Advantages: Good all round package - 4 wheel drive
Disadvantages: The styling may not be to all tastes

...I have a 3.0SE X-Type will all of the extras. Well not quite, I don't have the bigger wheels, 8 way seats, sunroof or JagNet. I chose the X-Type when I was able to leave our company car scheme. I had previously driven 3 BMW 3 Series models (1.8SE) over 6 years. The company car scheme was a 1 make scheme without any user choice. It was a great liberation to get free and be able to choose again. I had lots of fun choosing, I tried the Audi A4, BMW 330SE. Now I would also consider Volvo, Mercedes too but then I needed to move fast as I was actually without a car. The Jag was the best of the 3 cars I drove, the BMW being second and the Audi a far off third. The Jag scored over the BMW because the steering was more "precise" and less "weavy" at motorway speeds - I believe BMW have since modified the steering of the 3 series and this... Read review

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Advantages: All the hits, lots of variety
Disadvantages: Some weak tracks

...The Album This is a greatest hit compilation of the best works from the New York rapper, DMX. It was released in Summer 2007 and has work from as early as his first album in 1997, "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot" and goes as far as 2003, when "Grand Champ" was released, meaning that material from "The Year of the Dog...Again" isn't included. Originally, Sony were going to release this under the name of "The Dog", but as Def Jam did it instead, "The DEFinition of X..." seemed more appropriate for it. The Artist DMX, born Earl Simmons, is a Hardcore rapper from Yonkers, New York. He was has been extremely successful since the release of his first album in 1997 which went to #1 and platinum in the Billboard Charts, along with the four which succeeded it. Unluckily, his last album "Year of the Dog...Again" went to #2 (5... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Good entertainment, addictive
Disadvantages: Fixed? My faves go out too early even when they are good... themed shows

...X Factor Series 4 To be honest, I used to be obsessed with X Factor in the first two series and sometimes voted for my favourite one or two acts. However, this current series seems a bit of a fix; all the rumours in the papers and about Daniel's song being changed THREE times with the final one seeing him booted off the show. He had been selected a song first of all, then it was changed to Prince's 'When Doves Cry' which would have suited his soulful voice perfectly… then to, wait for it, Build Me Up Buttercup!! What a joke! I reckon it was planned by the producers to axe him from the show so the others had a higher chance. Of course Louis did not seriously think that song was a good choice. I mean, come on, he's a professional music manager and the mind behind many successful chart topping artists - he knows his stuff! Still, saying... Read review

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Advantages: Nice Smooth Engine
Disadvantages: About everything else

...the back it slants too much and the front as Jeremy Clarkson so nicely put it, will make the children sick as soon as they see it. Design wise, it's just not on par with the lovely X5. Inside - Unfortuneately the inside has quite a bit to answer for too. I've driven 1 Series BMWs which ALL have better quality materials than this X3 does. The fake leather look dashboard is actually horrible, horrible plastic and the seats are so hard, you slip and slide all over them. It's also quite awkward to get in and out of due to being a wierd height. Not tall enough to substantiate a proper set of running boards, yet not low enough for you to be able to simply swing yourself in. It's just plain wierd. The car does not go off road, sure it'll help you when you have parked in a grassy car park and it's been raining, hoever don't expect to drive... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent professional service, and good sales technique
Disadvantages: Not the cheapest in the market

...Like the rest of you, I have a healthy mistrust of estate agents. So, just imagine my pleasant and gentle glow as I review my recent positive experiences of selling my house through Reeds Rains. I've been a mystery shopper for about 15 years; giving organisations feedback on the customer experience by making appointments to discuss imaginary mortgage and loan applications, eating horrible burgers, and asking the counter staff at Sainsburys how I can cook black pudding. I used some of these mystery-shopping skills to select an estate agent as just before Christmas, we decided it was time to put our home on the market. My first task was to consider which estate agents sold (and not just marketed) houses in my price bracket. This meant that we spent a couple of weeks scanning the newspapers and websites to notice the properties that... Read review

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Advantages: Got me listening to some old favourites
Disadvantages: Such hard decisions, decisions, decisions

...The Doors as I thought the sound of the rain and thunder would be particularly fitting for a miserable atmosphere at a funeral. "November Rain" by Guns n Roses would be quite fitting too. However, I changed my mind recently, and I now want "Run" by Snow Patrol. It's a truly moving song and the lyrics summarize everything I would like to say if I died and wanted to leave a final message. It starts off with the lead singer singing the lyrics rather slowly (and almost brokenly) and builds into the most emotional chorus imaginable:- "Light up, light up / As if you have a choice / Even if you cannot hear my voice / I'll be right beside you dear" It moves onto a huge instrumental piece and then ends with the final broken voice chorus. Absolute superb - has the ability to make absolute shivers run down my spine. 11. What singer/band do you... Read review

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Advantages: see op
Disadvantages: see op

...I have chosen the letter X because I am sure there won't be a burning issue arising in the near future that requires me to write an opinion under this letter! I thought it was challenge time again as I haven't completed one for a while! This challenge was set by Debbie (sirg0508) and I'm sure she would be more than happy if many more people accepted the challenge! Ok so here we go... A. What is the time? Date? It’s 9.09 am on (hold on a sec let me just check my diary) oh yeah its the 1st of April or April fools day as it is better known. (Mental note to self, do not leave the house, answer the phone or watch the TV as you are sure to be taken in by another April fools prank! Last time (a couple of years ago) I really did believe that Manchester United had been handed the Premiership early because they had that many points... Read review

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Advantages: excellent all rounder, great performance
Disadvantages: expensive, fuel consumption not too great

...OK, so lets start by saying that I love this car, its our fourth X5 and I love it very much. This car starts at #52,800, It's 8 cylinder V 4 valve technology engine has a 4398cc petrol egnine and it does 0- 60 in 7.0 seconds. The fuel consumption is 21.6mpg - not great but not that bad. The fuel tank has a capacity of 93 litres and the CO2 tax is 35% as are all X5's. it has a six speed automatic gearbox with steptronic control and sports suspension. As with all BMW's the car will vary dramatically by how you spec it, and spec-ing the car is by far the most fun! - you can do this on line at www.bmw.co.uk. From basic the car comes with all the usual, but rather than bore you with a list of specifications, I will try and tell you of my experiences with them. Ok, so lets tell you about the airbags - luckily enough so far I havent... Read review

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Advantages: Easy read
Disadvantages: A bit slow in places

...Rain is the first book in a 4 volume series, the subsequent titles being Lightning Strikes, Eye of the Storm and End of the Rainbow. The books follow the Hudson family and a girl of mixed race called Rain Arnold. The first book, Rain, finds the title character living with her parents, brother, Roy, and sister, Beni, in a Government funded housing project in Washington DC. Life isn't easy for the family, with Rain's mother working hard and her father trying even harder to drink any money the family has. Rain keeps her head down though and works hard at school. Rain's life takes a dramatic twist though. Beni is an attention seeker and rebels by getting in with the wrong crowd. After being raped and blackmailed she isbrutally murdered by gang members. That is probably the dramatic high point of the book though. In... Read review

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Advantages: not a lot
Disadvantages: even less

...This is a challenge set by xhelixx. Please leave a message in said guest book if you also try it. I’ve read a few now so here is my offering. ~~~ 1) What's your favourite style of music? I have a load of music on my PC ranging from Morrissey to Mario Lanza and I’d say that I wouldn’t be limited to one style; rather I like pieces of each. I judge every piece of music on it’s own merits and I can be as moved by, for example, the duet from “The Pearl Fishers” as I am by “The Time warp” from Rocky Horror picture Show. I love Country, Sixties, Rock,Folk, Pop, Musicals...........in fact just good music! ~~~ 2) What was the first record / tape / CD you ever bought? The first record I bought myself was Elvis’s "Rock-a-hula Baby/Can’t Help Falling in Love." I was given a record player for Xmas in the 60’s along with a Kenneth... Read review

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