Then & Now: 2008 BMW 650I

As an awaited follow up to my article "Wall Poster Classics 1985 BMW 635csi" I wanted to take a current look at the second generation BMW 6 series.

The BMW 6 series was a focal point in the Chris Bangle driven redesign of the BMW fleet. Currently available in a coupe & convertible configuration, the 2008 BMW 650I see's little changes since the second generation introduction in 2003. Powered by a silky smooth 4.8 liter V8, the 360HP 650I rockets to easy mid 5 second 0-60 times. Options include the legendary BMW 6 speed manual transmission, or one can opt for BMW's all new Sport Automatic Transmission. According to BMW this is a step forward from the clunky and laggish steptronic transmission from previous years (no pun intended).

Of course the 2008 BMW 650I has the "Hate it!" or "Really hate it!" idrive system. BMW says the idrive has been updated to make it easier to navigate the system. So in other words you'll have 3 pages of options to go through to change the radio station instead of 7.

I hate to sound so negative about the second generation 6 series. Really, I should love everything about this car. Big, German, fast, coupe, V8, all great things. Like any BMW the 6 series is solid, and handles like no other car on the road. The styling has still not sold me, and I think it has lost some of the head turning ability that the first generation cars had. Personally I think the coupes look far better than the convertibles. I do not like BMW's new interior styling. Contemporary is one thing, but come on... Even the 300 at Thermopylae would find this interior bland.

So is the second generation BMW 6 series still "The ultimate driving machine?" Well, probably. It just seems some of the passion the first car had has been lost over the years. I know several people who have a second generation 6 and they love them. I really want to love this car, seriously I do. But, every time I see one I always find myself thinking "I'd just save myself $65,000 and buy a classic one."