If not for the BMW maintenance program I'd be in a range rover sport. Love the way those things look.

Yeah the RR is a great looking truck but it drives like a truck too. The X5 is a much better handling/driving vehicle. I had a full size RR and replaced it with the X5 and could not be happier. The RR was a POS, in the shop all the time, the X5 has been trouble free.

Test drove a lot of the others and the X5 came out on top.

My thoughts:

ML550 - Nice truck, fast, comfortable but more Truck Like then wife wanted.
RR Sport - Non SC is a pig and not very high tech - SC easily 10K more than 4.8. Looks great though.
Cayenne - Just not kid friendly enough, maintenance costs are ridiculous.
The others - no comparison

Talked to a buddy with the RR, he talked me OUT of the RR and into the X5. I've actually drifted a few corners in the X5, the thing handles amazing for something 6000lbs:thumbup:

It is amazing how it handles and it's a comfortable ride too.

Did some driving recently on the way down from Scotland with damp roads and a bit of leaf residue on them. Drifting it round some of those corners was one of the best driving experiences ever. Coupled with beautiful scenery and fairly empty roads, couldn't ask for more.

Test drove a seemingly very cheap Porsche Cayenne Turbo today which had must have had a rocket strapped to it, since it appeared to pretty much take off when the Turbo kicked in. Nice level of finish and well styled car also. Any particular known reasons to steer clear of them or weak points perhaps?

Just finished the review and choose the X5 3.0 over the Q7 aside from the great ride in the X5, I really needed the bigger back door system for transporting my bicyle (it goes in, the kids can sit on the roof!). Third choice was the Acura MDX, but it is a bit smaller than I wanted and no where near as nice design.

you mean other than the $100k+ price tag :wow:

Well, for right now I'd stick with the LR3 I already have. I have no real practical reason to take a hit and get an X5, but I would love to have relatively economical turbo-diesel torque and better handling. As I've posted before, I'm waiting for the 3.0sd. :)

Porsche Cayenne or Audi Q7