The 2009 BMW 6 series offers a compromise between a luxury coupe and convertible. Expect to spend upwards of $80,000 for the car, but expect to be pleased with what your money buys. The 6 series vehicles are big – weighing in at about 4,000 pounds – but they handle well. Don’t expect two-seater sports car handling in a luxury sedan, of course, but don’t think you’re totally out of luck when it comes to the ride either.

The 6 series ride has been lowered this year and the suspension has been returned. This, together with active roll stabilization, means that the big coupe stays pretty flat on corners. Overall, the suspension does a good job of maintaining traction and providing a smooth ride, making it an enjoyable car to drive. In addition, the engine is a 4.8 liter, V8 – a powerful engine with plenty of torque, giving you the driving experience you’d expect from a BMW.

The 2009 Series 6 offers two body styles, both called the 650i. The soft top convertible is unique in that it has glass windows that raise and lower independently of the roof. Leave the top up and put the windows down and you’ve got improved air circulation. Or take down the top and leave the windows up and you’ve got a built-in wind deflector.

In addition, in terms of standard features, you get the kind of luxury you’d expect from BMW, including 18 inch alloy wheels, adaptive headlights, power front seats, leather upholstery, power folding mirrors, fog lights, dual zone automatic climate control, parking sensors, a tilt and telescoping power steering wheel, Bluetooth, real time navigation system that responds to voice commands, and more. With the convertible, you also get sun-reflective leather upholstery.

There’s also a Sports package available that ups the wheel size to 19 inch, provides sport seats and a sports suspension, and sounds different because of changes to the exhaust system. There is a Cold Weather package with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and even a place to store your skis. Or, if you want premium sound, the 6 series has you covered, with an optional 6 CD changer and iPod adapter. There are also other options to choose from with the 6 series, including active steering, key-less ignition, key-less entry, adaptive cruise control, infrared night vision, satellite radio and more. Want a particular color for your leather seats? Special orders have you covered.

Anti-lock brakes are standard equipment on the 6 series and feature both advanced drying and standby features. Other standard safety equipment includes stability control, traction control, active head restraints, front knee airbags and front seat side airbags. Pop-up rollover hoops are included in the convertible, while the coupe has side curtain airbags as a standard feature.

However, the interior is somewhat unremarkable when compared to other luxury cars in its class. Still, the interior is perfectly functional and elegant, if a bit austere. The seating is supportive and the steering wheel grip thick. And although the iDrive system reduces clutter, they’d have done better to include the upgraded system available in the 7 series.

Finally, although the coupe feels spacious, its looks can be deceiving. The coupe will seat four adults, but it’s a tight fit. However, chances are good that you aren’t buying this car to schlep a bunch of people around – buy it for its looks and the BMW driving experience and you won’t be disappointed.