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Not really..... Posted by Mike Lynch [Email] (#81) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Mike Lynch) on Sat, 21 Aug 2004 14:25:21 In Reply to: Have you driven the new 545i?, LAGene, Fri, 20 Aug 2004 16:26:03 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
We can't keep 545s in stock, they come through as sold units, so I can't be joy riding in someones sold car.
I have driven quite a few new 530s and 525s. I drove a 530 with a sport package with the fancy steering, back to back against a 9-5 Aero at the GM proving grounds. Even got to seriously squeal the tires on the nether regions of the slalom. Sensational handling, but the 9-5 Aero has way more horspower and TORQUE feels quite a bit zippier and handles well too.
I did spend some time in a 540, the old body. In typically normally aspirated fashion the power is high up the rev range. Get up to 5,000rpms and you find it, but a 9-5 Aero still feels quite a bit more powerful in normal driving. I spend a little time in an X5 with the 4.4 V8 and that torque starts to feel as strong as a 9-5.
I suppose money no object (gotta' sell moe Saabs!) the 5 series and E class V8's do have a performance appeal, the mortal 6 cylinder 5's and E's are nice too, but a 9-5 is $15k less after incentives, $45k+ ish vs less than $30k, and the 9-5 has more power and gives nothing away in luxury. Being somewhat of an old soul and an old Saab soul, I'm rather fond of the classic Saab styling and features of a 9-5, and less money and more power never hurts.
posted by 63.197.222...
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