RE: Driven: BMW M6

[El Shafto]

Completely indifferent. I would definitely opt for a 640d as a motor-cruiser and everyday car, but there's no way I'd chose an M6 as my 'fun car' or indeed my everyday car.

It's not necessarily a bad car, per-se, but it's price tag puts it in the wrong category and forces it to compete in a market that it shouldn't be in. If it was priced as a competitive Grand Tourer around £50k - £60k then you could see people using it as their 'sensible car', but with all that 'M' engineering that's just not gonna happen. Shame to see them get it so wrong....

[BRMMA]

I saw a 640D parked up at the weekend with the sport trim and 20" wheels and thought it looked superb, one of the most handome BMW's of recent years and the M6 appears to look even better.

saying that though i still don't want either

[Duffman83]

Dagnut said:

Why is this 140kg heavier?

Lazy engineering, they get the extra economy and reduced Co2 from the Turbo's and then off set it with 140kg of extra weight..all the Mercs are getting lighter why are BMW's getting heavier?
People complain about the GTR's weight ...this is 2 tonnes!! just ridciulous

I completely agree with Dagnut here. What is it with BMWs the now being so bloody big and heavy. Its not just this individual model, its pretty much right across the full range. 1M is pretty much the same weight as as E46 M3, a car the next class above.

The new 5 is near on 2 tonnes. Why does it have to be so much bigger and heavier than the previous generation? I know they are not supposed to be light weights, I fully get that they are luxury sports saloons, but what was wrong with the footprint and weight of the E39 M5. I would prefer it if they stuck to a specific weight i.e 1800KG and designed some clever engineering to meet that target rather than just increasing the power and weight. People may be betting bigger and fatter, but the roads and parking spaces certainly arent't. If you are happy with your 5 series but want more room, buy a bloody 7 series!!!

I used to aspire to owning an M series BMW, but if these trends continue with BMW, I dont see it happening. Too big and too overweight for a medium sized family saloon. AMG seems to be better at this game than M now.

[kambites]

This will sound very un-PH but I must admit I don't really see the appeal. It's too capable to be particularly engaging at road speeds; it's no better than a lesser 6-series on the motorway; it's too big to be much fun on back-roads; no-one would buy one to use it on the track;... unless you're a massive BMW badge we, what's the point in the UK?

I just can't imagine buying one of these when you could buy a lesser 6-series and a very good sports car for the same money.

[arkenphel]

I completely agree re: weight. There isn't a new M car that I want now.

[Iamnotkloot]

Hmmm,reading all the above comments, it looks like a luke-warm reception and.... I agree with them.

On the plus side; it looks handsome.

On the negative; price, weight, aloofness etc. etc.

I think 'M' divison has had too much Marketing and not enough Motorsport recently.

[RDMcG]

I sold my E63 last week. Despite its negatives overall, I loved the V10. I have no interest in the new car, which seems, well........generic.

[FWDRacer]

Handsome?

Spec savers all round boys.

Alte Grosser Sau.

[corcoran]

The old one was a really ugly thing. Gotta say that this one is much prettier.

Same can't be said for new 1 and 3 series though.

[J B L]

I think it's the first time I find that the M is trully outgunned by its diesel equivalent given the purpose of the vehicle.

[danielw]

I don't think that I get the pricing of new cars. For £93k (plus extras?) i'd take a trip to Classifieds and buy a 5 year old M6, a GTR and perhaps even an Audi R8 or a couple of 911's...

[anything fast]

yes its big and heavy, but all german cars are getting heavier and heavier...

however it is a 2+2 that will hit 60 in around 4 secs and de-restricted would top over 200 mph, all that and it is still a very well made luxury car. IMO Not much can compete with that for the same money.

[E38Ross]

danielw said:

I don't think that I get the pricing of new cars. For £93k (plus extras?) i'd take a trip to Classifieds and buy a 5 year old M6, a GTR and perhaps even an Audi R8 or a couple of 911's...

new cars cost more than used cars shocker news alert

[russy01]

isee said:

The article is spot on. the V10 M6 I used to have was the most frustrating car in teh world for it. To get exited you had to be over 6k RPM and with the third gear topping out at 94mph it was almsot always illegal.

Looks like more of the same here albeit at different revs and different reasons.

great car on paper though

I maybe biased as my S2000 revved as much and 3rd gear was early 90's. But personally I think the idea of >6k plus revs in a V10 sounds like an absolute hoot and is something to excite most PH'ers!! Much more fun than short shifting at 5.5k!

Sounds like the 640d is more for you.

Also PH - 383lb torque measley? Are you kidding? Anything with a V10 has enough grunt to lose your license in seconds in any gear.

[Hoofy]

That looks nice from many angles.

[Speed_Demon]

kambites said:

This will sound very un-PH but I must admit I don't really see the appeal. It's too capable to be particularly engaging at road speeds; it's no better than a lesser 6-series on the motorway; it's too big to be much fun on back-roads; no-one would buy one to use it on the track;... unless you're a massive BMW badge we, what's the point in the UK?

I just can't imagine buying one of these when you could buy a lesser 6-series and a very good sports car for the same money.

Beat me to it. It's a jack of all trades, master of none.

[isee]

russy01 said:

I maybe biased as my S2000 revved as much and 3rd gear was early 90's. But personally I think the idea of >6k plus revs in a V10 sounds like an absolute hoot and is something to excite most PH'ers!! Much more fun than short shifting at 5.5k!

Sounds like the 640d is more for you.

Also PH - 383lb torque measley? Are you kidding? Anything with a V10 has enough grunt to lose your license in seconds in any gear.

That's exactly what I am saying!!!
I wanted to be above 6k rpm at all times ))))))) but was prevented from that by pesky laws

[thewheelman]

I can't see anything I like about this car over its rivals. It has lost its looks in my opinion, bring back Bangle...... all is forgiven!

[thewheelman]

Duffman83 said:

Dagnut said:

Why is this 140kg heavier?

Lazy engineering, they get the extra economy and reduced Co2 from the Turbo's and then off set it with 140kg of extra weight..all the Mercs are getting lighter why are BMW's getting heavier?
People complain about the GTR's weight ...this is 2 tonnes!! just ridciulous

I completely agree with Dagnut here. What is it with BMWs the now being so bloody big and heavy. Its not just this individual model, its pretty much right across the full range. 1M is pretty much the same weight as as E46 M3, a car the next class above.

The new 5 is near on 2 tonnes. Why does it have to be so much bigger and heavier than the previous generation? I know they are not supposed to be light weights, I fully get that they are luxury sports saloons, but what was wrong with the footprint and weight of the E39 M5. I would prefer it if they stuck to a specific weight i.e 1800KG and designed some clever engineering to meet that target rather than just increasing the power and weight. People may be betting bigger and fatter, but the roads and parking spaces certainly arent't. If you are happy with your 5 series but want more room, buy a bloody 7 series!!!

I used to aspire to owning an M series BMW, but if these trends continue with BMW, I dont see it happening. Too big and too overweight for a medium sized family saloon. AMG seems to be better at this game than M now.

I'd have to agree with you, right now there are no BMWs in production that interests me. I don't really consider BMW to be the enthusiasts brand of old, bland designs in bloated cars. A real shame.

[mikeg15]

No doubt it's decent to drive, but at the price it totally lacks any WOW factor, in fact it just looks old.