Thinking of buying a "work" X Diesel

[tonytsai0429]

I'm a small business owner myself...

and i understand the concern, presentation is everything...

How about buying both(F150 and X5d)...there you go...problem solved!!!

[TerminatorX5]

put it into your sales line something like that - your company does best, nothing but the best and uses the best suppliers - it is evident even in the choice of the vehicle...

well, something to that effect - my grandma used to tell me, that we are not that rich to buy cheap shit... i was a kid, and had hard time comprehending it but in a long term, she was right... once again... you buy cheap.. it behaves cheap... breaks or you just throw it away.. you buy again... end up paying twice...

you buy a good quality - buy it once and for a long run... save money...

oh, regardless of what you buy, please do NOT buy a Buick... unless your clientele demographics was born in early-early 1900's...

[Naz24]

That X5 with the 21 inch wheels and some logos would look like a badass construction vehicle. I would buy from you.

If you're going to take that route, I'd make sure the X is pretty clean at all times. Bc if you show up in a banged up BMW, then the customers will believe you do not know how to treat nice things well.

[Suge206]

I had some of the same reservations but I think clients ultimately think it of as a sign of success and not that you over charge or make 'too much' money.

[wsybert]

^^^This.
I don't think twice about what a sales type person drives. Their choice. Buy what fits your needs.
I have driven both the Touareg TDI and the X5 35d. I kind of like the interior and and tech on the VW more. The engine and drive experience is much better on the X though.
Good luck.

[sarends]

OK, here are a couple "amateur" mockups.








Here is what my 08 Duramax Looked like:

[AaronSD]

You are insane if u buy an x5 as a reliable business platform. The amount of time these cars er SAVs spend in the shop, there is no way this can be a logical choice. Even my wife the other day commented on what a horrible vehicle this would be if u owned a business. From the disgusting sock smell you get when switching off the AC which would be mortifying in front of customers, to the rouge electrical gremlins which appear at the worst of times, there is no way. How classy to pick up customers in your BMW courtesy vehicle. Good luck on whatever you decide.

[sarends]

I am so glad I read your "extremely unbiased" post! I am going to march right out and sell my three BMWs! I am also going to intellectually deny the experience I have had over the past 20 years having owned 11 different (reliable) BMWs!

Because of your precious wisdom I am going to save myself the nightmare that is now sure to come - how could Ihave missed what is surely in store for me. Thank you "oh mighty prophet of BMW failures", I don't know how to thank you! I can now go about my day with the peace of mind that after I get rid of my:

2011 X5
1997 M3
1995 540i

. . . my life will be in a blissful state of BMW-free harmony!

Forever grateful, Steve

Originally Posted by AaronSD

You are insane if u buy an x5 as a reliable business platform. The amount of time these cars er SAVs spend in the shop, there is no way this can be a logical choice. Even my wife the other day commented on what a horrible vehicle this would be if u owned a business. From the disgusting sock smell you get when switching off the AC which would be mortifying in front of customers, to the rouge electrical gremlins which appear at the worst of times, there is no way. How classy to pick up customers in your BMW courtesy vehicle. Good luck on whatever you decide.

[Naz24]

^lol

Get the X5. I think it would be a nice choice. With the extra miles you put on, the extended maintenance contract may make sense also...

My dad is a builder and drives an F250 super duty, when he has the long trips for business, I see him take my moms 4.6is. I can totally see the perspective. Maybe add a little sticker that says "clean diesel". It'll play into your environmental customers.

[sarends]

Well, everyone, I am being realistic now.

Although it was extremely fun (and I was trying to be at least somewhat serious) thinking through how my life would be driving around another awesome X5 for my day to day work vehicle (I truly love driving our X5), it is just not the best for my business because it is not the "best" image for me to portray. Although I think I would be successful in a "work equipped X5", I just think it would raise a few barriers that I should not encumber my business with:

1) Image - having an SUV just doesn't look like I personally do any "work" - with a pickup it looks like I am "ready to work", not just run the company and sell jobs from the comfort of my luxury SUV.

2) Realistically, a pickup truck will help me to help my crews get things done more efficiently - it just makes sense for me to sometimes pickup a few sheets of plywood or some 2 x 6's since I am driving right by my supplier on the way to the job anyway.

Sigh, now what? I could either keep driving the F250 Super Duty diesel or perhaps buy an F150. Like I said before, I drive 35k - 40k miles per year in a span of about 7 months - it is a marathon and the smallest improvements in comfort help a tremendous amount. One thing I have not done to the Super Duty that I have heard would help is to replace the factory shocks with Bilsteins (I am already running Michelin tires). Sorry for my digression into pickup truck comfort from my original topic . . . .

Thanks for everyone's thoughts! Maybe when I am ready to mostly retire in several years and the business is being mostly run by my kids I will drive a Bimmer of some sort to sell the "big jobs"! Times do change and I also think Bimmers are perceived in a different light today than they were in years past.