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Joshy said:
I had issues with "my" 530i (A V8 one, closely related to the 540i). Not something I'd recommend running on a shoe string, but it was a bit of a beast (when it worked). Let's not get confused though, it is a fully fledged barge, and not the "Well, it's sort of alright on B Road" type of barge either. Actually, barge is perhaps the wrong word, oil tanker is slightly closer to the mark :p. Great cars, but perhaps not what you're after?

Whilst you're considering barges, could perhaps I tempt you with a Soarer? Very much so like a Supra, only more comfortable and without the scene tax :).

Perhaps a bit dear, I want to make sweet, sweet love to this one:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2017891.htm

Good chassis underneath them (99% of it's Supra stuff), good reliable (not to mention very tunable engine!) and not too bad around the track either. Think someone recently came 2nd in there class in a mechanically standard automatic in the Toyota Sprint Series.

Off the track they are a relatively spacious, quick (60 in around 6 seconds, Top speed of 160 - 170MPH depending on who you talk to) comfortable "barge". Doesn't really feel it's size though, think it's actually a tad larger than the e34 but feels far smaller. Cheap to run given the performance too :).
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That nutter went for the no cost option velour.

I see a Bentley FS with velour today too AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH :(
 
MikeHiow said:
Whatever I buy has to be capable of ripping up B-roads. Lashout appears to suggest the 540 would be fine for this with the Mtec stuff?
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Lashout is mistaken. My 530i handles better than an E34 V8, is better balanced, has proper steering and I still wouldnt say it's the ideal choice for 'ripping up B roads'.

It handles well, very well for a car of its size (And I'm not entirely sure the same is true of a V8 E34, it certainly isnt of a V8 E39 bar the M5), but it's not a B road stormer. It's far more at home on A roads where it's really rather good fun. The other problem with B roads is that it's huge, so you have far less confidence chucking it around narrow roads.

But B roads?

It's nothing like any of the other cars in your list. The Teg will make it feel like an oil tanker on a B road.
 
So you were looking at DC2's, RX8's, and now a V8 5 series that weighs god knows what is on the list? Im confused.
 
I can't even find one for sale, let alone find one to drive :D

By the sounds of it, despite the V8 awesomeness, this isn't what I'm after then.
 
PMKeates said:
Less likely to fail on a track than on the M25, tbh.
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[TW]Fox;17704240 said:
Lashout is mistaken. My 530i handles better than an E34 V8, is better balanced
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I'm not mistaken, it's just my opinion - I resent that slightly, seeing as I was making no comparision to the E39 anywhere anyway, so why bring it in? I used to use mine for cross-country work all the time and it was great fun - yes, it was big, yes a smaller, lighter car would have dispatched it with less effort - but Mike's only looking for options and suggestions, not dyed-in-the-wool dead certs. Up to him at the end of the day.

You're also talking about two very different cars - one is effectively a twenty year old super-saloon, the other is a 'normal' saloon.

You may be right in saying that an E39 would out-handle an E34, but if the E34 was non-standard? Maybe not.

Virtually everyone I have spoken to also points out that an E34 is more engaging to drive than an equivalent E39 - and having driven both, I always preferred my (emphasis on the my there!) E34. As stressed though, that probably depends on the cars and what they were originally specified with. Mine was very sharp, very stiff and cornered very flat with masses of grip, so it really went some.

The other thing too is that, well, an E39 is an E39. An E34 stands out these days.
 
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What Fox said, the 540i is a good handling car, the chassis is fantastic it really is so well balanced. However they are not precise and sharp, so direction changes, quick steering inputs it will just feel like a barge. Yes it will cover ground fast, but its not chuckable and far more refined so in essence probably not as much fun.

Even though they are reliable, it will probably cost 3x more to run compared to say like an Integra.

For the money your spending a 325i Sport or 328i Sport would be the more fun car, if you want to the German thing.


Out of your short list a Scoob RA sounds the best solution, its fun, got power, its hugely tunable in every aspect and you can take the whole family out, oh and they sound awsome too.

Just with the Scoob make sure its a clean decent example and has 4 matching tyres all round. ;)
 
Well, let me clarify why I'd originally contemplate something like the 540. I want the impossible from a car - everything, so I've posted cars that I think might offer acceptable compromises. I would like something comfortable and I'd love a V8, so I would be willing to sacrifice some poise for that, but by the sounds of it I'd be sacrificing too much.

I smell Moo.
 
Lashout_UK said:
You're also talking about two very different cars - one is effectively a twenty year old super-saloon, the other is a 'normal' saloon.
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An E34 540i is not a super saloon. It's as 'normal' or not as mine. The only reason I compared the two is because obviously I drive mine rather a lot and wouldnt consider it fit for the wants Mike has, therefore it's pretty hard to see how an older version would really be much difference in that regard.

The other thing too is that, well, an E39 is an E39. An E34 stands out.
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Only because most of them are dead so its quite an event to see one. Not sure what relevence that has, though. A Meastro stands out as well, for much the same reason.

Looking at the cars on his list - Mazda RX8 for example, Integra DC2, do you honestly think a 5 Series is the answer to his question?

You know how much I think the 5 Series is amazing but it really isnt the answer to this thread, IMHO.
 
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I disregarded the list because he was clearly just looking for something with some performance and image, it's a MH thread after all :p Do you expect me to take it overtly serious? He barely knows himself, as he even states! :D

Yes, the E34 540i (we're talking about 6-speeders here) was a genuine super-saloon in it's day. There's was only 149 of them in the UK and it was extremely competitive in the high-performance saloon market.

You don't see them that often - that's true - but the E34's, in correct specification, have a presence, clean classic style and cache that hasn't been matched by the E39 yet. Maybe in another five or ten years, who knows? We're not talking about them standing out because they're old sheds that were runabouts in the 80s, but because they were serious pieces of machinery in their day.

A lot of people, those who you might not even think know a lot about cars, give you the nod for it and seem to know, intuitively, what it is. Something that's not to be messed with :D

Plus there's always this, E34 represent:


:p
 
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In its day? Unless MikeH is going to get into a time machine and buy a new one I'm not sure how that matters.

It's a fast 5 Series. It's not a Super Saloon. That was the M5 - which despite being little faster on paper was a whole new ball game on the road.

The 540i was just the quick 5 Series. There are only 149 of them because nobody wants a manual 5 Series not because it's an exotic thoroughbred. There are, after all, less than 500 manual 530i Sport's as well ;)
 
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[TW]Fox;17704430 said:
In its day? Unless MikeH is going to get into a time machine and buy a new one I'm not sure how that matters.
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I'm not talking with regards to it's performance in today's market, you're missing the point there entirely. It'd still walk all over most cars, anyway. Yours included :p

500 eh? So it's at least 3.35 times more common than a 540iT? :D
 
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