5 ms·
This is a good answer. It boils down to what you're paying for. My dad was a suspension and steering engineer at General Motors years ago, and he impressed upon
by markbnj 10y ago
This is a good answer. It boils down to what you're paying for. My dad was a suspension and steering engineer at General Motors years ago, and he impressed upon me the number of evolutions these designs go through. The current shape of a standard "middle class car" is highly optimized to give the best trade-off between aerodynamics, fuel efficiency, interior capacity, structural strength, etc. That's what a typical middle class buyer wants to pay for. A Ferrari is entirely optimized to look hot and go fast, and makes a huge number of concessions to those goals. Just try using one as a daily driver and grocery hauler and you'll see why few people do that.
- eatbitseveryday 10y ago> A Ferrari is entirely optimized to look hot and go fast, and makes a huge number of concessions to those goals. Just try using one as a daily driver and grocery hauler and you'll see why few people do that. But then there are sports cars that are meant as daily drivers, like the BMW M5. The former CTO of Intel said he owns one and uses it as such.
- Analemma_ 10y agoSure, but this thread is about "middle-class cars", which the M5 definitely is not.
- quietplatypus 10y agoWith depreciation and older m5 models, you could definitely fit the initial and maintenance costs of a m5 into a middle class budget.
- pjc50 10y agoThe M5 is visually very similar to the rest of the 5-series, though. A Ferrari is instantly identifiable even if you can't see the badge and don't really know cars - a low wedge thing is either a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. An M5 looks like any other large BMW saloon.
- rifung 10y agoThe M5 makes the same tradeoffs but in a different way. It takes a very good sedan and makes it even better. But, there's no question that it would be even better to drive if it wasn't limited to being able to comfortable seat 5 people or fit golf clubs. We might still even have a lovely NA motor like in the E60 =[ Also I don't think the M5 is actually a sports car? I mean don't get me wrong, it's completely awesome and I would absolutely love to have one, but it's also nearly 4400 pounds and a sedan. Origins of the term "sports car": http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a28225/sports-car-definition/ http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a28225/sports-car-de...
- nunez 10y agoThe M5 is meant to be a fast daily driver, so that makes sense
- Spooky23 10y agoFerraris are reflections of their owners. If you're actually driving one to work every day, the point of that exercise is to let the world know that you're the alpha ape. BMW 5 series is the Accord for rich people. An M5 is your "I like cars" model.