Test Drives

[Frupal]

I test drove two M6 competition Gran Coupes yesterday. A 2019 in San Marino Blue, and a 2018 in individual St. James Red. The 2019 ran quite well, the 2018 not so much. I was underwhelmed by the ride. Too rough for my taste. Ah, if I were 20 years younger...

Then I drove a 2020 840i Gran Coupe. Though still underwhelmed by the look, I was definitely overwhelmed by how it drove. I know we all bag on the 8 series because it’s not as gorgeous as our beloved 6s, but it felt so solid and so secure and also like it had an extra 100 rather than the extra 20 horsepower it has. The car drives like a dream!

When they become a couple of years old and are available for half-price I would def consider getting one. Maybe even an 850...

[sir harmony]

I've never seen anyone compare an M6 to an 8'40', and then pick the latter. I'm at a loss. What's your criteria? Comfort, plush, noise level?

As for the M6's you test drove. How could one outperform the other, especially for such late MY's? Did you note which driving and suspension modes you were in, in each vehicle?

[alehax]

The 840i are nice, maybe not everyone's cup of tea due to the radical change in design but hey, we need to move on with the times and design trends. I am dreaming of a new 6 series comeback at some point, this generation of cars will become a true classic in 10 years. I have taken some pics at BMW just before the lock-down when I've done the EGR recall at the dealership and I wished I could test drove the 840i in the pics...

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by sir harmony

I've never seen anyone compare an M6 to an 8'40', and then pick the latter. I'm at a loss. What's your criteria? Comfort, plush, noise level?

As for the M6's you test drove. How could one outperform the other, especially for such late MY's? Did you note which driving and suspension modes you were in, in each vehicle?

I did note the settings. The red one was decidedly rougher, and the engine response was nowhere near as smooth. I found the M cars unpleasant to ride in. As for the comparo, I think I preferred the 840 because it was quick in a way that I and IT could handle. I am of the opinion that the RWD M6 Competition is over powered and that it spends more time spinning its wheels than moving forward. X drive would probably solve this. Which Alpina apparently did. I test drove one of those too, but the previous owner had ‘tuned’ it and ruined it with an aftermarket exhaust which were two HUGE red flags for me.I would never buy a used car that had been altered from stock in the slightest. The hubris of tune shops thinking that their ‘research’ that most likely cost a couple hundred thousand - or even a million or two - could hold a candle to the hundreds of millions that BMW put into theirs blows my mind.

I have also driven an 850 GC with X-drive and it was like a miracle on wheels. That thing leaped forward, putting imho the M6 and the Alpina to shame. If you haven’t had the opportunity to drive one of those, I highly recommend that you do. That is the car that I will most likely end up with.

[thebmw]

Frupal, did you happen to take a pic of the San Marino Blue M6? I think they look amazing. I still can't see myself in an 8, they are just too...patchwork. Front doesn't match the rear, many BMW traits are missing, and honestly, they are not pretty. They just exist. The 6 still stirs emotion, almost 9 years after it was released!!

[NorthCountryGuy]

I kind of felt the same way when I first got the M6...to overpowered for a RWD.

Once I got the old Kuhmo’s off that it came with, and the Pilot Sports on, the difference was dramatic. I had also got used to driving the car as well. Coming from a 650 xDrive I felt that I might have made a mistake, but that feeling has passed. I do miss the refined power of the 650 xDrive.

Accelerating up to 140 mph should always be an exhilarating event. It certainly is in the M. At all other times it does cruise as a Prince should.

[Derekz4]

I sure like the look of our 6 in red.
Frupal, you may remember this one as it was at your dealer around the time you purchased yours. It was around December of 2018. I couldn’t make it up to BH BMW before it sold.

[iamvanja]

I've learned to be extremely careful when considering test driving other cars. It wouldn't be the first ti e that I like something, the bug gets implanted in my head, and couple months later I am buying it....

[Qsilver7]

..I'm sorry...but I just can't get past the rear end. This (in my opinion) is even worse than the Bangle-butt disater of the pre-facelift e65/e66 7 series (2002-2005). Which made me hold onto my 1997 e38 740iL unitl 2018. Nothing BMW produced from that time until the f06/f12/f13 debuted made me even think of moving on to something different. Looks like I'm back in the same situation...just not moved by anything in the "grown-up" category (anything with a 5/6/7/8 in the nomenclature) that lights my fire.



{the fake air vents around the lower rear reflectors reminds me of dog jowls in the wind}

[Qsilver7]

When I go back and look at what BMW offered in regards to the large coupes...I see classic designs that are still pleasing to the eye...and none of them makes me gag or wonder what the h3ll the designer was thinking. The Bangle-butt is still questionable...and it would make the e63 six series the least likely to ever want to buy...but it still isn't as butt ugly as the rear of the new 8 series:

the e9 (predecessor of the e24 six series)




e24 six series




e63 six series



f13 six series



e31 8 series

[itzjoker]

I love the rear end of the 8ers, looks very aggressive and sinister. The front end however is a little lackluster imo.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by itzjoker

I love the rear end of the 8ers, looks very aggressive and sinister. The front end however is a little lackluster imo.

You mean something like Darth Vadar's helmet? It's aggressive and sinister



But seriously...it just goes to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[itzjoker]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

You mean something like Darth Vadar's helmet? It's aggressive and sinister


But seriously...it just goes to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

We're in 6er in this forum so it's safe to say we all agree on something haha

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by itzjoker

We're in 6er in this forum so it's safe to say we all agree on something haha

Yes...that is true. And for what it's worth...I do go over and browse their forums every-now-and-then. But it's more for info on the technology, engine, suspension, etc...just to see how things are progressing or regressing or staying status quo. But I wouldn't insult them by writing negative things about the car they just spent lots of ($$$) moolah on....I save that for here or other platforms.

[Frupal]

Originally Posted by thebmw

Frupal, did you happen to take a pic of the San Marino Blue M6? I think they look amazing. I still can't see myself in an 8, they are just too...patchwork. Front doesn't match the rear, many BMW traits are missing, and honestly, they are not pretty. They just exist. The 6 still stirs emotion, almost 9 years after it was released!!

Yes I did! It’s not a very good pic, but here it is. Love the color!

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Frupal

Yes I did! It’s not a very good pic, but here it is. Love the color!

Awesome color.

Looked up the car after your first post. Crazy depreciation, as we all know! MSRP was around 150. Ask is around 115. Will be selling for 70's next year. 50's year after. 40's after!

[brad850csi]

Trying to rank E9, E24, E31, E63, F13, F92 is really difficult. I think I'm going to go

F13 dual clutch, hydraulic steering, most powerful RWD M car, modern enough infotainment (at the moment) to still be better than most cars out there
E31 gorgeous, 6MT, V12, only M car with that combo
F92 fast off the line with 4wd but auto only, electric power steering
E63 V10 is crazy good but SMGIII is rubbish
E9 beautiful modern enough to have decent power but not too old
E24 only last because the E9 gives you the i6 engine and isn't any difference in tech


Curiously I own an E31 850CSi and an F13 LCI Comp Pack, hmmm I must be biased!

[gjohnsen]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

When I go back and look at what BMW offered in regards to the large coupes...I see classic designs that are still pleasing to the eye...and none of them makes me gag or wonder what the h3ll the designer was thinking. The Bangle-butt is still questionable...and it would make the e63 six series the least likely to ever want to buy...but it still isn't as butt ugly as the rear of the new 8 series:

the e9 (predecessor of the e24 six series)




e24 six series




e63 six series



f13 six series



e31 8 series

That E9 3.0 CSI is the best looking of them all. Allways been my dream car since I was a kid. Considering now buying one as weekend car...

[bimmer12]

Originally Posted by Frupal

The car drives like a dream!

That the new 8 drives like a dream makes me hate its design even more. Such a shame.

[JBF650]

I agree completely…. the rear of the new 8 series does look like dogs jowls in the wind! lol its so bloated, unnecessary all those irrelevant scoops and holes. wtf were the designers thinking....
I'm clearly biased when I announce that I love the look of my F13 Coupe from any angle and particularly from the rear!!!