| Driver8 |
08-08-2006 04:28 PM |
Too many variables and assumptions to provide a realistic answer, but I'll toss out some thoughts...
First, I don't foresee an "is" version in year one or year two of the new X5, simply because BMW (and most other mfrs.) like to hold back some of the excitement (i.e. hot product) for when sales start to plane out. You'd never see an RS4 in the first year of A4 production. You'd never see an M3 or M5 in the first year of E36/E46/E39/E60/E92 production. Maybe one to two years into the production term you'll see the 4.8is or whatever the heck it will be, but bear in mind that the 4.6is didn't show up for several years after the introduction of the E53 X5 (what was it... '02? '03?).
Second, as also pointed out by others, I agree that $65k likely wouldn't touch a new, untitled '06 X5 4.8is nor an '07 4.8is/equivalent. You might find a lightly used (titled) 4.8is in the mid-$60k range, however.
Just a thought, but some (myself included) usually avoid first year builds. Regardless of manufacturer, BMW, Honda or Chevy, it gives the manufacturer time to get the product right and the dealers time to figure out how to fix the things the manufacturer didn't get right.
On a dollar-independent basis, the '06 4.8is in this totally imaginary quandary would be my choice just because it has seven years' worth of build refinement, seven years of dealership repair history, and is therefore a known quantity. YMMV.
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