New BMW 6 Series

Posted by: DAVOhorn on 09 May 2004

I went to my local BMW dealer to have a look at the new 6 series.

What is wrong with BMW none of the current cars except for the 3 series is atractive.

The 6 continues the deranged fish mouth and ruined Porsche 911 rear.

Any way inside the driving position is odd. I am 5ft 10" and i could not see over the dashboard or steering wheel if i did not want my head touching the roof lining. So i had a panoramic view of a very well designed dashboard and steering wheel.

If i raised the seat so that i could see over the dashboard my head was touching the roof lining.

The back seat is from the 8 series school of design. NO WAY COULD an adult or teenager use the rear seat. Maybe a young child but not in a kiddy seat.

The car is beautifully made but is a missed opportunity.

The old 6 was a beautiful car and with the M engine had supreme performance. It was extremely comfotable to sit in and you could just manage to sit in the back seat. This car still has presence today and its performance may still embarrass the new 6.

regards david

Posted on: 10 May 2004 by Bubblechild

I agree with David - the new 6 confirms that the designs have lost direction. Even the grille is getting out of control. Before we know it the nice round blue-and-white badge will have melted a la Dali, and the whole driving experience will be surreal.

The old 635 CSI was and is a great car.

Unlike Beamers, I think Mercs are gradually getting the designs sorted again, after what seemed like an interminable period of slug-like profiles and interiors apparently designed for a middle-eastern rather than teutonic clientele.

Posted on: 10 May 2004 by rodwsmith

I'm not mad on the new BMW styling, although of course as with so much else it's all a matter of personal taste. All credit to them for producing something distinctive 'though (as with the Ford's "two-intersecting-lines?-Let's-make-them-a-different-surface" and Renault's "flying-butress" affairs).

This has nothing to do with my inability to afford one. Honest.

I remain convinced that, for its sins, my car (below) is as pretty as I could've afforded.

Rod

Posted on: 10 May 2004 by HTK

The 406 coupe is a design classic. My only problem is the interior - but each to their own.

IM(subjective)O the 6 is bloody horrible. An oppertunity missed. Looks even worse in the metal than the photos. The interior looks to be of poor quality (although it probably isn't) and is an ergonomic disaster.

The new 5 has got to be one of the most brilliant drives I've ever piloted for a day. For its size and price point its top of the pile. Unfortunately, 'pile' is a word that comes to mind (along with two others) when looking at the interior) both layout and quality) and the stupid exterior. I was very happy to climb back into my old 5 - but in fairness, it is dynamically behind the E60.

But the E60 is growing on me. When I see one now I merely cringe. Six months ago I'd vomit. That's progress.

Cheers

Harry

Posted on: 10 May 2004 by JohanR

quote:
The 406 coupe is a design classic.

Yes, together with Alfa 156 it's the only cars one can buy new, irrespective of price, that are beautiful. IMHO, of course.

BMW:s exterior design has never been particulary interesting, except the above mentioned old 6-series and the E36 3-series.
Their interior design, on the other hand, has clearly been the one to beat. But those days are over now gone (an example, the Z4 dashboard seem to be taken from Volvo S40).

JohanR