[pharding]

Originally Posted by rsyed

Can't help you with your quesiton (never ever driven a 550i or a 535i) but just like to note the regional discusisons:

On german/european forums, the discussion evolves around the 520d (184hp) vs 525 (204hp), which one has sufficient power, which was is economical etc.

And just across the pond the luxary problem is to choose between a 300 hp beast and a 400hp devil...

This is what i called globalization...

As Americans it is part of our culture of glutinous waste and environmental pollution. Our government encourages oil consumption with almost no taxes on oil products, gigantic roads everywhere, suburbs that sprawl forever, horrible public transportation, unwalkable new developments with no sidewalks, etc. Even though most of the environmental pollution that is choking our small planet and causing global warming originated in the United States, our beloved President Bush denied that global warming exists. Republicans everywhere are concerned about ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND WASTE FREEDOM. They are sticking up for the right of Americans to trash our small planet and squander irreplaceable world resources.

[jeffhoff]

Originally Posted by jk3355

I just need to make a decision and stay true to it...

@jk - just checking in. . . . . any decisions yet?

[michal12]

Don't know what are the monthly lease payments, but by doing 50k miles a year in Europe in 550i, you would be looking at USD 1700 monthly fuel bill. I think that is more than your lease payments so I wouldn't say gas mileage is irrelevant.

Originally Posted by jeffhoff

I couldn't agree more on the fuel comment, if you're looking at a $60k+ car and you're concerned about fuel costs you should be looking elsewhere.

[1HOT BMR]

Originally Posted by michal12

Don't know what are the monthly lease payments, but by doing 50k miles a year in Europe in 550i, you would be looking at USD 1700 monthly fuel bill. I think that is more than your lease payments so I wouldn't say gas mileage is irrelevant.

Who drives 50K miles a year? Especially in Europe where places are closer than they appear . . . More like 15K miles a year is the average here in the US.
Car A gets 30 mpg: 15K/30 = 500 gallons x 4 per gallon = $2,000
Car B gets 16 mpg: 15K/16 = 937.5 gallons x 4 per gallon = $3,750
A difference of $1,750 per year or $146 more in gas per month. It looks totally worth it to me . . .

[Japi]

Originally Posted by jeffhoff

I couldn't agree more on the fuel comment, if you're looking at a $60k+ car and you're concerned about fuel costs you should be looking elsewhere.

I test drove both the 535 and 550, while I found the 535 more than adequate the 550 was just so much more fun to drive. Ultimately what made the decision for me was when I optioned out both cars. The 550 has more standard equipment and because of that required the addition of fewer options.

Once I had the configurations set the 550 was only $2500 more than the 535. To me that made the decision to go with the 550 a no-brainer.

I would be happy if its in Finland have car and gas prices so low as you have

550 i cost from 110 000 euros and its 145 000 dollars and gas cost about 1,4 euros per litre and 1,8 dollars per litre. Last time when we arrive on holiday to USA, I rented biggest motor Ford Mustang and enjoy of drive on highway

Finnish goverment stolt our money and car owners support on this country, its sucks...

[LuvMyE92]

jk,

Based on our discussions and your numerous threads on this topic, honestly, this is what I come away with:

It doesn't matter what you do. Either way, you are going to second guess yourself. Hey, BTDT myself.

You contradict yourself with the whole gas mileage thing, so I'm not sure what you're trying to do.

I will tell you that the 535i 6 speed manual is fine. Put your foot into it, and it moves along quite sprightly. Having never driven the 550i, I can't say, but I'd imagine like previous 5 series cars, the extra weight up front does you no favors.

Flip a coin, buy the car and then take off the badge and put on a 520d.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by LuvMyE92

jk,

Based on our discussions and your numerous threads on this topic, honestly, this is what I come away with:

It doesn't matter what you do. Either way, you are going to second guess yourself. Hey, BTDT myself.

You contradict yourself with the whole gas mileage thing, so I'm not sure what you're trying to do.

I will tell you that the 535i 6 speed manual is fine. Put your foot into it, and it moves along quite sprightly. Having never driven the 550i, I can't say, but I'd imagine like previous 5 series cars, the extra weight up front does you no favors.

Flip a coin, buy the car and then take off the badge and put on a 520d.

Honestly, wasn't trying to contradict myself. The whole point of asking about gas mileage is that around town with aggressive driving, the v8 will return about 14-15 miles to the gallon. But you never feel underpowered with the v8. (I've driven the 6 speed v8 550i.) The 535i on the other hand is better on gas (atleast on paper). I was able to finally drive a 6 speed 535i and I found myself flooring the car just to make it move off the line. I am sure that would affect real world drving gas mileage. And came away kinda depressed that it didn't feel as fast as my last 2006 530i stick. That old car felt so much quicker. So I canceled my 535i quest right after that test drive.

What I didn't realize is how much better the automatics are on gas and acceleration.

I think if BMW bumped up the HP and tq to 330-340, it would be the perfect combo for the new 535i. I almost wish there were a 540i turbo 6 right inbetween the 35 and 50i. Because 400 HP is almost too much engine. And I am starting to think 4000 lbs is a lot to move around and that a v8 suits this car better. Gone are the days when the 535i was the best decison in the 5 line. The jumps up in power are now significant.

I also jumped back down to test the 335i, and the new engine with 300 hp suits that car perfectly. So thats where i left it, never bought a car. Still thinking about it.

So sorry everyone if i sounded like I was contradicting myself. But in reality, BMW sort of makes you blindly order 6 speeds (no one has them in stock). Took me a month to track down a 6 speed 535i and after I drove 3 hours to drive it, it didn't move me to order or buy one. Doesn't mean I won't one day go with one.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by jk3355

Honestly, wasn't trying to contradict myself. The whole point of asking about gas mileage is that around town with aggressive driving, the v8 will return about 14-15 miles to the gallon. But you never feel underpowered with the v8. (I've driven the 6 speed v8 550i.) The 535i on the other hand is better on gas (atleast on paper). I was able to finally drive a 6 speed 535i and I found myself flooring the car just to make it move off the line. I am sure that would affect real world drving gas mileage. And came away kinda depressed that it didn't feel as fast as my last 2006 530i stick. That old car felt so much quicker. So I canceled my 535i quest right after that test drive.

What I didn't realize is how much better the automatics are on gas and acceleration.

I think if BMW bumped up the HP and tq to 330-340, it would be the perfect combo for the new 535i. I almost wish there were a 540i turbo 6 right inbetween the 35 and 50i. Because 400 HP is almost too much engine. And I am starting to think 4000 lbs is a lot to move around and that a v8 suits this car better. Gone are the days when the 535i was the best decison in the 5 line. The jumps up in power are now significant.

I also jumped back down to test the 335i, and the new engine with 300 hp suits that car perfectly. So thats where i left it, never bought a car. Still thinking about it.

So sorry everyone if i sounded like I was contradicting myself. But in reality, BMW sort of makes you blindly order 6 speeds (no one has them in stock). Took me a month to track down a 6 speed 535i and after I drove 3 hours to drive it, it didn't move me to order or buy one. Doesn't mean I won't one day go with one.

I just can not understand why anyone wants to drive a car hard "round Town!! wait till you get out on the highway then drive hard, potter round town and save fuel. it's a no brainer.

[Stephen5242]

It's only a decision for a 3 year lease, so lease the 550! You keep looking at HP numbers and state that 400hp is almost too much engine. How can it be too much engine when the 550 performance numbers are in line with the 335i. If you want to be seen as being green look for a different car altogether.

[JK479]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

I just can not understand why anyone wants to drive a car hard "round Town!! wait till you get out on the highway then drive hard, potter round town and save fuel. it's a no brainer.

Back roads and twisties??? Come on man... highway should be relaxed!

[jeffhoff]

Originally Posted by jk3355

Back roads and twisties??? Come on man... highway should be relaxed!

Highway driving in the US is relaxed (in light traffic) because of our low speed limits.

Take ED of the car and run it in the Autobahn at 130+ MPH and it's anything but "relaxing", it's a lot of fun driving those speeds but also a lot of work to pay attention to everything going on around you.

[bfv]

Originally Posted by pharding

As Americans it is part of our culture of glutinous waste and environmental pollution. Our government encourages oil consumption with almost no taxes on oil products, gigantic roads everywhere, suburbs that sprawl forever, horrible public transportation, unwalkable new developments with no sidewalks, etc. Even though most of the environmental pollution that is choking our small planet and causing global warming originated in the United States, our beloved President Bush denied that global warming exists. Republicans everywhere are concerned about ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND WASTE FREEDOM. They are sticking up for the right of Americans to trash our small planet and squander irreplaceable world resources.

right said pharding.

NASA is funded for long term missions- hotel in space, permanent base on the moon, and manned mission to mars.......Will performance tires work on the moon/mars ?

Soon passengers will be carried into the space. If one of us are not lucky to see mother earth from the space, at least appreciate its serenity from a picture.

In NYC, i see morbidly obese people flying on a wheel chair with two feet long sandwiches and 64 Oz cups of soda. and they wanna sue fast food stores for their obesity. Is future of America in the pothole?

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by bfv

right said pharding.

NASA is funded for long term missions- hotel in space, permanent base on the moon, and manned mission to mars.......Will performance tires work on the moon/mars ?

Soon passengers will be carried into the space. If one of us are not lucky to see mother earth from the space, at least appreciate its serenity from a picture.

In NYC, i see morbidly obese people flying on a wheel chair with two feet long sandwiches and 64 Oz cups of soda. and they wanna sue fast food stores for their obesity. Is future of America in the pothole?

NO one in the USA or anywhere else for that matter has been to the Moon or anywhere near it. That's pure BULL

[Acquarian]

I test drove both the 535 and 550, while I found the 535 more than adequate the 550 was just so much more fun to drive. Ultimately what made the decision for me was when I optioned out both cars. The 550 has more standard equipment and because of that required the addition of fewer options.

Once I had the configurations set the 550 was only $2500 more than the 535. To me that made the decision to go with the 550 a no-brainer.[/QUOTE]



You forget the cost of depreciation, at the end the 550 will depreciate more than the 535,

Of course you may not care about this point, and at the end what really counts is how much you enjoy one car over the other and costs are irrelevant

[bfv]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

NO one in the USA or anywhere else for that matter has been to the Moon or anywhere near it. That's pure BULL

If that's true, I hope they soon go to moon cuz I am planning to place an order for BMW soon and there are too many potholes here. Hopefully, no potholes on Moon

[Salter]

I suspect that many who opt for the 535i can afford the 550i, depreciation, additional fuel costs and all the rest included. For the majority, 400HP is simply of no interest. For some, like me, it is of interest - but it is weighed against my current driving style and conditions (mostly city driving, and so I know I'll rarely come close to enjoying the extra 100 ponies). I've been driving the E60/535 and it's got all the power I need - so the F10 will follow suite.

But if your gut tells you (a car for many of us is an emotional purchase) that you'd like to feel its surge of power from time to time - or even simply know it's there - than why not? All it takes is one or two road trips where you can push it a bit - and the cost is justified. It reminds me of a friend who bought a car expensive enough (and powerful enough) to be someone's house (with its own rocket booster). When I ask why he did it, he simply said: "Because I can". So if you can, and want to - do it.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by bfv

If that's true, I hope they soon go to moon cuz I am planning to place an order for BMW soon and there are too many potholes here. Hopefully, no potholes on Moon

Me Too

[ipso_facto]

Forget the 535 or 550 ... too much go for a 65mph limit anyway. I think you're getting the 520d next year in the US. I'd wait for that if I were you, and spend the considerable savings on either a spare 520d, or wine, women and song down at Hooters

[michal12]

This is an interesting point. I actually believe the very opposite is truth:
in Europe places are indeed closer than in the US which means people drive instead of flying.
In the end, people in Europe drive much faster and also much longer distances in the US. I think the usage pattern of cars is really quite different.
Daily dose of 450miles business trip spent entirely at 100mph+ is normal.

Originally Posted by 1HOT BMR

Who drives 50K miles a year? Especially in Europe where places are closer than they appear . . . More like 15K miles a year is the average here in the US.
Car A gets 30 mpg: 15K/30 = 500 gallons x 4 per gallon = $2,000
Car B gets 16 mpg: 15K/16 = 937.5 gallons x 4 per gallon = $3,750
A difference of $1,750 per year or $146 more in gas per month. It looks totally worth it to me . . .

[smhoer]

I don't think anyone has pointed out that similarly optioned (i.e. loaded) the price difference is only around $4500. The lease payment is still about $150 more due to BMWFS' manipulation of the MF and residual.

For me one drive in the 550 made my decision.

[JOHNBMWM5]

My take on buying the 550i M Sport in the UK is this.
Yes fuel as I speak is 1.25P a litre which = £5.68 a UK Gallon, soon to rise too
£5.90p a Gallon after Xmas with 20% VAT added.
BUT my 550i MS was till this week, the only one ordered in the UK, there are two others that are Demos somewhere!!!, so it should be a rare car when I want to PX it.
Depending on what I want will depend on the price I get for it and I have always worked a great deal here.
I only do 10K miles a year so not too expensive for me.

[bobblehead]

I figured I will have to pay about $1000 - $1200 more in gas per year vs my 08 535xi. (or equiv. to 1 more full tank fillup per month)

But heck, I knew that right from the beginning. Therefore, I cannot whine about this.