640d GC 4days in (possibly still the best car in real world)

[Ares]

TimLambert7 said:

Yes ignore them. I think they're great cars and I have also imagined the 640d to be a really excellent 'real world' proposition. I remember sitting in one at Goodwood last year and found the interior quality to be incredibly high. BMW seem to be on a roll as I was in an M135i recently and loved the interior on that as well. The steering wheels on both were the highlight (tragically boring I know).

It must be a complete motorway monster.

Thanks Tim - only done 20 miles on motorway, but yes, it's a monster!

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Motorrad said:

Ares said:

Thanks for the constructive comments.

I'm sure your wife/girlfriend shares your opinion.

What IS a contender for best car in the real world in your opinion? (real world being actual ownership, using daily, ferrying family/etc about, parking at the supermarket..etc etc)

Best car in the 'real world'? Not a diesel BMW obviously. Depends I suppose on how limited your world is. Despite your pathetic comments about my 'wife/girlfriend' I prefer to rise above those sort of assertions. After all the height of your scope is a BMW diesel .

Edited by Motorrad on Tuesday 8th April 18:51

Real world is the world in which you live. 10mpg V8s, unobtainable SuperModels and cars with zero-practicality don't factor in it. The comments re girlfriend are not pathetic - it is a display of what the real world is. If you'd never entertain ever being proud to sleep with anything other than a supermodel, you are going to live life unhappy.

When it comes to the read world - actual ownership, hacking up and down the motorway, using daily, ferrying family/etc about, parking at the supermarket..etc etc - I can't think of a better car than that which I bought. I would rather take my old M3 down a b-road, and certainly rather take my old caterham or Exige across the moors or round a track....but when it comes to a real world car, my choice is my 640d.

But back to my question to you.... Rather than slag of what I chose, what is YOUR opinion on the best car for the real world?

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Jezzerh said:

Was never a fan of the 6-series but I think the GC is a handsome car. I like coupe style cars and drive a VW CC myself. Certainly wouldn't turn my nose up at the GC! What colour is yours?

White with black leather upholstery/dashboard and Grey Poplar Wood Trim.

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AshCos said:

Currently doing these for 5k deposit 599 per month for a 640D SE coupe

You'll get a lot better if you push!! Mine is the MSport, Gran Coupe with options taking to over £10k over the list for the 2-door SE. I put £12k in but my monthly payments are over £100 less each month, plus I'm on 50% higher annual mileage.

....it's a good starting point though!

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milu said:

It's a car forum. About owners of/users of cars.
If you don't want to read a topic then leave well alone!

OP,glad you like it,I'd love one.

Thanks Milu.... Thats kind of how I figured forum would be. Seems its not a universal opinion.

(or is it because the schools are on holiday....?)

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Fox- said:

Ares said:

No. £2k cheaper, but a lot more expensive to run,

I don't think it is, is it? It's got the same running costs bar a little more fuel - and not a huge amount more I don't think.

btw, I think the 6GC is the finest car in the BMW range at the moment. I'd take one over anything else and that includes the M5. Fantastic cars.

Edited by Fox- on Tuesday 8th April 20:15

You'll see close to half the mpg... Thats a lot of cost on 10/12k per year and the road tax is £345 rather than £145!

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lamboman100 said:

The 6 Series is a good range. Ticks most of the right boxes. Definitely a good allrounder.

For 75k, an Aston Martin Vantage or DB9, plus an M3 or 1M, could have been within budget. Two for one etc.

True... but you are comparing new, with 3 years warranty, 5 years free servicing, and peace of mind with an old (very old?) car with none of the support and the risk of massive running costs!

....plus neither of the Aston's really make a sensible 4-seater car! (unfortunately.... )

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cerb4.5lee said:

I really like big engined petrol motors I love the sound and smoothness but for me they just don't make that much sense in this country as a daily so I can absolutely say a powerful diesel is the best choice it has power when you need it but economy when you don't.

There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in traffic running a relatively large V8 as you may as well throw your wallet out of the window, I still ultimately personally prefer petrol over diesel as I just don't like the sound of a diesel ticking over but when you are in the car its hard to tell which fuel feeds it (unless its a 4 pot diesel).

I'm with you 100% - that is why my daily drivers have been diesel for the past 3 cars and comfortable 'barges' for as long as I can remember. I ran an Exige as a daily driver pre-family - great car, but 99% of the time is was an uncomfortable car to sit in traffic or sit at 60mph on an A-Road. (the 1% did make up for it though...!)

Getting real driving pleasure in this country, on a daily basis, is ever more difficult.

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chrispmartha said:

kambites said:

"In the real world" seems to simply be a slightly odd way of saying "for what I use my car for". Interesting to read your experiences though, BMW certainly seem to have done a decent job with the current 6-series.

Agree with your first point 'real world' is just a nonsense really.

My 'real world' is totally different to the OP's.

I for example don't need 4 seats, don't do huge miles, need a bit of boot space, travel on a lot of B roads, and can claim a fair bit of the running costs of my daily car through my business.

So... for now my Cayman is the best car in the 'real world'.

Jeez.... OK, in order to factor in pedantry, please take the phrase 'Real World' to mean 'My Real World'.

Tomato/Tomato

Now perhaps you can pretend this is a car forum for petrol-heads rather than a forum to discuss the nuances of the English Language and Vernacular.

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chrispmartha said:

Jeez... you made a (bold) statement about a car and we are discussing it, or do you just want people to say how amazing your new '£75K' car is.

Its a discussion forum people will have differing opinions.

Indeed. When I don't lambast you for yours. Why lambast me for mine?

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chrispmartha said:

Ares said:

Indeed. When I don't lambast you for yours. Why lambast me for mine?

I'm not lambasting you for your choice of car.

No, just my opinion....which was your comment that I replied to.


I'll tell you what...I'll stop replying to your comments. Perhaps for the sake of cordiality, you should do the same.

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T16OLE said:

I`m bias owning a 645ci (probably because I couldn`t afford a 635d)


But surely when you start spending more than £50k you`d prefer to run a petrol. I know I would.

Of course, i'd prefer to run an M5 or M6 GC...however economics have to factor in to the argument - Purchase price/running costs/fuel/tax/etc.

Ultimately, majority of us live with a compromised car, in some regard, compared to our true wishes - and economics are, I"m guessing, 99% of the reason for most of that compromise.

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LurkULongTime said:

Eh? I read the first thread and was convinced the OP was on the wrong forum and would be informed as such in short shrift - Genuinely couldn't believe the love for such a car on a site like PH?

I know each to their own/horses for courses etc., but such cars pretty much epitomises everything I find depressing about new cars and the choices modern buyers make:

- Turbo
- Diesel
- Auto
- Excessive niche model (driving up prices/parts/insurance costs along the way)
- Insistence of marketing departments (and buyers reinforcing) the reference of saloons as coupes
- Overpriced
- Unnecessarily big/heavy
- Massive rims (necessary to offset/balance the massive body, see above)
- Lease purchase (necessary to facilitate the overpricing/overpriced because of availability of leasing, see above)
- Unnecessary gadgets (internet?!?)
- White

Can't really be bothered to look into it, but it's probably got a fake diffuser and 'piped-in' noise as well - Jeez.

I genuinely thought PH was about interesting cars and genuine enthusiasts, not diesel saloons for commuting - For clarity:

Lexspace thread = Interesting
This = Not

Having said all that, maybe this is just a sign of the times: With everyone stuck behind 40mph bimblers/asleep at the wheel, maybe this is 'interesting' modern motoring...

LULT

Firstly welcome to the forum. With less than a day on this site, and 100% of your posts on the thread I'm assuming you are either a troll...or an established poster than is too spineless to speak without a cloak?

anyway...

That description of the car may be the antithesis of what you believe a PH car should be, but what about the glass half full description:

Twin Turbo
310bhp/460 lb ft torque
0-60 in 5.2secs
Argued by a majority on this thread as the best looking model in the range
Class leading interior
Advanced technology
Great deals available


Does that read like it would spark a petrolhead's and/or genuine enthusiast's interest?


...and for your interest. No fake diffuser or piped in noise.

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LurkULongTime said:

Lost soul said:

then why bother to read about it

In respect of this/2nd thread I didn't - Surprised by popularity and comments in 1st thread and then existence of another...

Genuine question: If someone were to 'explode' about their new cheap 2nd hand diesel saloon commuter, would everyone be equally interested/receptive, or is it now the case of Pistonhead: RRP Matters?

I'm confused.

If said 'new cheap 2nd hand diesel saloon commuter' had 310bhp and 911 performance....probably, assuming they were interested in cars, not in nit-picking/creating dual accounts

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E65Ross said:

Muzzer79 said:

I'm surprised the OP has had so much grief.

He's clearly an enthusiast, enjoying his new purchase and the fun he's getting out of it.

It may be a diesel BMW and you or I may not have bought it but I applaud him for enjoying his car and driving it, just as I'd applaud a new member with a 3 cylinder Fiat 500 or a V12 Ferrari.

This is a car enthusiast's forum after all?

It would be a boring world if we all liked the same thing, and this would be a much smaller place if we only had threads like Lexspace.

I think the reason is probably because there's a difference between

"I've just got xxxx car which is possibly the best car in the real world" and "I've just got xxxx car which I love and is perfect for what I need an I'm really enjoying it"

The former is a very bold claim, the latter is absolutely brilliant.

I've seen hairs split before, but thats impressive

Are you the kind of person the demands politically correct vernacular? Chalkboard not whiteboard, cover-over-access-to-underground-cavities-and-passageways not man-hole-cover?

[Ares]

LurkULongTime said:

Less about giving him grief (hope he does enjoy it), more my discovery of what floats the PH massive's collective boat - Like I suggested, maybe I'm in the minority and PH is no longer for me...

....you mean it's changed in the 24 hours and 4 posts you been a member?

[Ares]

E65Ross said:

There's a big difference.

The first is someone saying they have the best car in the world, the 2nd is saying they're very happy with their car which is best suited to them.

I'll use the M6, yet again....for an M6 owner who can afford it quite comfortable, how is your 640d a better car in the real world than an M6?

I did say 'possibly', not 'definitely', 'definitively' or 'absolutely'...!


...and I'm not carte blanche saying it is better.... my opinion would be based on economics. I'm lucky, I could afford an M6. The 640d became a better prospect as the savings I will make on running costs alone will fund a caterham!

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LurkULongTime said:

Nope, neither - Clue is in the name, multi-year reader or 'lurker' (as I believe some would call me). Only finally posted as so shocked your purchase was so popular/well received. You're clearly pleased and that's all that really matters...

Not a fan of FI (diesel or petrol), outright performance not be all and end all for me and not bothered want others think of looks etc., but admire your half glass full outlook and have to accept for many your list appears to appeal (as evidenced by this thread).

Glad to hear it's sans diffuser and noise generator though, at least that's something!

Multiyear reader....since yesterday? I believe the acronym for that is T.R.O.L.L

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Wills2 said:

My old 2009 911 gens C2S did 0-62 in 4.8 and 100 in 10secs so what is the 640d 5.4 and 12? Not far off is it?

My current M3 is about the same as the 911 and I certainly wouldn't expect to boss a 640d in it, damn that pesky torque.

The 640d won't better a 911, and will only match it is certain circumstances... Such as that quoted on Page 1. It's all torque...

Ares said:

The end result of this is performance like I didn’t expect. A playful exit from a dual carriageway roundabout, with a good friend in his 997S saw him fail to gain ground on me….and saw a look of shock and a text message of disbelief from the same friend within 5 minutes……and that on an engine that was still in the delivery suite, such was it’s youth.

[Ares]

br d said:

Wills2 said:

My old 2009 911 gens C2S did 0-62 in 4.8 and 100 in 10secs so what is the 640d 5.4 and 12? Not far off is it?

My current M3 is about the same as the 911 and I certainly wouldn't expect to boss a 640d in it, damn that pesky torque.

Fair enough but I think performance is about a lot more than half a second 0 - 60.

Indeed. 'Real World' performance (am I allowed to use that phrase in that context?) is all about mid-range. Unless you 'life your life one 1/4 miles at a time', you never really drag-strip your way around the land...and certainly not in an auto diesel.