Secondhand Sense/BMW 8-Series: Anyone out there remember the BMW 8-Series?
Back in those pre-Celtic Tiger days it never stood much of a chance, which was no bad thing, because it had a 12-cylinder engine and a thirst to match, a top speed of 250 km/h and a design that screamed excess.
Nowadays, we have its successor, the 6-Series, which is rather more understated but still has a 3.0-litre engine in the base model and a 258bhp output. Needless to say it has quite a following among those with deep pockets who are rather more concerned with performance than with the environment. The car is, after all, a two-seater with room only for children in the back.
The 6 is a big and imposing car. You can have it in a coupé or convertible version but either suggests an uncompromising attitude to performance. Not everyone is taken with its looks but it still has a profile that is due to lineage dating back to the 1970s. The original 6-Series was introduced in 1976 as a two-door coupé and eventually gave way to the brasher 8-Series.
The 6 is plush and comfortable too. Much of the interior has been drawn from the 5-Series, which is familiar and well tested. What really adds to the sense of luxury in the 6 is the use of leather upholstery, well thought-out instrumentation and a lack of clutter.
The i-Drive system controls most of the car's main functions - from air conditioning to the music - and you will need to be prepared to read the lengthy manual to master it.
Mastering the driving of the car is not too difficult either. It will cruise extremely comfortably and quickly or it will deliver some blistering performance. The 3.0-litre engine is used in other BMW models and it continues to serve well in the 6, with plenty of power on tap and a smooth delivery.
However, the car is more than a brash performer. Its looks are not exactly sober, but the car has a slightly conservative profile. It is very comfortable in the front but the same cannot be said of the rear. Adults would have a struggle here yet the boot space is quite generous, perhaps adding to the suspicion that this car is geared to middle-aged men who need more space for golf clubs than children.
There are no EuroNCAP crash test results for the car but BMW has a good safety record. Almost 4,000 6-Series cars have been recalled for possible problems with rear shock absorber mountings but other than that there have been no major difficulties.
The current 6-Series has only been around for two years but there are quite a few for sale. A 2005 convertible model with 28,000 kms on the clock and all the electronics you would expect is on offer for €89,995. A coupé version with the same level of equipment and 10,000 kms is on offer at €89,500.
FOR: Very plush coupé AGAINST: Cramped rear, expensive to run