Used car of the week: BMW 5 Series (96-03)

You'd have struggled to find fault with the 96-03 generation of 5 Series when it was new: the rear seats are a bit tight and it was expensive to buy, but that's about that. Which is one reason why its residual values were strong and remain so today.

Fancy a closer look? Check out our used BMW 5 Series gallery

Class-leading handling combined with a comfortable ride means a decent old 5 Series can be a better car than many rival manufacturers' current offerings.

The people have spoken... The ten best cars rated by Auto Express magazine readers are here

Petrol variants were always smooth and the bigger versions memorably brisk, whilst an abundance of torque from the diesels (particularly the 530d) allowed for quite a turn of speed and reasonable economy. A 540i V8 M5 version was top of the range and a serious performance car; 5 Series was also offered as an estate (Touring in BMW-speak) with a sizeable load area.

Overall the 5 Series is classy, swift and comfortable whose excellent quality makes it a shrewd used prospect as well as one that you'll enjoy.

Tiscali verdict: 7/10: Elegant, spacious, sporty and beautifully built

Content by Verdict on Cars