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  #1  
Old 05-18-2006, 11:21 AM
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X3 Loaner Experience

Hello all, this is my first post in the X3 forum. I drive an X5, and have driven BMW's since 1970. Yesterday, when I took my X5 in for service, the dealer gave me a 2006 X3 3.0i as a loaner. Please don't flame me, but I had always looked at the X3 as less of an SAV than the X5.

Was I wrong...the X3 is one teriffic vehicle. It handles better than my X5, the ergonomics are better, the position of the instrument cluster is perfect compared to the X5, and it is a blast to drive. It reminds me of my '74 2002 tii with regard to road feel and fun factor. When it comes time to replace the X5, it may just be with an X3!
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  #2  
Old 05-18-2006, 01:52 PM
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It's an honest and objective comment Coffeman, thanks. You're right.

During my decision months, I tried many mid sized SUV's including Toyota,
Volvo, Lexus, VW, Cadillac, Merc, and of course X5. Don't get me wrong, I'm a BMW fan (motorcycles and technology, engineering) but I just don't like it. X5 was top of my list... Exterior is fugly and bulky... too American (completely personal taste... please do not get offensive, everybody and X5 owner friends...) And comparing with all SUV's above, X3 is the best handling car and has highest fun factor. Besides that, it's a pretty comfortable family car too.

I have no friggin idea why BMW forced X5's to Paris Dakar... It's completely beyond me. Proportionally, X3 would be much better decision for rally raids.
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Old 05-18-2006, 01:54 PM
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I can't say I would go as far as replacing my X5 with an X3, but I will agree with you that the handling and ride quality is a little better than the X5. I too am basing my remarks after driving an X3 as a loaner. Never the less, I think the X5 is a better all around vehicle.
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Old 05-18-2006, 03:21 PM
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It's great to hear that X5 owners love the X3...Some of us went with x3s b/c of price reasons, only to discover it is, in some ways, more impressive (esp in terms of handling, drivablity, etc)

Personally, i like the smaller size and footprint, both from a driving standpoint and for the looks.

COFFEEMAN-- you have a '74 2002 tii? Damn...that's a dream car.
I love the 02s....very nice
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Old 05-18-2006, 03:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterNYC
It's great to hear that X5 owners love the X3...Some of us went with x3s b/c of price reasons, only to discover it is, in some ways, more impressive (esp in terms of handling, drivablity, etc)

Personally, i like the smaller size and footprint, both from a driving standpoint and for the looks.

COFFEEMAN-- you have a '74 2002 tii? Damn...that's a dream car.
I love the 02s....very nice

Yes, I bought it used in 1980. It was a wreck. I did the ground up restoration myself, over a two year period. It is a pretty rare tii, in that it has factory sunroof, BEHR factory air conditioning & factory rear shoulder harnesses..
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Old 05-18-2006, 03:47 PM
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Welcome to the converted. The X3 is one sweet ride. We originally went to dealer to buy an X5 and after driving the two for comparison, we left with the X3. Lots of people must be doing that these days, as the sales of the X3 are almost double that of X5s now.

Mind you, I ended up getting a 4.4 X5 for work, but I still prefer the X3.
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Old 05-18-2006, 04:45 PM
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I think I'd be up for an X3 when my current
'01 X5 goes off to the wholesale lot...

espc. if the cost is 60-65+ for a new X5 when
I might be in mkt, '07 or '08.
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Old 05-18-2006, 05:00 PM
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Old 05-18-2006, 05:26 PM
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  #10  
Old 05-19-2006, 07:09 PM
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When Julia and I decided to buy a new BMW last month, we really started out wanting the new 530Xi sport wagon. Our dealer in Scottsdale had none to sell and we wanted a new car now, so we moved on to the X5. Knowing they were soon to be replaced, the X3 started to looked like a better choice. Now that we have 4,000 miles of seat time we couldn't be happier about our purchase. The X3 is everything we were looking for in a mid size SAV / SUV. It has room, performance, and great handling. Ride quality with the sports package suits me just fine and the fit and finish is BMW all the way. I had a loaner 04 X3 a few years ago and didn't quite warm up to it in the few weeks we had it. I'm glad we gave the X3 a second chance.
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