Drove a E60 545i fully loaded spt.pkg and all and by no means I am suggesting that a Kia Optima Hybrid is better then a E60 BMW 545i. Just saying that when it was time to upgrade my E39 525i we went and drove the E60 545i it was more refined but still had that BMW DNA. Fast forward to the time when it was time to replace an E60 545i the new F10 just left me disappointed in terms of driving dynamics as I drove 535i and 550i M-sport. Too much luxury not enough sport.
As for the E60 and Optima no comparison the E60 is dynamically a far superior car. Even F10 is far superior car then Optima. However, F10 lacks excitement that made 5 series of previous generations more fun to drive. Our choice was to replace E60 545i with another BMW and nothing in the lineup really excited us except for a 3 series coupe and we already have it. All the newer generation cars were unexciting. Thus, if the car company that offers the best balance of sports and luxury is even lacking in sports now. Then go for a car that is more practical. The choices are either emotional or sense-able, you go emotional when you love something and if there is nothing you love then go sense-able.
Basically what I am saying is If I am limited to driving a nice expensive bedazzled temperamental appliance. Then I'll pass on the luxury bedazzlement and just buy a cheaper, reliable and easy to maintain appliance over the expensive bedazzled temperamental appliance.
Bottom line is I have never been into ultimate luxury aspects of cars, for me sports takes priority. This is coming from a guy who had a BMW 7 series for 5 years and came back down to a 3 series because BMW driving experience was more pure at the lower level in my opinion and price was not the ultimate reason.
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Originally Posted by Justin*
I don't know about the kia vs BMW debate. My wife and I just recently bought her e60 535i. We were replacing an 04 Nissan Maxima that could be described as beautiful junk. Anyway, we looked at the Top of the line Kia Optima and Sorento. They were nice enough; and she liked them, but they weren't in the same league as the BMW in terms of comfort and performance. She loved the e60; so that is what came home. Plus the newer Kia cost more than the e60. Of course, these are just my opinions. I know I've said this at least once before. I think that looking at two cars subjectively with the prospect of buying each while having no real experience with either is a huge factor vs owning a particular vehicle for years and then changing. Living with something day in and day out; people get the itch, need, desire (whatever for change). We'd never owned any of the said cars before. Therefore, we didn't go in with any negatives or things that had been bugging us of either car to compare to the other. I think this makes a difference.
Now that we've had the e60 for a little while; the only thing I can really think of is the damn cup holder placement in that car. Oh well, at least they fixed that on the F10
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