Sun is shining, and the weather is sweet, especially as I approach this week's test vehicle, the 2007 BMW 650i Convertible. From what I have read, the 650i has a hate-it or love-it design, and I will certainly say that I don’t hate it, nor do I love it. But I do love that BMW brought back the 6 Series and that they offer it as a convertible, something that 20 years ago you would only see if it was was butchered by a custom shop.

As you approach the 650i, you feel all the charm, elegance, heritage and positive energy of the car. You immediately know that this has to be an $80,000-plus vehicle. The keyless entry allows you access to open the door. Illuminated BMW doorsills welcome you into the 650i world.

Inside the design is simple yet complicated. It is simple due to the few controls you have are at easy reach and are easy to use. The layout is minimalist, and most of the 650i’s functions are all conveyed via the do-it-all computer, aka iDrive. This system just takes everything that the car stands for and trashes it. For some reason, the iDrive seems harder to use than other cars with similar types of do-it-all systems and I found myself taking my eyes off the road for much longer than I should trying to change the Sirius satellite radio station. The stereo has an amazing Logic7 sound system with 13 upgraded speakers.

The test vehicle came equipped with a night vision system. An infra-red camera with thermal imaging is mounted to the lower front spoiler and is transmitted onto the main iDrive screen. The way the system is set up, you need to take your eyes off the road to see the night vision. I have only tested the Mercedes-Benz version in the S-65, and the BMW system is much better since the thermal imaging picks up on people/animal heat. I believe that this technology is great but needs to be perfected so that maybe the image can be transmitted on the vehicles head-up display and further highlights people/animals using color since it is somewhat difficult to see them on the two-tone screen.

Driving the 650i in late May with the top down through Chicago is one of the best things in the world. The warm Chicago air and sun splashing through you is a delight especially with the sound of the dual exhaust exhaling the 4.8-liter DOHC 32-valve V-8’s music. It is a tune to remember. The engine produces 360 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. The 650i convertible accelerates from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds, only a third of a second slower than the coupe. Driving around the city the 650 achieves 17 mpg, and on the highway 25 mpg.

The V-8 is paired to one of the best Steptronic six-speed automatic transmissions I have ever driven. A sport button located beneath the transmission lever really makes the 650i into a sports car and picks the lowest gear for optimal power, it even downshifts! The suspension also stiffens up under the sport mode. The 650i convertible starts at $81,700 and loaded with the sport package and all the goodies, came to $88,270 including the $775 destination charge, and is just shy of the $100,000 mark. The 650i convertible is awesome and a blast to drive and welcomes the summer to whole new driving experience, top down! As Bob Marley says, “Sun is shining and the weather is sweet,” and it’s a lot sweeter in the 650i convertible.