Secondary vehicle help

If appearance was ever an issue, I don't think its a very valid one (in my opinion). I think the X5 is sexy and is simply outstanding to drive!

Easy, the acura will probably be the most reliable.
However have you ever heard of the X5 4.8is ???

VS the ML55 amg??? just look at them is it even a competition? BMW look way better

Get an Infiniti Fx45!

Sent from my DROID2 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by dreyo27

VS the ML55 amg??? just look at them is it even a competition? BMW look way better

Looks like a middle aged female real estate agent's car.

I'd stay away from Land Rovers, I have one as my second rig. It's now in the middle of its second head gasket job taken apart in my garage, while my 328i is out driving in the snow and ice. Oh ya and they ride like a 2 ton truck, stiff.

Willie

MDX or 4Runner

I just picked up a grand cherokee v8 as a beater and like it.

Its no X5 but why ditch it?

Originally Posted by dreyo27

VS the ML55 amg??? just look at them is it even a competition? BMW look way better

I always thought the ML55 looked a hell of a lot like a Chevy Tracker... Which is ugly.

Agree with MJLavelle. The E70 X5 looks great. Real road presence and character compared to the former E53 and even other SUVs. I have my eye on the E70 as a possible replacement for my current '05 X3. Would also do the 3.0 X5. The M54 is for the most part a bullet proof engine. Sure there are minor things...but overall it is like an energizer!

Get a brand new Grand Cherokee, or a wrangler unlimited, or a brand new CRV, or a slighly used pilot. You would be crazy to buy the two used germans as a winter vehicle.

Don't kid yourself... the cost of ownership for an X5 is going to be relatively high.

The MDX combines luxury (not bmw... but not toyota) with good reliability. Cost of ownership could be much less than the BMW. That generation of MDX's have plastic timing chains which need to be replaced at 100,000 miles IIRC, so watch out for that repair bill.

The 4Runner will be the most reliable and have the lowest cost of ownership. You could get a clean 2004 or 2005 Limited 4.7L V8 4x4. The interior.... well its a Toyota. Don't get your hopes up.


Source: Have had (in the family) a 2001 MDX for 10 years, 3 X5's, and a bunch of other bmw's. I'm also going to be in the market for a 4Runner possibly this summer.

Originally Posted by MJLavelle

Is there any way you can swing an 06' and up X5? Two of my neighbors have X5's, and their parking spaces are side by side. But the e70 just looks so much better compared to an e53, when you see them side by side. Even my wife, who only pays attention to cars when I make her look at one, has commented how much better the e70 looks. They just look so much more muscular. This particular e70 has that Tobaco Brown leather interior, which is awesome, and the e53 has a black interior, so that makes this particular e70 look even better. She has decided that the e70 x5 is the vehicle she wants when we move to the 'burbs.
The Merc looks too generic for me. It does not have the personality of the BMW. I realize that is not a very thoughtful analysis, but it would be hard for me to get past that when it came down to buying one.
I have always heard good things about the Acura MDX. I know a few people who have had several of them, including one co-worker who trades his in every 2 years for a new one. But, he always gets the same color combo, which I think is a bit odd. I think it looks very generic as well. but it is hard to criticize the quality and durability of an Acura. I have never heard about any transmission issues, and did not see more complaints about it compared to the BMW on a quick Google search. It is worth looking into though, since an '04 would be out of warranty.
The Acura and the Merc both tend to blend in to the SUV crowd. The BMW's seem to stand out a bit more, particularly the e70. Have you done your homework on things like resale value, insurance, and cost of ownership estimates? I imagine the cost of ownership on the X5 is a bit high, compared to the MDX. Insurance is probably not much different between the three of them, but you never know. One may be less than the others. I would be interested to see how the resale values stack up among these three though.

Great feedback,
I've checked resale and cost maintenance
Mdx definitely comes out on top in those categories
Just started looking into the 4runnerd a bit too

Mercedes and range are out of the running
Cost wise X5 might be out of the running, it will be the secondary be the anyways but ill still hold some faith for test drives
I'd just have to look more into 4runner vs MDX now as I've owned Hondas before but not toyotas

Originally Posted by MrWesson

I just picked up a grand cherokee v8 as a beater and like it.

Its no X5 but why ditch it?

What yr?
I'm replacing my 01 V8 4.7l Cherokee Laredo for one of the mentioned vehicles
Mines had so many sensor issues, ac just went on it
I'm not a huge fan of mine anyways
Need something a little nicer plus I don't even 4x4 it so its pointless

Well been busy with our new baby so I haven't been able to update this

Update goes as follows
Wife has decided after looking inside and out at an X5 that the MDX is boring and is too small compared to the X5
Also to add to that we cannot afford newer then 04, 04's seem to look a little outdated and touring package hard to find.
4Runner hard to find, to expensive and 90% have cloth seats, yuck.
That leaves the X5
Lookin at yrs 04-06, 4.4l v8
Wanted 4.8is but were to hard to find and the one I found was out if my price range
So to sum it all up we found 2 X5s in our price range, both 06 v8 4.4 with prem package, not sure anything else, no nav
Test drove the one below and it was low on gas, had a little sputter on start up, dunno if that was cuz low gas or lever issue I've read about, otherwise it drove amazingly and no fluid leaks, priced at 13.9k due to front end accident 6 yrs ago that was repaired by BMW, they state no subframe damage, lowest kms then a few we looked at, 120k km
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...580474892.html

Other x5 is priced 11.9k due to high km at 202k kms
We have not test drove this one yet but comes with 2 yrs warranty
My wife really wants it because its black and will match our black e46
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...587766660.html

test driving the one below tomorrow, wish me luck

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...587766660.html

M10 powered 318i.

Originally Posted by tock172

M10 powered 318i.

Quoted for emphasis.

haha as much as an M10 powered 318i sounds good and weird at the same time it's not gonna help me in purchasing a SUV

btw test drove the X5 i was speaking of yesterday...
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...587766660.html

had heated rear seats but missing a lot of other options the previous X5 had and sounded like it needs brakes too
speaking of the previous X5
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...580474892.html

checked it out again and it's got some little things here and there like condensation in passenger headlight, 2 tabs on the big plastic fan cover (i believe it is) missing and rust starting on bottom of hood near grilles from rock chips
guy wants 13.9k and not really budging

price is great for 06's on both but the one has 202k km's so i'm passing on it and the other has minor things like mentioned above so i'm not sure what i'm going to do
05-06 X5's seem to got for 16.9k and up, really don't wanna spend that on what will be a secondary vehicle so i'm hoping i can find some more for 13k with minor issues that might be easy to take care of.... interiors on both were immaculate btw

Originally Posted by lcoleman

Quoted for emphasis.

At 03:55 AM.

Originally Posted by Mr_325

haha as much as an M10 powered 318i sounds good and weird at the same time it's not gonna help me in purchasing a SUV

btw test drove the X5 i was speaking of yesterday...
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...587766660.html

had heated rear seats but missing a lot of other options the previous X5 had and sounded like it needs brakes too
speaking of the previous X5
http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/va...580474892.html

checked it out again and it's got some little things here and there like condensation in passenger headlight, 2 tabs on the big plastic fan cover (i believe it is) missing and rust starting on bottom of hood near grilles from rock chips
guy wants 13.9k and not really budging

price is great for 06's on both but the one has 202k km's so i'm passing on it and the other has minor things like mentioned above so i'm not sure what i'm going to do
05-06 X5's seem to got for 16.9k and up, really don't wanna spend that on what will be a secondary vehicle so i'm hoping i can find some more for 13k with minor issues that might be easy to take care of.... interiors on both were immaculate btw

I get the feeling that you should rethink this idea. In looking at those pictures, I can't help but feel that the X5 from that generation is dated, and not in a good way. I have a soft spot for old BMWs, but that interior just screams early to mid 2000s for me. Think about something more cost effective.

By the way, I really have no recollection of even posting the suggestion to pick up an e30. It's not a bad idea though