Gold standard
Money can’t buy happiness but it does get you a BMW 7 Series. And that’s real joy
If you decide to spend your cash on a car that wears a premium badge, you will have certain expectations.
And so you should as these cars tend to come with a hefty price tag.
But even within these top- end brands, I’ve realised you get very di f ferent levels of luxury and technology – and this week’s test car proved this.
The BMW 7 series is a brute and the price of my 740Ld M Sport model was a whopping £104,030.
My first flat didn’t cost that much so my expectations were huge.
That said, the price included a raft of extras but it still cost £79,100 before the add-ons. I almost wanted the car to let me down so I could grumble about the hefty cost.
But the truth is, it didn’t. This was more limousine than saloon and I loved every inch of it.
The interior was high-tech and all the finishes were stunning.
The xDrive model – which basically means all-wheel drive – handles like an absolute dream.
Despite its dimensions, it feels like you’re behind the wheel of something much smaller and the extra grip delivered by the excellent xDrive system means it clings to the road. Even in sharp corners, the handling is fantast ic and, in al l - weather conditions, the steering is sharp, responsive and very agile.
In the looks department, this car is lovely. Its long, sleek and curvy bodywork, big, bold chrome grille and bonnet creases add to its appeal.
From the driver’s seat, the cabin surrounds you with all functions within easy reach.
My daughter loved the rear seat-mounted infotainment screens, which kept her entertained on even the shortest journey. There was even a seven-inch command tablet in the rear arm- rest seat which al lows passengers to control everything from air conditioning to the ambient light settings.
In my range-topping M Sport model, parking was easier thanks to surround cameras which give you what appears to be an aerial view of every angle of the car. Another great piece of kit was the car’s key. At first glance I thought, “Why does it need to be so big?” But I soon realised that was down to its smart phone-like features.
You can set the car’s temperature, check it is locked, assess fuel levels or, most impressively, use it to park your car remotely.
The infotainment system also had some funky features. Whi le you can operate functions using touch technology, why would you want to do that when you have gesture control on board? All you have to do is wave your hand in front of the screen to control all sorts of features.
If I had a six-figure sum to spend on a car, then this big, beautiful Beamer would definitely be on my short list.
All I need now is that lottery win.