How far have super sports sedans come in a decade? Well, a 2006-era E60-generation BMW M5 made 373kW and 520Nm from a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine claiming 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

Last month Mercedes-AMG revealed its new E63 S with a 450kW/850Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and 3.4sec sprint time. And the next M5 is still to come.

An E60 M5 would have set you back $230,500 brand new. However, these days the resale bells have tolled and even mint one-owner examples with around 80,000km are being advertised for sub-$45K. That’s less than a size-smaller V8-engined E92 M3 from around the same era, such is the heavy depreciation thud of even the sportiest large cars.

BMW M5

The 1755kg Bavarian bruiser was clearly all business and luxury inside, while doing the business outside and on the road.

But would you take a decade-old BMW M Division weapon – accepting that annual servicing could stretch well into four figure territory – over a brand new $44,990 Holden Commodore SS that we’re about to lose forever?

Look at another difference a decade makes: the 6.2-litre V8 makes 304kW but 570Nm to deliver a 4.9sec 0-100km/h claim.

Holden commodore SS-V redline

So, take a punt on a decade-old European car? Or capped-price-service it up with a brand new version of the last Australian rear-drive performance sedan?