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BMW M5 vs Vauxhall VXR8 Drift Off. Which Is Better?

Comparing a BMW with a Vauxhall isn’t all that fair, to be honest. It’s not only the legacy of the two and the years of performance that stand behind them but especially because of the price, be that especially the M5 and the VXR8 models.
BMW M5 vs Vauxhall VXR8 1 photo
Photo: Screenshot from Youtube
While the VXR8 is the most expensive car Vauxhall is currently making it’s still light-years behind the M5, at least price wise. Looking at what the two bring, on paper, the battle is closer than expected.

The BMW we’re looking at here is an M5 fitted with the Competition Package. That means it’s even more expensive than the regular super-sedan but it’s also slightly improved in key areas. The ZCP model has a revised suspension, new steering, more power (+15 HP) and a refreshed rear differential. The total power output therefore, reaches a mind boggling 575 HP and 680 Nm (501 lb-ft) of torque, plenty for a 2 ton car to do what you’re about to see.

The VXR8 on the other hand, has 585 HP and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque coming out of a 6.2-liter V8 supercharged engine. It’s a beast, coming from a Corvette. With those numbers, the Vauxhall reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.3 seconds when fitted with a manual gearbox.

Even so, when pitted against each other, the differences start to show. The DCT gearbox on the M5 is worth all the money in the world and, if you’re an old-fashioned chap, a manual unit is also available, a rare thing in this segment.

Some might say that the price difference is just too big to justify the added performance but judging by Steve’s face, it might very well be worth it, just as he says. Every time you push the two to the limit, the cracks begin to show, letting you know exactly why the Bavarians are asking so much.

That’s not to mean that the Vauxhall is a bad car. Not at all and, if you ask us, the drag race between the two isn’t really all that fair, since the M5 had a dual-clutch gearbox on board. For the price range it’s positioned in, the VXR8 is probably the best option you get but, if you have the extra cash you need for the BMW, you shouldn't even have to give it a second thought.

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