[bandersen]

Went from Audi S4 manual to my X5 - and love it. Not sure I’ll ever go back to a sedan (unless it’s a 2nd car and maybe a Z4 or the like….).

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by LDT

And the new one is always better than the old one and I say this is my “forever” car…..
Until…..it’s not. I have the same affliction and it’s a bad (expensive) habit. But WTF. 😳

100%!

Whenever I get a new vehicle I almost always get the question of “so are you going to keep this one for a while?” And my reply is always “that’s the plan!” but it never works out that way.

In the end, there are worse addictions to have.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

100%!

Whenever I get a new vehicle I almost always get the question of “so are you going to keep this one for a while?” And my reply is always “that’s the plan!” but it never works out that way.

In the end, there are worse addictions to have.

I'm told golfing is a pretty bad and expensive one, lol.

When you really start going downhill is when you start collecting cars. Then you find yourself not having enough time for the cars you already have but also want to buy an E36, an R53 Cooper S, and a sport truck. Or maybe that's just me.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

I'm told golfing is a pretty bad and expensive one, lol.

When you really start going downhill is when you start collecting cars. Then you find yourself not having enough time for the cars you already have but also want to buy an E36, an R53 Cooper S, and a sport truck. Or maybe that's just me.

I’ve never had the space to collect any so it’s always been a 1 in 1 out situation for me. Probably a good thing too since I’d have a bunch of them. Can’t even imagine the yearly costs I’d be paying just to have a license plate on a collection of them. The X5 is $1,500 a year on its own. 😬

[Photographer918]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

The I6 is the better option for someone who appreciates curves... In the X3. In the X5 there's no data that shows the 6 to handle better, on the contrary in fact. The M50 has a skidpad of .90, the 40i only .88, and frankly the limitation on the M50i is its tires. We're there a set of better tires available for it (there aren't) then it would likely go higher.

What is clear is that the I6 falls WAY behind in acceleration. The fastest car mags put it at about 5 seconds flat. The M50 is at 3.8-3.9, and the M60 is at like 3.5 (because of that crazy 48V hybrid boost).

If one really wants an SUV that inspires confidence in handling and feels smaller, Stelvio and Macan blow X5 out of the water in those aspects. They are smaller, but that's the tradeoffs. Stelvio has almost unnervingly quick steering, if you want to feel like you're driving a go kart for an SUV, it's splendid. X3MC would be a really good choice here too, that said it felt like it had less usable space to me than Stelvio, despite being larger than Stelvio. I couldn't fit a convertible car seat behind me in the X3MC, but Stelvio I could. The cargo space in Stelvio is narrower, but longer, so a stroller would have fit front to back. X3 it would have needed to go side to side and would have been tight at best.

You like you 40i. That's great, you should, i am happy for you. But reality and data shows the only place that the 40i is an upgrade over the M50i is fuel economy. That's backed up with factual test data, not just your feelings.

I drive cars not test data. I prefer the feel of the 40i - it’s the better car for me. The M50i or M60i may be superior on paper, but to me they feel sluggish and ponderous while tackling curves compared to a 40i.

Straight line acceleration - not a metric I care about - if I did, I’d be driving something electric.

X3 or Stelvio or Macan? All too tiny, so irrelevant.

Saving money? 40i is cheaper at the pump, and probably cheaper to maintain and repair - but if that was the primary decision driver I’d be in a Toyota or Lexus…..

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

I’ve never had the space to collect any so it’s always been a 1 in 1 out situation for me. Probably a good thing too since I’d have a bunch of them. Can’t even imagine the yearly costs I’d be paying just to have a license plate on a collection of them. The X5 is $1,500 a year on its own. 😬

That's gross. I thought $300 for 2 years of plates was absurd here in FL. $1500 a year is robbery.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

That's gross. I thought $300 for 2 years of plates was absurd here in FL. $1500 a year is robbery.

Property taxes are fairly low over here so it balances out.

[Tk718]

A used Porsche cayenne GtS may be the best blend of car and suv. The only problem is the price tag . This is something I myself been thinking of getting to replace years of sedans and cars.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by Photographer918

I drive cars not test data. I prefer the feel of the 40i - it’s the better car for me. The M50i or M60i may be superior on paper, but to me they feel sluggish and ponderous while tackling curves compared to a 40i.

Straight line acceleration - not a metric I care about - if I did, I’d be driving something electric.

X3 or Stelvio or Macan? All too tiny, so irrelevant.

Saving money? 40i is cheaper at the pump, and probably cheaper to maintain and repair - but if that was the primary decision driver I’d be in a Toyota or Lexus…..

Aside from the LCI m60, I’ve driven every x5, x3 and 5 series under the sun over the last year as I’ve swapped from car to car to car. This exact same thing comes up btw the 540 and m550 too. I’ve owned m550 and x5 m50.

I’m not saying I prefer the 40i or 540 but I know exactly what Photographer918 is saying.

This very simple test will verify the “feeling” for almost anyone. Take the 40i vs m50 or m60 back to back on the same main road. While on this main road going say 45-50mph - make a 90d turn onto a side road in which you slow down rather quickly to make the turn. You will 1000% “feel” the extra weight of the v8 when doing this.

By no means, does this mean the m50 is less capable!!! I’ve seen the skid pad results as well and although tires and conditions could be the reason I will not argue against the m50 being more capable on paper in the corners. But, as a driver, you must accept that extra weight feeling and get accustomed to it in order to push it more despite your feeling of being off balanced / heavy. Those who prefer cars that are lighter on their feet will think they take corners better. This is subjective but it’s real. For these drivers, These lighter cars will inspire more confidence in the corners until a driver gets more accustomed to the weight difference but they still may never prefer the extra weight. EOD Both are phenomenal cars.

[Mattl0806]

One more thing… I know we are getting off topic here but I’d like to propose a question.

Would you rather have the v8TT or the x3MC inline 6 putting out 503 and 479 tq.

Assuming the X3MC motor would come at marginal weight diff to the B58 - I’d prefer more power in a lighter implementation but would need to see the TQ curves too.

[AllaVodka]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

One more thing… I know we are getting off topic here but I’d like to propose a question.

Would you rather have the v8TT or the x3MC inline 6 putting out 503 and 479 tq.

Assuming the X3MC motor would come at marginal weight diff to the B58 - I’d prefer more power in a lighter implementation but would need to see the TQ curves too.

For me it’s a space thing right now. If I didn’t have a baby I’d go X3MC, but then again i’d also probably just get an M3 or 911 at that point

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by AllaVodka

For me it’s a space thing right now. If I didn’t have a baby I’d go X3MC, but then again i’d also probably just get an M3 or 911 at that point

Sorry I was asking which motor you’d prefer in the x5. Point being, I think most would want a lighter x5 if they could get the same power.

[aussieintexas]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

One more thing… I know we are getting off topic here but I’d like to propose a question.

Would you rather have the v8TT or the x3MC inline 6 putting out 503 and 479 tq.

Assuming the X3MC motor would come at marginal weight diff to the B58 - I’d prefer more power in a lighter implementation but would need to see the TQ curves too.

Different car entirely. I have the X3MC and about to move to X5 M60. I am looking for a more luxurious ride - while retaining the power.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by aussieintexas

Different car entirely. I have the X3MC and about to move to X5 M60. I am looking for a more luxurious ride - while retaining the power.

Sorry guys I’m trying to say keep everything else the same in the x5 m60 except swap the motor for the X3MC motor! Trying to prove the point people would want a lighter front end if they could get one with equal power to the v8

[mushy_musashi]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

Sorry guys I’m trying to say keep everything else the same in the x5 m60 except swap the motor for the X3MC motor! Trying to prove the point people would want a lighter front end if they could get one with equal power to the v8

On that comparison, wouldnt people just pick the lighter version since power, comfort, luxury feels, and everything else is the same? Doesnt seem realistic though as same power would make the heavier version carry more load which would lead to different performance (acceleration, cornering, braking).

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by mushy_musashi

On that comparison, wouldnt people just pick the lighter version since power, comfort, luxury feels, and everything else is the same?

I would think so. Just trying to hammer in the point of why more than a few might say prefer the feel of the 40i drive to the v8

[jayfeinst]

There's a ton of great advice in here and some of this might have already been covered. While I would LOVE a 911, as others have said, I can't justify the price at present. I used to compromise with sporty sedans like an A5 Sportback to complement my wife's SUV(Yukon). The reality is- I hate parking that thing, I like being able to sprint around town, have ground clearance on crappy TX roads(congrats on escaping to CT), being able to have better visibility in a sea of crossovers and trucks, and have slightly better odds of being above the door ding height(you'll be going to a lot of SUV-filled parking lots with kids flinging doors open- they are like mobile shopping carts and door ding slinging terrorists).

Maybe I've just sold out but I have convinced myself the X5 is a great compromise where I get great driving dynamics(yes, not a sedan or sports car but also pretty darn good) without $1,000 oil changes(looking at you, Cayenne).

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by jayfeinst

There's a ton of great advice in here and some of this might have already been covered. While I would LOVE a 911, as others have said, I can't justify the price at present. I used to compromise with sporty sedans like an A5 Sportback to complement my wife's SUV(Yukon). The reality is- I hate parking that thing, I like being able to sprint around town, have ground clearance on crappy TX roads(congrats on escaping to CT), being able to have better visibility in a sea of crossovers and trucks, and have slightly better odds of being above the door ding height(you'll be going to a lot of SUV-filled parking lots with kids flinging doors open- they are like mobile shopping carts and door ding slinging terrorists).

Maybe I've just sold out but I have convinced myself the X5 is a great compromise where I get great driving dynamics(yes, not a sedan or sports car but also pretty darn good) without $1,000 oil changes(looking at you, Cayenne).

What model/year do you have ?

[dan1495]

This is an interesting subject for me. My wife has driven SUV’s for 30 years while I always drove some sort of sport sedan. In 2015 I started getting new X5 company cars and really liked them. When I retired last year they gave me the X5 which I traded in on a new one for my wife and I got an M440i convertible. A year and a half later I’ve found that I always drive the X5 unless my wife is gone in it, and I am thinking I might trade the 4 series for another X5. YMMV.

[Kgerry59]

where I live in the Canadian Prairies it's winter 6-7 months of the year. I could never go back to a car, i love having an SUV. I do miss my E55 AMG some days though!

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Mattl0806

I would think so. Just trying to hammer in the point of why more than a few might say prefer the feel of the 40i drive to the v8

I kinda agree that a S58 powered X5 M45i would be a nice vehicle. I think I would target it a little differently, I would offer it as a much less well equipped model, with non adaptive dampers, 20s as the largest wheels, DAP and tow pack would be the only options offered, I'd try to target a much lower price point than the M60i, because honestly, I think it'll be a tough sell between 40i and M60I.

[Mattl0806]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

I kinda agree that a S58 powered X5 M45i would be a nice vehicle. I think I would target it a little differently, I would offer it as a much less well equipped model, with non adaptive dampers, 20s as the largest wheels, DAP and tow pack would be the only options offered, I'd try to target a much lower price point than the M60i, because honestly, I think it'll be a tough sell between 40i and M60I.

You don’t think the S58 could just replace the v8 and call it the m60 still with everything the same? I mean this motor doesn’t command a less premium vehicle nor does the m60 badge require a v8 right? 503 HP is still a big jump up from the 40i.

Certainly agree I would not offer all 3 motors.