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      09-21-2011, 08:20 PM   #1
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Post Top Gear F10 M5 Review

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BMW F10 M5 Review - Top Gear: It's Chuffing Excellent
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Top Gear's online magazine doesn't mince words in its verdict of the 2012 BMW M5, beginning their review by calling the F10 M5 chuffing excellent. So what made it chuffing excellent for Top Gear's reviewer? Take a look below:


You can find all official F10 M5 details and links to other reviews at:

[ Official M5 Info / Review List Thread ]
[ S63Tu Engine Specs ]

Quote:
At first you're simply happy to drive around marvelling at the mid-range grunt. Then you remember that the redline doesn't cut in until 7200rpm, so you really ought to check out the upper reaches. A wise idea. Once past 4500rpm, the M5 is downright astonishing. It hits supercar hard - so hard that orange lights start to flicker and power is cut when travelling in a straight line. That'll be the wheels trying to unhook themselves from the tarmac's tenuous hold then...
Quote:
Stick the M5 in comfort mode across the board and it does a damn fine impression of a 530d, all quiet and cruiser-y, lapping up motorways with a remarkably adept ride and imperceptible gearchanges. Even the engine is muted. But that's not what the M5 is for, so you'll inevitably up the ante with the switches until you arrive at something that can scare you half to death. One tip: don't turn off the traction control unless you have a lot of space to play with.

This would be a problem, were it not for the fact that by super-saloon standards the fifth generation M5 is beautifully balanced and pliable. The brakes have their work cut out, but the chassis works both ends evenly: you can dive into corners with confidence and come out the far side knowing how much you can open the throttle before the rear end starts to send itself sideways. Again. Little bit of criticism for the steering, though. You always know where you are with it and there's oodles of reassuring weight, but actual feel? Not really, not through huge 265-width front tyres in a car that has to cope with 1870kg of bulk. Nevertheless, you can drive it hard, really hard and it won't bite - it's too well-mannered for that.
Quote:
The last generation M5 was a rabid V10 thing, all fury and attitude and nothing like any other 5-Series. The new one has more in common with the only other V8 M5, the E39 that launched in 1998 - it's a gentler, more approachable car and far easier to live with every day. Maybe that's not a bad thing - it probably opens the car up to a wider audience.
Quote:
M's engineers have obviously felt the weight of expectation pressing down on them - a new M car is a rare and special event after all - and so they've honed and polished the M5 to a considerable degree. The result is mesmerizingly fast and beautifully judged, but you'll have more pure fun and enjoyment in a 1-Series M Coupe.
Head on over to Top Gear for the full review.

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