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

[E65Ross]

Having driven a new M6 and been in a new 640d I can comfortably say the M6 is definitely the one I'd rather have of cost weren't an issue.

I found the diesel engine not as smooth or as the petrol. It's a great engine for a diesel but other than cost there's no reason at all your rather it over an M6.

Nothi wrong with that in the slightest of course, but you can claim it's better purely because it's cheaper

[veevee]

Ares said:

g3org3y said:

Nice write up.

These new diesel engines do seem to be excellent and a genuine (better prospect?) on a daily drive than the M equivalent.

Out of interest, what's the sound like when you put your foot down?

Like I said on the other thread, very unlike my old 530d - this sounds similar to a muted V10. Not unpleasant. It's no V8, but doesn't sound like a straining oil burner. Which is nice.

Don't know why people even bother with petrol engines these days.

[IATM]

Hi Ares,

I am not sure where all the wkers on this forum came from but please ignore them. There seems to be a general culture in the UK that we usually hate people who have things better than us.

Anyway firstly congrats on your purchase and I have to agree with you it is great purchase you have made.
I think a lot of people have failed to read your post correctly in that you made it very clear it was an excellent car in the real world and I would have to agree with you.

Real world being that you do to some extent need to take into account running costs, needs of the family, yourself, your requirements, your needs and what you want.

I myself own a BMW 520d M sport and over the last week had the pleasure of driving my brothers e93 m3 as a daily driver while he was out of the country and yes its a lovely car to drive, great fun and would be great to own but only as a second car. For me getting back into the 5 series was just bliss - more comfortable, easier to mange, tonnes of room, throw the kids in - it does all things really bloody well.

The 640d GC is a fantastic looking car - best shape BMW has brought out in a long time and in a crowd a german generic crap its one of the designs that stands out (yes that includes my generic F10 crap too)

Enjoy your purchase - its a fantastic car and hope to look out for one myself in a year or so.

[Cupramax]

Congrats on the 6 series, im no BMW fan, but i was looking at an Imola red 6GC on autotrader earlier thinking f*ck me! That looks awesome...

[-Z-]

Lovely car, love the 640d's. My BiL has the convertible and it is fantastic. One of the nicest looking back ends on sale today.

Best real world car? Nah, that's my M5

It's worth the extra £150/month in petrol IMO

Although that smug feeling at seeing 30mpg+ is difficult to resist!

Enjoy.........

[lamboman100]

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.

[westberks]

OP, lovely set of wheels and have also enjoyed your first couple of posts.

It would appear that posting on a car forum about cars requires certain rules to be met, maybe there should be an entry exam so that you can meet the strict requirements of some!

Or bks to them and just carry on

[PHmember]

Never really been a fan of sixes, but for me, the 6GC is one of the best looking cars on the market at the moment. Simply stunning - as soon as the depreciation comes in line with what I can afford I'll be looking for one.

[Coolbanana]

Excellent post OP!

We should always celebrate a fellow motoring enthusiast waxing lyrical about their new car.

Congrats on your choice - I'd agree, compared to the Merc CLS and Porsche Panamera, it does seem to be the better car.

Best car though? Hmmmm, I think I'd go Range Rover Sport (new one, obviously) for that accolade as the best all-rounder.

I've struggled with the one car for everything role having switched from fast saloons to sports cars to 4x4's in LR Disco, RR Evoque and RR Sport guises only to find myself hankering after the former again.

Now I've resigned myself to running two cars instead, each satisfying my sports and general purpose needs for the price of one more expensive all-rounder and it is working just fine.

[Spoof]

Lovely car the 6GC, glad you're enjoying it. Ignore the Victor Meldrews on here.

I never understand why people feel the need to vent in such a way. If you don't like a thread, click the back button in the top left of your browser. I guess they wouldn't have such a fantastic post count if they did that though.

[chrispmartha]

Spoof said:

Lovely car the 6GC, glad you're enjoying it. Ignore the Victor Meldrews on here.

I never understand why people feel the need to vent in such a way. If you don't like a thread, click the back button in the top left of your browser. I guess they wouldn't have such a fantastic post count if they did that though.

Its not about being Victor Meldrew, Im please the OP is enjoying his car and his write up of his first experience with it is interesting, what I personally dint like was the tone of the first thread, again, personally I found it a bit look at me and 'show offy' , especially the thread title, and I didn't see the need for a new thread, the point of discussion forums is just that, discussion or should it just e a slap each others back forum?

[Lost soul]

E65Ross said:

Having driven a new M6 and been in a new 640d I can comfortably say the M6 is definitely the one I'd rather have of cost weren't an issue.

I found the diesel engine not as smooth or as the petrol. It's a great engine for a diesel but other than cost there's no reason at all your rather it over an M6.

Nothi wrong with that in the slightest of course, but you can claim it's better purely because it's cheaper

WTF !!! what a moronic post

[DanielJames]

I've become slightly obsessed with the BMW '6 and I'm not even sure why.

Glad to hear you're enjoying it. I saw one the other day and actually took a picture of it I was that excited.

I was thinking of getting an M car next, but I'll struggle not to find myself in a 6 series.

[mikeyr]

I like your choice of car but what would stop it being my "best car in the real world" option would be the size - it looks huge (apparently almost 5 metres long). My old V70 was considerably smaller!

However... I've just compared it to the current Mondeo and size wise there isn't much in it but that is more of a reflection of how big cars have got in general than a reflection on your uber barge. With cars of this bulk I'd imagine that there are quite a few multistory car parks that are no go zones?

Hope this doesn't sound negative - genuine congrats on your purchase - and I can def see the appeal!

[cerb4.5lee]

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).

[Rick101]

Nice write up OP.

Great to see threads about cars on here rather than some of the rubbish people post (myself included!)

[Ares]

fjord said:

Ares said:

Fair comment.... Beauty in the eye of the beholder etc. I disagree. I think the 6GC is one of the best looking 4-door cars on the market, but then I also like the looks of the 5, just not as much.

What car (similar league) is better looking?
And what could £75k (minus the £22k discount I managed to get) have got me that would the job as well?

Genuine questions. Genuine interest...

Hmmm, if it were me and I had 75k?

Probably a Panamera. A little cheaper too, they can be had nearly new for about 60k. And I know they arent all that popular, so an Aston Rapide could be another shout, but you aint getting a new one for 75k.

In all honesty though, as a final answer, a new Jag XJ. 5.0 v8 for the power, get the LWB version for the wafty comfort, looks a lot better than the current BMW fleet, 15-20k cheaper, and i'd hazard a guess it will depreciate less too.

Still, half of the issue for me is spending that much money on a car. If you've got it, fair enough, then spend it, but the figures are eye-watering for me. Sounds crazy, but even if i was a millionaire, i still think i'd wince at spending anything more than £35k.

Drove the Porsche - didn't like as much, and was more expensive all in all.
Aston is double the cost, all round.
XJ is lovely but huge, expensive (V8 LWB starts at £96k) and running costs would be near double. The diesel isn't in the same league. Plus, dare I say, it is starting to look a little dated. The interior is bloody lovely though.


But it's all academic, if you'd never spend that sort of money on a car, you remove 'real life' needs and sit in fantasy garage. In my fantasy garage I'd have had the QuattroPorte over the 640d.... But I do have to run it in the real world where costs/reliability/day-to-day practicality etc are centre to my needs!

[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!

[Ares]

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?

[Ares]

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.