First pictures don't do the color justice. She looked great in the sun when I picked her up but then the snow moved in. She already got snows mounted. 2007 M6 Cab delivered: 11/28/2006
The BMW 6-Series is a well-sorted, huge Coupe that does everything with typical BMW aplomb. But even its mother thinks its looks are ‘challenging’.
Score: 13 out of 20
Damn those pesky run-flat tires - they spoil the ride again, though the 6-series is a bit softer than most sport scars, leaving no doubt as to its GT status. We wouldn't say the back seats are cramped, but David Blaine begged to be let out after a couple of miles.
12 out of 20
Even the base six-pot 630i packs some punch (272bhp, 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds and 155mph), so there's never much doubt as to whether the 6-series can cope with a heavy right foot. The 650i comes with a V8, 367bhp and 362lb ft, meaning that it'll crack the five and a half second mark for the sprint, and much more quickly to the usual 155mph limiter. There's also a diesel 635d for the cot conscious amongst you - and that's the real secret weapon - 0-62mph in just over six, the 155mph limiter AND 42mpg. We like.
17 out of 20
The drop-top is too flash, the Coupe a bit weird-looking. But there's something about a 635d in a dark colour... Yeah, that's cool.
8 out of 20
No worries here - the 6-Series has been around for about four years now, and it's never had any major issues. If you own a brick shithouse, worry about that falling apart first.
13 out of 20
The Six is again a superlative bit of chassis engineering from BMW - it really does shrink when you start to chuck it about. Rear-wheel drive and adjustable suspension help keep it neat and slick no matter how hard you push. Even the convertible is a treat.
15 out of 20
It's a big GT, but beware if you carry passengers. Seating up front is good, and there's a decent-sized boot at 450 liters (less 150 liters if you have the convertible), but even half the Krankies and one Heather Mills will trouble the space in the back.
12 out of 20
This isn't a cheap car to run or buy. Group 18-20 insurance, heavy fuel and servicing and 35-percent tax liability mean that whichever way you cut it, a Six is a premium proposition. The 635d is the only reasonable way into real-world 6-Series ownership; 42.2mpg and lower insurance help a lot.
Score: 13 out of 20
Of all the cars styled under the supervision of Chris Bangle, now the director of BMW Group design, this high-performance variation on the 6 Series coupe is the standout. Befitting the car’s ferocious 500-horsepower V-10 engine, the M6 has an aggressive appearance that is hulking but handsome.
if you put the M6 on a country road with challenging curves, its all-conquering ultra-performance character starts to make sense. The seats have supportive bolsters and the dashboard layout is straightforward. The car sticks to the road like tar and quickly exceeds legal speeds. Taking curves at three times the numbers posted on warning signs poses so little challenge you quickly lose interest in the exercise.
While you are dashing about, be sure you don’t stray far from a gas station. While the car carries a federal rating of 12 m.p.g. in town and 18 on the highway (and a gas guzzler tax of $3,000), this leadfoot’s mileage never topped 9.2 m.p.g. On premium.
Without question, the M6 is a high-speed luxury touring machine that will gobble up extreme distances with no fuss. And if BMW would only make it with either a six-speed manual gearbox or a conventional automatic, I’d say the car was worth every penny of its sticker, as was the delightful $82,440 650i coupe I drove later with a six-speed manual.
As it stands, the M6 is a brilliant exercise in chassis and engine design and an eye-catching demonstration of how striking BMW styling can be. But if you want to shift effortlessly, tune your radio or take a cup of coffee with you without having to think twice, there are cars costing a quarter as much that do a far better job.
