As suggested by UnWolverine - quote "Second, I notice that we have three previous E60 owners on this thread. I'll start a 'why not the new M5' thread, not directed at bashing the new M. I really struggled with this decision, and would be interested in any other informed points of view."

So I will kick this thread off, being a M lover - I have daily driven an M5 since 1988 except 1998-2000 when no M5's was available in the states. I started with a 1988 M5 (and kept it for 10 years - Dinan stroker etc.), then a 1993 as the 88' had a lot of track mods and I wanted a softer car for the street (ok I just wanted a new car), then a 2000, then a 2003 and now a 2006. Have loved every single one and each was better than the last. And yes I like the SMG, it has it quirks but no way I would take a 6 speed over it.

Until the Panamera came out in 2010 I had never found another 4 door that offered the driving feel and pace I found with the M5. I tried all the AMG's but steering was just too numb, handling not so great. Tried an Audi RS6 - great car, but not as fun as an M and in S.Cal did not need 4wd. Drove the Audi RS4 and loved it, but too small for my needs, tried the S6 and S8 -didn't do it for me.

Then along comes the Panamera. Dealer got one in called me to come drive. I drove a nice S in 2010. When I was done I was like wow I would definately change out of my M5 for something like this. I got back in my M5 and was like the interior is kinda plain and the SMG is not as nice as the pdk, but I still loved the M and my car only had like 40k on it so I moved on. 6 months later dealer called - come drive the new PTT - I did and was like "OH $#!^", how much does this cost. Got back in the M5 and said -well when done with this M5 I am getting a PTT.

Time passed, the data started to flow on the new M5 and I figured lets wait and see what the new M offers. I saw one in person and sat inside (Dec 2011 at Cars and Coffee in Irvine, BMW employee got there same time i did and headed up to to of parking structure to hide it, I was in my Turbo and followed him to the top. He was very cool about showing me the car). I have not ridden in one or driven one. My impression was the interior was a huge upgrade over the E60. The outside left me going "huh", kinda plain. The sound on all the videos did not stir me in any way. It sort of has left me with, well if I can afford a Panny why buy an M5. But I figured a lot of pace for $110k or so, so hold out and see what the pricing is, my BMW dealer has me slotted #1 at MSRP.

Dropped by the Porsche dealer in Jan. to find out about the GTS they tell me our first allocation is not spoken for order it how you want and take it when it comes in if you want or don't - we just want to get a nice customer spec'd car. I say ok and start checking boxes. $142k later the dealer say yep we will make some money on that build!

A few weeks later I brought in my sons hockey bag to see how it fits- they say take a 4S overnight - I was impressed, but the pace on the open road was not enough. Next day I took the PTT home and am like yep this is it.

I go home after dropping off the PTT and my wife says what are you going to do and I tell her save $60k and get a new M5 - she just looks at me. My 10 year old is standing there and I ask him what do you think. He says you have to get the PTT the M5 is boring. The wife chimes in "I love the Panamara my birthday is the same week it is suppsed to come, so why don't you just get it for me and you drive the Sequoia".

So I have a family who likes the car. Based on my 100 miles (which I know is not much) I love the car. The car is subtantial feeling and goes like stink (4S or the TT) and handles great, yet falls into being an outstanding luxury car when you want it to be. It has more room than the M5 and in spite of the Gremlin side view, is a very good looking car from most angles and you don't realy give a $#!^ what it looks like when you drive it.

So it costs more but you get what you pay for and I am quite sure when mine comes in I will not for a minute regret getting it over the new M5. Now if I could just decide GTS (due 4/7) or PTT (due 4/25). What a great problem to have .

 

You are lucky to have such a problem Either way you go, you cant go wrong. I looked at the f10 M5 for a while, but only because of the price and stealthy looks, actually so stealthy that I walked past it at the dealer. The Panamera is a sportscar, the M5 just a very fast saloon car. I need awd, so the M5 just wasnt possible.

The choice between gts and tt shouldnt be difficult, they are very different. You Just need to decide do you prefer the sportiness, hardness, noisiness instant power of the gts that shines in the corners or the luxury, turbo thrusted more civilzed tt thats the straight line king. Both are similar, but once you figure out what you want, the choice will be easy. After the rock hard 997tt, I prefered a little luxury and hence the tt. Also wife and kid appreciate the softer ride, even with 20inch wheels all year around. I also loved that you could powerkit the turbo.

Good luck on the hard desicion!

 

Tough decision. Obviously, there are some key factors ... such as where you live. All wheel drive would be a must for me in the Northeast. Also, having only two rear seats is an issue for some, not so much for others.

I'm interested in your comment about the M5 interior ... pictures don't do either car justice but the M5 interior just looks bland to me. I'm sure that's not the case in the flesh, though. Also interesting about the interior room ... these cars are not very different length-wise, though the Panny is significantly wider (which makes that third seat in the back of the M5 suspect anyway).

Though there aren't many real-world driving scenarios where you can truly experience the difference between 500HP (let alone 560HP) and the 430HP in the GTS, it essentially comes down to the choice between the GTS which is primarily a sport-sedan but also very luxrious and the TT which is a very luxurious and also sporty sedan. I would give the nod to the GTS as I prefer the sportier ride and feel. As for the M5, it just doesn't strike my passion chord the way the Panny does.

But, really, you can't go wrong here. All three are phenomenal modes of transportation.

 

Wow, I'm going through the exact same thought process. I'm also first on the list for a new M5 at my dealer and currently drive a totally tuned 2010 M3 which I plan to keep. I'm even considering the Hybrid Panny just to do something a little different. Afterall, I can always jump in the 458 when I need my thrill. Going Porsche for my DD is a tough one. It's always been a Bimmer.

I'd love to hear what others think.

 

The interior was a significant consideration for me. I sat in a blue exterior/white interior F10 M5 at the Frankfurt auto show for 15 minutes or so (it was roped off, lucky me my wife is German and she talked to the sales guy.) We both felt that the entire car was a bit 'bland' as well. Not ugly, but just not very distinctive. The exterior can be mistaken for a standard 5-series and the interior is just not anywhere close to the Panny. Also, I was a bit tired of the E60 look, having driven one for 130,000 miles. This car wasn't enough of a change for me, and that was another reason for sure.

Yes, the Panny isn't as 'attractive' in the conventional sense as the F10 M5. Nobody thinks the M5 is ugly, and quite a few think that about the Panny. But the Panny is very distinctive, both inside and out, and I like that.

 

+1. Like the OP, I've been an M5 guy for a while- also in a variety of iterations but have been considering the Panny Turbo or Turbo S of late. I'm not sure about the look of the the car but admit it does have certain character. I'm also in SoCal so not sure I need the awd. I'm first in line at my BMW dealer but torn btween them. Maybe time for something different. Also, the Panny's are getting a facelift for 2013 correct? Obviously, I have not driven both yet so I'm up in the air. Interesting how those who have driven the Panny's seem to be sold. I'd like to hold on to it for a few years so I'm also one of those guys kindof up in the air. I appreciate all the insights and experiences.

 

At my local BMW dealer, who still hasnt allowed for a test drive btw, they sold the showroom car and immediately at the same time they got this PTT on sale. Dont know the sellers motives (perhaps needs 5 seats?, wants more power?), but its pretty obvious that the trade was from PTT to M5 (off course cant be 100% sure). I think its also the case of grass being greener on the other side of the fence...

http://www.nettiauto.com/porsche/panamera/4649411

 

haven't driven the new m5 yet but from what I understand you get better performance for less money. I drove the panamera S, unfortunately not long enough and I was really underwhelmed and didn't get me out of my 997.2 c2s even if I was offered the deal of the century

I think the m5 would have given a similar good deal, but I can't say for sure as I haven't driven it, and yes the panamera tt is another price league. But I do like the distinctiveness of the Panamera over the m5's

 

I do think the M5 definitely offers more performance and features for lower $'s. The Panny does have AWD, which was a definite consideration for me driving a lot to Cleveland and Chicago. Also the Panny handles better from everything I've read - especially the GTS. Finally is is more distinctive for sure, and I do like that. I certainly can't fault anyone for picking the Bimmer.

 

If you are looking for stand out & unique plus super car performance its going to be the Panny but if you are looking for value and performance package it is the M5. They just released the M5 Canadian pricing it starts at 101k compared to the Panamera's 156k - I am sure the US will even be cheaper.

I saw it at the auto show and drove it in Spain it has a very nice presence and package - after all its built on the very successful F10 platform. The only reason I am gong with a 2013 M5 versus a Panamera is the 6MT. I am addicted to Porsche but am missing a nice large, fun, MT sedan.

 

Wow, that's a big price difference. Here in the US it's going to be closer to $15K. The M5 will list at $95K give or take a couple, and the GTS lists for $110K.

 

Just to clarify that was for the Turbo, the GTS is 125k. So about 15k+ but I have yet to configure one, I am sure that once you add all the options its going to get even larger. Porsche was suppose to bring the Panamera in 6MT for the GTS model (so I thought), but I guess I am probably the only guy in the world that wants one

 

OK, that makes more sense. The other thing you have to factor in is the GTS can be bought at a discount (6% on mine) whereas the M5 is selling for list (at least for now). I figure I would have paid $110 for the M5 configured how I want it, and I'm paying $117K for the GTS with all the options I want ($124K list).

 

After only one week, I can identify some specific reasons that I'm glad I decided on the GTS over the M5.

Honestly, I have to say that the Panamera GTS is in a completely different class from the M5. I'm a big BMW fan, but the GTS is simply a higher level of development in terms of performance and luxury. Yes, it's a bit more expensive, but after having driven the E60 M5 for 130,000 miles, and spent a lot of time analyzing every F10 M5 review, and having been in a number of F10 cars, I am convinced.

The M5 is the top of the line 5-series. It is an amazing, remarkable car, and probably the fastest 4-door sedan on the planet. But the GTS is at a different level in terms of three areas:

1. Handling. I predict even though the cars weigh the same, and the M5 has a 130 HP advantage, the GTS is just as quick on most racetracks. The only way that happens is if GTS is handling at another level. Testing has it running close to 1.2g on the skidpad and a couple mph quicker through the slalom with relatively crappy tires compared to the Michelin Pilot Sports on the M5. The latest track test has it running within two tenths of the M5 at Hockenheim with the Panamera tested in 'less than ideal conditions'. Future runs will probably show the cars are relatively equal, or the Panny is quicker. As was recently stated in Autoweek:

"The body control on the GTS is second to none in sports sedans, and very few sports cars.' Cornering control is 'freakish'.

2. Interior. The Panamera interior is probably the best of any luxury car, and the GTS is one of, if not the best interiors I've seen in any Panamera. Someone commented that with the extra $15,000, you could upgrade the M5 interior to the Panamera. You couldn't. You'd just have a 5-series interior that someone spent a lot of money on.

3. Exterior. I've never seen the response to a car that I've gotten with the GTS. I've only had it a week, and every day at least two people stop me to tell me what a beautiful car it is. Two Dad's with families were surrounding the car when I returned and asked 'is it ok if we take pictures?'. The car may not have the best lines from certain angles, but it looks like an exotic sports car. The M5 looks like a modified and tricked-out 5-series. Very tasteful and subtle, but simply no comparison to the impact the GTS has on the road.

Sound. The best part of the car. With Sports Plus the shifting quickens and the sound symposers and exhaust valves open up to create this monster roar from the engine through the exhaust and a Brrrrrraaaap!!...Brrrrraaaaaapppp! rev matching under braking. It will scare you the first time you hear it. To me, it sounds like when I heel-toe my race Porsche under hard braking - these aggressive throttle blips are one of the best parts of driving the car.

Plus, as an added bonus, even with the experience of sitting in the roped-off M5 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, with the BMW guy telling us how great the car was, my german wife likes this car a lot more.

 

Agreed. Just dont post this on any Bmw board. Theyll say:
"But its the ugliest car Ive ever seen."