6er is a rich guy's Camaro?

[aNoodle]

C&D review: "As is the coupe, the 645Ci convertible is a brilliant machine muffled under a blanket of who-asked-for-it technology. Putting down the top lets the driver strip off some of that insulation and discover a few hints of what lurks beneath: the best damn Camaro $78,295 can buy." http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=16&article_id=8128

Have the guys at C&d lost their minds or is the new 6er really a rich guy's Camaro?

 

[theBMWenthusiast]

i voted no comparison between camero and 6, guy must not like the 6, other articles have given it nice reviews and never called it that

 

[Bryan330i]

What a stupid comment. I found one similar in SEMA. It basically said this Hyundai was for 3 Series BMW people that haven’t gotten their first promotion yet.

Are these people living in a vacuum? How is a $20k car just a promotion away from $35? The damn things are not even close to being similar cars. And I don’t know about everyone else but I have never seen a 3 Series under $33, and more common is about $35 from what I see and I have walked a lot of BMW lots in the South-West area (I like to look at cars).

 

[M_Six]

He can have his Camaro; I'll take the 6.

 

[MrElussive]

Yeah, I read that statement also in the C&D issue of the 6-series being the "rich guy's Camaro" or whatever....I also thought that was extremely stupid. I think he was trying to make the point that the 6-series has a very powerful V8, much like a Camaro??
Either way, the new 6-series' exterior does not make me satisfied and it's REALLY expensive.

 

[bmw046series]

As a 6 coupe owner I'm outraged, clearly the author of the article is about as refined to expensive automobiles as Courtney Love is to refined music. He can keep is cheap plastic Camaro, I’ll take my 6 coupe.

I’m so sick of auto articles bashing BMW’s and always comparing them to American cars which don’t even compare. Like the Ford Focus/BMW 7 series comparison CBS News did a while back. Get a life!

 

[Kirby]

I didn't read the article, I wonder if he was trying to "dumb down" the review so a muscle car guy could have something to relate to. On second thought, maybe the reporter IS a muscle car guy who doesn't get it. In any event, that's an asinine comparision to make. If you could spend $78K on a Camaro, it still wouldn't be half of a 6 series.

 

[dzervit]

When I read that I thought the guy was nuts... WTF was he thinking? And a 7 series is a rich mans Town Car?!

 

[tool fan]

Like the Ford Focus/BMW 7 series comparison CBS News did a while back. Get a life!

WHAAAAAT??????? You surely jest...say it isn't so. Why don't american car companys just freaking stay "american car companys" Why do we always have to dable in everyone elses pudding. You don't see the European car companys trying to make cars that are as cheap and unreliable as american cars (I know there are a FEW good ones) So does this mean that the Ford Fiesta is the Audi A8's rival now?????? Gimme a break.........precisely why I DON'T read these magazines.

 

[Bryan330i]

WHAAAAAT??????? You surely jest...say it isn't so. Why don't american car companys just freaking stay "american car companys" Why do we always have to dable in everyone elses pudding. You don't see the European car companys trying to make cars that are as cheap and unreliable as american cars (I know there are a FEW good ones) So does this mean that the Ford Fiesta is the Audi A8's rival now?????? Gimme a break.........precisely why I DON'T read these magazines.

It's true, they did do a story on this. They compared the 7 with the Focus.

Another problem with American cars is they depreciate so fast. Unless a person gets 20% of more off sticker they will be so far upside down they will never be able to get out. A Sable or Tarus has a trade in value of about $3,500.00 after it's three to four years old.

 

[M_Six]

That's true. My Dodge Intrepid went for $21k new and brought only $6k in trade after 18 months. Mine had exceptionally high mileage (79k), but there was a one year old Intrepid on their lot with 10k miles on it and it was stickered at $10k. It was sitting next to a new one that was stickered at $21k. So one year and 10k miles depreciated the car by 50%. Pretty bad. Another factor, as with the Taurus and Sable, is that the Intrepid is a popular rental car. The rental companies dump them after they hit ~10k miles, so the market is flooded with them. If you buy a new Intrepid or Taurus/Sable and take out a five year loan, you'll always be upside down. If you total it in the first two years and the insurance company gives you current value for it, you're screwed. You'll owe more than you get from the insurance. You'll have no car and you'll still owe on it.

 

[tool fan]

That's true. My Dodge Intrepid went for $21k new and brought only $6k in trade after 18 months. Mine had exceptionally high mileage (79k), but there was a one year old Intrepid on their lot with 10k miles on it and it was stickered at $10k. It was sitting next to a new one that was stickered at $21k. So one year and 10k miles depreciated the car by 50%. Pretty bad. Another factor, as with the Taurus and Sable, is that the Intrepid is a popular rental car. The rental companies dump them after they hit ~10k miles, so the market is flooded with them. If you buy a new Intrepid or Taurus/Sable and take out a five year loan, you'll always be upside down. If you total it in the first two years and the insurance company gives you current value for it, you're screwed. You'll owe more than you get from the insurance. You'll have no car and you'll still owe on it.

This is most absurd thing I have ever heard of in my life. Friends ask me why I choose to stay in Europe, I guess this is a big reason. WTF are normal run of the mill peeps supposed to do....always stay in debt? Doesn't that screw the economy up? I know that if I was in debt "upside down" like that...I wouldn't be buying anything else. So I suddenly become the "un-consumer" and an no longer a viable "consuming" member of society....or do I have this all F'd up?

 

[adrean8j]

It is funny though.....I bought my 5er when it was five years old......it still bluebooked at 19,000euro(german bluebook equivalent). Granted this car probably cost upwards of 40k when brand new but 50% in five years versus 50% in one is a hell of a difference!

 

[selavia]

Hey all,
I agree with you all about the depreciation of American cars; that's part of the reason no one in my family drives an american car anymore...that and they constantly break down. haha. I was recently involved in an accident that is a borderline totaled vehicle, and everyone that I tell this to (who isn't familiar with BMW) thinks I'm bs-ing them that my car's bluebook is just under 10k w/ having 112xxx and being 10yrs old. It seems that most people in America are used to this type of depreciation, and anything other than that seems absurd. Furthermore, I have friends who are muscleheads; one in particular owns a Camaro. He's put over 10k of parts in the car; it's a V8 and it is fast as shit, but it still does not have a refined ride quality that even compared to my puny 3-Series, let alone a 6-Series. I've noted that, to me, the biggest difference between a really powerful American/Japanese car and a really powerful BMW is that the American/Japanese car sacrifices that extremely refined, sturdy output for speed, whereas BMW doesn't. I've driven MKI, MKII, MKII, MKIV Supras for sometime and while they are fast as hell, they still don't have that controlled power feeling that my buddies 850 had. I dunno if anyone understands what I'm trying to say. I guess its just something one has to experience.

 

[codex57]

^^^ That's cuz:

German cars = engineered for the autobahns
Japanese cars = engineered for sitting in traffic that makes LA traffic look like the autobahn
American cars = bean counters won't allow money for engineering

 

[gizzy]

Ford Focus/BMW 7 Series Comparison

Both the Focus and the BMW Series come standard with four wheels, an engine under the hood, a transmission, an exhaust system, a windshield, a steering wheel, a gas pedal, a break pedal, and windshield wipers. Due to both of these cars having these components, why spend all of that extra money to drive a BMW when all you need to do is buy a Ford Focus? It will save you a ton of money on the sticker price and if you have the imagination of maybe a three year old and are borderline psycotic, you can just think that your driving a BMW.
[joke]

 

[dzervit]

Guys you can't compare depreciation of a car that sells 10x more than your 3er and 15x more than your 5er. Its supply & demand in the used car market.

WTF are normal run of the mill peeps supposed to do....always stay in debt?

No, keep your car for the length of your loan or buy something you can afford on a 36mo loan! Leasing maybe for you if your flip cars so often. People stay in debt due to living beyond their means (and buying cars every 2/3 years while taking out 5yr loans).

 

[adrean8j]

Matter of fact why would you buy an Intrepid or Taurus and take a FIVE YEAR LOAN on it.....buy a better certified used car for less years and from a brand known for their car quality. Even a used E36 or E30 is better than those IMHO. Matter of fact, dare I say it, a used Honda or Toyota will last longer than those cars new!

 

[selavia]

Matter of fact, dare I say it, a used Honda or Toyota will last longer than those cars new!

I concur; I had a 1979 Toyota Celica Supra that had over 300,000 miles on its ORIGINAL engine. Never had any major engine work, and I only replaced the clutch once. And it drove like a sports car till the day I sold it.

 

[Ghost]

The F50 has a 6mm longer wheelbase than a Chevy Cavalier, that doesn't mean that you can compare the two. Comparing vehicles based on dimensions is . I’m trying to figure out who is more , the author for writing the statement, or the editor for allowing it to be printed. Apparently on the job is allowed at C&D.