[decaf]

signed up for M Performance event, until I realized it was a bad idea, so I cancelled my reservation.

the said M2, M3 and M5 would be available for test drives...

I get the feeling that if I test drive the M5, there can only be two possible outcomes:

(1) I buy one(bad idea... bad for my wallet... or bad for the blood pressure of my insurance agent, etc....)_

(2) I don't buy one(and think about it all the time while I drive my "lowly" 540i)

when I was young many decades ago, I was "lucky" enough to drive a highly-customized Rolls-Royce(now a BMW product) belonging to my boss. She was the CEO and I was just a young kind working as an intern. One of my duties was to go to her house(mansion, actually) every week when she was out of town and fire up the engine of the Rolls... then drive it around her area for half an hour before parking it back inside her garage.

That was decades ago... it took me over 10 or 15 years until I could drive any other car without thinking "hmmmm... this is a crappy car, compared to the Rolls" I even accidentally said it out loud while driving my late father's brand-new Mercedes 560SEL. He looked at me like he thought I was mad... or insulting him... instead, he said "you're a good-looking kid, how come you never became a boy toy for your lady boss?"(yes, my father was that kind of guy who would have been proud of me if I did pull that off)

I imagine that if I test drive the M5 now, history will repeat itself again and I'll not be able to enjoy any other car for a long while.

[vt100]

I’d not worry too much about it. There is no way this giant heavy hybrid M5 can be better or more inspiring than a e39 or a e60 m5

[pbonsalb]

I did one of those events in 2017 ago and drove M240i, M6, and 540i. At the time I had a 2008 M3, which I kept until 2021, when I bought a 2018 M5.

The 540i is a great car. Tune it and modify the suspension and keep it a few more years. I have zero interest in a 5000 lb M5, but do think the 2018-2023 M5 is a fantastic car. Buy a CPO 2022 or 2023.

[zx10guy]

No such issue with me. When BMW was offering their M Car Control Clinic, I got to drive the F generation M3/4 Competitions. I owned and still own an E82 135i. Spent a day running the M cars through their paces in various track scenarios. Never once did it drive an itch for me to get rid of my 1er. I think it's a bit silly to cancel a class that improves your driving for a fear/what if that you might want to replace your current car.

[maticCRO]

Now this is a text book example of over thinking hahaha. I dont mean it in a bad way man, but chill, go and enjoy that M perf event, and if by some miracle you really end up wanting ti buy an M5 or some of the cars there , so what, you only live once if you can afford it, and if not, no big deal, at least you took it for a spin, thats a cool experience.

[dosmildos]

I did that some years ago and it was a blast. It’s true though, when I got back in my 550i I felt as if someone had replaced it with a 528. By the time I got back to NC, it was back to normal. You can get over it. Just do it and enjoy.

[TriumphTim]

Yeah, but that was back when Rolls were Rolls, what were you driving back then at the time to compare? There was actual difference in quality a long time ago between high and low priced items...

Now I find that differential to be much smaller... the cheap stuff has gotten very good and the expensive stuff has been cheapened to maximize shareholder profit.

I test drove an F30 while owning my E46 and E90, yuck, boatier, cheap feeling, just lame overall. I am done with BMWs for anything newer than E90.

The new M5 might be way faster on paper but so soft, bloated, and deadened that it will have a much less sense of speed. Old "slow car fast" thing is completely true for me...

Third possible outcome is that you fall back in love with your car...

[Janjohn]

From the opposing point of view I can easily enjoy a free test drive of a car I can’t afford or shouldn't buy as a daily driver. It would be great fun to drive a Ferrari on a closed course but I could never feel comfortable parking it to grab a cup of coffee.
I always love the BMW parked in my garage ready for a road trip anywhere.