Can I drive it? How to respond...

[SYCO GT]

So, exotic car ownership is new to me. I only let a handful of people drive my modified 2001 BMW M5, I guess I am paranoid in that way.

Plus, I only got my GT last month. I've given plenty of rides, and I've only let my best friend drive. Since it wasn't broken in yet, no one really asked. But now, I am wondering - what's your thoughts on letting others drive? I'm fully broken in, so that excuse is gone.

My concerns are crashing or them screwing up the car/clutch. I don't want to seem like a pompous asshole, but I also don't want the consequences.

Of course, now I am getting offers from owners of Ferrari's and Porsches to swap drives. I wouldn't mind driving their cars, but probably won't, if I can't respond in kind.

Any thoughts on this subject? I ask, not because I don't have the guts to tell people no, but because I want to see how others feel about people driving their high horsepower car...

 

[Big Carrot]

I've only let a couple of people drive my GT and I knew they had the money to pay for a screw up. BTW, you are way too into the 2001 M5. Decent cars, but not that great. Sorry to burst your bubble.

 

[SYCO GT]

I've only let a couple of people drive my GT and I knew they had the money to pay for a screw up. BTW, you are way too into the 2001 M5. Decent cars, but not that great. Sorry to burst your bubble.

No problem, best car I could afford at the time. It seemed to do well at Willow Spring against 911's and Z06's.

I loved it, and I also loved my '84 Rabbit GTI, '70 Pontiac GTO, '96 Mustang Cobra, '97 Mustang Roush Stage II, '87 535is, '97 M3, which you probably think are all pieces too.

That's okay - it's all relative. It suited my needs well, and I still consider it one of the finest four door sedans around. You're not going to burst my bubble.

Care to share what four door sedan you've owned that's vastly superior?

At least we hopefully agree that the GT is one fine specimen.

 

[jj1987]

which you probably think are all pieces too. That's okay.

Every car you listed is a great choice for it's respective price range (except the M5 :biggrin ). Can't knock them for that........BUT, you've made one huge upgrade :thumbsup

 

[SYCO GT]

Every car you listed is a great choice for it's respective price range (except the M5 :biggrin ). Can't knock them for that........BUT, you've made one huge upgrade :thumbsup

Paid $48K for the M5 used and sold it for $43K, after putting 20K miles on it, so it wasn't too expensive.

I didn't realize the e39 M5 was disliked.

I'm not a fan of the new Bimmers at all. Drove the new M3, M5 and M6 on the track at California Speedway, for the ///M Performance School and it was a very disappointing experience.

Well, the e46 M3 was actually fun and very much in it's element, but the main reason the e60 M5 was disappointing, and the new M6 was disappointing was that they absolutely refused to let us turn off the DSC and Traction Control. So, it was difficult to get any true feeling for the handling of the car, since the electronic nannies were all over. And when you tried to drive the car so smoothly as to not actuate any outside controls, you'd have to go at a pace far slower than what the unencumbered car would be able to handle.

It's not fair of me to say that the new M5 and M6 suck, since I wasn't able to drive them without electronic "aid." Amazingly, a couple people still managed to go off track with all the aids on. I mean, you could basically floor it and steer with no drama, but I guess even that is too much for some.

 

[Big Carrot]

Paid $48K for the M5 used and sold it for $43K, after putting 20K miles on it, so it wasn't too expensive.

I didn't realize the e39 M5 was disliked.

I'm not a fan of the new Bimmers at all. Drove the new M3, M5 and M6 on the track at California Speedway, and it was a very disappointing experience.

It's not disliked.... by me at least. It's just that you mention it in almost every post you make! This isn't the M5 forum. Sorry for the rant. I'm just in a crappy mood this evening for some reason, so don't go getting all butt hurt over my smart ass comment. lol

 

[SYCO GT]

It's not disliked.... by me at least. It's just that you mention it in almost every post you make! This isn't the M5 forum. Sorry for the rant. I'm just in a crappy mood this evening for some reason, so don't go getting all butt hurt over my smart ass comment. lol

I only got rid of it last month, so it is still fresh in my mind. Point taken. I will move on.

Thanks for reading every single post I've made. I have a stalker. :thumbsup

Cheer up. It only gets better with work tomorrow.

 

[ROCMAN]

I have an E60 M5. It's a cool daily, but my wife mostly drives it. STi's and EVO's are great 4 doors at a much better price. I drove in a 600HP Evo, and it was a crazy experience. It would put my GT to shame.

 

[B O N Y]

Can you drive it, the answer is no, sorry, nor can you sleep with my wife or mistress

 

[SYCO GT]

I have an E60 M5. It's a cool daily, but my wife mostly drives it. STi's and EVO's are great 4 doors at a much better price. I drove in a 600HP Evo, and it was a crazy experience. It would put my GT to shame.

I was talking to two EVO owners at the track. Sweet car and dirt cheap. They were joking about how everytime they go to their local Mitsu dealerships, it looks like they are about to go under.

 

[BlackStorm]

I'm not a GT owner but I'll post my thoughts.

My Lightning is VERY important to me, I pay for it, I wash it, and I take care of it. This thing is my hobby. It is because I love it so much (and a sprinkle of paranoia) that I don't let ANYONE drive it, save one person, my dad.

I don't let my close friends drive it because I don't want them getting into trouble with it; they don't really know what 500 ft lbs feels like under their right foot, not that their bad drivers, it's just that they haven't driven something like that before. This does come off as a little arrogant (which I don't mean for it to), but it's just not something I want to risk. It's not that my car is super fast either (mid-high 12's) but I like to be safe. That and there's something about someone else driving MY car.

I'll admit though, that I'm a bit irrational about this subject, just not something I'm comfortable with.

Oh, and I really like the Evo's. Fast, seating for four, and it's a rally car!

 

[SYCO GT]

Thanks BlackStorm. A lot of similarities with how I feel about the subject. Makes me feel less crazy and arrogant to know there are others out there that are also a little paranoid about their cars.

 

[BlackICE]

I think you are wise not to let anyone drive the car, unless they are very familiar with high horsepower cars without traction control. I had an old 88 Vette with only about 300 hp and I let a friend take it for a spin. He has been on the track a number of times, but with a Fiat!. He didn't get 1 block from the office when he spun it up onto a curb and almost collided with a large rock. When I ask him what he did, he replied I floored it exiting the corner and the tires broke loose; he said he always did that with his Fiat. I can only imagine what would happen with the GT!

The throttle is never an on and off switch!

BlackICE

 

[ROCMAN]

I forgot to actually respond to your original post. :biggrin
I have no problem letting someone drive it, as long as I know them, and their driving history. You know the first thing they will do is ride the clutch. :ack

I have, in the past, offered other prospective buyers to test drive my car. I am a true car guy, and I love my cars, but at the end of the day, they are just cars.

If you do not feel comfortable letting someone drive it, then don't. I highly doubt they will think of you as a snob. Hell, most owners will not let anyone even sit in their cars. :lol

 

[fjpikul]

I let all my brothers-in-law drive it WITH ME IN IT! My first words are "$5000 clutch replacement, so don't ride it or start in 3rd," second words are "DON'T PUNCH IT!"

 

[Fubar]

Screw those guys SYCO, an M5 is an awesome car. I don't have one but I have always liked them. It's not like your on the forum dogging a GT (in which case you would get flamed and fast). You don't deserve a lot of flack because you like your M5. An M5 is a fantastic sport sedan.

As for your actual question, I have two criteria for letting people drive my GT.

1) People who I know car handle/respect the power of the GT (which eliminates most of my high school buddies).

2) People who I know could write a check for a new one on the spot.

It's either 1 or 2, not both.

 

[Specracer]

I decided there are only 3 people that I would let drive it, and they are all guys I race with and I greatly respect their driving talents. I like the fact the car has no traction control, but, to someone that is not aware, could be a BIG problem. Hell my wife does not even like to ride in it, so I take turns with the kids (2 and 6 years old) they love it and when they are ready, both of them will be able to drive it.....

 

[B O N Y]

so far only one person has driven my GT, then someone sent me a photo of how she parks and I have been having nightmares ever since.... :biggrin :lol :biggrin

 

[SYCO GT]

An M5 is a fantastic sport sedan.

Thanks for the support! No doubt that the GT spanks it all day long in the performance dept., but I had a lot of fun, and did a lot with it. I wouldn't trade back for it, but still brings nice memories. With headers, racing cats, and a tubi, the sound was nice enough for EA Sports to pay me to drive it and make sound recordings for "Need for Speed - Most Wanted." 395.5 rwhp is not bad for a family sedan and business driver. Pictures taken the day I sold it, with 52,000+ miles.

I can't wait to find the perfect exhaust for the GT. I'm thinking Accufab, but I'll need to hear some more exhausts at the upcoming Ford Show on Dec. 2nd.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Who can drive the GT

SYCO:
1) There's nuthun wrong with a Beemer "5"... or any OTHER Beemer for that matter. This is being said by somebody who's new '07, dual turbo, 335i coupe (wife's car actually) just came in and is ready for pickup at the dealership right now (... but, we have 500ft of snow on the ground here presently, so picking THAT up will have to wait a day or two!). That thing undoubtedly could EASILY stay right with my GT thru any corner at any RATIONAL ( though excessive) street speed anybody could ever reasonably ask it to with no sweat at all... faaaaaar past the ability of most sedans. (Not to mention 0-60 in 5.2, or whatever - and 30mpg!) So, I don't see where criticism of the make is justifiable. But, that's just my opinion ... and just what does my opinion matter to the world at large anyway! :lol
2) Regarding others driving your GT: If you don't provide the opportunity for disaster, disaster will be avoided. Ergo: no let'um nobuddy pilot yur GT but yur own darned self. That way, if it gets sideswiped, rear ended, "T"-boned ... or the clutch fries... or a wheel gets "kissed" on a curb because a corner was "rounded" too tightly - or whatever - you'll know 'ZACTLY how & why it happened and you won't spend every waking moment wondering IF the "story" you were told by your FORMER "friend" was fact or fiction. (And as far as letting someone whom you know can write a check for your car drive it : Fine. But will he actually WRITE ONE for the damage HE causes w/o legal action????? OR EVEN THEN? There's a BIG difference between being ABLE to pay AND ACTUALLY DOING SO. Why do you think so many LAWYERS are kept so busy?) I'll echo what was mentioned by someone previous: w/o the electronic "Nannys" other owners of other cars are so use to, it wouldn't take but ONE momentary lapse of memory for one of these guys to screw up "big time" with a GT. And 3rd gear is toooooo easily mistaken for FIRST!So, if someone doesn't "understand" why you don't wanna let him drive your baby - he won't be much of a loss to your "social list" anyway 'way I figger it. (And uh, just WHO'S insurance will go thru the roof/cancel as the result of a wreck???? "HIS"??? :frown )
That's my two cents...

E.P.