BMW M5 Owner Trades Their Ride for Honda S2000

While these cars couldn’t be more different, we think it’s a good trade regardless.

Jalopnik’s Aaron Brown recently did exactly what you’re not supposed to do when buying a high-end car. A few months ago, he bought a 2006 BMW M5 with little to no service history, some questionable modifications, and sky-high mileage (over 180,000) from the Bronx. Keep in mind that the first time he looked at it, it wouldn’t even start (the seller fixed the issue).

Almost immediately, a host of issues manifested in the once-proud BMW. Color us surprised. Rather than pouring tons of money into a sinking ship, Brown decided to cut his losses and list the car for sale. With few bites, he was getting desperate, that is, until a local S2000 owner texted him offering a trade.

It turns out that this S2000 owner, Nick, loves BMWs in addition to Japanese sports cars, owning a new M2 and an R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R along with his buddy. It sounds like a match made in heaven, and both Nick and Aaron got what they wanted.

ALSO SEE: Forum Member’s Insane Turbo S2000 Must Be Seen

Brown goes on to compare the two cars, which couldn’t be more different. Just about all they have in common is their relative age and mileage, but the similarities stop there. While the BMW was a big, comfy, 500 horsepower sedan, the S2000 sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. Of course, those are the obvious differences, and anyone who has owned both German and Japanese cars knows where we’re going with this.

While the BMW felt like it was falling apart at the seams, both literally and figuratively, the S2000 still felt tight and fresh, and was in amazingly good condition for having covered so many miles. In Brown’s words, “It felt like the car had been put on a dyno for 182,000 miles and then I had been handed the keys.” Of course, this is no news to anyone familiar with Honda’s well-earned reputation for reliability, but we’re always glad to welcome new converts with open arms and open tops.

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Cam Vanderhorst

Cam VanDerHorst has been a contributor to Internet Brands' Auto Group sites for over three years, with his byline appearing on Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Corvette Forum, JK Forum, and Harley-Davidson Forums, among others. In that time, he's also contributed to Autoweek, The Drive, and Scale Auto Magazine.
He bought his first car at age 14 -- a 1978 Ford Mustang II -- and since then he’s amassed an impressive and diverse collection of cars, trucks, and motorcycles, including a 1996 Ford Mustang SVT Mystic Cobra (#683) and a classic air-cooled Porsche 911.
In addition to writing about cars and wrenching on them in his spare time, he enjoys playing music (drums and ukulele), building model cars, and tending to his chickens.
You can follow Cam, his cars, his bikes, and his chickens at @camvanderhorst on Instagram.