benfmd

I am on the fence between going the practical route and getting a new E60 M5, or throwing practicality to the wind and getting a 997 TT.

Anyone have both of these cars or gone from one to the other? How much would I miss the performance of the 997 TT if I got the M5? I currently drive an '05 M3, and my wife drives the Cayenne Turbo ( the family car).

I love taking my 2 kids in the car with me (also have one an the way) and the M5 would allow me to take them all at once.

docjackson1

ben-i drove the m5 various times, when i was evaluating whether to buy it or not. i also own a 997tt 6 speed. there is no comparison between the 2. the m5 is a great sports sedan-if you need 4 seats, it makes sense. the 997tt is an awd, all weather, explosively fast sports car/sports gt car. if you can tolerate 2 seats, it gives you an unmatched driving experience. i chose the 997tt, but i also like you, have a cayenne when i need more seats. if you can tolerate the lack of seats, i would get the turbo.

franki68

Hi,I didn't have an M5 but have gone from an M6 to 997tt but the m6 is pretty similar to the m5 performance wise.
At high engine speeds the m5 is a very very fast car ,but the 997tt is a faster car because it just goes fast anyy gear any revs..the m5/m6 needs big revs to perform.
Really it boils down to how much you n3eed practicality of m5 because as a driving experience it does not compare to what I think is the best car on the road.

craigsduc

I currently own both and feel if you want 4 seats with actual room as well as access ...............the M5 is by far the better car. The performance is unreal when really driven......................but it simply does not have the same personna of the tt. Buy the M5 if you really need the 4 doors and real back seats. It is incredible.....................but lacks the soul of a porsche!

atomic80

I'm a former M5 owner (2001 not 2006) and to me there's just simply no comparison between the two in terms of overall feel. The 997TT to me felt much more connected to the road and is just so much more fun to drive. I used to get giddy whenever I thought about driving my M5 but after having sampled the 997TT, it's now a distant memory for me. But of course as others have said, it all depends on your needs. I never needed a 4/5 seat sedan to begin with so the 997TT suits my needs. I also spent thousands of dollars on the M5 trying to make it handle more like a sports car. You'll spent virtually nothing for the 997TT because it already is a sports car.

docjackson1

it seems like we all 4 agree.

PogueMoHone

I sold both my 2001 M5 and 2001 TT and bought a GT2, I thought they were both too soft.

Seattle997TT

Not sure if your M3 is SMG or not - this was a big issue for me - it's one of those things - you love it or hate it - from hearing and experiencing the E60 M5, I disliked the SMG - now, I do know that the M5 will be available in Spring '07 as a stick shift.

eclou

If you really need a brutally fast family car, I would consider the E55. No, it doesn't handle like the M5 but at any speed it feels like being launched from a carrier deck. I would be leery of making .9-1.0 g turns with my kids in the car, but a quick squirt from 20-60 mph can be done all day long in a controlled manner.

MPS

I had 996tt and M5 E39 at the same time, and now the E60 M5. While I wanted to get the 997tt, I drive very long distances and spend time in congested traffic and on the phone. I did take long trips in tt (even ski trips) and drove it daily all year around.

For frequent long distance highway drives the M5 is better. I have 2 small boys and taking long trips with them in tt can be a problem (it is OK for short city drives). The 997tt is way better for everything else. I hope to get the 997tt and use it most of the time except for long trips.

Maybe the good formula is: when you are really tired after the long day: the M5. All other situations:tt

turbojohn

I was going to make the transition from M3 to M5, but the M5s are just too big and too long of a wait for a standard trans. Plus no faster. Chose the TT instead. My son said, already having the M3, get the ultimate in performance, that means the TT, not a regular porsche or an M5 which do nothing but match my M3 performance.

In the TT, there is room in the back for a small child, and too the children will love the TT more than an M5 Too many times, I have picked out a car for the wife and kids, then they don't ride in it that much, so there you are driving something you wish you didn't have too. For sure the TT is a hell of a lot more fun and excitement than the M5. Really no comparison (IMO)

1AS

Why is the tt not practical? It's just not quite as big, and costs a bit more. However, in many ways it is far more practical than an M5.
Your sig doesn't give a hint about where you live, but if bad weather is an issue, the tt wins big time on practicality. I live in a snowy part of Indiana (in the dunes, near the lake), and in deep snow, my 02X50 goes up the big hill to my house better than anything other than our LX470 (and about as well as my old 964C4). I can drive it fast for fun, or to dinner with my wife for different fun. I'll take it to a formal dinner wearing a tux as readily as the tennis court with my bag thrown in the back,
I take my car thru rush hour traffic on the Dan Ryan, turn it over to valet parkers at downtown restaurants, to the track in wet and dry, and to get groceries. It's a really tough car that just happens to look good. If you get one, don't baby it, drive it hard and enjoy it each day. Lastly, I don't let mine cool down after normal driving, don't change the oil more than the 15,000 mile service interval, don't change the plugs more than the 30,000 interval, and haven't added a drop of oil after about 8,000 miles. Trust me on this one, it is very practical. AS

Terk

I had an '03 M5 and and came very close to taking delivery of an E60 M5 but in the end, 4 doors and a trunk was not mandatory and I really wanted a manual tranny over SMG. I have no problem with SMG, just a preference towards a stick. Assuming that space is not a major requirement and as you have a great family hauler, get the TT, it is so much more satisfying, fun to drive and the power band is so much broader on the TT. You really need some room to fully enjoy the M5. Ask this question on the M5Board and see how the responses difer. As other have said, there really is no comparison as they are two very diferent types of cars.

Bux

My E60 M4 arrived the first week of July. Gone. My 997TT arrives late February. Did you know that even with BMW's new manual, you cannot disable it's traction assist. A little help is nice from time to time, but forced control? Not for me! I rather have my neighors 997 with it's sweat sport exhaust than an M5 that for some reason isn't meant to be driven the way we all like to from time to time. Get the M5 to have a really nice car. Get the TT to have a really fun car.

Bux

Oops, did I type M4 instead of M5. Sorry all.