[Tate]

I'm presently the happy owner of a 99 540 with sport package. To date this has been the best car I've owned. I chose the 5spd steptronic automatic due to the amount of driving I conducted. Unfortunately, a great deal of that time was spent in traffic (I live in L.A.). Anyway, my commute to work has been drastically reduced recently and I'm in the market for a new car (i.e. one with a manual tranny). The 6spd Porsche 996 with the factory Aerokit (basically looks like a GT3) is my current choice. The problem is that I've truly enjoyed my BMW. Furthermore, the enthusiasm expressed by the posts on this forum have made me take a second look at the M5. Now I don't want to start any war of words, but for arguments sake lets assume that both cars boast similar performance figures. So here's my question: Does it seem a bit odd driving a 4000lb 4 dour sedan with a manual tranny? Every car that I've owned, with the exception of the 540, has been a two-seater sports car with a manual. It just seems that manual transmissions belong in smaller compact sports cars. Please help do away with my concerns as the M5 seems oh so sweet.

Safe driving to all.

Tate

 

[SAB]

"odd"? nope. certainly not.

the M5 is a great daily driver (IMO) and if you're not stuck in LA traffic all the time the stick shouldn't faze you. even if you get stuck in traffic every now and then it's not a big deal.

the M5 and 996 are very different beasts that happen to have some similar performance characterists. the 996 is a sports car. the M5 is a luxury performance sedan.

technically, you need one of each but in the absence of aribtrary money and the need to hire a divorce attorney, it's not a trivial decision, IMO.

good luck,
shawn

 

[bobafett]

I dunno. My stable doesn't quite fit the porsche in. Too similar to the M5 in performance. See also, 360 Modena.

In any case, when I was looking into porsche, I found it hard to swallow that a basic 996 that costs 70k base (68,595 or something strange), ended up costing me 92k when i selected all of my options. In all honesty, i think Porsche is out of it's mind if they think they can charge me for anything more than the stripped down car. Besides, wouldn't it be all the more worthwhile if you come along ANOTHER 996 and you find that you demoralize him, or at least give him a run for his money. Oh wait, did I mention that you have TWO EXTRA DOORS and seating for 5

My two cents,
--Dan

 

[akry]

The answer is pure and simple,

You want PURE racing sensation and don't mind paying extra $$$?? Go for 996....if you want comfortable car with EXTRA power, go for E55 AMG. You want a mid-performance and a LOT of elegance, go for XJR. And you want 4 door Porsche that seats 5 and has a trunk, go for M5....simple isn't it..

Andy Kuo

 

[Tate]

I thank you all for your input. I guess my next step is to find a dealer that actually has an M5 on the lot. I doubt they'll let me drive it unless I show them that I'm extremely serious about the purchase. I've spoken to one dealer who'll take a $2,500 deposit and estimates delivery in January. I don't know if I can wait that long, but then again the M5 is real NICE!

 

[pdbm5]

If you are looking for an M5 on the lot....good luck. Here is what I did: Called every dealer, not located in a large metro area, in a 10-12 states....none of them had M5's...some said they would not get one this year, but I left my name and number, regardless. A small dealer called me back after taking delivery of an M5 that a customer had put a deposit on a year earlier....the customer couldn't come up with the bucks to close and it was offered to me with the contingency that I pay for it by the end of the month (two days away)...I picked it up the next day.

 

[pdbm5]

If you are looking for an M5 on the lot....good luck. Here is what I did: Called every dealer, not located in a large metro area, in a 10-12 states....none of them had M5's...some said they would not get one this year, but I left my name and number, regardless. A small dealer called me back after taking delivery of an M5 that a customer had put a deposit on a year earlier....the customer couldn't come up with the bucks to close and it was offered to me with the contingency that I pay for it by the end of the month (two days away)...I picked it up the next day.

 

[bobafett]

Same thing happened to me. I called all the way out to NY (im in calif). Small dealer in So. Cal. called me up and told me that he had a cancellation. I called abck and another guy called him within 5 minutes of me. The dealer was cool, gave it to me (first call) and within a week I had mine. I've heard waits from 3 months to 3 years, so it's all in the cards. Try small areas. Also, if there's a large BMW dealer somewhere and a small one near that, try the small one.

and you considered a 996. HA!

--Dan

 

[MotorMouth]

Tate:
I had a 1999 996 and the experience is much overated. It is small, noisy, hard to get in and out and worst of all it wont beat a M5 0-60. Take a regular 996 off of your list. Now if you got great big cajones then step up to a Twin Turbo and the game just changed. This beast has so much power that you wont care if it is small, noisy, hard to get in and out and best of all it will suck the paint off of a M5 or most anything else with more than two wheels.

So if you don't buy the turbo then the M5 is by far the smartest choice.........

Thats just my opinion.

 

[alpywhite]

I'm not sure where you're from Tate, but in my town, you can buy twelve 996's (or 993's)for ten cents if you know what I mean...

For less money, I have ordered something faster, more practical and...most importantly...far less ubiquitous. M5's are simply a more limited production vehicle. They're a rare and beautiful bird...less than 2,000 in the US this year and far less up here in the Great White North.

Regards,
Alps