What do you do if you're a rugby fan and you have a blue BMW 640 Convertible on test? Take it to Cardiff for the Leinster rugby match of course!
Ross O'Carroll Kelly would be proud of me - and I am conscious of the Leinster supporter stereotype - but hey, the whole country is in upbeat form and the 640 is a car that can make you feel very special.
The 320bhp 640 is a luxury machine that has seating for four but is really a 2+2 (two-seater coupé). The petrol-fuelled 6 was under pressure from my travelling companions to deliver on its €108,000 price tag. It was the turn of my youngest child to come with me to a match and, to fully make use of the space, I brought a friend and his rugby mad 14-year-old son. The seating was at best tight in the back, but youthful enthusiasm won out in the long run.
Our test drive took the paddle-shift 8-speed automatic BMW down the coast from Wicklow to Rosslare for the crossing to Pembroke. From there it was an overnight stop at Carmarthen and then on to Cardiff. Despite the massive optional extra 19" alloys (18" is standard) the ride was very comfortable. The Auto Dipping headlight function was useful on the narrow rural Welsh roads. Road noise is an issue as the 6 uses a fabric hood - so it was never going to be as quiet with the roof in place as the tin top version.
The rear electric window offers a surprisingly good view through the mirror and can be lowered at the flick of a switch, as can all four side-windows using a single button. In a convertible drivers have a duty to drop the roof to show off the designer's lines as often as possible (and of course fly supporter's flags). There is an effective mesh wind deflector that can be put in place if you need to take care of your hair-do and, of course, with the windows up this effectively turns the 6 convertible into a two-seat coupé with a large sunroof (great for the autobahn). At speed the new 6 shrinks around you.
Pre-owned examples of the first generation 6 Series (convertible and coupé) can be had for the price of a new Mondeo. So clearly with a 6 depreciation is not for the fainthearted - but let's not forget the enjoyment you get from simply driving such an imposing car.
BMW has over the last few years confused people with its numbering system. Once it was easy to know that a 316 was a 3 series size car with a 1.6-litre engine and so on. Cars with 40 after the model number used to be V8s but the 640 is in fact a 3-litre, 6-cylinder. The range topping 650 (€133,000) is a 4.4-litre V8 Twin-turbo!
Back to the 640, should the need arise for brisk acceleration the turbo charged engine will do 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds but, given the price of fuel, temperance with the right foot is recommended. BMW figures say the 640 will average an impressive 7.9 L/100km. Emissions are down to an impressive 185g/km CO2 thanks in the main to an engine stop/start system. Brake energy regeneration is new too.
Beemer's 640 Convertible is a joyous grand-tourer that sadly will only sell in small numbers until our economy grows again. The result of the rugby match made the drive back home to Ireland even more enjoyable.
Michael Sheridan
