I
imported_ndrummond
Guest
Just in case anyone is thinking of trading in their RS6 for a new M5, you might like to read the UK magazine Autocar this week. Yes, there's a very flattering test of the new M5, but less obvious is a story about how the BMW 5-Series has only scored 3 stars in the NCAP crash test.
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BMW says that the test wasn't representative of the car's true safety characteristics and is resubmitting revised cars to retake the test. However, NCAP'S response is that the failure reflected major structural deficiencies in the design not minor irregulararities. This suggests that BMW is likely to have to significantly beef up the chassis to raise its rating.
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What's going on? If this is correct, then BMW has really dropped the ball. Only getting 3 stars is the same as saying, have a crash at any speed above 75 kph and you're toast. Given that M cars in percentage terms are involved in more accidents than their lesser powered siblings, this doesn't bode well for potential new owners of the M5.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif
The RS6 may be a bit old, but it remains the better car to be in if you have a smash.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angel.gif
More to the point, I suspect there'll be a lengthy delay while BMW fixes the chassis design and implements it into production. In the meantime, I don't expect the people at Quattro Gmbh will be twiddling their thumbs and the new RS6 should be well into development...
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/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jawdrop.gif
BMW says that the test wasn't representative of the car's true safety characteristics and is resubmitting revised cars to retake the test. However, NCAP'S response is that the failure reflected major structural deficiencies in the design not minor irregulararities. This suggests that BMW is likely to have to significantly beef up the chassis to raise its rating.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked2.gif
What's going on? If this is correct, then BMW has really dropped the ball. Only getting 3 stars is the same as saying, have a crash at any speed above 75 kph and you're toast. Given that M cars in percentage terms are involved in more accidents than their lesser powered siblings, this doesn't bode well for potential new owners of the M5.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cry.gif
The RS6 may be a bit old, but it remains the better car to be in if you have a smash.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angel.gif
More to the point, I suspect there'll be a lengthy delay while BMW fixes the chassis design and implements it into production. In the meantime, I don't expect the people at Quattro Gmbh will be twiddling their thumbs and the new RS6 should be well into development...
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dancing.gif