NewNiceMrMe Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Well after a good day of driving on the TSN Northeast Meet I think I've got to grips enough with the 6 in order to give you an initial review of it. I'll follow this up with a longer term one in due course. Having only covered 34 miles on the day I picked the car up it was nice to get another 150 miles under it's belt in one outing - and even nicer that this took in fast stretches of the A1, cruising stretches of the A1 and as any TSN Northeasterner will bear testament to....a lot of very windy roads en route to Croft - at SPEED!!!!!! Ok, well first impressions are very favourable indeed. I should first point out that this is no M3 in the handling stakes. A few corners that the M would have taken with ease were approached with caution yesterday, but I have to say the 6 never went out of shape and whilst a degree of body roll is more apparent it was nothing too alarming. The wheels felt planted, very grippy and on the one occasion I almost induced understeer the car pulled back from the brink with a slight prod on the throttle and firmer turn of the wheel. It should be said these were rather twisty narrow roads mind you! During this countryside run I had the hood down all the way - and the 'trick' (as Jon calls it) glass wind deflector (which is actually the rear window in an UP position) is absolutely superb! It comes up by default when you drop the hood and I kept it up for the duration of the run. Speeds of up to 70mph were just a breeze...or rather that's all I could feel. The cabin area really is extremely well protected with the windows and rear deflector up. Much more so than anything I have ever driven anyway. My wife will love this feature! Talking of the hood, departure from Scotch Corner services lead to lots of questions from fellow TSN-er's...because our convoy moved off as I was in the process of dropping the hood...and of course it continued to lower as we drove away! Great feature, as on the 997 911's, except it'll only operate at up to 20mph - but it's a huge advantage and one I am very pleased to have. Hood stowage could be quicker though. It's not the quickest of roof's to drop but perhaps the sheer vastness of it should be accounted for in any such criticism. I engaged Manual and Sport mode for the B road jaunt too - for the first time. I'm very impressed with that. The flicks on the gearstick are firm yet short, and the engine breathes effortlessly no matter how hard you push it. Even at 6,000 rpm it sounded like it was laughing at attempts to stress it. A wonderful sound indeed and one that is accentuated further with the hood down, listening to the burble of the exhausts and engine. This isn't a discernable blast past exhaust note though - it's a low pitched burble that growls deeply as the revs rise and gives an inner feeling of smug satisfaction that is different from the adrenalin pumping scream of the M3. Now then, that engine. Wow. On tick over it merely rocks into action with a 'I mean business' noise, yet with little bravado - it's a very composed yet menacing growl that lets you be in no doubt of what power is available, but more importantly what power is available so low down the revs range. The cruise on the A1 was good proof of this. It'll tick over effortlessly at 2,000rpm. The cabin is so well insulated you'd forget you were in a Convertible. In fact, if you didn't know you were in a Convertible...the noise wouldn't give it away. It's extremely cosseted. However...push your foot slightly, let the kick-down come into play...and the engine springs to life as the revs count flies around and the back end digs in noticeably. Boy does this car fly up hills! Even on the revs limit the gearchange is, well frankly it's incredible. Never ever have I been in a car with such a smooth change. It's 99% un-noticeable. It's that good. In fact, I actually checked the computer display at one point because I thought I was in 5th when in fact the gearchange had moved up to sixth without me noticing. The ease with which you knock the gearstick across to Auto-Sport is nice too. Then, a tap in any direction up or down and it's in Manual. All very accessible in less than a second. Power wise I am mightily impressed. There is very little, if anything, between the 6 and the M3 in a straight line. Off the mark the M3 would take .5 of a second out of the 6 - but I have no doubts at all that in the real world the 6 would close that gap down. Kickdown into 3rd provides a mezmerizing amount of grunt and the car hurtles towards wherever you point it. Ride quality though....well that is in a truly different league to the M, obviously. All of the above described power and speed is delivered with total aplomb, with no scuttle shake whatsoever (I mean that too, nothing at all) and in such a refined way you could have a car full of passengers asleep and I honestly don't think you'd wake them up other than for the engine growl making their eyes flicker now and again. Bumps are absorbed with consumate ease and this car really can claim to be a GT of the most astonishing ride quality. At low speed the car's size is something you're very wary of, although the 'Radar image' of the cars perimeter on the iDrive screen is a welcome and very clever device for ensuring you don't crush any Saxo's (and again, I think I'd be hard pushed to notice if I did because the car feels as if it has been hewn out of carbon fibre granite! Light, yet immensely strong). The driving position is flawless - mainly because the Sports seats (option) are adjustable in every way possible, as is the steering wheel (up, down, in, out). The cabin feel is very good. Instruments and switches engage with a reassuringly BMW clunk, with no tackiness apparent in the feel of any of the switchgear. The aluminium centre console is well laid out and all the dials and knobs are firm to the touch, with no play and total confidence in the manner in which they move - you'd never select a wrong level for anything, nor would you ever accidentally knock something on by mistake.... ...except perhaps the indicators! The 6 series has digital indicators. They take some getting used to! The stalk doesn't move and hold position....you just tap it either gently or firmly and it returns to it's central position. A gentle tap gives a triple indication that ceases without you doing anything else (and that was handy a few times yesterday). A firm tap engages indication until you've straightened up or cancelled them manually. The system works very well but I do wonder why they bothered. The old system was perfectly adequate. The new one can catch you out on occasion - and it did yesterday on the A1. I indicated left to pull in, then went to cancel, but engaged right indication instead, then went to cancel that in a fit of a fumble...and engaged left indication again! Eventually I got there - but it wouldn't have happened with good old standard indicators. On the other side of the column are the wiper controls - and these are superb!!! Rain sensor activation can be over-ridden...and configured. Now I like that and in yesterdays spits and spots of rain it worked brilliantly. Now then...iDrive. Well, I'm now converted. I now know why they need need it. It's because the configurable options of the car are simply vast. Door locks, lights, communication, navigation, entertainment, servicing, information menu's, status messages....and a simply staggering amount of control over the vehicles air distribution and climate settings. These include remote timing for the pre-warming or pre-cooling of the car on timers! Yes, you can set it to wake up at 6.30am on a winters day, warm the car up for you and demist/defrost all the windows...and then switch off just as you're ready to go out! You will never be too hot or too cold in a 645 - its automatic climate programmes are just amazing. Why they bothered with the central dial that manually overrides the fan speed I have no idea - because the electronics of the car just do what you want them to do, intuitively it seems. Furthermore...as Milo will bear witness to...ignore what Jeremy Clarkson says about Voice Recognition...because it works and it works incredibly well. Entertainment CD 3 Track 6 Bingo - it does it. Fantastic. No programming your voice into it. None of that. It just does it! EVERY single option on iDrive can be called up with your voice. Plus, if you can't remember what is on the menu's...don't bother looking...just say Options...and the ever so soothing lady tells you what you can select from!! Oh and you'll recall how on his recent review of the new M5 he said the woman on the SatNav wouldn't shut up and you couldn't make her shut up? TV gimmickry. Why? Because the 645 (and M5) have programmable buttons on the optional M Sports steering wheel (which mine has). I've set one of them to tell the woman to shut it. Press it, and she does. There you have it. Myth exposed as bollocks! I am a convert, without doubt. They simply couldn't fit enough buttons in the car to provide the options that iDrive does. Or is that the point...are you given too many options? Well, very probably because there are some settings I shall never want to change from where I have them now....but I can if I want to, and that's a key factor. Finally, I'm delighted they have adopted a similar instrument binnacle display to Audi. All the computer information is displayed MUCH more clearly than it ever was in the E46 and pixelation is almost non-existent. It looks classy this time. The 3D look of the instruments catches your eye too - easily missed at first, but it's a very nice touch. So overall, my early thoughts are very positive ones indeed. I can drive this car however I feel, yet I'll get to wherever I am going in total comfort. Nonetheless, you still feel involved enough to make this a car that YOU drive. That, in closing, was the key to me. I want all the comfort, I want all the power, yet I want to feel as if I'm in control and I'm getting the feedback....the 645Ci Convertible delivers all of that and I'm delighted with my decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesB Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Good write up, mate. You should post here more often. I have tried to persuade my sister to get a 645 convertible (without success so far) so will await your full review with anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted August 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] You should post here more often. [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimdiesel Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Glad you are enjoying the 645 Chris. I kept out of the pre-purchase debate, because I know you were going to make the right decision. The car looked stunning yeasterday, so much so that its now on my radar for when I dont have to cart as much baby clobber around. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Doe Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Top hole review Chris...........you should be in the telly!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Great write-up MrMe! The car looks even better in the flesh in my opinion, in particular the wheels. On the subject of the wheels, I couldn't believe they were 19" as they looked much bigger. The little burble the engine makes when it is started put a smile on my face and I can confirm the i-drive voice recognition worked every time. The number of menus and sub menus makes the system essential or else the cabin would look like a 747! It was easier finding the settings you wanted using voice recognition then manually scrolling through the menu system. The only thing it couldn't do was tell me last night's lottery numbers PS - I must aplogise for covering you in soot during the rapid journey across to Croft. That'll teach you to get behind a diesel when your roof's down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted August 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Top hole review Chris...........you should be in the telly!!!! [/ QUOTE ] I wouldn't fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewNiceMrMe Posted August 7, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] PS - I must aplogise for covering you in soot during the rapid journey across to Croft. That'll teach you to get behind a diesel when your roof's down [/ QUOTE ] I was paying a lot of attention to you ahead of me actually and was surprised how little soot was apparent - but more importantly I noticed how well the A4 Tdi went. They don't hang about thats for sure and I could see very little body roll at all. Seeing all those A4's yesterday (and in particular Audi's stunning paintwork on ALL the cars) has only confirmed my opinion that in choosing an A4 for my daily ride that I've made the right decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayerbloke Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Very indepth review already. It`ll be interesting to read your thoughts after a few more miles. Good stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milo Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I was paying a lot of attention to you ahead of me actually and was surprised how little soot was apparent - but more importantly I noticed how well the A4 Tdi went. They don't hang about thats for sure and I could see very little body roll at all. [/ QUOTE ] The little orange ESP light was having field day in the corners! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted August 7, 2005 Report Share Posted August 7, 2005 Yet again, another excellent review. Sounds like you've made the right choice in the 645! It looks stunning, and sounds like a fantastic car from what you said. I need a lie down now though. All those positive comments about an Audi... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted August 9, 2005 Report Share Posted August 9, 2005 Great review Chris. Glad you are happy with your purchase and I hope it lasts for a long time too. Who knows, I might do some more reviews on a new motor myself soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted August 11, 2005 Report Share Posted August 11, 2005 Great review Chris, someone I know has just got one the same as yours and you have just described it in exactly the same way you did. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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