645 or 335i?

[JKay]

exper said:

Definately a boat its a looong car imo don't really need to change the exhaust the standard one does sound pretty good.

If the boat comes in the form of a 6 Series I think I'll manage quite happily

[Webber3]

I've got an E90 3 series saloon (330i) and a 650 convertible, so I get to compare these cars daily. I won't compare performance, because it won't be a direct comparison to the vehicles you're talking about.

The 3 series has more interior space, especially in the rear of the car. It's a much more practical car than the 6 and I prefer to use this when I'm ferrying kids around. It feels a lot smaller and it's a lot easier to throw into bends etc. I've got a manual and the drive is quite involving.

The 6 series feels much more like a luxury car than the 3 series. You don't really feel the need to throw it around as much and the drive is more relaxing. The auto gearbox contributes to that I'm sure. The big V8 makes the little V6 engine sound weedy in comparison and this car turns a lot more heads than the 3 series ever did. I've never figured out whether it was the looks or the noise that caused this. Despite its huge thirst for petrol, I always prefer the 6 for long journeys.

exper said:

Definately a boat its a looong car imo don't really need to change the exhaust the standard one does sound pretty good.

I used to think my 6 was a complete barge, but just lately, weather permitting, I've been pushing it a bit harder and it's surprising how nimble it can be.

Edited by Webber3 on Saturday 20th December 16:41

[JKay]

Webber3 said:

. It's a much more practical car than the 6 and I prefer to use this when I'm ferrying kids around.

This will be more of a second car, have a W221 Merc S Class for practical use, and this will just be for weekend driving

[M5Dave]

JKay said:

dubbs said:

@JKay - Yep, got an M6 and it's superb

Would f*ckin love one of them but its out of my budget as a used one would set me back around 130k here. The 645 I am looking for should cost around 80-85k

Have you looked into buying one here and shipping it over.

[JNW1]

Webber3 said:

I've got an E90 3 series saloon (330i) and a 650 convertible, so I get to compare these cars daily. I won't compare performance, because it won't be a direct comparison to the vehicles you're talking about.

The 3 series has more interior space, especially in the rear of the car. It's a much more practical car than the 6 and I prefer to use this when I'm ferrying kids around. It feels a lot smaller and it's a lot easier to throw into bends etc. I've got a manual and the drive is quite involving.

The 6 series feels much more like a luxury car than the 3 series. You don't really feel the need to throw it around as much and the drive is more relaxing. The auto gearbox contributes to that I'm sure. The big V8 makes the little V6 engine sound weedy in comparison and this car turns a lot more heads than the 3 series ever did. I've never figured out whether it was the looks or the noise that caused this. Despite its huge thirst for petrol, I always prefer the 6 for long journeys.

exper said:

Definately a boat its a looong car imo don't really need to change the exhaust the standard one does sound pretty good.

I used to think my 6 was a complete barge, but just lately, weather permitting, I've been pushing it a bit harder and it's surprising how nimble it can be.

Edited by Webber3 on Saturday 20th December 16:41

Your 330i must be a one-off if it's got a V6 under the bonnet!

Joking aside, I've never driven a 6 series but would concede it's more exclusive than a 3 series coupe. However, I'm still not struck on the styling (although better in the dark colours IMO) and some of the designs of alloy that BMW fit don't do the car any favours either; overall the current Jaguar XK is a far better looking car to my eye!

Moreover, M6 aside I've always considered the 6 series to be more boulevard cruiser than sporting coupe. The only way to know for sure is to drive both but from a driver's point of view my guess would be that a manual 335i would be a better bet - get it remapped to 360 bhp and it would deal with a 650 never mind a 645!

[JKay]

M5Dave said:

JKay said:

dubbs said:

@JKay - Yep, got an M6 and it's superb

Would f*ckin love one of them but its out of my budget as a used one would set me back around 130k here. The 645 I am looking for should cost around 80-85k

Have you looked into buying one here and shipping it over.

Afraid they are really strict on that Dave, would end up costing me the same after I pay the tax etc, and apparently its not straightforward either

[welwynnick]

Anyone who thinks the Six is a boat - have you owned one?

And if so, which model and options?

645?
Automatic?
Dynamic Drive?
Active Steering?
RFTs?

Cheers, Nick

[Ment-Al]

roofer said:

If you like driving boats, get the 6.

This should read:

"I drive a 3 series, and I can't think of a single argument for it over a 6 series. Therefore, what I am going to do is simply call the better car a boat".

There was an M6 debate in GC earlier on, people said a similar thing - none of them had driven one.

IMO - and I've driven a fair few later 3 series, as well as an M6 and regularly a 650i - the 6 series feels like a well made, well thought out, luxury cruiser, a bit soulless but thats not down to it being a 6 series, as the new 3 series has even less soul.

Go for the 6 series, you wont be disappointed.

[BAHN-STORMA]

+1 for the Six, much more 'special'

[exper]

By the boat comment I meant the sheer size of it not implying it handles like one as its a great drive - and yep I own one at the moment

[gib6933]

There is a story around that someone is racing an m6 next year in a gt race. Should be fun to see it alongside 911's and Astons

[dxb335d]

Ill get shot for sayng this, but the 335i is faster than the 645. Better looking too. But the 6 series does have far more presence.

Although i think right now 645 are cheaper arent they?

[Hammerhead]

dxb335d said:

I'll get shot for sayng this, but the 335i is faster than the 645. Better looking too.

Lets look at the evidence.

Rear of 3 series:

(Due to this post being made prior to the watershed, a brown paper bag had to stand in)

Rear of 6 series:


I'll still take the 6.

[JKay]

dxb335d said:

Ill get shot for sayng this, but the 335i is faster than the 645. Better looking too. But the 6 series does have far more presence.

Although i think right now 645 are cheaper arent they?

Over here they're not. 335i is around 63-65k whereas the 645 is around 83-85k

Edit: 335i is around 74k and 645 around 85k

Edited by JKay on Tuesday 23 December 00:42

[JNW1]

Hammerhead said:

dxb335d said:

I'll get shot for sayng this, but the 335i is faster than the 645. Better looking too.

Lets look at the evidence.

Rear of 3 series:

(Due to this post being made prior to the watershed, a brown paper bag had to stand in)

Rear of 6 series:


I'll still take the 6.

Sorry Hammerhead but I'm with DXB on this; even a brown paper bag is better looking than a 6 series! Joking aside I suppose the 6 does have a certain presence but I see the OP is now saying that a 335i is significantly cheaper where he's buying in which case there's only one choice for the keen driver - 335i with a manual box! As a bonus you also get a car that's far better looking than the 6 series.....!

[dubbs]

As they don't have Dixons over there he won't look like he's the area manager either... double bonus :-)

335s just are not special. Good car? Yep, VERY good car? Absolutely... not anything special at all though

[JNW1]

dubbs said:

As they don't have Dixons over there he won't look like he's the area manager either... double bonus :-)

335s just are not special. Good car? Yep, VERY good car? Absolutely... not anything special at all though

I think it depends what you want from the car! A 6 series is more expensive and therefore a rarer sight than a 3 series but does that make it more special to drive? I can see it might have a feeling of exclusivity that the 3 series lacks but the deciding factor for me would always be the driving experience and I seriously question whether a 645 matches a 335i in that respect. The fact that virtually all 6 series sold are autos probably tells you all you need to know from a driver's perspective; more GT cruiser than sports coupe but it's a free world so if that's what people want then fair enough!!

[JuliaS]

ehhhh i prefer the 335i's not that ive driven either but the 335's look serioussssssssssssssssss

the 6 is cool but idunno it doesnt strike me like the 3 series coupes do

in terms of performance i think the bigger engined 6's are faster than the 335's but if it was me id have the 3

but thats me

[JKay]

The 6 does seem to have much more presence for me, but I have only ever driven a 630i and havent driven an E92 before.

Also, there are 6 Series's here I can test drive but as far as I know there are no 335i's here, so if I want one I'd have to get it shipped in. And even tho there are 6 series's here they are far far frm common