That's the thing about this BMW. Sure enough, the majestic bodywork and high-performing powertrain live up to the brand's legendary reputation. But the 6-Series Cabriolet really takes your breath away once you drop the top. Of course, it's a sizeable car, meaning you have to adjust your driving habits accordingly.

The majestic bodywork and high-performing powertrain live up to the brand's legendary reputation.

Massive top
With the soft top in place, this convertible won't win any beauty contests. The roof is too massive and it spoils the otherwise stunning lines of the car. Yet, one thing's for sure: designers and engineers really strived to create a quality top worthy of the BMW name. Interestingly, visibility is good for the most part; only the A-pillars make matters a bit complicated for the driver (I thought the roofline would be a problem but no). The material and construction of the roof are beyond reproach. Also, I was pleasantly surprised by its noise-cancellation properties.

Alluring negligée
Once the 6-Series goes topless, however, you immediately fall under its spell. The power-folding mechanism is pretty quick and effective. Wind turbulence is limited with the windows up. In addition, there's still an interesting amount of room left in the trunk when the top is folded. Granted, you have to make do with flexible suitcases or small luggage. Beware of the trunk! It opens in a hurry and you could get hurt if you don't remove your hand fast enough.

Modern Chris Craft
As soon as I stepped inside the 650i, I thought I was at the helm of a Chris Craft boat with all these quality wood and chrome accents. There's also an exquisite combination of leather, plastics and metal (look at the cupholders!) for an overall setting that's classic yet modern at the same time.

Sitting in the driver's seat felt a lot like sitting in a tightly snug Lazy-Boy. Your body is held in check and, fortunately, the driving position is excellent. I particularly liked the adjustable center armrest. The instrumentation is comprehensive and I simply loved BMW's Head-Up Display technology. You should seriously consider this option even though it's part of the $6,000 Executive Package. With a car like this, you need to keep your eyes on the road -- not on the various gauges. This system makes it easy to know your speed and follow the navigation instructions. Perfect.

A combination of leather, plastics and metal for an overall setting that's classic yet modern at the same time.