Here's the thing: most cars aren't great. A sizable chunk of the world's cars are fairly mediocre, and it's been that way for a really long time. A lot of them have actually sucked fairly hard. Like the Chevrolet Cavalier. Gah, I hate that thing.
And even if some manufacturers figure out how to make one or two really genuinely fantastic cars, the rest of their lineup tends to blow. Even BMW, which I respect a fair amount, has a few real stinkers in their product spread right now.
But the current 5 series—and especially the 550i—is an amazing car. I got a chance to drive one of these through the streets of Seattle yesterday, and I'm already trying to figure out a way to scrape up enough cash to run off with a 550i or, hell, just steal the car outright.
The thing is that the engine isn't all of what makes this car—the chassis is fantastically planted (and more than capable of handling the 360hp making its way through the flywheel) and the transmission, despite being an automatic, actually works. The binders are more solid than an A6's and the steering is better than any car this size I've ever driven.
And even though this car is laden with the usual bucketload of gadgets and gizmos, it isn't overcluttered like the S-class or the 7-series. All the toys really do work as expected to make using the car so much more enjoyable. Oh, and i-Drive isn't nearly as obnoxious in the new 5 as it is in the 7. I'm as big of a nerd as the next guy...but wow. All I want to do is change the station.
The only downside of the 5 is its fairly controversial styling—but I have to admit that I'm actually getting to like it. It's certainly a, ahem, talking piece.
The interesting thing about the 550i is that among the field of cars present at the event—the Z4 3.0si, the 650i, and a fair variety of 3- and 5-series sedans and wagons—the 550i is the quickest. Hot.
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