Test drives

[Frupal]

So I test drove an Alpina B6, and M6 GC and a 650 GC today (I drive a 640GC). My favorite was the 650. It has so much uh, sophisticated grunt! The Alpina and the M6 were simply too rough. The Alpina was more to my liking than the M6, but overall I think BMW nailed it with the 650. Since I just got my 640 last February, it’s not likely that I’ll make a change, but damn, that twin turbo V8 is sweet!

[ezmaass]

Yes, several different characters for sure.

I would have gladly accepted some of the extra grunt of the M6, but given that this is my daily driver, and living in the snowy NE, I opted for the xDrive 650. I've lived with several RWD BMWs in the snow, and it's definitely doable with the right tires and if you know what you're doing, but it's still less than optimal. Likewise, again, given that it's my daily, I was OK with a slightly softer suspension - in fact, I was seeking it. I've had my share of hard sport suspensions on my daily drivers, and I'm over it. Our roads are terrible (aside from some nice country roads if you know where you're looking), and most of the time I just need something that's well behaved but can absorb some broken pavement.

Ticking the "adaptive drive" box when ordering it also made sure it handled better than a typical 650 - active roll stabilization in concert with the dynamic dampers give the car enough control that I don't "want" for anything stiffer in the sportier driving moments, and for most other times (95% of the time), I want the car to be more compliant, softer, and absorb these horrendously maintained roads. Given the improvement in handling on a 4400lb car without compromise to ride comfort, I'm surprised that so few people select this option.

The Alpina is a special car, for sure - I've not had the pleasure of seeing one (no less driving it) in person, but I suspect it would be at the top of my list! The M6 is an undeniably mean variant of the 6, and if I lived in a place without the snow and better roads, I might have just gone for it instead.

Whichever 6 you have, though, they all have one thing in common - great looking cars!

[ezmaass]

Oh... and if you do feel the need for some more power, you can always bolt on a simple JB4. It'll add up to 100hp on a 650 or 60hp on a 640 according to their marketing. That's probably the cheapest power you'll find out there.

But that said, it may also be asking for some trouble. I've looked at the JB tunes for years across various BMWs but never pulled the trigger on any of them. Who knows, not that I need the power (hardly use what's there today), but it could be some fun to dabble.

https://www.burgertuning.com/collect...series-f12-f13

[jjasonSU]

Won't be long @frupal i suspect you've got the itch now.. haha

[Frupal]

So I drove a 2018 M5 today. Holy Smokes!! So fast! I think I want one! On the other hand - and please don’t crucify me - I think the real Goldilocks car is the 8 series Gran Coupe. It had it all when I drove it. The perfect combination of Jekyl and Hyde.

[MichaelInChicago]

If only the 8 GC didnt look like a Lexus Hyundai hybrid.

[brad850csi]

My M6 Comp Pack must be about the harshest F06/12/13 out there - but I don't find it too harsh at all! It hasn't occurred to me that I'd want a non-M F06/12/13 for it to be softer?

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Frupal

I think the real Goldilocks car is the 8 series Gran Coupe. It had it all when I drove it. The perfect combination of Jekyl and Hyde.

So true...looks like Dr. Jekyl for sure

[thebmw]

The problem with test drives is you will eventually fall for another car and start losing love for the one you have. "Grass is greener on the other side". It's like going on a date with no strings attached even though you are married...very dangerous territory!

[city1991]

Originally Posted by Frupal

So I test drove an Alpina B6, and M6 GC and a 650 GC today (I drive a 640GC). My favorite was the 650. It has so much uh, sophisticated grunt! The Alpina and the M6 were simply too rough. The Alpina was more to my liking than the M6, but overall I think BMW nailed it with the 650. Since I just got my 640 last February, it’s not likely that I’ll make a change, but damn, that twin turbo V8 is sweet!

Love my 640 coupe. Plenty of power for me and the reliability of the N55 gives me great security.

[city1991]

Originally Posted by thebmw

The problem with test drives is you will eventually fall for another car and start losing love for the one you have. "Grass is greener on the other side". It's like going on a date with no strings attached even though you are married...very dangerous territory!

I've driven an M6, while it's impressive, I'd keep my 640 all day.

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by city1991

I've driven an M6, while it's impressive, I'd keep my 640 all day.

Interesting. So slightly increased fuel economy and slightly lower cost aside, why would you choose a 640 over the 650 or M6? I have had and still have multiple 650s. But I have one very unique M6 in mind that I haven't purchased but always wondered if I should.

[Derekz4]

If I was only keeping the 6 series for a short period of time I probably would have opted for the 650, but since I will be keeping it past it's warranty I went with the 640.

[city1991]

Originally Posted by thebmw

Interesting. So slightly increased fuel economy and slightly lower cost aside, why would you choose a 640 over the 650 or M6? I have had and still have multiple 650s. But I have one very unique M6 in mind that I haven't purchased but always wondered if I should.

Yes I would.

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by Derekz4

If I was only keeping the 6 series for a short period of time I probably would have opted for the 650, but since I will be keeping it past it's warranty I went with the 640.

I’ve decided that I am going to keep my 640 long term. I came very close to buying a 2018 650 yesterday with only 9k miles on it, but in the end, when I showed my Carbon Black car to the salesman I realized that I didn’t love the color (Sapphire Black) of the 650, that I wouldn’t turn back once, twice, or thrice after I parked that 650 like I do with my 640.

Though it doesn’t have the OMG WTF thrills of the other cars I drove, it is still damn fast and dare I say perfectly well balanced and I think I’ll get into a lot less trouble. Lol!

That said: I will get a Corvette C8 when they start coming back off of lease or are available on the used market. My thinking is that the GC is really a Luxo-cruiser and that the C8 is a sports car.

I’m pretty sure that that Vette with give me all of the OMG WTF!?!?! I need.

[dsocold]

yea i bought my 640gcXdrive after owning a fully modified 135i for 7 years and i guess speed and stiff suspensions were just not what i was crazy about in the 6 anymore but now i kinda wish i would have went for a 650 especially since the price difference was very low i got my 640 cpo'd and it costed more than non cpo 650 at the time..

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by MichaelInChicago

If only the 8 GC didnt look like a Lexus Hyundai hybrid.

lol. You’re right about that! I’ve actually decided to keep the 640 long term and get aC8 corvette for my road thrills.

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by thebmw

Interesting. So slightly increased fuel economy and slightly lower cost aside, why would you choose a 640 over the 650 or M6? I have had and still have multiple 650s. But I have one very unique M6 in mind that I haven't purchased but always wondered if I should.

Mostly because I plan on keeping the 640 long term and feel that the 6 cylinder will be more reliable over time. This may or may not be true and is certainly debatable! I’ve decided to get a C8 corvette for my road thrills.

[iamvanja]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

Oh... and if you do feel the need for some more power, you can always bolt on a simple JB4.

JB is old school now though. BootMod3 is way better.

[iamvanja]

Originally Posted by Frupal

Mostly because I plan on keeping the 640 long term and feel that the 6 cylinder will be more reliable over time. This may or may not be true and is certainly debatable! I've decided to get a C8 corvette for my road thrills.

Same here. 640 seemed like a better candidate for a daily to me. Plus stories about topping off oil even with a TU variant seemed like asking for trouble. I never felt like a needed more power anyway.
Price difference between the two with the same amount of options was basically non-existent.

[Bigjule1111]

Funny that I came across this thread . . I picked up my 640xi GC in June and love it so much that now I've been craving for more .. and more im talking about the m6 GC . My 640 is not a daily driver so I'm asking myself y not just go all out and get the m6 ? With the m6 is more than just the thrills of the power .. is the mystique of being and driving something that's kind of rare car to see .. the looks of the m6 , the sound and ofcourse the power .. so captivating.. but with that comes 200 oil changes ,1000$ brake jobs and so on .....even with that I'm still comptimplating.

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by Bigjule1111

Funny that I came across this thread . . I picked up my 640xi GC in June and love it so much that now I've been craving for more .. and more im talking about the m6 GC . My 640 is not a daily driver so I'm asking myself y not just go all out and get the m6 ? With the m6 is more than just the thrills of the power .. is the mystique of being and driving something that's kind of rare car to see .. the looks of the m6 , the sound and ofcourse the power .. so captivating.. but with that comes 200 oil changes ,1000$ brake jobs and so on .....even with that I'm still comptimplating.

I completely understand! Drive one. See if you like it.