Taycan GTS vs M5 Competition

[CharlieW]

I sold my M5 once I got my GTS, personally I’d opt to get an M5 if I hadn’t had one.

You will never get the same enjoyment out of a Taycan compared to the raw downshifts of a V8. The M5 is also much more rewarding to drive in my eyes, the taycan is very composed whereas you can really get the rear out and such on an M5 and be rewarded for it.

If it wasn’t for company tax benefits of EVs I’d be placing an order for a M3 Touring because I found the M5 slightly sluggish in comparison just due to the mass although as I doubt the V8 will be around for long I’d consider it.

 

[Archimedes]

appreciate the info!!

BTW, I was really bummed, because I wanted to love that car. But it’s just fatally flawed. BMW tried to engineer out the understeer associated with AWD and they wound up with a car that steered horribly.

 

[AtTheGlen]

You currently own and are considering my three favorite brands of cars: Porsche (which I’ve owned since 1999), Audi, and BMW. My wife and I currently own a ‘21 911 Turbo S (992) and a ‘23 Taycan GTS (delivery on 4/5/23 at the L.A. PEC). Up until 2019, I had a number of AMG sedans and sports cars, an M3, a 540i 6-sp and a DB11 until going all-Porsche in 2019. But now, after owning the Taycan GTS, I cannot imagine going back to a sedan, wagon or SUV with an ICE engine, although my next sports car will be a 911 ICE or ICE/hybrid, unless it’s an e-Boxster. For the time being, the 911 can be our travel car if range concerns are an issue. Also, I leased the Taycan assuming that there will be significant improvements in battery range by the end of the lease so I don’t have to worry about depreciation if there is a blockbuster improvement including the rumored 800-mile battery pack.

The Taycan’s acceleration from a stop is explosive and achieved with much less drama (and noise) but greater impact than the 911. (I’ve only done launch control on these cars at the PEC, but both are astounding.) If I’m driving one of the cars, I never wish i were driving the other. I love the GTS package with its unique suspension calibrations and sound. The badging (e.g., on the rocker panels) is cool and I understand that it achieves a lower stance in Sport Plus than other Taycan models (vs. the Turbo and Turbo S? - not sure). Also the interior is more sports-sedan oriented. For example, the interior door pulls on my 911 are brushed aluminum and the steering wheel is leather; on the Taycan GTS, they are matte-black aluminum and race tex.

Two quick configurator alerts: : I originally spec’d my GTS with the special GTS interior - race tex, red or chalk stitching/seat belts, etc. But when I spec’d 2+1 seating in the rear, the center shoulder/seat belt was only available in black. (The center seat still has the backrest pulldown with two cup holders.) It’s interesting that on non-GTS interiors with color seat belts, the center belt is in that color. Maybe that’s been fixed. I went with the leather interior (which allows spec’ing ventilated seats) and I have no regrets. (The sub second clock though ridiculously expensive, was a really nice add to the spec.)

The second watch-out is to spec front-axle lift. The Taycan seems lower in the front than the GT3 I had prior to the current 911! The GPS-aided location memory feature with FAL is useful.

I live close enough to the L.A. PEC that I can go there every three to five years. On previous visits in 2017 and 2022, I did the Turbo S/GT3 experience. When I took delivery of the Taycan at the PEC, because they didn’t have a GTS in the fleet, I drove a Turbo S on the track. The weight of the two Taycans is about the same and suspension tuning is likely similar. I was amazed how well the Taycan handled on the track and by its pace. I’ve read that ”the Taycan shrinks around you”, and given how I was pushing the Taycan as hard as I pushed 911s in the past, I was amazed. Interesting note: at the PEC in 2022, when driving the 911 Turbo S and GT3, the lead-follow instructor said “I’ll be driving a Taycan - it’s the fastest car we have here.” And we were fast - very fast - and I was at my 9.5/10ths keeping up with him. The Taycan handles exceptionally well and the power is amazing.

OK. I’ll stop selling. Bottom line - the Taycan GTS is a uniquely and beautifully styled car with exceptional handling, steering, composure and power. Oh, BTW, when I asked about breaking the car in and the first maintenance interval the answers were: “not really” and “20,000” miles, and I can “refuel“ at home! All the best in making your choice. You have two great options. Well, actually three - on my Apple News Feed earlier today, I saw an article about an all-electric 5 series with an M-version planned. It should be good, but unlike the Taycan’s unique-to-the-brand shape, the i5 looks like the ICE 5 series. Just sayin’.

 

[OzzieT]

@ansky I just sold my V8 BMW for an electric GTS, which by the time it is delivered will have taken 16 months from order. It is a very difficult comparison.

Do you really want an electric car? Do you want a vehicle that is next generation from a driving/speed/comfort perspective? Are you prepared to pay for it and wait for it? If answer is yes to these questions then Taycan GTS.

Do you love the experience of a twin turbo V8, in terms of sound, vibration, feel? Do you like a more traditional handling car with exceptional controls? Are you prepared for a lot of service visits to check and maintain a high performance BMW vehicle? Are you looking for a good deal with immediate availability? If your answer is yes to these questions then BMW.

 

[ansky]

BTW, I was really bummed, because I wanted to love that car. But it’s just fatally flawed. BMW tried to engineer out the understeer associated with AWD and they wound up with a car that steered horribly.

To respond to both posts, I'm a bit in the opposite direction of your car desires at this point in life. I definitly was in a long-time phase where power was my focus. A tuned RS3, a shredded jcw mini (of all things - but I worked on that car and turned it into a monster), a tuned S4, the RS5. And the words that you said that stood out to me, "subdued" for the Taycan and "raw" for the M5 stuck with me. I now pursue the subdued in my vehicles. I like to be able to push my vehicles, but I realize at this point, my track days are over and I embrace a stunning exterior and cockpit almost as much as speed. I might have phased out of the days where raw is my pursuit. And that is why we all love different vehicles.

@AtTheGlen Thank you for your post. Really great info and we definitely share a similar view. Your insights on build are very, very welcome and appreciated!!

@ansky I just sold my V8 BMW for an electric GTS, which by the time it is delivered will have taken 16 months from order. It is a very difficult comparison.

Do you really want an electric car? Do you want a vehicle that is next generation from a driving/speed/comfort perspective? Are you prepared to pay for it and wait for it? If answer is yes to these questions then Taycan GTS.

Do you love the experience of a twin turbo V8, in terms of sound, vibration, feel? Do you like a more traditional handling car with exceptional controls? Are you prepared for a lot of service visits to check and maintain a high performance BMW vehicle? Are you looking for a good deal with immediate availability? If your answer is yes to these questions then BMW.

These are the questions I am asking myself, purely. We have a fast EV in family. I love it. It makes me want another - more refined, more precise, more comfortable. Driving an EV is an experience I have really, really grown to love.

Likewise, I love the hell out of a bombastic V8. I love the M5. I love an immediate and good deal. I definitely dont love the service visits of my last 3 Audis for that exact reason but I have been lucky with all of them.

And that's why I posted this initially. Because I don't have a truly firm answer to the "which one" question but I am posting in TaycanForum for a reason...

 

[outie]

There is no styling advantage on the M5. To regular people it’s just another 5 series. No one will not notice a Taycan is special in styling.

The Taycan is heavy and you will feel it. To me it feels like a boat. Very solid, very quiet, very heavy. It’s fast but it’s not quick.

Can’t really help you there. After having all-EV household for a few years I just had to get an ICE car for fun.

 

[AyTifosi]

A bit of a story on how I got from M5 to Taycan GTS... I too had an M5 on my bucket list. When I was at that stage, the E60 M5 was the current model - the V10 was glorious (150 miles per tank!!). I even learned to love the SMG! Though, it did take me a couple months to get my head around it. Once I did, I truly enjoyed it. When the Vanos went out and the repair bill to the warranty company, which was expiring, was $10K, I knew it was time to let it go. I looked at some F10 M5s, but instead saw a brand new M4 was sitting on the show room. My wife, who picks cars by bright colors alone, saw the Austin Yellow and said, "Ooooo.. you should get that one!" I was like... "uhm.. Okay." Thankfully, the color really grew on me. When she was ready to move on from her C300, her one criteria was that it had to be an EV. I was holding out for a new M4 or I4, but frankly I just can't stand the styling.

One night as we were talking about cars I said, let's just go look at the Taycans. You know... the old "We don't have to drive it" line. Five minutes into the test drive I lost my passion for ICEs and lost interest in my M4. One hard pull from the Taycan and that was it. The Taycan was wicked quick, silky smooth, handled beautifully and extremely quiet. My wife hated the M5 - noisy. She hated the M4 - stiff, bumpy and noisy. We agreed to get the used 4S and then order a GTS, which we now have. I traded in my M4 and her C300 and never looked back. The 4S is absolutely plenty of car. I orded a GTS just because I had the chance and like the extra bit of sporty. Thankfully my wife doesn't feel that it is stiffer than the 4S. Phew!

I recently followed an M5 competition in white. Certainly a gorgeous and very capable car. Yet for me, it just feels like the past. Oil changes, spark plugs, timing belts, fuel injection, fuel pump, gas stations ($5.50/gallon here in WA).. Honestly, it might be quicker. Yet that comes with drama. So perhaps it comes down to a question.. do you want to celebrate the end of an era? Or be an early adapter?

 

[OzzieT]

To respond to both posts, I'm a bit in the opposite direction of your car desires at this point in life. I definitly was in a long-time phase where power was my focus. A tuned RS3, a shredded jcw mini (of all things - but I worked on that car and turned it into a monster), a tuned S4, the RS5. And the words that you said that stood out to me, "subdued" for the Taycan and "raw" for the M5 stuck with me. I now pursue the subdued in my vehicles. I like to be able to push my vehicles, but I realize at this point, my track days are over and I embrace a stunning exterior and cockpit almost as much as speed. I might have phased out of the days where raw is my pursuit. And that is why we all love different vehicles.

@AtTheGlen Thank you for your post. Really great info and we definitely share a similar view. Your insights on build are very, very welcome and appreciated!!



These are the questions I am asking myself, purely. We have a fast EV in family. I love it. It makes me want another - more refined, more precise, more comfortable. Driving an EV is an experience I have really, really grown to love.

Likewise, I love the hell out of a bombastic V8. I love the M5. I love an immediate and good deal. I definitely dont love the service visits of my last 3 Audis for that exact reason but I have been lucky with all of them.

And that's why I posted this initially. Because I don't have a truly firm answer to the "which one" question but I am posting in TaycanForum for a reason...

These were questions to myself too. I went Taycan

 

[or1]

To the question «worth the extra money?». Operational and maintenance costs for the Taycan should be much lower. Depreciation is hard to predict, but maybe not worse, so it is mostly a matter of the interest costs on the extra 25K, not the 25K themselves.

I also agree that the Taycan is more joy to drive. But I prefer less noise these days.

 

[Jiggins]

The same question, but asked on a BMW forum..

https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946005

There seems to be a fair amount of misinformation in the post. I guess we've all driven ICE cars (if not an M5) and on this forum we've all driven EVs. On the M5 forum I suspect there are a lot of people who have never driven an EV.

I'll be honest, prior to ordering the GTS (still waiting - but it's close, it's coming off the production line on Thursday!!) and owning a Mini Cooper Electric, I was very blinkered about EVs. I swore I would never get one, until I had no option. But driving an ICE car now just feels like it's a thing of the past and time has moved on.

Some people will always have their uninformed stance on EVs and it will take a demonstration/test drive etc to change it.

 

[Porsche-Guru]

The same question, but asked on a BMW forum..

https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946005

There seems to be a fair amount of misinformation in the post. I guess we've all driven ICE cars (if not an M5) and on this forum we've all driven EVs. On the M5 forum I suspect there are a lot of people who have never driven an EV.

I'll be honest, prior to ordering the GTS (still waiting - but it's close, it's coming off the production line on Thursday!!) and owning a Mini Cooper Electric, I was very blinkered about EVs. I swore I would never get one, until I had no option. But driving an ICE car now just feels like it's a thing of the past and time has moved on.

Some people will always have their uninformed stance on EVs and it will take a demonstration/test drive etc to change it.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with..

But driving an ICE car now just feels like it's a thing of the past and time has moved on.

I think ICE cars still have a lot to offer in terms of a driving experience. The engine whine, exhaust note, seat vibrations, gear shifts, better feel for the speed without looking at the speedo, getting it in the right gear just as existing a round about or before a turn-in, etc.... and this by no means saying that EVs do not have their driving experience.

I have had a M5, own a M4, had a i4M60 for a while, and am now getting a Taycan....

I believe each car has its place and its own joy. I wouldn't necessarily say that ICE cars are a thing of the past... I still enjoy my M4 and I doubt that the experience is going to be replaced by a Taycan.
The Taycan will offer its own unique driving experience.. and I am sure that I will enjoy that too... but I wouldn't say one is better than the other or more/ less than the other (in terms of driving joy !)

------------------
Update:
I do agree that the time of ICE is limited... so I would enjoy that while we can.

 

[GtechRob]

was considering the same but was put off by a couple of friends who had had M5's and weren't that impressed. A lot came down to ride quality which is very relevant in the UK as our roads are pretty beat up.

 

[Jiggins]

I wouldn't necessarily agree with..

But driving an ICE car now just feels like it's a thing of the past and time has moved on.

Apologies, I should have written that for me, it feels like a thing of the past.

You make very good points though and we're all different.

I don't think I'm young enough to see the time when a Petrol/Diesel car is a rare sight on the roads. But each and every year there is a procession of vintage cars that go past my house on a famous London to Brighton route. Some of the cars date from the very early 1900's maybe even a few in the late 1890's. The smell of the cars (mainly two-strokes) can bring back some memories of older cars/bikes from my childhood (only in the 70's). One day, maybe in a hundred years, we'll see an M5 CS in a similar procession. The mind bogles when you think about what cars will be like in the year 2123

Here's a car from 120 years ago!

Sorry, I may have gone off topic. For the record OP, I'd go with a Taycan GTS ST

 

[f1eng]

I think ICE cars still have a lot to offer in terms of a driving experience. The engine whine, exhaust note, seat vibrations, gear shifts, better feel for the speed without looking at the speedo, getting it in the right gear just as existing a round about or before a turn-in, etc.... and this by no means saying that EVs do not have their driving experience.

Depends what you want.

IMO modern IC engined cars are neither fish nor fowl.
They have high paper power spec but stability control systems. For efficiency they have turbos so the throttle response is poor (though better than the early days).
Yes, a dual clutch ‘box is better and faster than most people’s effort with a manual but IMO the list of benefits you list requires a screaming normally aspirated V8, V10 or V12 (OK maybe a flat 6 sounds OK ), 3 pedals and manual gearbox. No driver over-rides but a limited slip differential.
There aren’t many of those about new.

Then it is fun on short journeys, so I have such a car for fun, but modern IC engined cars are big, heavy and laggy and have so much electronic aids much less skill required so much less driver satisfaction. Though I suppose far fewer errors with cars with far more power than grip.

The Taycan is quiet and comfortable but has excellent sporty driving characteristics IME.

Mind you I went for a CT4S for our dreadful roads and it was the best power for pound value.

 

[Porsche-Guru]

Depends what you want.

IMO modern IC engined cars are neither fish nor fowl.
They have high paper power spec but stability control systems. For efficiency they have turbos so the throttle response is poor (though better than the early days).
Yes, a dual clutch ‘box is better and faster than most people’s effort with a manual but IMO the list of benefits you list requires a screaming normally aspirated V8, V10 or V12 (OK maybe a flat 6 sounds OK ), 3 pedals and manual gearbox. No driver over-rides but a limited slip differential.
There aren’t many of those about new.

Then it is fun on short journeys, so I have such a car for fun, but modern IC engined cars are big, heavy and laggy and have so much electronic aids much less skill required so much less driver satisfaction. Though I suppose far fewer errors with cars with far more power than grip.

The Taycan is quiet and comfortable but has excellent sporty driving characteristics IME.

Mind you I went for a CT4S for our dreadful roads and it was the best power for pound value.

?
I still like it that my better half can hear me coming in from the round-about 200 meters away.... and put the kettle on !
(M Performance exhaust on the straight 6 M4 just about does it for now !)

Oh... I miss the screaming V10 on the older M5... and the stability controls that just about worked.

Most cars today are nanny restricted machines...