Quote:
Originally Posted by rsteele
I'm also struggling with a next car choice between an F10 M5 and a Panamera GTS, so a post from someone with ownership of both is more important than an auto journalist's one-day encounter.
Enjoyment of driving on a daily basis means much more to me than owning the better Nordschleife lap time, so I was already leaning a little toward the GTS. Reports of how the F10 M5 isolates one from the driving experience, even at illegal speeds, are a major concern. When I price how I would configure the M5 and the GTS, they are priced at $105,197 and $113,635, respectively. Not a deal breaking difference in my opinion. The Porsche will cost more to maintain, but the M5 more to feed. Compared to the pathetic range of my E60 M5, the 26+ gallon fuel tank in the GTS has appeal. I thought the E39 M5 was the perfect size, so I consider the F10 M5 and GTS equally too large. Some think the Panamera is a touch on the ugly side, but if the choice is about visual appeal, difficulty distinguishing the current 3, 5, and 7 series Bimmers apart on the road is equally problematic. Having folks mistake my M5 for a 3-series is a little too much stealth for me. Moreover, every Bimmer I've ever owned has eventually developed annoying rattles and squeaks, the only solution for which has been to turn on the radio too loudly. In my current M5, all door seals squeak in warmer weather, and there's an intermittent buzzing from somewhere in the dash area under acceleration that significantly violates the V10's melody. I've never heard anything but road, wind, and engine sounds in the six Porsches I have owned.
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I had the same choice and after driving both, I came to the conclusion that it was a choice between the better car, and the more expensive looking car. I chose the better car.
My guess is the build quality of the Porsche is better - some have complained about noises in the M5. But the M5 is at the same build level as Audi and Mercedes. I put up with this for all the other strengths. The M5 has a very tangible superiority over every other sedan on the market that is always obvious to you when driving it. The GTS doesn't have that.