X3 Loaner Cars
 

Vehicle- 2006 X3 3.0i as loaner car, verdict? still worse then a RAV4, Cheap Plastics around everywhere, hardly any wood and those doors? don't get me started on the thunk, its so tin-can! Rear accomidations-no rear ac, crappy cupholders and hard as heck plastic,blah! I just guess i'm missing something?

OOh and My X5? Its parked back in the garage :)

No doubt the X5 is a nicer car - 10k nicer in fact...

The X3, in my opinion, is suiting a slightly different demographic that may be less interested in some of the things you mentioned (though I agree with thte BMW thunk).

We're not market experts, I'm sure BMW knew what it was doing.

Lol

Well you probably paid $10k or so more for your X5 3.0. Now I won't rip on you for ONLY getting the 3.0 X5 - you know, the same engine as found in the lighter, better handling X3 3.0.

Thanks for your post though. :rolleyes:

It's funny how people see things differently. When I was test driving the X5 3.0, I found it to be heavy, slow, and $10k more with less options. I was in the market for an all purpose vehicle that could take a corner as good or better than a typical car and have decent acceleration. Cargo capacity is slightly larger in the X3 yet it looks smaller and is lighter (I guess that's why we're missing the "thunk").

I would be in an X5 4.4 or X5 4.6is if money fell from a tree but such is not the case. X5 refresh is coming out next year and I'd hate to being stuck in a older model so quickly.

I chose the X3 over the X5. The X3 meets my needs better, and at a lower price.

--Larry

For me I needed a family car that I could afford. The X3 was my entry point with BMW. Now in a few years I will upgrade to the X5. I am thinking a 2007 X5 in say 2009. My previous SUV was a Toyota Highlander. It was a great car, but once I drove the X3 there was no looking back. :)

Yes I will agree that the X3 drives MUCH faster, I don't understand why they didn't give it the 255hp Inline 6? Anyone? I got my X5 for the interior, I love interiors and I feel the X5's interior is a work of art filled with soft touch materials, tons of wood, no hard plastics and lots of leather,thats prolly why I don't like the X3 Much, Its fast and very useful but the interior is what gets a cold stare from me!

Was your X3 loaner a bare-bones X3 3.0? The sport package (at least the seats) and premium package on the X3 should be standard. It makes a world of difference, IMO.

http://www.cwsi.net/bmw/x3/x4.jpg

Yes it was loaded (premium/sport etc) but feel the dash, door trim and floor console, open the lid and feel how cheap it feels and no duel zone automatic climate control!