We’re obviously fans of fast wagons, here. That idea that one vehicle can be your family hauler and canyon carver, without sacrificing capability in either respect, is amazing. Which is why we’re such big fans of the E60-gen BMW M5 Touring. Admittedly, I’m not a big fan of the E60 5 Series sedan. Loath might be a harsh word to describe my feelings but I just don’t like it. It looks like it has an ironing board for trunk and like it’s had a bad Hollywood facelift. But throw in a 5.0 liter, 500 hp, naturally-aspirated V10 under the hood and give it a wagon body style? I’m sold.
In this recent article from Top Gear, we take a look at two really great, yet affordable, fast wagons that are reasonably priced. One is the aforementioned M5 Touring and the other is a C5-generation Audi RS6 Avant. The RS6 is very cool, like icy cool, with its 4.2 liter twin-turbocharged V8 and Quattro all-wheel drive. It’s blisteringly fast and can haul your family up a snowy canyon to go skiing with ease. However, the E60-gen BMW M5 Touring is better. Why? Because naturally-aspirated V10 screaming to 8,250 rpm. That’s why. Also, they can be had for about £20,000 (roughly $26,000USD), which is less than the average BMW 3 Series sedan. You can already tell which we’d choose.
Oh, and it’s also rear-wheel drive, which makes it that much greater. The S85 engine in the E60-gen M5 was an absolute masterpiece. Sure, it wasn’t the most reliable of engines and it will cost owners hefty service repairs but who cares? Have you ever heard one? It’s incredible. And it’s the sort of engine that turns a mundane family luxury wagon into something that can genuinely make daily life better, more enjoyable. That may sound ridiculous but imagine the joy of, after dropping your kids off at school, nailing the throttle and hearing that mighty V10 wail. If that doesn’t brighten your day, you may need to see a psychologist.
But don’t just take it from me, here’s a quote from the TG article. “It comes back to the notion of making the everyday special – the kind of seemingly prosaic phrase you’d find in any number of self-help books at the airport, but something that’s key to making our very temporary journey through time and space as fulfilling as it can be. It’s also something that’s far too easy to overlook in the face of the drudgery of the everyday and the seemingly bleak outlook of the future.”
There’s no bleak days with a screaming V10. So yes, the E60 BMW M5 Touring can make your future seem brighter for less than the cost of the average 3 Series. Seems like a home run to me.
[Source: Top Gear]
