[peterg1965]

Got the call from my friend at my local BMW dealer....

They have just got a 55 plate M5 in as a trade in and it is being prepared for an AUC sale..... 'would I like to come and have a look/drive'...??

'errrrr.... yes'

Not sure if now is the right time financially for me to be buying one...unless my 21,000 RBS shares quadruple between now and next week

Will report back later!

[I335]

Sounds like fun! BTW - what does "55 plate" mean?

[sheps]

Date of first registration identifier:

Current format UK number plates are XX YY ZZZ
XX is an area code
YY (in the case of the car Peter is seeing, 55) is an age code
ZZZ randomly assigned letters creating the individual index.

The first of the two age digits will either be a 0 or a 5
0 designates the car was registered between 1st March and 31st August, 5 means it was registered September 1st to 28th Feb.

The second digit is the year of it's registration.

So, in this case, the M5 Pete is looking at will have been first registred between september 1st 2005 and 28th Feb 2006

[RagingKileak]

Originally Posted by I335

Sounds like fun! BTW - what does "55 plate" mean?

Go sit in the corner!

Oh, sorry your an American...

Its registered early 2005. Or late 2005 or late 2004.... we each year we have a 5* plate and an 0* plate... and then early on in the next year, the same old plate carries on for a bit... so that must mean 55 is either late 2004, or early 2005... so it cant be late 2005, because that would be 05... or 56?

So like, 2005 its... oh I dunno.

To cut a long story short, its definately a 2005 car. Unless its 2006. Or on the off chance its 2004.

Matt

[hmi1750]

it should be a MY2006 car (or an older stock MY2005 car) which was registered on after Sept 2005.

Back On topic... COOL! should be a beast on the road.. have fun.

[dxb335d]

Matt you plonked. It will be sept1st 05 till end fen 06 likesheps said.


PetAy will this be your first drive of one have fun mate

[peterg1965]

It was ok

[dxb335d]

Lol, I been out in 3 of these bad boys. 1 a ring taxi there utterly immense. How much is this one.

[peterg1965]

It was absolutely immense. A 30 minute test drive doesn't even begin to scratch the surface though - 60 odd combinations of SMG gearbox settings/DSC modes/M settings - most of which I would never use (probably).

The point of the car to me is that it is an 'affordable' supercar in a saloon body that sounds sublime and looks understated but aggressive and purposeful. The SMG box clearly takes a bit of getting used to, it was jerky but much better when just slightly lifting off the throttle under acceleration. My salesman friend was sitting in the back (my son was in the front) and talking me through it but decided that he should belt in as I passed 250 bananas an hour - I thought i was doing a lot less - honest!

The car had just been taken in part ex this morning - previous owner had chopped to a 330d! I got the call as he knew I was 'casualy' looking for an M5. It was in Interlagos Blue with black leather, not my first choice of colour - I much prefer Silverstone II. Condition was excellent and history impeccable (demo with Bateman BMW and one of their local customers - a mature gentleman!). Spec was good but did not include M functional seats - it had; rear heated seats, LOGIC 7, privacy, electric blind, rear entertainment (a BMW dealer fit), Bluetooth - 33,000 miles and a December 2005 55 plate. Mine for 'just' £31995, which is probably about right compared to other AUC cars.

Will I buy it? probably not this one, timing is bad so I will wait and bide my time. I would really want a Silverstone II car and one with M seats. However, appetite has been well and truly whetted!

[rogerxp]

If you don't want to get shafted come trade-in time you need to get the multi-function seats. If you're in no hurry then I'd keep an eye out for a 'full' leather car which is a £5k option and the dogs danglies.

Amazing all-round car if you can stomach the mpg.

[e92_alex]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

Not sure if now is the right time financially for me to be buying one...unless my 21,000 RBS shares quadruple between now and next week

Will report back later!

What you in at on the RBS shares? if you don't mind me asking I have a few

Awesome motor the M5

[peterg1965]

Originally Posted by e92_alex

What you in at on the RBS shares? if you don't mind me asking I have a few

Awesome motor the M5

RBS shares:
- 4480 @ 51.58
- 535 @ 45.33
- 15840 @ 47.1

All bought in the last two weeks or so, just short of £10K worth. I am just about holding my own at the moment. I twitched last week and sold 16000 shares for a small profit but decided to buy back in at a slightly higher price. I am no investment expert but I am pretty confident that staying the medium/long term with RBS will yield a very good return. Hester, the new CEO, seems to know what he wants to do and once the Govt start to offload the taxpayer owned chunk of RBS (71% at present) the share price should accelerate further. RBS has £1.2Trillion worth of assets and is only valued at about £30Bn with the current share price, that says something to me - like BUY!

[rogerxp]

Bloody Hell, RBS shares and an M5 - not sure which is the highest risk strategy there

[peterg1965]

Originally Posted by rogerxp

Bloody Hell, RBS shares and an M5 - not sure which is the highest risk strategy there

Always living life on the edge!