How many lil' whippersnappers do you have man? If its only 2 kids you have no reason at all to NEED a third row, sure it might get handy if you volunteer to drive all the rugrats and their friends to Six Flags, but its not necessary.

If you have 3 kids I can see how you might need a third row though for a longer trip.


JCL is right on the money, space with 3rd row down is terrible, space with it up is terrible. You have more luggage space in the trunk of the E53 practically with the 3-row E70, and that's saying something.


If she just wants a new bimmer, thats understandable too, wives want what wives want...

I have 4 kids, two from my first marriage, and two from my current marriage. We've gotten tired of hauling the family in two separate cars wherever we go.

I can't talk her out of a BMW, no matter how much I try. She won't go for a domestic truck-based SUV that has some practicality, and minivan? Fuhgettaboutit.

Jeez thats a lot of kids.

I'd say you definitely need a domestic SUV with some trunk room. Sure you can take the kids all in one car but where are you gonna put 6 people's bags when you go on a trip? Unless you have one hell of a roof bag.

I agree with you, man. I really do. I tried talking her into a pretty nice Excursion with the 6.0 Powerstroke Diesel a few months back. Would have been a great truck, well optioned, comfortable, had seating for 8, and been capable of towing a nice travel trailer cross country no problem.

I'm still working on it, but she gets pissed whenever I open links to domestic SUVs, and defensive whenever I try to tell her "lack of luggage space, tiny seats, no place to put the dogs if we all go somewhere" yadda yadda. All she can see is the roundel, and when I try to talk her out of it and into something else she is convinced that I'm trying to be a "cheapskate"

Good luck, slowlanemcvane. At least my wife is open to a minivan (newest Toyota Sienna SE)

Have you considered the Lexus GX or LX? The RX is definitely too small...but in terms of reliability the Lexus is pure Toyota...

I haven't really considered Lexus. We checked out the MDX, and it was about the same as the X5 in terms of space. I'll look into it. Thanks!

This might be sacrilege, but what does anyone on here know about the Mercedes Benz GL450? The back seats look a bit more roomy than the X5 with the 3rd row, and that there might be a semblance of useable cargo space behind the 3rd row when it's up.

Based on what you have said it looks like a great choice. I am a fan of the tobacco interior. Happy wife happy life.

My good friend has the GL blutec...awesome ride...same thing as everything else with a 3rd row: useless...more utility with the 3rd row folded down to be honest...maintenance on the GL is just as costly as the X though...but when you buy a luxury European SUV, you know what you are getting yourself into...My buddy also services his truck at the dealer only...LOL...he just doesn't care...