COMPARISON: BMW 650i vs NISSAN 350Z GRAND TOURING

If your high school science teachers were any good, at some point they described the inner workings of the scientific method. You may recall that this involves something about designing an experiment to test a hypothesis. On a sunny spring day, our experiment involves cranking through the Texas Hill Country in the recently released BMW 650i coupe and a fully-loaded version of the Nissan 350Z coupe called the Grand Touring. We’re about an hour into the test, and frankly our hypotheses are taking a beating.

Before discussing hypotheses, we need to mention that we’re thrilled that the 6-series BMW is back. The idea of the 6-series is tough to resist: sleek, powerful, roomy enough for a long trip, small enough to be agile, and full of BMW engineering. You can argue whether the new 650i fulfills the sleekness mandate (we’d say, close but no cigar). But any qualms are quickly forgotten when you consider the combination of the 650’s new 4.8 liter V-8 matched to a 6-speed manual transmission.


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AUDBMLEXMRC - 10/16/2006 2:27:50 PM

+1 Boost

Great NISSAN! Great BMW!

AUDBMLEXMRC - 10/16/2006 6:25:46 PM

+2 Boost

Agree!

vdiv - 10/16/2006 10:06:04 PM

+1 Boost

Sloppy comparo, I agree. For example the 350Z is given as a 4-passenger coupe in the side by side specs... Bah.

Preferring the viscously coupled auto trannie in the 350Z speaks volumes about the drivers.

JUGNU - 10/16/2006 3:34:55 PM

+4 Boost

6 series no no
it should be against 3 coupe.

This comparison doesn't make any sense.

JUGNU

vdiv - 10/16/2006 9:53:40 PM

+1 Boost

I think the Z4 M coupe would be a nice match. The closest to the 650i Nissan has in the US is the Infinity G35 coupe.

Rupert - 10/16/2006 5:20:59 PM

+2 Boost

bmw isn't all about performance, its all about making a profit, just like all companies. the sporty thing just happens to sell a lot of cars.
people don't really car how fast a car laps the ring, they care about lots of different things, and a car maker tries to provide as many of them as it can.

vdiv - 10/16/2006 9:55:58 PM

+1 Boost

BMW is about the Ultimate Driving Machine (gaaa!). Performance indeed, but performance beyond raw numbers tailored to different tastes.

luvmybmr - 10/17/2006 2:34:18 PM

0 Boost

will,

they are not all about performance.. but they can take most anything a driver can dish out, while still retaining their luxury and prestige.

something that lexus is trying to match. lexus has improved on their luxury features.. and now they are trying to improve their performace..

your making it sound like bmw is lotus.. nothing but stripped down performance.

oh and btw is it just me .. or is lexus offering "luxury and performance" at deeply discounted prices. sounds like a commercial for wal-mart..

but i guess some of us are used to Macy's

luvmybmr - 10/18/2006 10:28:04 AM

+1 Boost

will,

i dont think window shopping counts :)

EL34 - 10/16/2006 5:32:35 PM

+1 Boost

I compare the 350Z to a Volkswagen Beetle turbo S.

Driving down the street the BMW 6 Series would eat the Nissan for lunch.

tsk.

KinGofNY - 10/17/2006 12:34:58 PM

+1 Boost

Disagree I ate a 6 coupe in my Z... 6 speed... I dont BS so dont flame me for it.... True story... he passed me... i caught up... side by side @ 60... walked him to 110mph... i guess he didn't know how to drive an auto... and this is a friend of mine...

Agent63 - 10/16/2006 8:27:23 PM

+1 Boost

BMW is sport oriented with a touch of luxury. However that's if you get the real leater and not the leatherette crap they offer. Why on earth would a premium brand offer leatherette for??? It's rubbish. Might as well make it cloth and leather option.

Anyway, for a premium brand, they have too many packages instead of it being standard like in Mercedes. Lexus, Audi, and BMW have options and packages where Mercedes would offer it standard. However that also determines the final price. Not too sure about in other cities but in my area MB is a couple grand more usually than a BMW or Audi.

-------
The 350z is a good car but it's no 650i. Different segments. However I will have to disagree on a 650i buyer not being interested in a 350z. Once again this is subjective. Someone with money will still buy a 350Z instead of a 650i. A person who buys solely because of a silly car logo is only doing it for image. In other words POSER!

SSP350 - 10/16/2006 8:30:24 PM

0 Boost

Actually, I think it's a valid comparison. Both is a coupe with low slung looks. Aside from the price difference, the review wasn't really all that well for the 6 Series. It was reviewed to be a coupe that almost felt like a full size sedan. The 350Z, on the other hand, handled very well, and was to be expected from a sports car. Of course, the BMW cost more because it's more luxurious, but is it 30K+ luxurious than the 350z? It certainly didn't out-handled the Z. If you stick a turbocharger to the Z it would probably have just as much power and not to mention its about 500lbs lighter also minus luxury features, I guess. Now, if one had to choose between the 2 I think it would be quite obvious, but then the 6 Series didn't feel or drive like a BMW...so I guess you'd just be buying for the emblem.

ATrain - 10/16/2006 11:00:25 PM

+1 Boost

Is the comparison valid? I guess that depends on what the reviewers were trying to accomplish. Anyone can compare anything. However, I agree w/ RCboy18, if you are seriously considering one of the two, you are not looking at the other, not for the same purpose anyway.

That's not to say that someone cannot own both cars. I have to agree with Agent63 on this one. Someone with disposable income can buy either or both for different applications.

Incidentally, the Z is one of the best drift cars around even if you don't shave the tires. That alone makes it a worthwhile buy...

RCboy18 - 10/16/2006 10:04:32 PM

+1 Boost

This is like comparing the Subaru Sti with a Bentley GT Continetal...meaning that you choose the car either by class ranking in society(Bentley a.k.a 650i), or by having the most badass car on the street(STi a.k.a 350z)! If you want your power and performance by the dollar, go with the Z, but if you want a luxury car with good performance but not the best go far the 650i.

vcowman - 10/17/2006 11:36:22 AM

+1 Boost

have you ever bought a porsche? those mofos get you on packages.