Author Topic: Test Drive: 2012 BMW 650i (Read 7262 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** April 13, 2012, 04:09:49 am »

The BMW 650i makes no apologies for being the bold, fast and expensive coupe that it is.

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nlm · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2012, 08:21:13 am »

I'm a little underwhelmed by the power output but I guess it's more of a tourer?

lebowski · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2012, 09:26:50 am »

Much better looking than the previous 6-er, that's for sure. It seems like such a narrow market niche - older, urban, empty nesters who don't care about the overall length of their car and who rarely travel with additional passengers. I wonder how many of these BMW actually sells in Canada. And if there's a market for something like this, surely there's a market for something with greater mass appeal, i.e. a 3-series with a 2.0L diesel, as in Europe

Railton · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2012, 09:36:35 am »

Quote from: nlm on April 13, 2012, 08:21:13 am

I'm a little underwhelmed by the power output but I guess it's more of a tourer?

+1 to that. If you're going to spend $150K or more you want something that lays the smack down on the little people and those with nothing better to do than challenge the Man.

With appologies to all the BMW fans.
Railton
(Enjoying this Beringer Napa Vallley tonight)

lebowski · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2012, 09:49:17 am »

Quote from: Railton on April 13, 2012, 09:36:35 am

Quote from: nlm on April 13, 2012, 08:21:13 am
I'm a little underwhelmed by the power output but I guess it's more of a tourer?
+1 to that. If you're going to spend $150K or more you want something that lays the smack down on the little people and those with nothing better to do than challenge the Man. With appologies to all the BMW fans.
Railton

It's definitely a tourer, not a sports car. It's hard to imagine how 450 lbs/ft of torque - available at 1750 rpm - in an AWD GT would be in any way inadequate, and it's perfectly in line with cars like the XK-R, CL 550, etc. For what it's worth, the latest 911, admittedly a fair bit lighter than the 650, has much less torque to work with. Also, my guess is most people who will own the BMW will have little interest in a stoplight drag racing - if they did, they wouldn't have chosen the 6er.

redman · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2012, 10:08:03 am »

Sweet car but from the picture it seems to lack that punch (maybe lighting) that some of it's competitors (namely Audi) seem to present.

BMW since the arrival of Bangel and thereafter have detracted, at least in looks from a male aggressive machine to a softened run of the mill styling attracting younger female buyers (or at least that's who I see driving them around where I live). Not that anything is wrong with that demographic but it's just not the classic BMW of old that was once romantically engraved in my mind and that I aspired to own.

nsmyhte · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2012, 12:15:21 pm »

Quote from: Railton on April 13, 2012, 09:36:35 am

Quote from: nlm on April 13, 2012, 08:21:13 am
I'm a little underwhelmed by the power output but I guess it's more of a tourer?
+1 to that. If you're going to spend $150K or more you want something that lays the smack down on the little people and those with nothing better to do than challenge the Man. With appologies to all the BMW fans.
Railton
(Enjoying this Beringer Napa Vallley tonight)

Thats what the M6 is for with its 560hp. I like the look but I would get the 4 door version, the Gran Coupe. That car is nearly perfect looking.

JohnnyMac · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2012, 12:24:58 pm »

I don't see why people would buy this car when there are so many options at that level that are better. Personally I would opt for the new Porsch 911, I know it's a bit more sports car than GT. There's also the Jag and I think the base Aston is right there also. But when all is said and done I'd probably end up with the Audi RS5 that's coming. It offers comparable price and room, AWD, but way more performance and presence.

redman · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2012, 03:24:13 pm »

In light of the "new" 650 I would like to see BMW do something like this sooner. Seems like they are taking 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards at times.

http://www.bmw-i.com/en_ww/bmw-i8/

johngenx · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2012, 03:43:00 pm »

$140K? Huh? Wow, options are stupid on that car. How much is an R8?

Jaeger · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2012, 03:59:51 pm »

We live in crazy times when people are all "meh" over 400hp. Then again, I have to admit that was my raction as well. For this big pile of money, I want more power than the guy in the Genesis one lane over, not less. Long list of vehicles I'd drop that kind of coin on (assuming I had that kind of car coin) before this.

Jaeger

CanuckS2K · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2012, 04:21:19 pm »

This car does absolutely nothing for me. I'm sure it's a great GT car, but for some reason it doesn't interest me whatsoever. Like Jaeger mentioned, there would be a long list of cars ahead of this for the price. I know it's a different type of car, but I'll take a GT-R with quite a few thousand left in my pocket.

2JDM · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2012, 04:23:12 pm »

Heck, I'd take a C63 AMG Coupe over this.

Luxurious and comfortable interior? Check.
Available technology goodies? Check.
CRAZY amounts of V8 power? Check.

Amazing exhaust sound? Check.
Striking good looks? Check.
Reasonable exterior dimensions? Check.

No AWD. Thats it.

lebowski · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2012, 05:02:53 pm »

This car isn't meant for enthusiasts and it isn't meant for people who care that a GT-R the RS5, the Hyundai Genesis, or a Subaru STi or whatever else are all faster around a track. It's meant for people who want a pretty, exclusive, impeccably built and engineered status symbol with tremendous "waftability". It's a slightly-less-ostentatious Bentley Continental. It's not a canyon carver. It's not a sports car. If I had an unlimited budget and wanted a comfortable coupe that could soak up highway bumps and could still handle and steer fairly well, I would happily own one - or maybe a used CL 550 at the same price. If one has the means, there's plenty appealing in a Big Coupe that can soak up miles of asphalt.

mmret · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2012, 06:28:44 pm »

^ agreed.

Different buyer for this vs C63 IMHO.

tpl · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2012, 07:13:16 pm »

I think either car 650 or AMG is designed to take a seriously high maintenance woman and her toothbrush down from a Northern European city to the coast of the Med for a see-and-be-seen weekend with some lustful moments thrown in.

Julie · « **Reply #16 on:** April 13, 2012, 08:56:04 pm »

Definitely not my cup of tea. I'd definitely take other cars over this for that amount of coin. Like its (significantly cheaper) sibling, the new M5.

$100,000 (cheaper than the old one), 560 hp, 500 pounds of torque, and terrific handling.

Chris Harris M5 review: http://youtu.be/OOQIPw7-77w

Snowman · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2012, 10:25:46 pm »

Quote from: tpl on April 13, 2012, 07:13:16 pm

I think either car 650 or AMG is designed to take a seriously high maintenance woman and her toothbrush down from a Northern European city to the coast of the Med for a see-and-be-seen weekend with some lustful moments thrown in.

Ace · « **Reply #18 on:** April 14, 2012, 07:42:24 am »

Doesn't do it for me, a real 1%ers car. I bet owners of these rarely use the little pedal on the right.

Jaeger · « **Reply #19 on:** April 14, 2012, 08:12:51 am »

Quote from: tpl on April 13, 2012, 07:13:16 pm

I think either car 650 or AMG is designed to take a seriously high maintenance woman and her toothbrush down from a Northern European city to the coast of the Med for a see-and-be-seen weekend with some lustful moments thrown in.

Most excellent assessment.

Jaeger

Author Topic: Test Drive: 2012 BMW 650i (Read 7262 times)

nsmyhte