Vs Motor Trend: BMW 545 vs Infiniti M45 Sport vs Mercedes E500 vs. Cadillac STS V8.

[bmwrules]

The test was conducted at a winery, hence the bad puns.

1st Place - BMW 545:
"Even with controversial Active Steering, nothing pours performance like a Bimmer."

6-speed automatic
0-60: 5.5
0-100: 13.6
1/4 mile: 13.8 @ 102.8 mph
60-0: 123 feet
600 foot slalom: 64.6 mph average
lateral acceleration .80 average

2nd Place - Infinite M45 Sport:
"Japan's barroom-brawler brand is quickly aging into a fast sophisticate"

5-speed automatic
0-60: 5.8
0-100: 15.4
1/4 mile: 14.1 @ 99 mph
60-0: 115 feet
600 foot slalom: 65.6 mph average
lateral acceleration .84 average

3rd Place - Mercedes E500:
"Fast and tasteful, the middle Benz just needs crisper steering."

7-speed automatic
0-60: 5.7
0-100: 13.9
1/4 mile: 14.0 @ 100.6 mph
60-0: 121 feet
600 foot slalom: 63.6 mph average
lateral acceleration .81 average

4th Place - Cadillac STS V8:
"GM's premium division continues to improve, but so do the rest"

5-speed automatic
0-60: 6.1
0-100: 16.5
1/4 mile: 14.4 @ 96.9 mph
60-0: 123 feet
600 foot slalom: 63.2 mph average
lateral acceleration .80 average

 

[Alx]

Overall i would take the M45 Sport. Nothing against the rest, but i like that car most, out of those, M5 would be a different story. But the M45 is really a perfect all around car.

More for everyday purpose's.

 

[warot]

545 fastest with the older engine... not bad
I am one of the few people that fell in love with the E60 at first sight, which was on the net... in real life, this car is the one for me.

 

[Yperion]

My question is: Where is A6 4.2 FSI?

 

[Zafiro]

My question is: What happend to E500?

 

[Zafiro]

Overall i would take the M45 Sport. Nothing against the rest, but i like that car most, out of those, M5 would be a different story. But the M45 is really a perfect all around car.

More for everyday purpose's.

Hey you're not allowed to speak, you say so because you own a Infiniti . Ops, Im a BMW fan, I better shut up then

 

[Alx]

Hey you're not allowed to speak, you say so because you own a Infiniti . Ops, Im a BMW fan, I better shut up then

Hehehe... Personally im not a brand fan, im open to cars. I like what i like, not by brand, strictly by looks performance, and overall reliability. I think the M45 is incredible, i saw it at the car show and was blown away by it.

 

[Zafiro]

Hehehe... Personally im not a brand fan, im open to cars. I like what i like, not by brand, strictly by looks performance, and overall reliability. I think the M45 is incredible, i saw it at the car show and was blown away by it.

Dont get me wrong Im open for other brands as well but BMW is No1 but it doesnt mean I only want to own a BMW, many other cars is on my wishlist .

 

[Yperion]

I 'm sure A6 could had taken the first or at least the second place if it participated.Shame.

 

[Kleemann_SL]

That problem with the steering of the E makes me really crazy!!!
Why cant they just make a better steering like the CLS
All the rest is fine, I hope they will solve that problem with the facelifted models, and plus the new 5.5 V8...it would be a real monster. But I doubt that
I would choose the 545 too... The 5 deserve the 1st place here!! Im really impressed about the steering of that car But still I dont like the front

 

[GTA45E]

I believe the facelifted E500 will get the steering rack of the CLS,
I`ve been reading that rumer for awhile! I`m wondering if the S500`s 5.5liter
382hp will be featured as well.

 

[Lemantech]

I 'm sure A6 could had taken the first or at least the second place if it participated.Shame.

I don't know..........A6 is my favorite car in its class but i dont think its performance is as good as the others....and this test seems to be based on performance.

 

[cawimmer430]

My question is: What happend to E500?

No surprise here. Car and Driver and Motor Trend are known for their performance bias. They treat every car as if it were a performance car. I remember reading about a C&D review on economy cars. They tested economy cars like the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0 and Hyundai Elantra etc. What struck me most were the anti-performance comments such as a 10 second 0-60 time. 10 seconds!? Excuse me Car and Driver but such a result is pretty respectable for economy cars, considering their primary purpose is to deliver good fuel economy and not race. Here in Europe, we have economy cars that take 15+ seconds to reach 100 km/h.

Anyway, the BMW and Infiniti are obviously the sporty cars of this bunch, the Cadillac and the Mercedes are less sports oriented, but more on cruising. And Mercedes softens up their suspensions and steering systems for their TARGET MARKET crowd in the North American markets. I've read this all too often that European Mercedes' have a better steering feel, especially cars like the E, ML, CLK and S-Classes. Most North American shoppers for the Mercedes E-Class probably wouldn't be too concerned about crisp steering and handling qualities like a European buyer would. And if they are, there's the optional Sports Package which will make their potential E-Class sportier.

 

[cawimmer430]

That problem with the steering of the E makes me really crazy!!!
Why cant they just make a better steering like the CLS

Trust me, THEY DO. I mentioned already that American-spec Mercedes' tend to receive softer suspensions and vaguer steering feels because of the main target market (people who are not too sports driving oriented). Our German-spec E320 Avantgarde (sporty trim level) has a pretty direct steering feel. It's still a touch vague compared to most modern MB's, but it's enough for involving driving around curvy roads here. Our suspension is also harder than the regular E-Classes.

I've drive some Elegance spec E-Classes and they feel way more different. The steering is noticebly vaguer and the suspension softer, but it still does a good job of handling European roads. Now, take this car and modify it for the US market and of course the purists will wonder why it drives like a boat.

BTW, I've also driven the W211 E-Class with the new Sports Package and the steering feel there is phenomenal. The suspension was pretty hard though.

 

[Zafiro]

Trust me, THEY DO. I mentioned already that American-spec Mercedes' tend to receive softer suspensions and vaguer steering feels because of the main target market (people who are not too sports driving oriented). Our German-spec E320 Avantgarde (sporty trim level) has a pretty direct steering feel. It's still a touch vague compared to most modern MB's, but it's enough for involving driving around curvy roads here. Our suspension is also harder than the regular E-Classes.

I've drive some Elegance spec E-Classes and they feel way more different. The steering is noticebly vaguer and the suspension softer, but it still does a good job of handling European roads. Now, take this car and modify it for the US market and of course the purists will wonder why it drives like a boat.

BTW, I've also driven the W211 E-Class with the new Sports Package and the steering feel there is phenomenal. The suspension was pretty hard though.

E-class from 2005 has the new steering

E-classes with production year 2005 got new steering which doesn't harden any more during fast direction changes and works very direct

 

[cawimmer430]

E-class from 2005 has the new steering

E-classes with production year 2005 got new steering which doesn't harden any more during fast direction changes and works very direct

Again, probably softened up for the US market. I've only driven one 2005 E-Class this summer (actually two but an E350 T-Modell with Sports Package on the dealer lot doesn't count) and it was a 2005 E200 Kompressor T-Modell with the Sports Package and the steering was very direct, just like in the A-Class and facelifted C-Classes. Mercedes definitely softened it up for the US market, I am 100% positive about that.

 

[HALO]

The better car of the bunch is the M. I would rather have that in my garage.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

The better car of the bunch is the M. I would rather have that in my garage.

that's a pretty old thread you're reviving. Doesn't matter though, since the 545 has been replaced with the 550

 

[Michael]

I wonder why no 550i instead of 545i.

Halo are you in any way related to GODFATHER? I remember a member at GCF that was by that name and had the same avator

 

[GTA45E]

BMW 550i was just introduced not too long ago. I don`t know if it could have made the test.