The ultimate Jalop dilemma - wagon or manual

"Alex87f" (alex87f)
02/09/2014 at 13:41 • Filed to: None

Time for some debating!

As we all should know, the E60 M5 had a fantastic 507hp 5.0 liter V10 that revved to infinity, and beyond. What not all of us know is that not all markets got the same versions!

On the one hand, the America special, the manual:

For some reason, in addition to the standard SMG 7-speed single clutch automated manual, the north American buyer could opt for a masterpiece of awesomeness a 6-speed manual box. This made the E60 M5 the only V10 powered, 500+hp manual sedan [cue Clarkson voice] ... in the world.

Which means said buyer could hop into his newly acquired M5, and see this beautiful view:

If this doesn't make you weep, it means you have no soul.

On the other hand, the Europe special, the wagon:

In an early attempt to take over Europe, Jalopnik convinced BMW to build a wagon M5. Yes, a 500hp V10 powered car in which you can fit your mountain bike. Or your children. If that's your thing.

This, because they knew there's nothing better than a good session of hooning after a good session of trail riding. With this, the gods would be pleased and so would mankind, and all would go well forever in this beautiful world.
Sadly, that's not what happened, no one bought them and BMW decided the F10 M5 will not be available as a wagon.

But it means you can currently buy a used car as cool looking as this:

But you will have to be operating one of those:

Which brings me to the big question. What would you take?

Personally? I think I'd go for the wagon. I would curse on the two-pedal setup all the time, but then I'd remember I drive a 500hp V10 wagon, and it would all be OK.

DISCUSSION (39)

PRBot II > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 13:44

For me, strictly manual.

Brian Silvestro > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 13:44

Yeah, wagon would be the way to go, because you still get a fucking V10.

Matthew Keyser > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 13:45

I'd for for a wagon and pay for someone to swap a manual trans in it. Probably expensive and a lot of work but a 500hp rear drive manual wagon sounds worth it to me

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > PRBot II
02/09/2014 at 13:56

Damn these tough choices! I've driven the sedan with the SMG, and would have to say I'd prefer the manual, even at the expense of having the wagon. Though it pains me to say that.

fhrblig > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 13:59

Wagon. A manual is great but I could live without it. I'd rather have the space.

ridered777 > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:01

Manual. I can live without the wagon aspect (still has a hell of a trunk! I bet those rear seats fold too), but I can't live without my 3rd pedal.

Team6.1 > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:02

Wagon. For the practicality and a big ass engine. I look at it this way. It's the pinnacle of fast wagons vs. Just another car with a stick (and there are a ton of faster, better handling real sports cars with sticks). So be best of the best and take the wagon.

PS9 > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:06

Kinja'd!!!

Let's complicate the question a bit.

'Murica will give you all the things...except those V10 revs. Plus your eurosnob friends won't want to hang out with you anymore. Or you won't hang out with them due to the continuous barrage of dumb jokes you'll get. "Nice V8, when's your mullet growing in?" "So when's the rap video shoot gonna happen?" "LOL LOL LOL TEH PUSHRODZ LOLOLOLOLO"

Or you can just get the S85 with a stick. They sell that here in 'Murica. But they don't sell the estate, in any form. You can swap the powertrain into an older M5, but not the newer one. Ask for a special order from the dealership, and they'll just laugh. Ask for the same at a Merc dealer, and they'll oblige with an AMG Wagon, thats not a V10, not at all available with a manual, and not RWD anymore, so forget about those smokey burnouts.

So what's it gonna be? Bruce? Or Tom?

Leadbull > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:08

Manual. I like wagons, but I'm nowhere near Automatch Level .

Alex87f > Team6.1
02/09/2014 at 14:10

There are lots of fast wagons out there, all RS6's for starters, as well as the Mercedes C / E 63's.

I get your choice, but why not go for a more powerful RS6?

Alex87f > PS9
02/09/2014 at 14:13

I gotta say that a C63 AMG wagon sounds about the most tempting thing in this world. You get Viper levels of performance with a crazy wagon body.

You get the RWD, you get the revs -though not as much-, and while you do get an automatic box, it's one with a dual clutch setup.

Victorious Secret > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:14

I'll be pedantic because both are still manuals.

Wagon.

Anyone can make a 200mph sedan. Far fewer make 200mph wagons.

Alex87f > Victorious Secret
02/09/2014 at 14:16

Kinja'd!!!

I'm sorry? I couldn't year you over my twin-turbo lambo V10..

AthomSfere > ridered777
02/09/2014 at 14:17

I'm with you, I will never, ever again own a 2 pedal car!

Victorious Secret > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:18

I prefer to die with oversteer, not understeer!

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:22

SMG is manual.... It even says so in the name

Alex87f > Victorious Secret
02/09/2014 at 14:22

Kinja'd!!!

"Not a problem..."

Alex87f > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/09/2014 at 14:23

Which is why I called it "automated manual" and "two pedal" in the write-up ;)

Tom McParland > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:28

Wagon...I've had 4 manual trans cars. I love having 3-pedals, but I love wagons more. Which is why I miss my LGT wagon so much, it was both.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:41

SMG is a 3-pedal manual... always has been since SMG I in the E36 M3 Evo in 1996

Orange Exige > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 14:51

Easy peasy - I don't like wagons and I love manuals so you can take a guess at my choice.

biturboism, the cult > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 15:39

Kinja'd!!!

This.

Every.

Fucking.

Day!

Dunnik > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 16:13

Eck, tough call.

...Wagon, with SMG. I could learn to live with it. I think.

Alex87f > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/09/2014 at 16:24

Nope. 2 pedals:

Modified:

Kinja'd!!!

And stock:

Kinja'd!!!

RafelX > Alex87f
02/09/2014 at 16:42

Interesting that the stock brake pedal is the manual version and not the wider automatic one.

Mathias Rios > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/09/2014 at 17:17

SMG is definitely not 3-pedals, at least in the modern ones.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Mathias Rios
02/09/2014 at 17:29

The dead pedal is the 3rd pedal.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > RafelX
02/09/2014 at 17:30

I count 3. The dead pedal is the 3rd.

Mathias Rios > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/09/2014 at 17:38

You can't really insinuate that a dead pedal (aka, something that doesn't absolutely nothing to help the car change gears and is basically just shaped metal) would classify the SMG as a 3-pedal, right?

Mathias Rios > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/09/2014 at 17:39

But the dead pedal doesn't do anything. The word "dead" describes it's usage. If that's the case my 99 Mercedes SUV is a 3-pedal manual, since I can change the gears from 1-D using the shifter.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Mathias Rios
02/09/2014 at 17:59

Yes it is

And the dead pedal does do something, otherwise even the cheapest of OEM cars wouldn't have it

Mathias Rios > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/09/2014 at 18:10

wot?

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Mathias Rios
02/09/2014 at 18:36

it does make it a 3-pedal car

and it absolutely has a use making it more than just shaped metal; even though it has nothing to do with changing gears and

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Mathias Rios
02/09/2014 at 18:37

What function do you think the dead pedal serves?

Mathias Rios > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/09/2014 at 18:39

Nothing. Apart from providing a place to rest your foot. By definition a pedal is (thanks to our friend the dictionary)

a foot-operated lever or control for a vehicle, musical instrument, or other mechanism, in particular

As far as I'm concerned, a dead pedal doesn't fit that definition.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > Mathias Rios
02/09/2014 at 18:48

and providing that place to rest is crucial for driving hard (bracing yourself).

If you've never used or don't acknowledge the importance of the dead pedal like that in any car be it auto or manual in any form, then you aren't a true enthusiast.

Additionally, the modifier "dead" makes it such that the pedal doesn't need to operate anything and still be called a pedal. Any automotive engineer (and I do happen to be a R&D automotive engineer, as a point of information) will tell you the same.

Mathias Rios > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman
02/09/2014 at 19:41

I have never heard of that. Sure the "dead pedal" is nice as support, but I have NEVER heard of it counting as an actual pedal. Never ever. Find someone to backup your claims because or I'll still think you're making no sense.
Furthermore, I don't think it's fair to not call me an automotive enthusiast simply based on that fact.

Alex87f > Mathias Rios
02/10/2014 at 02:49

Well this was interesting.

I learned to drive on a manual Citroën with a foot-operated e-brake and a dead pedal. So it was a 5-speed and 5-pedal manual!

bob and john > Alex87f
02/10/2014 at 08:29

I claim creds to informing him of this