three kids...and a Gran Coupe?

I brought this up in the 6 GC forum but I want to mention it here as well. I may be picky but the one thing I could not get past in the 650i GC is the seat belt placement. Its located in the seat and not in the pillar. I did not like the way I had to twist myself around in the seat to find the seat belt. I loved the 650i GC but walked away from because of the seat belt.

I encourage everyone to test drive and think about the seat belt before you jump into one.

Originally Posted by TexasJames

I brought this up in the 6 GC forum but I want to mention it here as well. I may be picky but the one thing I could not get past in the 650i GC is the seat belt placement. Its located in the seat and not in the pillar. I did not like the way I had to twist myself around in the seat to find the seat belt. I loved the 650i GC but walked away from because of the seat belt.

I encourage everyone to test drive and think about the seat belt before you jump into one.

It's the same seat belt placement as is in my Coupe, right? (I have driven GCs a couple times and didn't notice a difference.) I don't find myself twisting around anymore than I might in a car where the belts are mounted on the pillar... or do I not understand your issue?

I can't imagine the seat belt location being a big deal. Once you know where it is, reaching for it should be pretty automatic.

When i test drove the gc, I was surprised anyone would really complain about the seat belt location. If I didn't hear about it before the test drive, I wouldn't have noticed it at all.

Originally Posted by TexasJames

I brought this up in the 6 GC forum but I want to mention it here as well. I may be picky but the one thing I could not get past in the 650i GC is the seat belt placement. Its located in the seat and not in the pillar. I did not like the way I had to twist myself around in the seat to find the seat belt. I loved the 650i GC but walked away from because of the seat belt.

I encourage everyone to test drive and think about the seat belt before you jump into one.

Are you saying that the rear belts are not 3-point?

Originally Posted by Leslierc

Are you saying that the rear belts are not 3-point?

I think he's talking about the front belts, which are attached to the seat (and nicely done, I think), not the B-pillar.

Originally Posted by XZLR8

I think he's talking about the front belts, which are attached to the seat (and nicely done, I think), not the B-pillar.

Thanks! Obviously, I misunderstood the OP.

We just test drove the 650 GC and it drives and looks great. Having a 2010 750il for the past 32k miles, I can say it is not my favorite car. It has always felt like driving a turbocharged tank, and the normal comfort setting makes it spongy on corners. Sports mode throws the car into a funny shift pattern, which once put me off track on a corner as it shifted down right at the apex--not the right place for that maneuver. So the 650 GC seems to be a different animal, being already stiffer in the ride and seems lighter as well. They are going to loan us one for the day, but it's a difficult decision as the interior is smaller by about 4 inches in width.
Are the kids going to be fine in the rear? I think so for trips under 50 miles, beyond that, I'd take the Prius v.

Still, the decision is not done as MB is coming out with a new S class that's being early released in March I hear.

ps we also test drove a Panamera Turbo but I can't get over the similarity of its look to the old 944s.

Originally Posted by TexasJames

I brought this up in the 6 GC forum but I want to mention it here as well. I may be picky but the one thing I could not get past in the 650i GC is the seat belt placement. Its located in the seat and not in the pillar. I did not like the way I had to twist myself around in the seat to find the seat belt. I loved the 650i GC but walked away from because of the seat belt.

I encourage everyone to test drive and think about the seat belt before you jump into one.

Are you serious? Seat belt attached to the shoulder of the seat actually is more convenient and comfortable for me. My M3 vert is the same. I guess to each their own.

And next time, when people ask why I walk away from a Panamera, I can tell them that I don't like the seat belt on the b-pillar

Just completed European Delivery of a 640GC. It's got plenty of get up and go, fun through the twisties and jaw droppingly beautiful.