And if you want a crash safe vehicle that can carry 5 with a fair amount of cargo, handles well, has AWD and looks great then...(do yo need a hint?) :)

I don't think any kid has ever said, "When I grow up, I want to drive a minivan." Minivans look horrible. And the Boxster gets disrespect everywhere.

On the other hand, I bet no kid has ever said, "I want to grow up and drive a car full of children loaded to the brim with all their shit" either.

Not strictly true.....he raved about the M5, nearly bought one too. Despite the "flappy paddle" gearbox.

And he certainly doesn't rave about everything British....ever heard him say a nice thing about TVR or Rover ? Nope

Nor is he picking on the X5 because it's American as someone suggested earlier in the thread. Did he say that? He would classify the X5 as German...that's it's DNA.

Oh that's very easy.

A 535xiT. And it's a pity we don't get it here, but I'd actually take the 550iT M-sport with a 6MT if I could. :cool:

Sorry I don't have the source but I saw it in Roundel a few years ago.

BMW (and I'm sure most car makers) keep very close tabs on these sorts of things but the results are rarely made public. I also recall reading a similar result many more years ago when the Honda plant in Ohio was first producing cars- I think in the Wall Street Journal. There have been similar articles and data for union v. non union workers.

Yes, I'd take a either 5 'er as well but it's a moot point since we don't have that choice.

Um you guys also get the 535xiT. And according to the BMW CA website, the 5 Individual as well.........:confused:

Honestly, I think the 5 touring looks better than the 5 sedan.

Interestingly, if I could get my hands on a '02-'03 540iT sport, I would actually consider buying it. I mean, that would be really cool. Motoring around campus or driving kids around, having them ask "why did you buy a wagon?". And then I'd go on my whole TV-like spiel about the handling, motor, blah blah blah, while they're holding onto dear life because I'm going around corners quickly. I find it funny when I surprise teenagers :D

Clarkson is entertaining, and thats it.
Please do not read his reviews/comments and actually think for one moment they are actually based on any real insight or logic.

Right you are! Last time I checked (which has been a while) only the 530xiT was available.