This year’s Best New Dream Car, the 2006 BMW M5, won largely because of its relationship with the Most Fun New Car, the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. The ‘Vette looks hot, goes like stink, grips like glue, and is a screaming bargain, relatively speaking. But, with only two seats, the Chevy is short on practicality, and in an ideal world – dreamland – the whole family could experience the insane rush of 500 horsepower being unleashed. Imagine the thrill of your significant other trying to peel terrified children’s faces from the rear windows as you blast your Bavarian Motor Werks sport sedan down the highway at ungodly speeds. Nothing beats family time, eh? Simply put, the 2006 BMW M5 is as close as you’ll come to a four-door Z06, and in many ways, it’s even better. For a starting price of $81,895, buyers of the Bimmer get a 5.0-liter V10 engine pushing 500 horses and 383 lb.-ft. of torque through a seven-speed SMG transmission, though fuel economy rates a dismal 12 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. Oh well, in dreamland gas is plentiful…and free. The standard features list is impressive, and includes stability and traction control systems, locking and limited slip differentials, an electronically-variable suspension, meaty 19-inch wheels, a navigation system, and self-sealing tires with a tire pressure monitoring system. There’s also a six-disc CD changer, two subwoofers, heated everything, side-impact and side-curtain airbags, that darned iDrive (even in dreamland, apparently), and free maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles. OK, so there’s a $3,000 gas guzzler tax and options like a split-folding rear seat and satellite radio add some cost, but the standard features list is plenty long. And, don’t forget, 500 horsepower hustles it all down the road. If the value equation fails to impress you, a ride on the asphalt surely will. The all-new, 4,000-lb. M5 will reportedly hit 60 mph in less than five seconds and is an utter thrill to drive on the track, with 255/40 front and 285/35 rear performance tires providing plenty of grip. Unfortunately, for many of us our Best New Dream Car is just that, a dream. So put the kids to bed, grab yourself a pillow, and hit the road in your new BMW M5. – Thom Blackett
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