By Tim Plouff

Most of us buy “new” cars and trucks to replace older vehicles worn out by years of use and abuse. We frequently purchase only what we can afford, matching the payment to what’s left over in the checking account each month. Sometimes, the budget allows us to do better and we move up a model or swap into a more desirable brand, driving something with more features, a vehicle that looks nicer or is at least more popular. The reality of our automotive selections is all too often dictated by the kids’ dental payments, college plans or leaking roofs.

At some point, a few of us are fortunate enough to pay off the mortgage, get the kids out of college, and don’t yet have to take care of mom and dad. Along with the drivers who have been financially well-rounded and already drive a premium car, we elect to purchase something that we have always lusted for: a car with character, performance, a pedigree, a car with passionate good looks and swagger, a vehicle with more form than function that says more about your personality than the plebian cars that life has dealt you.

Might I suggest a BMW 645Ci?

BMW has crafted a very distinct persona. Its cars are always performance overachievers and almost always the best handling, best driving vehicles in their respective classes, regardless of price. Enthusiasts have coined the affable nickname “Beemer” to represent their affection for the brand while Bavarian marketers have simply applied a definitive label to their philosophy: “The Ultimate Driving Machine.”

Privately held by two German families, BMW operates with a singular purpose building every new vehicle to meet the exacting expectations of an audience that demands autobahn performance no matter what size or shape of vehicle, plus a dose of sporting luxury. It is a characteristic that has frequently made BMW the benchmark in several categories.

In the BMW hierarchy, there are six lines. The best-selling 3-series compact begins at $30,000 and is all-new this year. There is a sedan and wagon now available with traditional, yet more powerful in-line six-cylinder engines, plus coupe, convertible and racy M3 versions are ready to appear later.

Next up is the 5-series, a mid-size platform that has long been considered the driving standard in the premium division. Starting around $42,000, the “5” regains a wagon model (with AWD) while the outrageous 500-hp, V-10 M5 debuts later this year.

The top sedan is the full-size 7-series. These are V-8 and V-12-powered cars denoted by 750 and 760 designations. A 7-series begins at $70,600 and reaches $119,000 in stretched trim.

Two SUVs also are offered: the Euro-built X3 compact wagon and the American-built X5 mid-size SUV. The X3 comes with two different in-line sixes; the X5 carries the larger 3.0-liter six plus two V-8s. Pricing begins at $31,000 and $42,000, respectively.

In the middle of this freshened mix is the return of the 6-series cars. Missing from the lineup for over a decade, the long, 6-series touring car coupe and convertible are based on the mid-size 5-series platform. Pricing starts at $70,600 for our sample coupe. Add another $7,000 for a drop-top version.

The 645Ci is a large car with much of its bulk disguised by a sculptured body that virtually shouts “come hither young man.” Not as sexy as a raging sports car, the BMW is alluring in a powerful, understated manner like the old flame that packs a sensual punch that not everyone notices.

The car’s lines are clean, yet muscular. The 18-inch wheels are pushed to the corners, generating a wide, sure-footed stance accompanied by a long 109-inch wheelbase; the parameters you want for stable cornering and a supple ride while keeping up with traffic on the high-speed autobahn.

The 645’s road manners are almost hard to define. Taken in the context of a premium luxury car, the BMW’s superb composure beats all rivals. Cornering speeds are outlandishly impressive by any standard, more so by a car that weighs 4,200 pounds. The ride is never harsh, yet the car responds with such agility that you swear the independent suspension must be tuned for a more sporting presentation. The brakes are outstanding, pulling the car down from robust velocities with alarming precision. The stability and traction control system eliminates wheelspin and helps you to maintain your trajectory around corners that otherwise might never be enjoyed with such glee.

The steering sometimes feels more weighted than you might be used to. And the dedicated one percent of BMW fans who might miss some of the instantaneous on-the-edge feedback of previous renditions will revel in the 645’s touring velocity. The other 99 percent of us will be thrilled by the car’s suspension and recognize the 645 for the great driver that it is. The Six is just so comfortable at any speed that you may feel somewhat isolated from the vulgarities of the road below.

Power is not a shortcoming either. An aluminum 4.4-liter, 32-valve V-8 employing Double Vanos variable valve timing spins out a road-straightening 325-hp. Available with three different six-speed transmissions (fully automatic, fully manual or clutchless sequential shift manual), the 645 generates impressive acceleration. Mid-range punch for a highway merge, back-road pass or just a quick romp up to speed is like nothing else you’ve sampled. The V-8’s deep reserve of power makes you think that there is an endless supply of smooth acceleration. There is. More than enough to put that pesky Mustang GT in your rear view mirror.

Along these speed excursions, you never feel the transmission working. Gear changes seem to magically occur. Unless you are monitoring the tachometer, it is very difficult to detect any shifts up or down as the six-speed gearbox performs flawlessly.

Despite the car’s elongated measurements, interior room is only plentiful for the two forward positioned adults. The sloping roofline robs necessary rear headroom while the seating arrangement leaves precious little room for adult-sized legs and feet. Close friends will fit for a while, but they may re-think their affection for you if subjected to this space for very long.

Another uncharacteristic flaw is the BMW’s very comfortable thick-rimmed leather-clad steering wheel. It tilts down to effectively block a large portion of the 645’s instrument cluster. Turn signal lamps, idiot lights and the top of the tachometer and speedometer essentially disappear when you place the wheel at a comfortable angle for prolonged use. Perhaps the optional heads-up display for the windshield is born from necessity rather than opportunity.

The 645Ci continues BMW’s love affair with one large control knob to execute multiple interior functions. The second-generation I-drive system handles climate, audio, entertainment and navigation chores from a location on the console. More intuitive and user-friendly than the initial setup in the 7-series, I-drive continues to be a more complex and sometimes a frustratingly distracting method of handling functions that would otherwise be done by simple knobs and buttons. Some basic operations can be conducted with redundant buttons on the multi-function steering wheel, but if you don’t know what TIVO is or  if there is a VCR stuffed in one of your closets still flashing 12:00, then I-drive could prove to be a baffling device.

The cabin is hushed at any speed. The V-8 produces a noticeable burble when on the boil, but never enough noise to annoy. Highway travel quickly becomes quite boring as 70 mph feels like 50. Raise the pace and the coupe feels just right as it settles into a rhythm. Ah, those Germans really know how to build swift machines.

Why do BMWs feel faster and more powerful than their rivals? Comparable Mercedes and Audi’s have similar displacement engines, but the BMW’s always seem to demonstrate more energy and enthusiasm. A BMW feels more balanced, more composed when pressed hard while giving up nothing when not. There is an undeniable supremacy to the engineering that BMW employs, an edge in design that forges appeal for drivers like you and me.

The 645Ci is a handsome automobile. A luxurious experience, the 645Ci is a car that you would love to call your own once the pot at the end of the rainbow is all yours.