[M5F90]

Hi everyone,

convincing my friend into trying M550i (his choice now is Lexus GS F). He assumes he's not going to be able to smoke tires, because it's a 4WD car. And I can't find any videos proof online. The question is will he be able to smoke tires on it (I don't know why it's so important) or he must look into RWD like 540i?

[Nate1616]

Lol is this a real post? Who gets a luxury car based of if the car is capable of burning out

[BimmerJ550]

Originally Posted by BMW540i

Hi everyone,

convincing my friend into trying M550i (his choice now is Lexus GS F). He assumes he's not going to be able to smoke tires, because it's a 4WD car. And I can't find any videos proof online. The question is will he be able to smoke tires on it (I don't know why it's so important) or he must look into RWD like 540i?

to get this car sideways on dry pavement is possible with one touch sport traction or traction fully off.
and check out 0:40 for the clip of Dinan sliding it in the wet

[Superjackson]

AWD cannot burnout unless you disable the AWD into RWD which is not available for m550i yet

[Lawguy]

🤦🏻

[hlothery]

Here's the thing. I traded my M4 for my M550i. The M4 would spin the rear tires at 60MPH in 4th gear. It was a real problem, if you were trying to accelerate fast. The M550 is a beast on acceleration, but I don't spin the tires unless I am trying to (by disengaging the controls, etc) or doing something stupid. Spinning the rears is a problem, not a desireable trait IMHO. If this guy is buying a car for burnouts, he needs a Dodge Hellcat or something. The M550 is not his car.

[M5F90]

Originally Posted by Nate1616

Lol is this a real post? Who gets a luxury car based of if the car is capable of burning out

Yes, the post is real. He showed me GS F smoking tires and asked if he would be able to do that in M550i. I said that if that's the main criteria, he better be looking at 540i RWD, but M550i would just give him more than GS F (power, acceleration, luxury seats, feeling of V8, ability to ride better in winter, collision mitigation/avoidance, lane keeping assist, pedestrian detection, etc). My personal preference is 540i fully loaded if every traffic light drag race is not a necessity.

[M5F90]

Originally Posted by BimmerJ550

to get this car sideways on dry pavement is possible with one touch sport traction or traction fully off.
and check out 0:40 for the clip of Dinan sliding it in the wet

Thank you, I sent it to him.

[M5F90]

Originally Posted by Superjackson

AWD cannot burnout unless you disable the AWD into RWD which is not available for m550i yet

I agree, continuous burnout is not an M550i feature for sure

[1newbmwowner]

I prefer to expend rubber on those expensive tires by carving curves at speed with my M550i.

Bud

[Superjackson]

Originally Posted by BMW540i

Yes, the post is real. He showed me GS F smoking tires and asked if he would be able to do that in M550i. I said that if that's the main criteria, he better be looking at 540i RWD, but M550i would just give him more than GS F (power, acceleration, luxury seats, feeling of V8, ability to ride better in winter, collision mitigation/avoidance, lane keeping assist, pedestrian detection, etc). My personal preference is 540i fully loaded if every traffic light drag race is not a necessity.

The M550i definitely does have way more power and straightline acceleration and much newer tech than the GS F. However, if your friend cares more about pure driving, I found the GS F to be more exciting to drive than the M550i when I test drove them both. The torque vectoring diff made a huge difference, but it all depends on your friend's priorities

[M5F90]

Originally Posted by Superjackson

The M550i definitely does have way more power and straightline acceleration and much newer tech than the GS F. However, if your friend cares more about pure driving, I found the GS F to be more exciting to drive than the M550i when I test drove them both. The torque vectoring diff made a huge difference, but it all depends on your friend's priorities

I'm surprised to hear this

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by BMW540i

I'm surprised to hear this

GSF is a better driver's car 100%. NA Engine that sounds better than any M-car, great steering with some feel, balanced chassis, and reliability above all else make it even better, only downside is really the tech/transmission and that its now dated. Less power and more engagement is always better than chasing 0-60 times and sacrificing feedback and engagement like the new M5 does. Toyota/Lexus know how to make excellent driver's cars, its just that most of their customers simply don't care though so in the end they don't make many.

[Mach550]

I've never gotten the tires loose for more than a split second from a standstill but it's pretty easy to swing the rear end around when doing a u-turn almost feeling like only the rear tires are spinning.

[M5F90]

Originally Posted by jstein55

GSF is a better driver's car 100%. NA Engine that sounds better than any M-car, great steering with some feel, balanced chassis, and reliability above all else make it even better, only downside is really the tech/transmission and that its now dated. Less power and more engagement is always better than chasing 0-60 times and sacrificing feedback and engagement like the new M5 does. Toyota/Lexus know how to make excellent driver's cars, its just that most of their customers simply don't care though so in the end they don't make many.

I happen to test-drive RC F while I've been leasing GS 350 F Sport. To compare RC F to GS 350 - yes, RC F was a second faster, but there was no big difference for me to say that I was amazed, when I switched my GS into Sport+ which made stiffer suspension and steering wheel. GS F is a different animal, a slightly havier version of RC F. Then I got Alfa Romeo Giulia (not QV). I was really surprised from a nice combination of a 280hp 305 lbft engine, 8HP50 transmission and steering feel. That got more fun driving Alfa than an RC F - talking about driver's car. But I didn't like the acceleration - it felt like the rocket that hits the ceiling too soon. The interior felt cheaper than in Honda Accord. And suspension wasn't stiff enough even in Sport mode. Steering was the best part and transmission with the column-mounted paddle shifters - very snappy, better than the one they install on GS 350 and RC F, and I believe the same is in GS F. I wonder what it would feel like had RC F had a ZF transmission. Eventually right before my Alfa lease ended, I drove 540i SportLine and I fell in love with it. I am a huge fan of inline-6 engines since 2001 when I bought my first car with RB20DET, so the new BMW B58 makes me really happy. 540i is a big step up from Giulia and I like it way more than GS 350 F Sport, and it's only 0.4 second slower than GS F from 0 to 60. Haven't tried M550i yet.

[hlothery]

Originally Posted by jstein55

Less power and more engagement is always better than chasing 0-60 times and sacrificing feedback and engagement like the new M5 does. .

Really? I've driven a lot of cars over the years. I found the M5 on track at COTA in Austin to be the most engaging, best balanced, most powerful production sedan I have ever driven. It was absolutely thrilling to drive, 0-60 times notwithstanding. It was as flickable as a sedan that large could be, and the cornering ability and power to the wheels exiting corners was nothing short of astounding. Obviously, YMMV.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by hlothery

Really? I've driven a lot of cars over the years. I found the M5 on track at COTA in Austion to be the most engaging, best balanced, most powerful production sedan I have ever driven. It was absolutely thrilling to drive, 0-60 times notwithstanding. It was as flickable as a sedan that large could be, and the cornering ability and power to the wheels exiting corners was nothing short of astounding. Obviously, YMMV.

Guess we'll be at opposite ends then regarding opinion. I also drove the M5 (non-comp) on track. The car is incredibly capable, but lacks the feedback I would want, has a little too much lean, and overall just not the car I would choose a track day for. The problem is while the car is capable on track most owners will never track it, and on the road the new M5 fails at providing a sense of occasion. With limits that are hard to reach, a muted and overly synthetic exhaust, a traditional autobox and an overall numb experience, it feels overly refined, to which I then say why not just buy a regular 5er?

I haven't driven the E63S on track (was supposed to but covid changed plans) but of this generation I actually favor the E63S (at least on road), its more engaging with its crisper MCT (compared to the ZF), heavier but more agile and eager in the corners, has a fantastic exhaust that no M-car can touch, and the engine is much more potent V8 of the two, and steering is more natural and a tad more communicative. And best of all, comes in wagon form. Almost like the E63 and M5 have switched their roles this time around.

Of course though, like you said YMMV.

[M5F90]

Tried M550i today! Wow! There's a difference compared to my 540i. Even though the acceleration doesn't feel like significantly faster, it feels like it just does it easier with a hint of brutality. Engine sounds awesome and the feel of the continuos power delivery is just amazing. I was really impressed. The only negative thing is its fuel consumption - 80 miles less on every full tank. Fun costs money, and that's $16 extra every week or $832 extra every year. Not too bad, but those could go to 401k or stock market on the other hand 😄.

[hlothery]

Originally Posted by BMW540i

The only negative thing is its fuel consumption - 80 miles less on every full tank. Fun costs money, and that's $16 extra every week or $832 extra every year. Not too bad, but those could go to 401k or stock market on the other hand 😄.

FYI, when I drive to Dallas in my M550i, in comfort mode and cruise control at 78MPH, I get 31mpg. It is a stealth economy car as well. Now, let's not talk about what happens in Sport Plus!

[Lawguy]

I just wish it had more rear legroom.

[M5F90]

Originally Posted by hlothery

FYI, when I drive to Dallas in my M550i, in comfort mode and cruise control at 78MPH, I get 31mpg. It is a stealth economy car as well. Now, let's not talk about what happens in Sport Plus!

That's impressive! What is the real MPG in a city?

[M5F90]

Originally Posted by Lawguy

I just wish it had more rear legroom.

There's a 750i for that