, I would live with my 4.2 until the new M5 debuted. | ||
| Frank Parker (Parkerfe)
Intermediate Member Username: Parkerfe Post Number: 1305 Registered: 9-2001 |
M5 will always rule until the other manufacturers realize that a sports sedan has a manual transmission. | ||
| TomD (Tifosi)
Intermediate Member Username: Tifosi Post Number: 1231 Registered: 9-2001 |
have not driven either but have owned other audis from what I have heard is audi is not yet up to BMW on the sports car side - most go with the m series bmw's versus the audi s series. | ||
| Robert Jude Klein (Rjklein4470)
Junior Member Username: Rjklein4470 Post Number: 159 Registered: 3-2002 |
I have a A-6 4.2, and I was thinking of trading it in on a M5. I thought by now that a tuner would be able to get more hp out of the 4.2 motor, but everybody that I have called said the most I could get would be 25hp, So I am thinking about a trade and comments |