It seems to me there's been a BMW backlash in the auto mags for the past 2 years or so. The placings don't matter to me very much. As stupid as this may sound, I actually read the road tests for the quality of writing. To me it takes a really creative writer to transform what could be very boring material into a stimulating review. That's why I like reading Dan Neil of the L.A. Times. He can make a Kia Sedona an interesting read.

We all know that the M5 is the choice among purists. It can be individualized by the owners in ways not possible with the Audi or MB. There's more to a car than a single subjective road test.