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2006 BMW M5: More Ultimate than any other Driving Machine
The day started as any other day with one major exception: parked in my driveway was the seldom seen, but very much revered 2006 BMW M5. Although I was familiar with this mythical sled, I still questioned was it actually possible for a four-door sedan to travel from zero to sixty in just over four seconds?
Weighing in at little more than 4,000 lbs, the M5 is also capable of reaching an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph! No amount of pre-test drive data gathering could've possibly prepared me for what was in store as I began my journey. There is definitely something to be said about a vehicle, no, a companion that shows you love upon entering by gently hugging your rib cage with its 20-way power multi-contour front seats. I was in for an experience.
 The first reality check I was pushing such an exclusive and elusive beast were the reactions I continued to get. The first occurrence was during one of several fill-ups at the pump (the 500-horsepower V-10 guzzles gas as if a voice inside were raving CHUG, CHUG, CHUG) where on-lookers wanted a closer look. After refueling with Shell V-Power premium gasoline, I took off on a scenic drive to Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia. This is where the next reality check hit. The track was being used by the Porsche Club of America as an instructor's day. Needless to say, drivers of this caliber knew a lil' something about speed, performance and handling. You may think the M5 was out of place in this environment of two door high-performance cars. No way. Several drivers stopped by the M5 to admire its grace and style, to praise its performance and quietly yearned to get it on the track.  One of the best features of the mighty M is you truly have a track-ready performance vehicle with massive brakes capable of bringing you to a complete stop from 62 mph in just under 118 feet. The engine is linked to a seven-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG) which is the first transmission with seven sequential gears and Drivelogic offering 11 gearshift options, technology integrated into the M5 directly from BMW's F1 experience. Additional F1 aspects dropped into the M5 are the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. For those of you that prefer the traditional feel of shifting you have the option of using the center console lever to achieve the same exhilaration. I was disappointed, however, with the noticeable jumpy hesitation between 1st and 2nd gears and would prefer a fully manual transmission to alleviate this. We are not big fans of SMG technology, especially considering the extra complexity of this gearbox at maintenance time.
 My trip to Summit Point provided ample time and various road configurations to experiment with the "Sequential” and "Drive” modes, both modes independently offering their own unique set of driving programs. To further enhance your experience, you can decide how sporty a ride you want under three additional programs, each offering varying levels of performance that can be set for typical city driving conditions offering minimal fuel consumption; to an extremely sporty, reactive and spontaneous performance feel. Once you've identified and locked in your preferences, you can easily select your preferred modes with the MDrive button conveniently located on the steering wheel. When you're feeling fast and sporty, simply press MDrive mode to explode!
The ultra-smooth M5 provides a ride that is nothing short of amazing. You can cruise comfortably at 90 mph yet feel like your doing 55. The M5 experience is very similar to being on my sport-bike and it has the moves of San Diego Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
Once you're done ripping up the road, the M5 is civilized enough to gracefully and comfortably glide you onto your next destination.
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