Driving the original M5

This thing is tiny. It takes up less space on the road than a modern M2 and like all E28s there’s an upright screen, thin pillars and slab of a dash. The wheel in right-hookers is quirkily canted but otherwise it’s a great place to sit. Pedal it with a bit of verve and you’re instantly impressed with the sheer linearity of the engine, helped by a very long travel but instantly responsive throttle pedal. The note is smooth with a gravelly overlay. At loping speeds it sounds like a marmoset on codeine. It’s only when you approach the redline that it really gets a bit testy.

The gearchange isn’t to be hurried through the gate and the pedal positioning isn’t great, but the assisted steering is a joy, making it really easy to place the front end. The ride and body control are better than you’d expect given the E28’s advanced vintage. Only the brakes betray the car’s age. It’s nowhere near as scary as we thought at the time, but it still demands respect. It’s a bona fide performance car hall of famer. AE