Photo: original image by autoevolution
So you won the lottery and are an avid BMW fan. What should you get? That’s a question I hope you’ll one day end up asking yourself and you’ll find my post useful in reaching an answer. Well, there are a couple of choices out there but choosing one won’t be easy.
First of all, you need to ask yourself what you’ll be doing with your car most of the time and how you like to drive. Not everyone buys a BMW for its trademark driving feel or its dynamics. Some people just want a comfortable car that can get them out of trouble when needed. That’s why I’ll split the choice into family haulers and sporting madness.
If you’re a family man, it doesn’t get much better than the new X5. In the US, the top of the range xDrive50i model starts at just $68,200 MSRP and you’ll get a 4.4-liter V8 that makes 450 HP and 650 Nm of torque (480 lb-ft), capable of sending over 2 tons of metal to 60 mph in under 5 seconds, plenty of grunt for any situation.
With the rest of the money you’ll then be able to add a plethora of optional features to the total, making your $100,000 car unique and ready for any situation. If the family has over 5 members, you can even get 2 extra seats in the back to keep everyone happy.
On the other hand, when it comes to driving madness and less about hauling your family from one place to the other, the choices are even harder to make. The first car that pops into my mind is the M5. With 560 HP and 680 Nm (501 lb-ft) of torque at its disposal, it’s hard to argue that this car won’t provide the feelings you want.
It’s also a big sedan, so you can use it later on if you decide to start a family. Of course, it won’t be as comfortable as an X5 but it will do until you decide what to do. However, the M5 might be a bit too big and heavy for some people, even though the powertrain will make sure you never feel the weight.
For those people there’s also the M3/M4 combo. The two have been developed exclusively to cater to those that started to complain that the BMW badge only stands for luxury and hefty price tags and less for pure driving enjoyment.
The two are just as fast as the M5 but a lot lighter, smaller and less powerful. They use a 3-liter biturbo petrol engine that makes 431 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque. Weighing nearly 500 kilos (1,100 lbs) less than the bigger sedan, the two will surely be extremely swift and nimble while also costing nearly $30,000 less. For that kind of money you can get all the optionals you want but don’t need.
Last but not least, you should also consider the new kid on the block, the M235i. Get it with a manual gearbox and, for around $45,000 you won’t get a better deal if you’re looking to have fun behind the wheel. The little coupe will do 0-60 in less than 5 seconds and will go up to a max speed of 130 mph.
On top of all that, for the nearly $50,000 left you can get the complete M Performance package for it that includes a limited-slip differential at the back. Let the fun times begin!
Sure, looking over the BMW line-up in the states, few cars don’t make the cut when you have 100 grand to spend but money isn’t everything. The choice will always come down to what you intend to do with your new car.
If you’re a family man, it doesn’t get much better than the new X5. In the US, the top of the range xDrive50i model starts at just $68,200 MSRP and you’ll get a 4.4-liter V8 that makes 450 HP and 650 Nm of torque (480 lb-ft), capable of sending over 2 tons of metal to 60 mph in under 5 seconds, plenty of grunt for any situation.
With the rest of the money you’ll then be able to add a plethora of optional features to the total, making your $100,000 car unique and ready for any situation. If the family has over 5 members, you can even get 2 extra seats in the back to keep everyone happy.
On the other hand, when it comes to driving madness and less about hauling your family from one place to the other, the choices are even harder to make. The first car that pops into my mind is the M5. With 560 HP and 680 Nm (501 lb-ft) of torque at its disposal, it’s hard to argue that this car won’t provide the feelings you want.
It’s also a big sedan, so you can use it later on if you decide to start a family. Of course, it won’t be as comfortable as an X5 but it will do until you decide what to do. However, the M5 might be a bit too big and heavy for some people, even though the powertrain will make sure you never feel the weight.
For those people there’s also the M3/M4 combo. The two have been developed exclusively to cater to those that started to complain that the BMW badge only stands for luxury and hefty price tags and less for pure driving enjoyment.
The two are just as fast as the M5 but a lot lighter, smaller and less powerful. They use a 3-liter biturbo petrol engine that makes 431 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque. Weighing nearly 500 kilos (1,100 lbs) less than the bigger sedan, the two will surely be extremely swift and nimble while also costing nearly $30,000 less. For that kind of money you can get all the optionals you want but don’t need.
Last but not least, you should also consider the new kid on the block, the M235i. Get it with a manual gearbox and, for around $45,000 you won’t get a better deal if you’re looking to have fun behind the wheel. The little coupe will do 0-60 in less than 5 seconds and will go up to a max speed of 130 mph.
On top of all that, for the nearly $50,000 left you can get the complete M Performance package for it that includes a limited-slip differential at the back. Let the fun times begin!
Sure, looking over the BMW line-up in the states, few cars don’t make the cut when you have 100 grand to spend but money isn’t everything. The choice will always come down to what you intend to do with your new car.
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