Now that the brand new G11 BMW 7 Series is getting ready to go on sale, the previous model, known as the F01 7 Series, can be had for considerably less on the second-hand market. Lightly pre-owned examples of the F01 7 Series can be had for far less than they were when new, and they barely even have 10,000 miles on them. That makes cars like this 2015 BMW 750i quite a lot of car for your money.
It has a twin-turbocharged 4.4 liter V8, an eight-speed automatic, a sunroof, heated and cooled front seats and an M Sport package, all for $89,000. While that’s a lot of money, it isn’t too much when you consider the amount of car it is.
For example, a base model 650i Gran Coupe starts at $90,100 and that’s before destination and handling fees. While the 6er GC comes with the same twin-turbocharged V8, it isn’t nearly as loaded as the 750i is. And while the 2015 750i might be pre-owned, it isn’t even up for its first oil change yet, so it’s a pretty fresh car. So which one would you rather have, the pre-owned 750i with barely 10,000 miles on it, or the brand new base 650i Gran Coupe for only 1,000 more?
It’s a tough decision, because there’s a couple of different variables to work with. The 750i has already faced the big depreciation hit that the 650i has yet to, so buying the 750i is already a better value proposition. Then there’s the equipment factor, being that the 750i is better equipped than the 650i GC and has one more seat in the back. However, the 750i’s argument starts to fall down, in terms of styling and driving dynamics. There’s no two ways about it, the 650i Gran Coupe is the better looking car by far. It also drives and handles considerably better. It’s also far faster and more exciting, while the 750i is strictly a luxury car.
So the question, really, is would you prefer to spend a bit more money on a car that’s less equipped but is better looking and more exciting to drive, or would you rather save some money (in both price tag and depreciation) and get the quite comfortable luxury car that is better equipped, even though it’s starting to show its age and a newer model is out? It’s not an easy question to answer. Because if you choose the 6er, you’re going to lose a ton of value the moment you leave the dealer lot, but you’ll be in the better car. If you choose the 7 Series, you’ll save money, and potentially get more for your money, but you’ll be in the inferior car and possibly always regretting the decision.
I think if it were my pennies, I’d go with the 650i Gran Coupe. It comes well enough equipped for me and I like the way it looks and drives far more than the 7 Series. Not that the F01 7 Series is a bad car, because it isn’t, but it just doesn’t suit my tastes nearly as well as the Gran Coupe. So despite the fact that I’d get my pants pulled down in both value and depreciation, I’d still go with the 650i Gran Coupe, because life’s too short to not drive exciting cars.
