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

AHHHHHH HAAAAHAHAHAHA!!!! :icon18:
Yeah... Ok, bossman. LOL (Strange how I've only worked for one "boss" with an SUV)

Yeah, it is far off. I promise that the x5 isn't going to see 17 except on the freeway. LOL

I own a 2008 3.0 X5, best SUV out there IMO. I get 18mpg city and 22 MPG highway I drive at the speed of traffic. Its an SUV so I don't rev it. If you are gonna use the 3rd row most of the time, then get a Van or a Mercedes. I am 5'7' and I fit fine in the 3rd row but will only like to be there for 2h at the most. No long time journeys. Other than that will not change it for anything.
Go check x5world for more info.

yeah and crash you should check your stats bro.. the x5 DOES get 17/23 go look at any review C&D.. edmunds.. etc.

wow not one person has said go for the FX50S. That thing is a monster not to mention it will destroy the X5, X6, and anythingelse including your Z's and my G

boss,
You keep saying the 17/23. Here is a link to both Edmonds and BMWUSA. Both say 15/21.

Edmunds.com - 2009 BMW X5 Research Reviews and Specs

Specs Fuel Tank Capacity: 22.5 gal.; EPA Mileage Estimates - Automatic (City / Highway / Combined): 15 mpg / 21 mpg / 18 mpg; Range in Miles: 337.5 mi. / 472.5 mi. / 405 mi. More

BMW North America

My wife had an X5 and we never got above 15 in the city. We got over the 21 on the highway though. Where are you seeing the 17/23?

Here is a link to a great X5 forum. http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/index.php Spent a lot of time on their M3 forum.

Good luck with the X5. I am sure you and your dad will love it. Looks great and handles very well for an SUV.

man who cares like honestly you proved me wrong by 2 mpg.. GOOD JOB!! all i was sayin is that it's relatively good for and SUV.. like the range and escalade get like 10

I say again FX50S

OK. I retract my statement. MAYBE 17 streets... MAYBE.

I HIGHLY doubt that will happen though. I don't care what a magazine says. They test mileage as if my grandmother was driving the car. Real-world situations, not a chance. Nobody drives 35 in a 35 unless a cop is around. Nobody drives 65 in a 65 unless a cop is around.

The faster you go in an SUV, the worse the economy gets. I've owned trucks before. And even when TRYING to get better economy, I could only get around 15/21... And that was with a volant CIA and a tiny bit of exhaust work. TRUST me, those numbers are inflated because they don't reflect realistic driving cycles. (You can google driving cycles.)

Sorry, but the Z will get far better economy.

the z WILL get better economy, it's just sad that there's even a contest yet the x5 is an suv :)

How about a Toyota Landcruiser?

haha your funny banningz.. and as for the fx50s, i considered it cus it's the sexiest vehicle (other than cars of course) that you can buy right now. however, it's TERRIBLE on fuel (390HP - 12/14) and it's kind of point less.. no room plus no offroad = no suv. the x5 on the other hand still has amazing agility for an suv but it's also huge on the inside.. annnnd if you really wanted to take it up to the mountain you could with a good set of tires

^ Why is that funny?

^^^ I assume it is funny because it is big and does not handle like the X5. Although the drive of it on the highway is better than any vehicle my wife or I have owned. We go to CO several weeks a year (8 hr drive) and our Lexus LX (same as the Land Cruiser) blows away the X5 she had. Huge difference in highway comfort and gets down trails to spots we go much, much better. When zipping around town I thought the X5 wins hands down. Significantly better handling. She still prefers the plush ride.

Boss,
The X5 sound like a great fit. When comparing fuel economy you can not forget the opposing factor, performance. The Inifiniti blows the X5 3.0 out the water with 390hp and a 5.6 0-60. The bimmer is pretty slow at only 7.8 0-60, Even our Lexus tank is faster at 7.4.

Handling, it is great. Gas mileage, it is good. Engine is a little weak. I would have been much happier with the V8 but than that opposing factor of poor mileage would have kicked in.

.
Ha you can take anything off road. The G37S will do a bit of off roading. Ask nogood he will tell you how I know. I just dont like the look of the X5 X6 i would consider but other than that FX50S baby

Ok.. Now lets be serious here... What are the chances you're going to take it up a mountain, or even take the thing off-roading? And I'm not talking about dirt side trails. I'm talking about BIG rocks, and serious ATV stuff.

If you're buying a luxury SUV, the chances are that you're not going to be doing any of that. Someone with a bit of experience in off roading and a passion to do so will NOT get a luxury SUV. They'll get a Samurai or a Jeep.

My :twocents: are for an SUV the BMW X6 like many have mentioned the x5 does not have the appeal that the x6 or porsche cayenne i mean there just so sexy and the suv craze might be dying but you know what i love my sequioa and i am a beemer owner so you can see why i lean towards the new X6 if i could afford it and it would come with a manual transmission i woud def get one.
http://cdn-www.rsportscars.com/image...3_1024x768.jpg

http://cdn-www.rsportscars.com/image...t08_041600.jpg

The X6 look better than the cayenne

Fx>x6

Check out the new V3, 3 series cross over concept that BMW is making along with the 5 series Gt/ Cs concept.

Those have got to be the product of the worst car designer in this millennium chris bangle i personally dont see why bmw should follow in the footsteps of mercedez and build a luxury minivan type of car and knowing bmw they will call it something fancy that does not relate to a minivan in any way shape or form