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The 2009 BMW M6 is the performance version of the BMW 6-Series midsize car line.
Competition includes such foreign luminaries as the Jaguar XKE, Audi S5, Ferrari
430 Scuderia and F430, Porsche 911 and Aston Martin DB9. American competition
includes the Chevy Corvette, Cadillac XLR and Dodge Viper. The M6 looks are
unchanged for this model year except for one added color, Carbon Black Metallic.
The M6 is powered by a 5.0 liter, 500 horsepower gasoline V10, with a standard
seven-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Optionally, you can get a
six-speed manual transmission, also with overdrive. Horsepower, power to weight
ratio and torque are all excellent. This is aided by the M6 roof, which is made
of carbon fiber instead of metal, lightening the M6 and giving it a lower center
of gravity.
Guess what? The fuel efficiency is not very good, coming in at 11 miles per
gallon in the city and 17 miles per gallon on the highway. You expect low
mileage for a luxury sports car, of course. But that's below class average for
luxury or sports cars.
There are two trims for the M6 - the for once aptly named coupe and convertible.
It's a good, but not exceptional, looking car although the convertible is easier
on the eyes than the coupe. Passenger volume leaves something to be desired
whether you consider the M6 as a luxury car or a sports car.
There is no crash test data for the M6 at either NTSHA or IIHS, which is true
for the entire 6-Series line. Although it's worth noting that BMW doesn't
consider the M6 to be a part of the 6-Series so much as an adjunct to it. BMW
actually prefers to link the M6 socially with the M5.
There are some good safety features available for the M6 including antilock
brakes with electronic braking assistance, vehicle stability control and
traction control, locking and limited slip differential, inside trunk release
and electronic parking aid, all standard. There is no child safety lock. The
warranty is slightly better than average at 4 years and 48,000 miles.
The 2009 BMW M6 is expensive any way you slice it. Base price is $102,100 for
the coupe and $107,900 for the convertible. That's almost twice the class
average cost of other luxury cars and more than twice the class average for
sports cars. Still, the M6 is not the class average, and when you realize some
of its closest competitors are priced at well over a quarter million dollars, it
doesn't seem all that overpriced.
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