BMW 5 Series E39 M5

The BMW E39 M5 is the thinking person's sleeper. On the outside it's a handsome, sensible executive sedan; the kind of car that picks the kids up from school and never raises its voice. Underneath, it's hiding a 4.9-liter, 394-horsepower V8 that was BMW M's very first eight-cylinder engine. It breathes through eight individual throttle bodies, juggles its cams with Double VANOS, and routes every last horse to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual; the only gearbox offered. No automatic, no apologies.

Built from 1998 to 2003, the E39 is widely regarded as the last of the truly analog M5's, and is (in Max's opinion) the best of the whole bloodline. There's no turbo whoosh, no theatrical styling... just a discreet quad-pipe exhaust and some subtly altered bodywork. It looks like a grown-up's commuter right up until the moment it very much isn't. If you're thinking about buying one, do it. These won't be affordable much longer.