Quote:
Originally Posted by Ldiggs910
What other cars have you considered/cross-shopped and why when searching for your manual tranny X5? What car/truck might you recommend considering the mindset of someone who drives a manual transmission X5?
|
It may not be a popular choice, but we went from a 3.0 X5 to a 3.0si X3 and are very happy with it. That choice dropped 500 lbs of curb weight and gave us more luggage space than the X5. We also got an additional 40 hp with the 3.0si. Six speed manual transmission in the X3 doesn't have the very low first gear, so the rest of the ratios are closer. The X3 is more of a driver's vehicle than the X5, IMO, as it is more agile and tossable. Mileage improved as well.
What it doesn't have is the luxury of the X5. That was fine for us, I wouldn't opt for many of the features of the X5 as they are more weight and complexity, just more things to break, but that is just my opinion. Some people want all those bells and whistles, and the X3 has fewer of them than the X5. An example is no two-zone climate control.
The X3 also doesn't have the same towing capacity. We went from 5000 lbs (with the steptronic, pre LCI) to 3500 lbs with the X3. That said, it tows well. If you are considering a 5 series, that has the same towing capacity, so that may not be an issue.
The X3 is narrower as well. I find it reasonable for shoulder room, and I am 6'4" and 225 lbs, but it is tighter than the X5 for three in the back seat.
We are thinking about what we will replace the X3 with, as it is over five years old now. The new X3 doesn't do much for us. The X5 is too big, and seems to be getting bigger. The X1 is a nice driver, but doesn't have a manual transmission available in North America.