how's the handling on the x5?
 

hi just courious since i've never driven the new x5;how is the handling? does it feel any like a sports car? is it similar to the handling the 3 series has?

yes

Depending on options and wheels, it ranges from "very good" to "superb". It is NOT a 3-series. There's no way to hide an extra 1500 lbs of weight and a higher centre of gravity. However, BMW does it very well, especially with the Dynamic Drive when the Sport packet is checked off. The only X5 I've driven is the 4.8i with sport and 19" wheels, and that thing cornered flat as a board. Very impressive.

it is amazing!

It really is superb. We had a Volvo XC90 before this and although you could throw that thing round, the X5 is in a different league. How they can get such a large machine to behave and drive the way it does is just oustanding. It's no minivan ;)

no its not really like a sports car..
I Dont think it handles like my 335 , both with sport pack.
I think that it handles better then alot of cars and every suv that I have been in. it rides a lot better then my 335 and takes the twisty great, but no it does not handle like my 3 series. maybe close though.
hope this helps.

thank you for your help..i got another question for you,i see you got the 4.8 x5,do you think it handles the same as a 3.0si? im not talking about speed im just talking about the handling

thanks for your responses everybody but i got another question...a lot of people talk about how the sport package really makes a diff. on the handling..so if you dont get the sport package does the x5 feels null? does it feel just like any other suv out there or what?

I drove both and I didnt see a super difference(ie non-sport and sport but turned off). that was test driveing. I do see some difference between the sport(off and turned on). There is a much different ride between the non sport and the sport packaged x5's, not perticularly handling the the entire ride(comfort mostly).
with that said I would recommend the sport package, I would not go without it
My wife does not like sporty rides, she did not like my 2004 4.8is nor does she like my 335i, but she siad the sport package on her new x5 was better then the one we test drove without it, we test drove them back to back. so take it for what its worth. hope this helps.
Dennis

oh I didnt answer your specific question. without the sport pack the x5 still drives(handles)better then the other SUVs I driven, of course this is an opinoun. personally its drive was nicer and handles better then the Acura MDX(that seems ot be the major competitor these days).

My '03 X5 handled VERY, VERY well, and I did not even have the Sports package. This SUV handles better than most cars, and all other SUVs on the market, with the possible exception being the Porsche Cayman. I loved the fact that I could 100 MPH, and the thing felt as solid and quiet as it did at 25 MPH. I would routinely drive at well over 100 MPH, and it was barely breathing hard... <sigh> I miss my X5. :(

Love it. Sport package a must.

Kaefer, I hear what you saying about missing her, I`m missing my E53 also, especially the manual tranny. But the E70 at 100MPH is even more quiet..... / did you trade yours in ?

All the new BMWs are quieter than before, but I dunno they "feel" a bit different now. I still think the X3 is more solid at high speeds than the 325i sport, despite the latter having a lower drag coefficient, less wind noise, and lower revs. There's just something about the X3 that makes it feel more like a tank.......perhaps its the weight.