With a bit of math, it turns out that the 6-Series GT is a bit of a 7-Series in disguise. Fantastic!
Our short time with the BMW has been truly fantastic. It is great in every way and, personally, the shape not only does not bother me, I actually like it a lot. What I did not like one tiny bit was the price. Our unit was tagged at 389,000Dhs. That is a lot of money by any standards.
However, such a price tag begs for a little more investigation into what this car is, and what this car isn’t. For starters, the name. 6-Series GT. 640GT. 6… Is it a 6-Series?
Well, it’s bigger than any 6-Series. Longer, taller, wider. With longer wheelbase, wider track and a higher roof. The interior is like the base 6-Series, but then, most BMW look the same from the inside. The 640GT is clearly a BMW but, to me, it’s not a 6-Series at all.
What is it then? To find out, we need a bit of math, and a bit of number crunching. Look at the table and see the actual differences between the GT and the Grand Coupe it’s supposedly derived from:
| Dimensions | 6-Series Grand Coupe | 6-Series GT |
|---|---|---|
| Length | ||
| Width | ||
| Height | ||
| Wheelbase | ||
| Weight |
The most telling in this table is the wheelbase difference. This normally signifies a different chassis. Combine that with the width, the front and rear track and the overhangs, which are all different, and it seems that the GT and the GC have very little in common.
But then, where did it come from? Ask BMW and they say it is a new chassis, and specifically designed for the GT and the new iPhone is coming, and Messi is not great in the World Cup and sometimes I like anchovies in the pizza. And on the last two issues, you forgot your question.
There is, however, one car that has the same wheelbase, the same track, the same width, and same interior space, and the same feel. It’s not a 6-Series though, it is the 7-Series:
| Dimensions | 7-Series | 6-Series GT |
|---|---|---|
| Length | ||
| Width | ||
| Height | ||
| Wheelbase | ||
| Weight |
Well, well, well… Now things start to make sense. It turns out that the 6-Series GT is a bit of a 7-Series in disguise. They have the same engine, seem to have the same chassis, same gearbox, same suspension, same Efficient Dynamics systems, same almost everything.
Now, they differ greatly in the decoration patterns and other plush elements reserved for the chauffeur designed BMW, but remove the rear seat plumpness and what you get is a 6-Series GT in a different dress. That said, the 730i starts at 390,000Dhs. What a coincidence! The 740i is around 450,000Dhs.
I don’t really have data on what’s the percentage of BMW 7-Series owners that have a driver, but I doubt it’s the majority. Hence, the GT is, to me at least, a 740 without the rear seat comfort zone. And by that, I mean the back seat massage, touch-screen climate control and the flute glass coolers. Things I rarely use and that have no value to me.
Looked as a 7-series, which is what it seems to be, the 640GT is now cheap-ish. And it is a fantastic car overall.
