heli_ca

Yes, but would you rather drive that than your 545i now?

Guest

Drove them all and the 545i wins hands down! Neither of the Japanese cars (GS430 or M45) can deliver or provide an inspiring driving experience. The E500 comes closest, but it is a reliability nightmare and I would not spend $50K for any American car....

my530i

Think about resale value of CTS-V. Is it best bang for the buck?
GS430 is my mom's car. Very quite, but not sporty at all.
E500 has very nice interior, but cut corner like a dull knife. Zuck!
M45. Resale value again.

heezy545i

Love the car, but if I could do it again, I'd be driving either a M3 or a S4. Hell, maybe even an e500 or a used e55 if the price was right.

Too many nice cars out there to just stick with one brand.

300TTto545

My collague got a CTS-V the same time that I got my 545 (well months apart). At 8k miles - he is replacing a runflat. I suspect TC doesn't work in reverse and he burns out every morning. It is bald. He has a coolant leak and they have had the car for a while (2 weeks I think) - and they are just welding the radiator - I think they should replace it. Lets see - no bluetooth phone.

He gets 16 mpg to my 20. I don't think it is driving styles - we live in similar high speed areas. I get on it but am on the highway going 70 for a great amount of time (my computer had my average mph at 44 for a while but has settled down to 42). Pretty good with US speed limits and traffic. 30 year old (maybe 50) engine technology is the difference.

alohalc

i think there are a few more we shoud put on the list. acura rl, audi a6, cadillac sts, jaguar xj8 and mercedes cls. but i'm still rooting on 545 !

wolverine

I've driven the CTS-V, the Jaguar XJR, Audi A8, Mercedes E500, Acura RL, and Lexus GS430, also the M3 and Audi S4.

None of the cars even remotely compares to the 545 in terms of performance. If you want an inexpensive brute with a godawful transmission and no refinement or feel, get the CTS-V. It's only marginally quicker than the 545, and nowhere near the build quality or precision. My in-law's Buick interior looks better in terms of quality and materials.

The Audi would be my second choice, but in cmparison to the BMW, it's heavy and slow. The Mercedes just isn't a drivers car, and really doesn't have much to get excited about. The Acura isn't really in the same league compared to a BMW V8 - but it has lots of great features. The Lexus can't be beat in terms of luxury and reliability but drives like a sofa.

Out of all the cars I drove, the Jag is probably the most comparable in terms of performance and refinement. The supercharged 394 hp engine is a kick, but the handling and feedback just aren't there like the bimmer.

IMO, the 545 is the best full size performance sedan you can buy right now. The M3 is the best handling, but and the ride and size of the M3 are not acceptable to me. The S4 is terrific, but doesn't have the room or the amenities of the 545.

KenTO

Well said. The only other car I would consider is the M45. Infiniti does seem to care about performance, it's cars are second to BMW in that regard, IMHO. The only problem I have with Infiniti is the cheap looking interiors, but that seems to have been improved in the M45, at least in recent pictures.

I think BMW is the best of the bunch, hence my purchase decision. I did look at all the other cars mentioned, except for M45, because it was not yet available.

530iii

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INFINITI M45.

The new one due out looks nice but like a G35 on steroids!

The Pentium Guy

M45 Looks really ugly IMO. The front is an improvement over the G35 (whose front is just plain and weird) but the back of the car makes it look boring. It would make me look too old. But that's just me. I'd say 545, then A6 then E500.