[Russbmw]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

The whole debate seems a little silly to me. A Ducati Panigale and a Harley Davidson Road King are about the same price. Which one is better? It all depends on personal preference and what you intend to do with it.

Exactly mate

[matt_320d]

So I drove the 6 series!

10miles or so test drive. Enormously difficult to get a real sense of what it's like. In that time. It all felt nice. It's interesting that all the kit is very similar to in a 3 and yet, just everything feels more solid..

Price wise, it literally prices out as almost identical to a nicely specced 435d GC custom build. . The 6 in question is actually a year old, although only registered by the dealer last month. 40 miles on the clock.

The APR is notably higher in the 6...6.6% as opposed to 1.2% on the 435d.

Part of me is sorely tempted because its so far below list price it just seems like a great deal, . However, I suspect I won't ultimately because:

1) it has a boot not a hatchback. Why they chose to do this to the 6 unlike the 4 I don't know. Its a stupidly mundane reason, but the level of the boot is, if anything, lower than that of the 3 series.

2) it's RWD. - i have to do some pretty rural driving in all weathers. X drive is worth a lot to me.

3) somehow just a bit disconcerted by the size. On a motorway cruise, it's lovely, but I foresee it being a source of anxiety when parking etc.

All of which means I find myself likely looking at the 435d again...but feeling kinda frustrated it's not a 6..go figure.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

The whole debate seems a little silly to me. A Ducati Panigale and a Harley Davidson Road King are about the same price. Which one is better? It all depends on personal preference and what you intend to do with it.

Not really the 6er is a better more expensive car, built to higher standard using superior platform and equipment.

It's a bit like asking what's better a 2er coupe or a 4er coupe I think most on here would be shouting for the 4er (even though they are very close).

As for handling which people keep referencing the xdrive 3/4er are the worst handling non SUV BMWs I've ever driven so that's a moot point.

Oh and a 435d xdrive is not car version a Panigale! LOL

[pdk42]

Originally Posted by Russbmw

I think the point is being missed here, people go on about the handling like they're driving like Senna. Reality is you're more than likely going to be stuck in a crawling line of traffic on the daily commute, may get to 50-70mph in places if you're lucky. Really does handling matter that much on what you do daily? Really, when the difference between the 4 and 6 is not night and day in the first place?

If you want to go to the ring yearly, or do run what you brung type trackdays, then I get it.

Well, yes and no. Sure I agree that very few of us ever really push our cars anywhere near the limit. But every day we drive them we experience their feel and their pleasure to drive. A light and taught car *will* deliver a more engaging drive for people who car about their driving. When I ran my 530d (F11) it felt big and lumbering on any road that wasn't a big dual carriageway. No amount of refinement could make up for that. My 335i on ACS is far from a sports car, but it sure does a better job on day-to-day driving pleasure than the F11 ever did.

[KCH1984]

Originally Posted by Wills2

As for handling which people keep referencing the xdrive 3/4er are the worst handling non SUV BMWs I've ever driven so that's a moot point.

My 330xD (prior to the fitment of Eibachs) felt worse than the F15 X5 I've just bought. Part of this probably comes down to expectation of getting into a sports saloon versus an SUV, so it's all relative, but on SE springs I just found pressing on in the F30 unpleasant.

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by KCH1984

My 330xD (prior to the fitment of Eibachs) felt worse than the F15 X5 I've just bought. Part of this probably comes down to expectation of getting into a sports saloon versus an SUV, so it's all relative, but on SE springs I just found pressing on in the F30 unpleasant.

Yes I found the same with my xdrive it was just awful and so disappointing, you're probably right the SUVs probably feel better, I've loaner X1 and X3s but didn't push them much.

[moff]

I'm very late to this but I went from a 2015 640d Coupe to a 2017 440i MPPSK.

To start I went to Sytner looking for a new 435d due to the mileage I was doing and I left ordering a 640d. Why?

- 6 is way better looking
- £23k discount and low APR meant it was the same price new
- fully loaded and barely needed any extras
- wasn't sat on stilts with crappy SE suspension and drove terribly through the bends
- I didn't want xDrive
- the interior is on another level

Overall I liked the 6 but never loved it. All this talk of it being too big to drive I think is unfounded. I never had an issue with size but I didn't have the GC.

The 6 has issues though:

- disconnected with the road, numb lifeless steering, almost Audi like
- impossible rear seats. I'm 5ft 11 and no-one could sit behind me
- overly active traction control even fully switched off
- prone to dented doors due to width and the large doors make it hard to get out of in parking spaces.
- it was a diesel

So after 2 years I was really bored. I didn't do the mileage anymore and I had changed jobs. Went to buy and M4 CP and just couldn't get the deal I wanted but I was offered a crazy good 440 deal so I went mad....

My 440i with full individual interior is nearly as nice as the 640, better leather but I hate the plastics especially around the gear stick. Also the manual handbrake is like something from 15 years ago.

But the big change is the fun factor. Petrol!!! The B58 is cracking, especially combined with the MPPSK. Handling is also massively better and I love just going out for a drive!

But to summarise 435d v 640d?? For me 640d but I'd drive them back to back to decide.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by pmgreenwood

I am old enough to remember the time when BMW used to advertise cars as several cars different series and sizes and built to ONE standard. I think that was around the time of the E20 series cars.

Same here, remember the blurb in the brochures at the time of the E20. The unofficial adage was "same sausage, different skin".

This no longer applies. We now have cars designed and finished for different segments and price points.

4 or 6? Different markets. For the user, depends on our requirements and priorities. Same for the 3 vs. 5 debates, the Five is not just a bigger version of the Three.

[jazz_k1]

Hi, I actually have both the 428 and a 640.

In my view they are very different machines.

The 4 is more nimble, lighter and a nice drive around town. But the 6 is much nicer to sit in and is a true GT car that’s very comfortable and luxurious.
The interior finish in the 6 is much better and the 4 feels a little plasticky.
Also the seats in the 6 are more comfortable, softer leather and wider base.

Both great cars just depends on if you are looking for something that’s a good run around and tough wearing inside the 4 is your car. If you want a smooth relaxed and powerful drive surrounded by leather and high quality and not too concerned about flying around corners the the 6 is your car.

The disadvantage of the 6 is that it costs more to ensure, run and maintain. Even a warranty on the 6 costs more due to some of the known issues with the 3litre engine.
Thanks

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by jazz_k1

Hi, I actually have both the 428 and a 640.

In my view they are very different machines.

The 4 is more nimble, lighter and a nice drive around town. But the 6 is much nicer to sit in and is a true GT car that’s very comfortable and luxurious.
The interior finish in the 6 is much better and the 4 feels a little plasticky.
Also the seats in the 6 are more comfortable, softer leather and wider base.

Both great cars just depends on if you are looking for something that’s a good run around and tough wearing inside the 4 is your car. If you want a smooth relaxed and powerful drive surrounded by leather and high quality and not too concerned about flying around corners the the 6 is your car.

The disadvantage of the 6 is that it costs more to ensure, run and maintain. Even a warranty on the 6 costs more due to some of the known issues with the 3litre engine.
Thanks

As the thread is 6 years old, the OP hasn’t posted for 3 years and the 6 is no more, I suspect your valid review will be of limited use.

[Londoner]

Oh I don't know - my mate and I were having this exact discussion yesterday. He's looking at the last 6 series 2019 640s (opposed to similar age 4 series). You can pickup some bargains.