By Nick Aziz
Monday, Jan 23rd, 2006 @ 3:16 pm

The new BMW M5 is often the subject of much praise in the automotive press, but columnist Robert Farago cuts through the hype and offers a balanced look at the car, which might not be as perfect as some would have you believe. Farago says that unlike past M5s, the flashy new model lacks stealth appeal. But bling-bling rims and quad pipes are the least of Farago’s concerns. “Why BMW would give one of the world’s fastest sedans the world’s worst gearbox is a question almost as difficult as finding a suitable way to use the damn thing,” writes Farago. He says while the M5 offers a multitude of traction, SMG shifting, and power settings, no combination provides rapid-fire quickshifts or, on the other end of the spectrum, effortless cruising and gentle shifts. What’s more, the M5′s V10 engine is so high-strung that it lacks the necessary low speed torque for casual city driving. “The new BMW M5 only makes sense in two situations,” he concludes, “driving like a lunatic around long sweeping bends and driving like a lunatic from 100mph to V-Max.”

  

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