E39 M5 Sales Numbers CAN'T Be Right - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

MJ · 6th September 2003, 05:20

E39 M5 Sales Numbers CAN'T Be Right.......

Because I just drove 2206 miles and didn't see a single M5!! Ok, just joking, but I thought I'd see at least one.

Just back from a great road trip! Tampa to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV, then down to Virginia Beach, through Savannah, GA and back into Tampa.

2206 trouble free fantastic M5 miles. After four years of M5's this car just keeps you wanting more. I can't say that about any other car I've ever owned. I had a blast on a few roads which now rank as some of my favorites.

1) Rt. 60 from Lexington, VA down to Richmond. The twists and turns through the mountains with plenty of straight-aways was one of the best roads I have ever had the M5 on.

2) Rt. 63 into The Greenbrier was also great.

Intelligent driving and the V-1 kept us ticket-free. By far, the most State Troopers were in South Carolina, sometimes running in packs of five. They love those completely unmarked Camaros. At least here in Florida, the FHP Camaros are the typical black and tan Trooper colors. The front parking lights are always a dead giveaway on the Camaros. Virginia had the second most troopers followed by Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. Did not see a single Trooper in West Virgina, but our interstate drving was fairly limited.

If you ever get a chance to go to The Greenbrier, make sure you take the bunker tour. This is the formerly secret underground 120,000 sq. ft. war bunker for the entire Congress from 1961-1991, until the Washington Post blew the lid on it.

MJ
'03

Aussie2U · 6th September 2003, 05:49

Wow, what a run MJ. Surpirsed to hear you took the beast and not the X5 for the extra space. Remember the autotrain travels close to the same route if you want to go back next time with the Z8.

The bunker tour has to be cool. If photographs were allowed, please lets see one. And if that spots exposed now, where's the new "secret spot" for Congress to go in an emergency - under their desks like us?

Gustav · 6th September 2003, 16:48

Nice to hear MJ!

Do you have any pics of that bunker?

MJ · 6th September 2003, 20:41

While I think the X5 is the best driving SUV on the road today, I just couldn't resist the M5 for a 2000 mile trek. When I left the car had 6900 miles on it and now it's up to 9100. I've now hit the second most mileage on one of my M5's. My '00 had almost 12,000 when I sold it and I remember the engine started to feel even better as I passed 10k. This M5 should be my longest held/highest mileage M5 since I'll keep it and wait for the E60 M5 before making a decision.

At The Greenbrier we also did the Land Rover off-road school deep in the woods. We had an instructor and a brand new (300 miles) silver Range Rover for two hours. Off road the RR performs better than the the X5, but the X5 is much more stable and agile on the highway with significantly less body roll. Of course the power plant in the RR is the BMW M62. The RR has a nicer interior. It just looks richer. I like the new RR body, their best ever. I can't wait for the new X-Drive on the '04, increased HP and the new 6 speed tranny. Yup, I have an '04 being built the first week of '04 production!

I have pictures of the bunker...can somebody post them for me??

MJ
'03 M5 black/black
'03 X5 4.4i going soon for the '04
'01 Z8 SOLD!!!!!!

Gustav · 6th September 2003, 21:32

Mail them to me: gustav@bmwm5.com

F. T. Kirwan · 7th September 2003, 06:34

MJ.

Just curious, did you try the Porsche Cayenne? We drove both the X5, and the MB 500, before deciding to trade in our Lexus 470 on the Cayenne S. My friend drove the our Cayenne, and said it drove just like his 4S.

It was about 15K more than the X5, but we liked it that much more.

Tom Kirwan

03 LeMans Blue/Caramel
02 Z3 3.0
04 Cayenne S

MJ · 7th September 2003, 06:56

I drove the Cayenne S for three days recently. I really enjoyed the ride and power of the Cayenne. I found it very similar to the X5 4.4i in ride and handling. For my taste though, I like the X5 styling better.

MJ

rosenc · 8th September 2003, 14:59

How about space tooo, is the Porsche really have enough room to replace an LX 470? We fill our LX 470 pretty often (two kids, dog, and debris).