Never cared much for Neil's elitist style.

Is he complaining about the M5 being too fast? Perhaps he'd be happier in a 528i... or a Kia Optima.

Haven't driven an F10 M5, but isn't the excess kind of the point?

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2001 X5 4.4i

I am really trying to figure out his tone here...

I think the point is that it is over-engineered for Americans who cannot use it to its full capacity. In that regard, he may be somewhat correct. With stringent speed limits and bureaucratic policies, having a 560 HP machine is quite the tease.

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BMWCCA

Here's why 560bhp, Dan.

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2001 X5 4.4i

Jesus, thats a lot of colorful language...

Language aside, I do agree with some of the points he makes..... To me, the m5 (and in particular, M6) of the last generation made much more of a dramatic impact on the senses than the new one ever will. Sure, the new model is faster and has more tech, but personally I think it looks atrocious (along with most of the new BMW models if I'm brutally honest)....not to mention the twin turbo V8 will never make a statement like the sound of that V10...

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Honestly the same could be said for most BMW models sold in the US. I feel bad for my mother's 2006 325i sport because it rarely gets to stretch its legs in the Northeast. I've opened it up in the few occasions I've driven it in central VA. On backroads it is tremendously composed, and I think it breathed a sigh of relief when I was able to maintain a cruise of +/-160km/h for a period of 10km with a couple moderate stints up to 215km/h.

Admittedly I'd love to have an M car as my only, do-it-all car. Imagine how much faster I could cover distances in the rural South.....

(My record amount of time shaved off was covering the distance from South Hill, VA to Petersburg in 30 minutes)