Muscle for the masses

£25,000 - BMW M5 vs AUDI RS6 vs JAGUAR XJR vs MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG

What you get for £25k is comparable to none... a cool, calm and collected tourer that when you hammer down your right foot changes into a menacing-tarmac-destroyer. These cars are both practical and, at times, insane but that’s why we love them... will you?

There’s no better way of making rapid but understated progress than in a large-engined sobersuited executive saloon. We take a look at four fully paid-up members of the ‘400bhp club’: BMW M5, Audi RS6, Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG, and the Jaguar XJR.

We often hear that prestige cars are getting too fast for Britain’s roads. After all, you can’t travel more than a few hundred metres these days without running into a speed trap. But to the doubters, we say that having 400bhp under your right toe isn’t just about driving everywhere fast – far from it in fact.

Control’s the name of the game – and never before have you been able to get so much of it for such reasonable money. Given a budget of £25,000 – a realistic level for a fully specified BMW 320d, then there’s a positive honey pot of ballistic executive motors at your disposal. And not just the second tier ones either, these are the real deal.

First under the spotlight is the ‘old’ Audi RS6 – a car which looks rather subtle compared with the current chrome-fronted S6. Next up is the previous-generation BMW M5, which can be yours from as little as £12,000. Completing our foursome are a couple of more mature warriors – the supercharged Jaguar XJR, and the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG.

In all cases, you’re looking at cars which are no longer current (the Eclass was heavily revised in 2006 and while the Jaguar is still in production, it’s now in facelifted form), but which we reckon carry more than enough badge kudos for this not to lessen their desirability. In short, which of these cars do you want on your drive, and are they worth the extra hassle over that brand new 320d?

BMW M5 (E39): The most dynamic

When it appeared in 1999, the BMW raised the bar for performance saloons to such a lofty level, that only the cream of the supercar crop could show it a clean pair of heels. With 400bhp on tap, delivered in creamy smooth lumps, and chassis dynamics typically M-Sport brilliant, it became the benchmark for all to beat.

Eight years on, and with its 507bhp replacement firmly established, the E39-generation M5 is still revered as one of the finest cars ever built. Where this one scores so highly is in terms of feel – the steering is alive, the throttle feels hard-wired to every twitch of your right foot, and the handling is so adjustable that you’ll scarcely believe that this is a fullsized executive saloon. But let’s face it, we’re telling you nothing you don’t already know.

Although the M5 is probably close to being the ‘ultimate driving machine’, it’s also incredibly fulfilling to live with. The perfect seating position makes the M5 a relaxing long-distance tourer – just like any other 5 Series – but you also get a number of special little touches, such as the illuminated gear shift, to remind you of just how special your purchase is.

It’s fully equipped too – and although the cabin looks a little dated compared with the AMG, you’ll not suffer at all in terms of comfort. The ride quality is firm, but controlled – perfect for the motorway – and mechanical noise is exceptionally subdued. In other words, it might be a sports car, but it plays the role of luxo-barge surprisingly well.

The M5 is a car for petrolheads, though, and primarily it’s all about combining supercar ability with five seats, its all-round brilliance is a bit of a bonus. Current prices are low, but in future only the best M5s will command premium prices. If you’re buying as a keeper, keep the miles low and don’t scratch it!

Audi RS6: The best built

As super-saloons go, it’s looking good for the Audi. With 444bhp on tap and the bonus of a four-wheel-drive quattro drive train, there’s no doubting that it’s a quick car point-to-point. Amazing acceleration and top speed are a given, but there’s a Zen-like calmness when on the move – and this will flatter your driving because you’ll be covering ground faster than an Exocet missile on afterburners.

It’s not limo-cosseting though, and that’s worth bearing in mind for high mileage motorway drivers. It’s just the right side of stiff without being unforgiving, but in town the ride is a tad joggly.

Audi decided to limit the transmission option to its Tiptronic system, which we rate a great deal. It adapts to your driving style and in Sport mode it’ll hang on to lower gears longer in the pursuit of swift cross country progress. The steering isn’t suffused with feel, but weighting is reassuringly firm.

However, as a day-to-day proposition, the Audi is fantastic. It’s quiet and refined when you’re not pushing, but not so much that you don’t hear the turbos. The interior is a work of art – tightly screwed together, it’s a tactile delight, especially as everything is well laid out.

It’s an adult choice, with hidden depth – subtle enough to go unnoticed and inert to the point of anonymity when you’re stuck in traffic. If we had to throw a criticism at it, the soul of the RS6 takes a lot of finding compared with the lively M5, but that is probably just fine for those buyers who understand its understated charm.

It’s also expensive compared with the BMW, but that’ll pay dividends when you come to sell, especially if you go for the alternatively appealing five-door Avant version – a car that had no rivals when new

Jaguar XJR: The most comfortable

We love the subtlety of the XJR, although for many the arrival of the new generation of Jaguar’s long running saloon in 2003 went pretty much un-noticed, such was its me-too styling. However, advanced all-aluminium construction marked this out as one of the most exciting cars in the luxury sector.

The V8 XJR supercharged line has been around since 1997, and the current model uses a development of that original engine, boosted to 400bhp thanks to an Eaton supercharger the size of Hampshire under the bonnet. In the lightweight XJ, this engine is phenomenal; delivering sledgehammer punch combined with a whining supercharger accompaniment.

Dynamically, its lightweight construction pays dividends – it’s a large car, but the XJR can still be hustled along at unlikely speeds in uncanny comfort. The CATS damping
works a treat, combining compliant ride with surprisingly nimble cornering ability when required, and a final bonus is that the steering is packed with feedback, though will still be too light in feel for some. In short, it’s fast when you want it to be, but wonderfully cosseting when you don’t. And that’s a hard combination to beat.

The retro theme carried off outside with such aplomb is continued inside – but don’t think that the olde-world cabin is lacking in new-tech toys. The XJR has all the equipment you’ll ever need and is incredibly easy to live with as a result. There’s no disguising its external bulk – and after an M5 it’ll feel like you’re piloting the USS Nimitz – but the upside is the roomy interior, and undoubted road presence.

It’s probably the cheapest of the foursome to run, and you’ll be pleased with the (comparatively good) fuel consumption courtesy of its lightweight – but start looking closely, and you’ll see one or two quality compromises. Still, despite that, resale values are stronger than
you’d think, despite the recent appearance of the facelifted model.

MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG: The most characterful

Just when you thought it was safe to enter the super-saloon arena, Mercedes-Benz comes
wading in kicking sand in everyone’s face with its AMG powered E-Series. If BMW’s M Division could be summed up using the word ‘delicate’, the go-faster alternative from
Stuttgart would be, ‘bonkers’.

Logically, the E55 AMG is too much – with a 469bhp V8 shoehorned into the familiar taxicab shape, it has the potential to be the world’s finest QCar. However, AMG Mercs are all about show as well as go, and with massive alloys and an aggressive bodykit – you’ll not remain discrete for long. And that’s before you fire it up. However, despite not being the understated choice, it’s hard not to love the AMG, especially in estate car guise (which sadly would smash our £25k budget). It’s the most compromised of this bunch by a long way, and that’s mainly down to its mammoth power and torque.

Push it on a twisting road and you’ll fire up all manner of warning lights at the merest hint of throttle, as the EBD, ESP and ABS all struggle to cope with the task in hand. A firm ride and racespec brakes do their best to keep the rolling storm in check, but you know that the end result is never going to be relaxing.

But if you have petrol in your veins, you’ll be prepared to forgive it for its boorish manners because in a straight line, it will match an Aston Martin Vanquish or Lamborghini Murciélago.Say no more.

We’ve majored on performance, because that’s mainly what the E55’s about – but inside, it’s E-Class business as usual. Solid interior, excellent ergonomics and Mercedes-Benz build quality. Running one’s prohibitively expensive – but spare a thought for the first owner’s hit on depreciation. Still, their loss is your gain.

What’s the best of the best?

Despite their desirability, and apparent high-fashion-status with petrolheads, these cars all suffer from horrendous depreciation. Big drinking multi-cylinder petrols are not flavour of the month on the used car market at the moment, and that results in terrific bargains for enthusiasts looking for a ballistic bargain.

We’ve said it before, but you’ve never been able to pick up as much speed, room and style for the money as you can right now. And that leaves you with the sticky dilemma of choosing the best of the bunch.

All four cars make compelling cases for themselves – the BMW for its dynamics, and wonderful engine, the Jaguar for its suaveness, the Mercedes-Benz for its amazing pace, and the Audi for its grip and quality. And because of that, there are no losers – and the only winner will be you, whatever car you buy.

The driver’s choice has to be the BMW – its handling and steering are sublime, and it feels altogether more focused than the alternatives. There’s also the small matter of the price – supply is plentiful, and that means you can get a very, very nice example for your ceiling of £25K. Downsides? We’re struggling to think of any.

The AMG is a lot more expensive, but seeking one out is worth the effort. With 469bhp on tap, you’re going to feel like king of the road – but running costs will make a grown man cry. The Jaguar’s the definite sleeper here – and although it’s saddled with that retro millstone, the XJR is actually incredibly agile, poised and blessed with a wonderful engine note.

That leave us with the Audi – it’s difficult to find an RS6 in saloon form, but it’s definitely worth the effort. Ultimate grip and stability are peerless, and that V8 under the bonnet is a work of art. When you’re not in the mood to crack on, you’ll love the beautifully constructed interior – and that makes this the best long-term bet. RS Audis also have cult status – possibly more so than BMW’s M-Cars, and that will probably translate into a flatter depreciation curve as the years pass. And for these reasons, as well as its wider range of talents, we’d feel happiest parking the Audi on our drive instead of the default-choice brand new BMW.