I was shocked by a comparison test drive I took yesterday.

X6s, 2012 35 vs 2012 50.

Took out the 6 first. Strong motor keeps pulling as it revs (quickly compared to the V8). Although its clear the 50 has more midrange torque, the 6 felt fun to rev, whereas the V8 felt criminal doing so. 1st b/c you can just feel the world's fossil fuel deposits shrinking and secondly the car just piles on speed (very convenient for autobahn passing - but overkill at anything under 90).

Engine mapping has retarded timing between shifts for many years in luxury cars, but unshifting the 8 speed using the paddles in the V8 requires that you lift a touch or else the sound/feeling is like a large caliber shell being fired into the air. Just was not working for me.

The biggest issue though is lag. The 6 has almost none and the 8 has aplenty by 2012 standards. I got back into our 4.8 X5 and the throttle felt razor sharp compared to the 5.0. The ttV8 is excellent for mid range push. What surprised me is that it stunk 0-10 mph. That initial neck snap isn't there. The pedal goes down...pause...then power.

I'm not saying the 8 was bad, I was just expecting it to be superior to the 6 in all ways and its not. The 6 feels more sophisticated, whereas the V8 is the class bully. The 6 is for a woman, the 8 is for a dude.

After the fluctuating gas bills over the last 3 years, I was actually happy that the wife preferred the 6.

Now we have to decide whether to take one out of inventory to utilize these killer deals, or put an order in since her lease is up in March.

Regards,
DRP