new 530d first impressions
Discussion
Had the opportunity to borrow a mate's 530d this weekend, driving from Oxfordshire to Cheshire and back. It was my first time in a new (ie. current) 5 series.
Here's some thoughts on the car:
- Can't get on with the shape. I love it from the front but like the 7, the shape of the boot is all wrong. The car is too slab sided and inelegant. Looks bigger than it is (always a bad thing in my book).
- Similarly, the design of the interior is almost too flashy / futuristic. There are too many bold curves which I think will date quite quickly. However, the fit and finish is good - apart from the wood veneer, which is a horrible greyish tinge and doesn't look like wood at all.
- Ergonomics - it doesn't quite have that unbreakable, unbeatable "everything laid out just where you would want it" feel of the previous 5. Having said this, once you have got used to the action ofthe indicators, it's fine and you don't really notice most things. The switchgear is very clear and well laid out.
- OK how about the drive? This car is simply awesome. The ride is quite honestly superb (bear in mind my daily car is a stiffened Fiat barchetta). The car has wonderful balance and doesn;t wallow at all through corners. It wears big, expensive looking rubber (245 on the rear) and has tons of grip. For such a big, heavy car it has a nice, light feel - much more involving than an E class Merc, which it beats into touch on the ride and handling front with ease.
- The engine is good too. Car magazine used to say that the old 5 with the petrol 3 litre six was as good it gets, but this diesel is very nearly as good at everything and better at some things. With 368lb torque, motorway / A road cruising is effortless. At 80mph you are doing about 1600rpm in 6th and the car feels like it's doing 40. I averaged about 70 mph over the weekend, cruised at 100-110 where possible on the motorway and the car returned 36mpg. Oh yeah I floored it a few times too to see what the performance is like in sport mode.
The car is also equipped with a complex cruise control which is great once you have figured it out. The combination of that engine, the cruise control and the ride makes this the best long cruiser I've ever driven properly. 200 miles just disappear under you and you arrive totally relaxed.
I even quite like iDrive, though it's not quite there yet.
All in all, the 530d is a superb car and I would definitely go for the diesel if I was paying the fuel bills. The only part I have a problem with is the Bangle factor.
Joel
Here's some thoughts on the car:
- Can't get on with the shape. I love it from the front but like the 7, the shape of the boot is all wrong. The car is too slab sided and inelegant. Looks bigger than it is (always a bad thing in my book).
- Similarly, the design of the interior is almost too flashy / futuristic. There are too many bold curves which I think will date quite quickly. However, the fit and finish is good - apart from the wood veneer, which is a horrible greyish tinge and doesn't look like wood at all.
- Ergonomics - it doesn't quite have that unbreakable, unbeatable "everything laid out just where you would want it" feel of the previous 5. Having said this, once you have got used to the action ofthe indicators, it's fine and you don't really notice most things. The switchgear is very clear and well laid out.
- OK how about the drive? This car is simply awesome. The ride is quite honestly superb (bear in mind my daily car is a stiffened Fiat barchetta). The car has wonderful balance and doesn;t wallow at all through corners. It wears big, expensive looking rubber (245 on the rear) and has tons of grip. For such a big, heavy car it has a nice, light feel - much more involving than an E class Merc, which it beats into touch on the ride and handling front with ease.
- The engine is good too. Car magazine used to say that the old 5 with the petrol 3 litre six was as good it gets, but this diesel is very nearly as good at everything and better at some things. With 368lb torque, motorway / A road cruising is effortless. At 80mph you are doing about 1600rpm in 6th and the car feels like it's doing 40. I averaged about 70 mph over the weekend, cruised at 100-110 where possible on the motorway and the car returned 36mpg. Oh yeah I floored it a few times too to see what the performance is like in sport mode.
The car is also equipped with a complex cruise control which is great once you have figured it out. The combination of that engine, the cruise control and the ride makes this the best long cruiser I've ever driven properly. 200 miles just disappear under you and you arrive totally relaxed.
I even quite like iDrive, though it's not quite there yet.
All in all, the 530d is a superb car and I would definitely go for the diesel if I was paying the fuel bills. The only part I have a problem with is the Bangle factor.
Joel
The styling is an issue. But I admit that it is growing on me.
The strange thing about the 5 is that the styling can look really clunky and clumsy, and yet from some angles it looks terrific.
From a rear 3 quarter view looking along the side there are some really interesting angles, lots of tension in the sides, and the way the bonnet crease curves away when looked at from this direction, is really nice.
Yet look at it side on and yuck - it does'nt work.
A puzzling car, the 5. Styling is a challenge, but there is no doubting its ability. Its a very, very good car for sure.
The strange thing about the 5 is that the styling can look really clunky and clumsy, and yet from some angles it looks terrific.
From a rear 3 quarter view looking along the side there are some really interesting angles, lots of tension in the sides, and the way the bonnet crease curves away when looked at from this direction, is really nice.
Yet look at it side on and yuck - it does'nt work.
A puzzling car, the 5. Styling is a challenge, but there is no doubting its ability. Its a very, very good car for sure.
I love the idea of these cars, especially in waftomatic.
If I had any common sense, I'd get the 535d immediately.
But I don't so it's academic.
Which is cold comfort when in the cut & thrust of real world shennanigans, the hurculean torque is probably demonstrably more capable than anything this side of Moff Tarkin's stairlift.
If I had any common sense, I'd get the 535d immediately.
But I don't so it's academic.
Which is cold comfort when in the cut & thrust of real world shennanigans, the hurculean torque is probably demonstrably more capable than anything this side of Moff Tarkin's stairlift.
barchetta_boy said:
At 80mph you are doing about 1600rpm in 6th and the car feels like it's doing 40. I averaged about 70 mph over the weekend, cruised at 100-110 where possible on the motorway and the car returned 36mpg. Oh yeah I floored it a few times too to see what the performance is like in sport mode.
80 mph is 1600 rpm in top ?
Great.
BMW sent me an unsolicted comic with some numbers in the back about the new 5 Series.
The new 530 petrol auto has 258 BHP, 0-60mph in 6.7 and
average 30.4 mpg, tops is 155 mph.
The same thing in diesel has 218 BHP, 0-60 in 7.3 and 36.2 mpg, tops is 151 mph - enough for the M25 surely ?
derestrictor said:
I love the idea of these cars, especially in waftomatic.
If I had any common sense, I'd get the 535d immediately.
But I don't so it's academic.
And hurrah for that DeR, the world would indeed be a poorer place without your continued search for your automotive g spot
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