You could get a nice reliable minivan, er MDX. I drove one when I was shopping and had to keep convincing myself it wasn't a minivan.

I was actually impressed with the MDX. Their redesign really opened that vehicle to male drivers and still retained enough to satisfy the wives in my opinion. My boss has one and I'm impressed with the vehicle as a whole. Gives the Q7 a real run for the money and even looks similar in the rear 3/4 view - amazingly so. For the money, I honestly think that the MDX is an excellent SUV for space, luxury, quality, reliability, and styling ( I like the rear more than the front). Let's not forget that it handles pretty damned well too per the test reports. All it needs is another 100hp and watch out! MDX type R?? :)

CR usually rates the Bimmers lower due to some of the electrical and coolant problems and ac/heater issues, as most of you know some of us have them and they are a pain....but, that being said, all those other cars are boring to drive IMO.

Amen brother.

I would hate to live in a "Consumer Reports" world. Talk about vanilla.

My CR subscription expired long ago but at that time their automotive reports were BOARING.

Has their been any improvement?

I had to laugh at the MB reply to their bottom of the list ranking:

Mercedes disputed the findings. Today's models "are without question some of the best we have ever built," spokeswoman Donna Boland said. "If the survey doesn't reflect that, there's something wrong with the survey."

What a load of BS. Funny that a local MB dealer loaner car (Toyota) had a much better rating.
MB:nanana:

CR rates cars based on how long they will get you from point A to point B with minimal problem. Driving pleasure is not a criteria for CR and never was. No question that Japanase cars are the best at that. I have had my share of problems with my X, mostly electrical and water cooling related. However, since I got the X every thing else I have driven other than a bimmer feels tasteless to me.

They are messed up, they just did another story on LCD TV's but did not test Sony. In earlier testing they loved Sony whats wrong with them?

agree.. bimmers are very addictive. once you drive one, nothing else will satisfy :) my addiction started with a 96 E36 328i and progresses to an 03 540i, 91 325is and now an 05 X5. The handling cannot be beat. This is why we put up with the reliability issues :)

Alright....I can settle this.....

2001 X5 4.4is...cost me $4500 in repairs the final 10K I owned it which was from 48-58K. Fun to drive, a great to look at but a blaze 16.3mpg.

2006 Acura MDX Touring. Boring...Boring...Boring...did not have one issue with any repairs which should be expected with an 06 did not have the cache of a BMW but none of the aggravation either, avg 17.4 mpg. 26K in one year, which blew up my lease so I had to dump it at a Carmax and brought a 2003 LS430 until I can get a CPO new body style X5

If BMW would now focus on quality as much as they focus on the fun factor they would be the number one car builder in the world.

I guess i could if i was in the market for it. :nanana: