There’s just something so special about ALPINAs. Ever driven a car that just felt like so much more than the sum of its parts? That’s what ALPINAs feel like. Yes, they’re technically just upgraded BMWs, but they feel like more than that. They feel…special. So, if you’re in the market to buy, say, the new BMW G30 5 Series that’s about to hit dealerships, would you take that same money and buy a slightly older, slightly used ALPINA B7?
This specific B7 is a 2013 model year, making it part of the F01-generation BMW 7 Series. So, it lacks a lot of the tech that the new 5er possess and less luxury features. However, the ALPINA boasts a higher level of actual luxury on the inside. With sumptuous leather that feels better than anything in a BMW and wood that I’d like for furniture in my home, ALPINAs are a step up, in terms of luxury, from BMWs. So the ALPINA B7 is more luxurious than the G30 5er on the inside, despite having less features and tech.
Then there’s the performance. The fastest G30 5 Series, before the M5 is released, is the M550i. That car makes 462 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, which allows it to get from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds flat. That’s properly quick and faster than the previous-gen M5. While the ALPINA B7 isn’t as fast, it’s still immensely quick, getting from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds, thanks to a 507 hp, 516 lb-ft 4.4 liter V8. So it’s still a beast in a car that’s much bigger, more comfortable and heavier.
Just looking at the ALPINA B7’s wheels could do you in though, as they might be the best looking wheels in the world. Considering ALPINA has been using the exact same wheel design for a few decades, now, and they’re still beautiful, the previous comment isn’t so much hyperbole as it is truth. This one, in black with those wheels and the decklid spoiler, looks properly menacing and mean. In a word, fantastic.
Motor Trend recently reviewed the BMW M6 Gran Coupe against the ALPINA B6 Biturbo. According to them, despite being slower overall and less sporty, the ALPINA was the far better car. It just felt more special. That’s exactly my point. This specific ALPINA B7 costs $56,999, or about the same price as your average BMW 530i. So, for that much money, do you want to drive a four-cylinder 5 Series, the same one as everyone else, or do you want a rare, craftsman-made, 507 hp, twin-turbocharged V8 ALPINA B7?
[Source: Hemmings]The article Buy a G30 BMW 5 Series or this used 2013 ALPINA B7? appeared first on BMW BLOG