NY Times Writer Claims The BMW M5 and M6 Are Fast But Funless. Prefers E63. AGREE?

Totally Agree, testdrove an E 63 AMG and M5 back to back in Jersey with a buddy of mine, and while the M5 is fast, the E 63 WINS hands down.

The E63 made two grown men feel like like school kids all over again from the looks to that INTOXICATING Sound.

E 63 for me.

The 2013 BMW M5 is the running joke of high-performance sedans.

This is the fourth review that slams the 2013 BMW M5 just like Edmunds InsideLine, Car and Driver and Motor Trend.

" At parking-lot speeds, though, this has to be the most obnoxious transmission in any performance car, resisting commands and rolling on grades even when first gear is engaged. Its stubby console lever is awkward, and carving a three-point turn is an exercise in frustration; when parallel parking, the M’s slipped or lurched, threatening to cream innocent cars ahead and behind."

"The M5’s odd brake feel is another mystery. Around town, the pedal was almost hybridlike, with a spongy feel that suddenly turned grabby. There’s ample stopping power, but it doesn’t transmit many clues to your right foot."

"There’s a Rubik’s Cube of possible combinations, but fortunately BMW provides two programmable buttons on the steering wheel to recall favorite settings. They are handy: in another fussbudget move, these M cars revert to the slowest, cushiest settings when you shut off the car."

"One thing I never thought I’d say in my lifetime: a Mercedes, specifically the E63 AMG, whose outlaw attitude would seem well matched to a young billionaire soccer club owner, is a charming, fried-rubber yahoo compared with these BMWs."

"Viewed in a vacuum, these M’s still rock the road. But in an expanding performance universe, BMW ought to question its course of making warp-speeders that shorten trips between planets but leave the drivers in suspended animation. People don’t buy fast cars to make better time, but to make their time better."

INSIDE TRACK: BMW’s private-label vintages, mellowing after 40 years.

Mellowing - another way to say BMW has screwed up royally with the 2013 M5.

A running joke? It appears your posts are the real running joke.

Since you cannot obtain an M car, you have obviously have chosen a flimsy attempt at mocking the M cars. Your vacuous post is devoid of anything substantial and first hand. You talk out of the top your hat and with ZERO authority. You are nothing but a lowly and frustrated wanna be BMW M car owner. Bug off, pest.

"And regrettably for the brand that virtually patented the man-machine connection, there’s a sense that technical proficiency has upstaged old-time BMW fun. As they devour the road, taming every difficult passage, these M’s are tuxedo-clad prodigies in a hushed concert hall. The performance amazes, but you find yourself craving the raw, rude fire of the Beastie Boys."

BMW has lost its way. Technology for technology's sake. "We do these things because we can" lacks soul, lacks passion. These cars are becoming vessels for software and gimmicks to take your mind off driving. For us entusiasts make the following or loose us to less expensive brands with more fun....a lightweight one series, great handling suspension, high reving normally aspirated straight six engine, 6 speed, great sounding exhaust, NO OPTIONS, NO FRILLS with
a mechanical feel to everything that the driver touches.

It appears this way down the BMW line.Publications are even complaining about the 3 series electric steering.C & D had a recent comparison test between the Caddilac ATS and BMW 3 series. The 3 series won becasue it has a smoother tranny and a better sounding 4 cylinder turbo engine. However the Cadilacs steering and handling were simply better than the 3 series. So it appears that BMW no longer interested in making so involving cars to drive. Rather they prefer to do things by computer settings.That is unfortunate. For me I would still take the ATS becasue of it's steering and handling is now better than the Bimmer's. Also their desire to build a car for every single niche is obnoxious to say the least. The M6 and the 5 series GT are a prime example.I'm afraid BMW has lost it's way. However they have one more chance with the upcoming M3. Let's hope they can hold this one model together.

As a very long-time BMW M fan (and driver - I currently have a 2013 M3 Convertible and I owned 3 E46 M3 Convertibles, starting in 2002 and until just a month ago), I couldn't tell you how disappointed I am that the M Brand has diluted itself to the point that repairing itself will probably take at least 5 years and possible a decade or more. I actually used to work in Brand Marketing at GM Headquarters (Corvette/Camaro) and more recently at Toyota HQ so I understand how long it takes to build positive customer perception and how quickly it can be destroyed.

BMW has destroyed brand perception among hard core fans in very quick succession. While many true enthusiasts will argue that cars have become less "raw" and involving over time (ie. previous generations are always better due to continued refinement that equates to less excitement/driver involvement), in my mind it started with the current generation BMW M3, as I am very disappointed by how soft the car is compared to the raw previous generation. For the first time ever I am having to modify my exhaust strictly to create some artificial driver involvement that wasn't baked into the current M3 (it's WAY too quiet). And I have NEVER modified any aspect of any car that I have owned in the past, as I have never found it necessary, just to clarify that I'm not someone who wants a loud car or anything like that. The current M3 was the hint that the M Division was making huge leaps at diluting the M brand. Now we have the M5 and M6, both released in close proximity, that probably couldn't be bigger disappointments for true driving enthusiasts. I'm not saying there aren't legitimate reasons for some of the differences to the previous generation V10 (ie. fuel efficiency) but the difference between driver fun and engagement between the current and previous generations is a gap beyond comprehension.

Now that BMW has released the new M5 and M6, they will be stuck with M cars that enthusiasts, for the most part, don't like for YEARS. This will have 2 very challenging effects for BMW as a whole: It will make die hard M fans very seriously consider defecting to other competitors (ie. Porsche and AMG will be the most likely winners, Audi S/RS is another possibility, etc) and, at the same time, will make die hard M fans consider other brands for their other vehicles (ie. spouse, etc). So this could result in BMW losing not 1 but 2 sales from an M fan. Even worse is the amount of YEARS it will take before they even have a chance to make adjustments so that the M line is more involving.

While I can only hope that the New M3 coming out next year will be the the first model to put the M line back on the right path, I'm betting it will actually be the final nail in the coffin for me and many other enthusiasts. The twin-turbo setup will help with fuel economy but will almost certainly detract from the current naturally aspirated V8 (just like the M5/M6 twin-turbo setup detracts from the previous NA V10).

Wow. Another miserable AutoSpies ANTI BMW article. What a surprise!

Totally agree with this thread. More power, more weight and less feel seems to be the trendline. I should be a serious buyer for a M5 but have no interest. I find myself hoping the no 1 series 'M has some finesse, and god help us, no electric steering. The BRZ STI (without a gaudy spoiler) is likely to be the new 2002 tii.

My E39 is my favorite car of all time, but unless BMW gets off the more-is-more path, at all costs, it's over.

I am telling this since long time ago....AMG is becoming in what M should be. I am a Big MB Fan but the new M5 is The BEST M5 five of all times for me...Still I think is Ugly as hell in front but this is why I put it in front of the E63 or even CLS63: Outstanding Performance...Quiet Interior Yes I like engine noise but only as indicative that the engine is running , So yes I would turn off the artificial enhanced engine noise. Faster than most of the cars of that category (except the BIG S8)...soft closing doors (something that you REALLY APRECIATE if you have kids) Quick and Powerful engine, All gadgets the you may need to have a nice executive sedan...nice profile, beautiful interior and even with ALL that extra weight, still I can kick the but of anyone here with an E63 or any other car in a totally relaxed environment of luxury and comfort. While You Still talking about what disappointed you feel with the new M5, I will be away from you while all of you stay in the dust. Get it over, Engineers at BMW did a great job doing a real luxury car that can perform better than most of the so called Sport Cars...Yes It is the Real dr jekyll and mr hyde. Is not perfect, no one is perfect, but stop talking if you can not show me better numbers than the numbers that the New M5 can do. If you miss the OLD M5 : this is the list of what you need to do to improve the performance: Remove lane keeping assistance, cruise control, electric curtains (side and rear), ask Manual transmission (if you hate the more technological quicker and advanced new transmission), remove the high tech sound system and request one with less speakers, Leave one Electrical seat for the Driver and put a manual adjust for the passenger, Remove any electromechanical gadget for the rear seat , ask an small spare tire, no Head Up Display, no navigation so no central Screen, I bet you can cut the extra weight by 200 or 300 pounds, which will give you even better feel of the car, which is already the best and yes I already test one and I feel it as glove..and all at a bargain price that only AUDI can beat (if they bring the RS6.....For now M5 is the Undisputed King of the hill....thats final...

BMW lost it after the E46 3ers and E39 5ers... It went downhill fast from there, with their electric this, electric that...

It lost that mechanical feel to it, the feel of pure driving...

Well their M cars are still more engaging than anything RS has come out with, which now also offers electric this and that.