I have now updated my "how to rate reviews" opinion
I have now updated my "how to rate reviews" opinion
Member since:10.03.2004
Reviews:45
Members who trust:5
To start with this car cost me $44000 from my local BMWcar dealer in America.
BMW has come up with a new categorization in this auto market of seemingly uncategorizable cars. They call their entry into the SUV market a Sport Activity Vehicle (I call these car-like SUV’s). Unlike a truck based SUV, X5 is more like an overgrown sedan on steroids. And, as such, it has both the characteristics of an SUV and the popular BMW sport sedans.
This works for me, as I am a driver rather than a rider. I like dancing through the curves and bashing the gas pedal on a straightaway. You could, of course, do the same in a regular SUV but you would soon notice that you are riding alfresco in an emergency wheel chair.
With its stiff suspension, but not so stiff that it rides like a sports car, X5 is possibly the best handling SUV I have ever driven. Its 50-50 weight ratio, and the fact that power is distributed electronicly among the front and rear wheels (62/38 I think) contribute to the fact that this SUV handles much like a sports sedan.
You can shine copper but its still not going to be worth as much as gold. X5 can’t compete with sports cars, or even sport sedans. It’s still a big car, so I wouldn’t buy it expecting zig zag performance around the curves.
Moreover, its also not an off-roader. With 99% SUV’s never getting off asphault, that is not a problem. But to a buyer these two qualities should mean one thing – X5 neither excels in being a sports sedan nor a heavy duty off-roader.
I wouldn’t buy an SUV unless I needed one. And if I needed one, I wouldn’t buy one that handles like a truck. So to me X5 is an alternative to uncontrollable unsafe SUVS, but can’t compare with, lets say, an M3.
Enough philosophy. Traction Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Hill Descent Control, and a buncha other (Wife?) Controls are some of the goodies that come with this car. Hill Descent Control is a gimmick that allows for smooth engine breaks that passionate drivers like me effusively perform on a manual tranny. Most trucks and 18 wheelers need this kind of technology, and its nice to have on your SUV.
I had the pleasure of driving the 3.0I, with automatic wipers and tinted glass standard. The 225 HP engine was more than enough for an SUV, but I couldn’t help but yearn for more. The two engines that this baby can have under the hood are things to bloviate about. 4.4L 8cyl with boasts 282 HP and a 3.0L 6cyl with 225 HP.
You aren’t going to win any drag races, but the 282HP is definitely going to keep you entertained when you gun it. 225HP I drove? Well, it sucked, but its more than enough for an SUV. The HP gain on the 4.4L X5 does not come cheap, unfortunately. For starters, it’s a 10k in price difference. That is a lot to pay for 60Hp, but the X5 does come with additional standard goodies like chrome wheels and some other useless jumbo.
In any event, if I were in the market for an SUV and had the financial resources for it, I would definitely opt for the 8 cyl X5. It’s an SUV for a driver who simply needs to buy an SUV. Hardly an alternative for your Sunday ride, but it’s the crème de la crème compared to other SUV’s.
cheers, Eftal Sogukoglu
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BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 130 mph - 143 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: M Sport, Sport, SE, ES
BMW 3 Series - Saloon - Rear (RWD) - 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Automatic - 1995 cc - Max Speed: 140, 143 mph - 163, 177 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: ES, SE, Sport, M Sport
Great review. I couldn't write a review on a car, I wouldn't know where to start!
hotrodkzn 10.03.2004 23:26
I see you certainly know how to write reviews - nice one. (Always noticed that many famous footballers seem to like SUVs for some reason - some of them can't even spell, but there you go).
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Mar 10th, 2004
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