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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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