And why I took a few opportunities to gun the new BMW 650i out of roundabouts and corners when driving it north of Gibraltar.
Just to hear the engine, in large part. The burble of the 4.4 V8 turns into an addictive sound when you let it wind up unfettered in the autobox's manual mode.
John Gormley would hate me. It isn't the way to keep the very sophisticated engine within its quite impressive 249g/km of CO2 rating. But it is living a full 407hp.
This is the second generation of BMW's large convertible, also eventually to be available in a companion hardtop coupe.
Perhaps such cars, especially at the price points, are an indulgence not easy to justify. Except that if you can afford them anyhow, then there's no reason to justify. And while there are people who can afford them, it is an imperative that they be designed and built to the level of expectation of those same price points.
This is a fine car. As we would expect, because BMW exists only to produce fine cars. And better, cars based on a primacy of engineering excellence.
In Ireland from this week, it is initially available with that previously mentioned V8, at the top end. There is also a 3.0 six, which I also drove for a while, and which is almost as satisfying a drive, but with crackle rather than burble. A diesel is coming, and I might suggest that with the promised level of torque, it could be the sportiest.
The 6 Series Convertible in any variant is a good looker. With a folding cloth roof that has an interesting take on the rear window design of the old Jaguar XJS.
Inside, despite the +2 suggestion in passenger terms, it is a car for two people who want to travel in style, and who would need the rear seat for managing luggage requirements beyond the rather limited capacity of the actual boot.
The goodies include a wide-screen for nav and the other systems operated by BMW's iDrive. There's leather throughout (though you pay a little more to also have it decorating the dashboard). And more, which you can view the list to drool over.
The 8-speed automatic is BMW's latest, maybe the world's greatest, silky in everything it does as it helps the car smoothen any journey. And also plays a strong part in the truly significant improvements in fuel economy in this car over its predecessor.
In the past I have complained about paddle gearchange systems, possibly because my years have conditioned me indelibly to preferring the use of a console stick shifter. Have to say, though, that they do really come into their own with a gearbox of this excellence, especially when enthusiastically dealing with the kind of uphill bendy roads available in southern Spain.
And especially with that gorgeous, burbling example of the internal combustion engine at its latest ultimate stage of development. 'Ultimate' I regard as a changing feast, and I have absolute trust that the engineering goblins in BMW's basement are, even as I write, creating the next level of the epithet.
Other things that made this first look at Munich's latest creation memorable included the active suspension control system which comes as part of the package. Putting it in 'Sport' does make a difference when you have the chance to play with the car, but without any element of harshness being introduced. Back in traffic, going to 'Normal' will allow you to laze your way through the dross without scaring the horses.
The price? Och, it doesn't matter for those who know they can buy this one. For me, at a starter of €100,000 and some spare thousands beyond, it represents far too many years of what I'm currently earning.
But I really do appreciate having the chance to enjoy it, however briefly. And to succumb, occasionally, to its temptations.
