update - keeping the 4.6is!!
 

Some may have read a thread where I was considering swapping the X5 out for a larger SUV for the wife to use for our school car-pool needs. And I also considered adding a minivan to the mix as well.

The good news is - I am keeping my X5. The bad news I am pretty much losing access to it during the week at least for the next 9 months while school is in session. We decided that my wife would drive the X5 for weekly carpool duty rather than adding a minivan or larger SUV to the mix. I did the math on the amount of miles she will drive and the fuel cost differences and it became pretty clear that even tho the X5 sucks gas pretty good, it is still cheaper to go that route vs. adding a 5th vehicle to the fleet. She has been using it for 2 weeks now and it works well for her needs. Also I am confident the passengers will be very safe in the event of an accident in that X5 too, so that is worth a lot more than saving a bit of $$ on fuel.

So now I am shifting my focus to replacing the G37 with a bigger sedan w/ an AT. More flexible arrangement, because then when I need the X5 to haul something or to go skiing, then wife can drive the sedan if she needs a bigger than her mazda for carpool, or if our daughter is using the Mazda that day. Sure, I could just keep the G37 for this purpose, but I don't really like it very much. And now the sedan will be my main back-up to the vette meaning I will drive it about half the time. I will miss driving my X5, but pretty sure whatever sedan I end up with will be just as nice if not nicer to drive. And I still get the X5 when I need it and for family trips when we need to carry more stuff than a sedan will accommodate.

So I am looking into the following cars to replace our 09 G37

- E39 530i or 540i or 540iT with sport, AT
- E38 740i sport
- E60 535i / 545i / 550i sport
- E55 AMG benz
- Pontiac G8
- Audi A6 4.2 or A8
- Charger / 300C R/T or SRT8

One side comment - I was at a BMW dealer last Friday looking at a nice one owner E39 540iT they had just got in on trade, and they had a couple of the new X5-M's in this blue that looks remarkably similar to Estoril. They look pretty damn close overall to my trusty old 4.6is - similar stance, wide tires, etc. I sure can't afford one of those, so I still think that 4.6is is the best hot rod SUV going in the price range that I can play in. Gotta keep that baby!!

Good choice!

I'm actually thinking of replacing my '02 4,4i with an '02 estoril 4.6is. The 4.6is costs USD 68.000 which probably sounds crazy for most of you, but this is Norway and that's what car prices are like here.

I already have a '02 E46 330Ci Cab which is estoril and I simply love the color! That's one out of 3 estoril E46 cabs in Norway.

Do you have an image thread about your 4.6is?

sounds like a show...just pick one

I"m pretty sure the new color is Estoril they brought it back. I remember looking at one as well at my local dealer. Made me want the new one because I absolutely love the color and the way the truck looks. But I could never justify spending 100k on one. Our trucks still get a lot of looks and offer great bang fo the buck. Seeing the new one just made me decide to freshen my car up a bit. I want to get new headlights and have all the wheels re finished. :thumbup:

I was thinking it looked like the same color. That's awesome!! It's amazing how similar the 4.6is looks to the new X5-M, I say the E53 has stood the test of time which is true for almost all pre-bangle BMWs I guess.

One thing I will comment is that I very much miss my 4.6is right now. We are into the school year 3 weeks and I have only driven it twice in that entire time. But it's better than not at all I guess. It's interesting now that I am thinking back I tended to choose the 4.6is over the Infiniti sedan most of the time even when I didn't need the utility aspect of it. Just because I enjoy driving it more!!

Here are a few pics of mine:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/...bcf_z.jpg?zz=1


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/...263_z.jpg?zz=1

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2614/...1e1_z.jpg?zz=1

nice - you have a 2010 X5-M and a 4.6is? that's awesome!!

in fact, I am jonesing for my X5 back enough that I am considering making a slightly different move and replacing the G37 sedan with a Benz minivan R350.

2007 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 4WD SPORT WAGON <<< DVD & PANORAMA

Then I get the X5 back for my 4-door / utility needs and winter DD.

Wife drives the R350 for carpool during the week and her Mazda on the weekends for running errands.

R350 becomes the family road trip vehicle.

Since most any road trip I have with 1 or 2 I am taking the vette anyway...

Sweet, glad to hear you decided to keep it. I love mine.

The R350 is a great choice as well. They ride beautifully, and have plenty of space.

We bought a R350 a year ago and my wife loves it. PANO ROOF is a Must! It makes the inside feel much larger. We have 4 kids so it fits our family just right and the 3rd row really is functional.

we only have 2 kids. Our only need for hauling kids is carpool which is 4 kids + 1 driver. So far the X5 has worked perfectly for that.

In many ways I would rather avoid having a 6-7 seat vehicle. Because then it ends up that we become the bus carting everybody else's kids around to functions and events. I would prefer NOT to do that for the most part. 1 or 2 extra is fine. Anyway - sticking with a 5 seater is in many ways a good call for me the more I think about it!!

Plus, I really like to have a proper sedan or sport wagon in the stable.