[Tottifan]

I've owned a '04 550i Sport SMG, '08 550i Sport with 6-Speed, and now drive a '08 M5 w/SMG.

Just got a chance to drive a new 2011 550i (500 miles on it) around for 10 mins or so. This one has the sport automatic and sport package, but not the M sport package.

I was disappointed! Steering in my E60's was much nicer, and the '11 felt like a boat. I mean, I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but the F10 just did not feel right to me.

What are the chances the F10M gets over these issues? I really think I'm going to be holding on to my E60 forever.

 

[johnbmw6]

I've owned a '04 550i Sport SMG, '08 550i Sport with 6-Speed, and now drive a '08 M5 w/SMG.

Just got a chance to drive a new 2011 550i (500 miles on it) around for 10 mins or so. This one has the sport automatic and sport package, but not the M sport package.

I was disappointed! Steering in my E60's was much nicer, and the '11 felt like a boat. I mean, I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but the F10 just did not feel right to me.

What are the chances the F10M gets over these issues? I really think I'm going to be holding on to my E60 forever.

My 550i M Sport with sport options is great, it just takes a week or two to get used to it and then you can chuck it around, mine has covered 2500 miles now and is getting quicker, I had the 2010 M3 before and this is the better D/Driver by far IMO.:cheers:

 

[m630]

I've owned a '04 550i Sport SMG, '08 550i Sport with 6-Speed, and now drive a '08 M5 w/SMG.

Just got a chance to drive a new 2011 550i (500 miles on it) around for 10 mins or so. This one has the sport automatic and sport package, but not the M sport package.

I was disappointed! Steering in my E60's was much nicer, and the '11 felt like a boat. I mean, I'm not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but the F10 just did not feel right to me.

What are the chances the F10M gets over these issues? I really think I'm going to be holding on to my E60 forever.

the M sport pack in the US is just cosmetic, so if you drove the car with sport package, thats as good as it gets for the F10.

it is a big car, much bigger than the e60 or e39, and will be the subject of continued debate as the car gets closer to market. each of us will have to make our own determinations, but at this point the F10 is too big to be a sports saloon, imho.... :M5launch::M5launch:

 

[Frye]

I've owned a '04 550i Sport SMG, '08 550i Sport with 6-Speed, and now drive a '08 M5 w/SMG.

Since you have a lot of driving time in both the E60 550i and the E60 M5, do you feel the E60 550i doesn't "feel right" in comparison with the E60 M5? I have only driven an E60 550i Sport, but I thought the same thing coming from my E39, it felt distant. I would love for the opportunity to drive an E60 M5. The M division does a lot to the car in regards to handling, unfortunately they have never made a car smaller and I do not think they will with the F10 M5.

 

[Sharpie12]

My brother has one and I borrowed it for a few hours 2 weeks ago and I was grossly disappointed. It feels so disconnected and because it has 8 gears it just feels slow to me, even though I know its not. It's just too smooth for my liking. I enjoy driving my X6 50i much more.

 

[Tottifan]

Since you have a lot of driving time in both the E60 550i and the E60 M5, do you feel the E60 550i doesn't "feel right" in comparison with the E60 M5?

My progression was '01 540i (non sport/Auto) > '04 545i (Sport/SMG) > '08 550i (Sport/6-Speed) > '08 M5 (SMG).

IMO the E60 545i felt a lot different, but also a lot better than the E39 540i, but I can't know for sure how a sporty E39 would compare since my 540i was a non-sport and auto.

The E60 550i with Sport and a 6-Speed was awesome. I loved everything about that car. The E60 M5 is just a meaner, faster, louder verson of everything I loved about the 550i, and I feel the M5 in comfort mode actually has a better ride quality here in the Northeast where our roads aren't perfect.

Maybe I would have been better off just comparing the F10 550i I drove to my '08 E60 550i in my original post. I still feel the steering and size of the car were far superior in the E60.

I'm also someone who always far preferred the newer design to the older design. When the Bangle E60 came out, I was a skeptic at first but ended up loving it. And now I prefer the E60 to the F10...the F10 just looks like a 7 series, and doesn't look menacing and sporty anymore (though I havent seen an M-sport one in person yet).