need some suv advice
 

so my dad is a pretty cool guy and he's looking into buying a luxury suv sometime in 2009. he's young guy at heart and he's all about the sex appeal and "fun" factor. his favorite (and possibly mine too) is the bmw x5.. we'd probably get the 3.0si as it is more than fast enough get gets 17/23 mpg and that's pretty much golden in this day and age for an suv of this caliber. (the escalade gets 9 and the range rover gets 11) so anyway we test drove it and it was honestly better handling than most cars.. not to mention all the looks you get.. i was just asking on behalf of him what you guys think of it. we thought this would be a good place to find some info as you're all enthusiasts :tup: it would be great if you could drop a few lines.. pros/cons on the x5 or maybe list another suv in this segment that you would rather get and why

thanks

nothing eh??

Just my personal opinion but I don't see why anyone would want an SUV right now in the first place. Does he live in a snowy area or need to haul a lot of stuff?

I think the SUV craze is dying and they are slowly becoming 'uncool' (just my opinion).

If you guys are set on getting one then the X5 is pretty solid. Drives well, but its very common around here so it definitely doesn't turn many heads. An X6 would be a little more expensive but definitely has an amazing engine and will give you more of that 'cool' 'sexy' thing you mentioned. Also check out a base Cayenne, a little less common.
If you don't care about being unique then check out the Acura MDX, its always been a fantastic SUV.

Hope that helped.

Well, if he's young at heart and wants the sex appeal and fun factor don't go with the X5. That is a very dated looking design, mostly I see old ladies and Orange County trophy wives driving these cars. I doubt that this body style will be around too much longer, so I wouldn't invest the money. On the other hand it is a proven and reliable vehicle, I just think it's dated and pretty commonplace in my area. If you want hip and sporty, go with the X6.
Escalades and Rovers drive too much like trucks, the X6 is hott and handles like a sports car. Just my opinion :tup:

The newer revision of the X5 is pretty sharp, especially along the headlight lines. The X6 is visually interesting, but nearly every motoring journalist has decried it as an answer to a question that nobody has asked.

The x5 has the handling and power to really be amazing, Fifth Gear had a number of gushing reviews on it awhile back, they are worth the download. As well, the Porsche Cayman may be an option. The older ones look a bit odd imho, but the newer GTS is really sharp, and is pretty good as a soft-roader as well. The VW Tourag offers the same chassis for less green as well.

The Range Rover or Range Rover Sport both have the same 'posh' factor going for them, and more than enough utility for most folks. I'd say it is more of a connoisseur's choice in a poseur's market.

The new Mercedes GLK is probably worth a look, it is very attractive and hardly anyone has one yet, I think it's a very cool ride for a middle aged guy that wants to show some taste without being flashy.

Lastly, I've got to say, I love my 4 door Wrangler Rubicon. It may not be the most luxurious, but with biggest convertible experience you can find, I think it's a blast.

The great news is, if you're willing to buy used, you can get some amazing deals right now too.

hmm this is helping

I think x5 is an awesome choice!
My mom had that but got a cayenne s and its awesome!!!!!!!
Most folks around here drive x5, cayenne, rangerover, landrover.
Tell your dad to look into range rover's that was gonna be my mom's 2nd choice.
And it's a great car!
GL!

thanks crown i think so too, the range is the **** but we don't really wanna get it as the fuel econo is sooo low like 11 i think

bmw ftw

Other than Cayenne, the X5 is the most satisfying SUV for city driving. It's really a pleasure to drive.

and how do you feel about its looks?

My man, the X5 is a classy car.
Your dad should have no problem rocking this car!
Get your dad some nice rims on it and your good!

alright boss, ill pass on the plan

SUV ftl.

They're a waste of gas, space and money, IMO. Transporting family? Get a wagon or a Van. SUVs should be used for special purposes only. Not as daily drivers.

If he's looking for sex appeal, he should go for something along the lines of a BWM 5 series. Sexy car, it's big, attracts the girls, can be OK on gas, and generally doesn't use that much space in a parking lot. (I Hate SUV drivers that park in the compact spots because they're closer to where they need to go... I have a compact car that belongs in that compact spot and the SUVs take two compact spots!)

suv's are for bosses. and besides.. the x5 3.0 gets 17/23, that's not that bad. not even that far off the z's mileage