What is the best car overall?

[hamburglar]

I say its the BMW M5.

Here's some specs from Motor Trend.

Horsepower: 400 @ 6600 rpm
Torque: 395 @ 3800 rpm
0-60 mph: 4.7 sec
1/4 mile: 13.2 sec
Braking- 60-0 mph: 117 ft
Top speed, mph: 155 (limited)
Speed through 600-ft slalom, mph: 65.6
Lateral acceleration, g: 0.87


Basicaly, its a 4 door sedan which has the speed of a Ferarri. Not only does it do a quarter mile in a little over 13 seconds, its a whopping 3792 pounds!! Usually cars this heavy can't be this fast. But some how BMW made the M5 incredible. On top of this, the brakes are stellar. I've seen reports that the car can stop within 113 or so feet. That rivals the braking systems of the top porsches to have one of the shortest stopping distances of any street car. Keep in mind that the porsches are several hundred pounds lighter than the M5, therefore it should be easier to stop those. Perhaps the only downside, if there is one, is that it is not flashy, like a Ferarri. Its similar to the 5 series sedan, except for a few subtle modifications such as the 4 exhaust pipes and small spoiler. But the good news is that it looks like an ordinary sedan, so cops won't be on your tail. To top it all of, it has a (relatively) cheap price of $70,000. Compared to other performance cars, this is a great bargain. Check out http://www.bmwm5.com for awesome vids of the car and more info.

Just my opinion. What do you think?

 

[007bond]

The specs are not showing up right, just so you know. I think the M5 is a fantastic car and I would love to own one someday. But lets be honest, most people cannot afford a $70,000 automobile.

 

[PsychoAndy]

best car for your money is usually directed towards value, not performance.

what you're saying is similar to like saying a Cray SV1 is the best computer for your money.

Why? well although it costs a lot upfront, it outperforms 95% of the systems on the market.

 

[BigSmooth]

If you're going on pure price/performance ratio, a Corvette Z06 is faster than an M5 and about $20,000 less. Now that's a bargain.

 

[hamburglar]

Yes, but can the Z06 seat 5 and carry groceries in the trunk?

 

[BigSmooth]

No, but it can carry two golf bags in the trunk.
Of course the M5 would be more livable since it is a sedan. Like I said, though, for pure price/performance the Z06 is amazing.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Originally posted by: hamburglar
Yes, but can the Z06 seat 5 and carry groceries in the trunk?

in that case,

Step one: garage the 'vette.
Step two: scrape together the 20k you've saved on the Z06
Step three: go and pull a RossMAN

"problem" of seating 5 + groceries has been solved

 

[Nefrodite]

overalll that means you'd use a point system. minus a ton for 70k initial price, then tax and higher upkeep + fear of theft etc etc, heart attack when your car door gets dinged by a shopping cart. minus another ton of points.

 

[StattlichPassat]

Oh jeez... this thread is going to go nowhere after someone will say something goofy like "The Hyundai Elantra!" here in a few posts...

I like the M5 as best, but to bring the title ever so slightly closer to more middle-class Americans (hey, overall, right?)... I say Audi S4. Same principles.

 

[merlocka]

It depends if price is a consideration.

 

[manuelku]

does bus count?
I like taking bus because it's cheap and has the capacity, it almost take you anywhere in san francisco, and you know friends and you don't worry that it goes in accidents, a very bargain automobile.. well but no one can own one...
I myself drive a little MR2 2seaters.. hate it because it has no truck no space but cheap.

 

[notfred]

"Best car overall"

AC Cobra 427....

 

[StattlichPassat]

Originally posted by: notfred
"Best car overall"

AC Cobra 427....

<AHEM>

Ok, I think some guidelines should be set here...

1) High quality and reliability
2) Capable of driving from L.A. to NYC
3) Capable of enduring inclement weather as much as mechanically possible (4x4, AWD)
4) Can haul more than just a couple suitcases
5) Comfortable ride that even your mother would enjoy
6) Better than average performance in ALL areas (braking, handling, acceleration, top speed)
7) Can be serviced in all major cities
8) Fun to drive
9) Vehicle you'd be happy to be seen in
10) Supurb active and passive safety features
11) Not high on the list of theved cars

...stuff like that. The M5 and S4 size up nicely!

 

[CocaCola5]

Da Golf. Its practical and the diesel TDI has some of the highest MPG out there.

 

[Freejack2]

Nice car but lets be honest. If you can afford an $70,000 car you go down to the porsche dealer and buy a porsche or some other sports car. When you need to carry 5 you buy some luxury $35,000 sedan also.

 

[hamburglar]

Originally posted by: Freejack2
Nice car but lets be honest. If you can afford an $70,000 car you go down to the porsche dealer and buy a porsche or some other sports car. When you need to carry 5 you buy some luxury $35,000 sedan also.

In some ways, the M5 performs better than a porsche, unless your talking bout the turbos, which are insanely expensive. But I'm talking about 1 car. Not buying a cheaper car then making up for what it lacks by buying another car.

 

[prodigy]

$70,000? You can buy 14 Kias with that money.. only drive 1 every 2 weeks, how sweet is that?

j/k I'd take the M5 anyday.

 

[LAUST]

Delete

 

[StageLeft]

There isn't one. You can't say the BMW 5 is the best car overall because there is no "best car". Some would say a daewoo lanos because, like the bmw m5, it lets you get where you want to go and it's the cheapest. others might say the mclaren F1 because it's among the fastest cars you can buy.

What I can safely say is that the more money you spend the less you get for it; a mclaren f1 is not 90 times better than a daewoo lanos. Bang for buck generally the cheapest car you can get is the best since it still covers the bases.

 

The Hyundai Elantra!

Just for you NightFlyer

 

[CtK]

the BMW M3 it has trunk space and can carry 4 peeps very nicely
is very very fun to drive
and its only $45G

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: CtK
the BMW M3 it has trunk space and can carry 4 peeps very nicely
is very very fun to drive
and its only $45G

If u can get one

 

[hoihtah]

i can't believe no one mentioned it.

whatever happened to all you maxima fans out there?

for the money, i think it gives you guality and performance.

and in most cases, sub 30k cars are the ones that we're going to be driving...
so why bother looking over the fence that we can't ever own.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: hoihtah
i can't believe no one mentioned it.

whatever happened to all you maxima fans out there?

for the money, i think it gives you guality and performance.

and in most cases, sub 30k cars are the ones that we're going to be driving...
so why bother looking over the fence that we can't ever own.

You mean altima.

 

[mchammer187]

I like the M5 also

i think the best way to look at it would be if you could only have one car for the rest of your life

say get an m5 and exchange it for a new one every few years.

I like it because its fast, practical (except for the cost) ie sedan , trunk space, beautiful luxurious interior, 5-seater

its versatile

McClaren on the other hand sure its fast but say if you were given one for free would could you honestly say you would be happy with it as a primary car ie you get a new mclaren every 3 years for your old one but you have to agree to not own/drive any other cars

would you agree to that?
i wouldnt but thats just me

if someone offered an M5 for the same deal i'd snap it up in an instant
but again thats just me