Why is the 6 series so cheap and why haven't I got one yet..

[Devil2575]

J4CKO said:

Devil2575 said:

O

VolvoT5 said:

I can understand why someone would want a manual in a sporty MX5 or similar, but I just can't see the point in a big heavy luxury car like this.... With the amount of traffic in this country excessive gear changing is almost mandatory... why spoil the car by having to hop on and off the (no doubt heavy) clutch all the time. Big lazy engine is perfect for a slush box.

I don't know about this particular model but many "sealed for life" boxes can have the fluid changed to prolong life....... and as if a clutch/DMF/gearbox never goes wrong on a manual either....

Worse MPG? So what, this is going to do barely 25 mpg if you are lucky... 5% either way makes no difference.

Perhaps the difference is that I don't live in the South East so I don't spend much time in heavy traffic.
Also just because a car isn't a sports car doesn't mean you can't enjoy changing gear.

Yes, I thought that, get a slightly ruder exhaust and enjoy rev matching and getting it to crackle and pop on the overrun, at the end of the day its a 5 series underneath so should be fairly talented handling wise so I am sure it could do a bit of back road quick stuff even if not its natrual habitat.

When I had an E39 people told me it was a barge, that I should have got an auto and that it wouldn't be any good on the back roads. They were wrong

[trickywoo]

Devil2575 said:

When I had an E39 people told me it was a barge, that I should have got an auto and that it wouldn't be any good on the back roads. They were wrong

I had an E39 528 which wasn't worn out by any means but compared to the E60 545i I've just bought it did feel barge like. I've been really impressed with the E60, it corners flat has accurate steering and good brakes. The auto is actually pretty responsive and don't think a manual would make it miles better.

The only limiting factor to punting it down a B road is its physical size.

[Devil2575]

trickywoo said:

I had an E39 528 which wasn't worn out by any means but compared to the E60 545i I've just bought it did feel barge like. I've been really impressed with the E60, it corners flat has accurate steering and good brakes. The auto is actually pretty responsive and don't think a manual would make it miles better.

The only limiting factor to punting it down a B road is its physical size.

I had a 530i Sport and it felt anything but barge like.

[Schermerhorn]

cerb4.5lee said:

MarshPhantom said:

The new 6 makes the old one look good.

I cant agree with that, the old one has a little more character(read quirky) but its not pretty at all and the new one is far better looking to my eyes, I would love a M6 in the old shape but I still struggle with its looks, maybe I am not a big Bangle styling fan though because I never liked the look of my Z4M from the front either.

Lee, buy mine

[hornetrider]

Devil2575 said:

trickywoo said:

I had an E39 528 which wasn't worn out by any means but compared to the E60 545i I've just bought it did feel barge like. I've been really impressed with the E60, it corners flat has accurate steering and good brakes. The auto is actually pretty responsive and don't think a manual would make it miles better.

The only limiting factor to punting it down a B road is its physical size.

I had a 530i Sport and it felt anything but barge like.

I also had a 530i Sport (Touring) and while it was a great car and I felt handled well, the E61 Sport I'm in now is a degree sharper and less 'waftey'.

[cerb4.5lee]

Schermerhorn said:

cerb4.5lee said:

MarshPhantom said:

The new 6 makes the old one look good.

I cant agree with that, the old one has a little more character(read quirky) but its not pretty at all and the new one is far better looking to my eyes, I would love a M6 in the old shape but I still struggle with its looks, maybe I am not a big Bangle styling fan though because I never liked the look of my Z4M from the front either.

Lee, buy mine

Nice one!

[ZesPak]

I think the main problem with that 6 series is that BMW's target demographic, blind drivers, is actually quite small.

[MDMetal]

I kinda like it because it doesn't look like just another BMW, I guess if all you wanted was something that looked like everyone else's BMW so you felt included in the office car park that's fair enough.

[hondansx]

Is it such a surprise? They don't look especially nice, they aren't fast, don't handle well, don't ride well and are expensive to run.

I drove an M6, for that fantastic V10, but everything else about it was so poor i just couldn't do it.

[gazchap]

hondansx said:

they aren't fast

0-60 in 4.6 (for the 650i) apparently - that's not fast?

[Schermerhorn]

ZesPak said:

I think the main problem with that 6 series is that BMW's target demographic, blind drivers, is actually quite small.

If you get the one with the chrome outline on the windows then yes they can look a little 'meh'

However the M6 looks awesome

[matthias73]

VolvoT5 said:

Devil2575 said:

Because it's got a big torquey engine with a reasonably wide power band so it's not like you're going to be changing gear all the time.
Autos get worse mpg
Autos on older cars especialy ones like this are just something else to go wrong and BMWs "sealed for life" policy means that failures are not unheard of.

I can understand why someone would want a manual in a sporty MX5 or similar, but I just can't see the point in a big heavy luxury car like this.... With the amount of traffic in this country excessive gear changing is almost mandatory... why spoil the car by having to hop on and off the (no doubt heavy) clutch all the time. Big lazy engine is perfect for a slush box.

I don't know about this particular model but many "sealed for life" boxes can have the fluid changed to prolong life....... and as if a clutch/DMF/gearbox never goes wrong on a manual either....

Worse MPG? So what, this is going to do barely 25 mpg if you are lucky... 10% either way makes no difference.

Well good chap, all of the above is completely down to the individual! I'm 22 years old and my left knee has never felt better. I also live at work so I don't have a commute. The idea of slamming a gearstick around a massive v8 is almost as appealing as bouncing a playboy bunny around a hot tub.

I get what your saying, for most people the automatic is the natural choice. But for me, either sounds good.

Certainly my e39 would be bloody boring with an auto.

[Devil2575]

hondansx said:

Is it such a surprise? They don't look especially nice, they aren't fast, don't handle well, don't ride well and are expensive to run.

I drove an M6, for that fantastic V10, but everything else about it was so poor i just couldn't do it.

It's not a supprise because every BMW, especially the big ones, depreciates until it's worth a fraction of it's original purchase price. Just look at 10 year old 5 series and 7 series. It's no different. Looks, speed and handling are all subjective and I don't think they have a lot to do with it.
While the BMW badge has a some cachet, it's not enough to keep the values of the cars up once they get to a certain age, especially since the kind of people who can afford to run them can normally afford to buy a newer one. The market for older cars with relatively high running costs is quite small. Most buyers would rather spend more on a car and get something newer and spend less of running it.

[matty0194]

I love the 6 series without a doubt after I have 2 years no claims a 630i 2006/2007 is going on my drive seam one on auto trader for £5'500 crazy cheap get one you will enjoy and they ride well how I know cause I've been a passenger in one and they sound like a monster plus over 300 bhp nearly supercar territory

[Granfondo]

gazchap said:

hondansx said:

they aren't fast

0-60 in 4.6 (for the 650i) apparently - that's not fast?

And faster round theTopGear track than a Porsche 997 so doesn't handle either?

[schmalex]

matty0194 said:

I love the 6 series without a doubt after I have 2 years no claims a 630i 2006/2007 is going on my drive seam one on auto trader for £5'500 crazy cheap get one you will enjoy and they ride well how I know cause I've been a passenger in one and they sound like a monster plus over 300 bhp nearly supercar territory

The 630i is not over 300bhp. The N52 engine is something closer to 254bhp. It's nowhere near supercar territory!!!! I know, as I have one.

They are very, very pleasant places to waft away the miles, but they most certainly aren't anywhere near supercars!!

[J4CKO]

gazchap said:

hondansx said:

they aren't fast

0-60 in 4.6 (for the 650i) apparently - that's not fast?

Think that is the later one, these are about 5.4.

Wonder how it would compare in terms of thrust to my 350Z, they are quicker but not night and day, wonder how noticeable the additional acceleration would be.

[Mr. Magoo]

Ugly car front and back = low desirability = good price.

[ZesPak]

Schermerhorn said:

If you get the one with the chrome outline on the windows then yes they can look a little 'meh'

However the M6 looks awesome

I said it with a tongue in cheek, and I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, I can't for the life of me see how that's in any way "awesome" looking.
To me, it's one of the ugliest "premium" cars made in the past decade. A bit less chrome here and there, doesn't make a damn thing to me, it's like a bit of make up on Susan Boyle.

Prices reflect this, there's little other reason why they lost so much of their value in that time period. The big V8 and esp V10 are very desirable engines, BMW is a very desirable brand to many and this type of car usually comes very well equipped.

The answer to the thread is: it's that cheap because to most people it's a monstrosity.

[VolvoT5]

Mr. Magoo said:

Ugly car front and back = low desirability = good price.

I quite like the looks. So ugly it is appealing.