X5 3.0sd Sport Test Drive
 

Got a call off my dealer yesterday that their 3.0sd Sport demonstrater was in which is one of the first in the UK so I went for a 30 minuite test drive this morning.

Having drove the 3.0d I must admit there was a remarked improvement in terms of acceleration espically up to about 60mph. Its been a while since I drove the 3.0d so its hard to judge back to back but while its not jaw droppingly fast I felt it was on par with the 4.8 which I also drove a while back. Where I really noticed the extra power even over the 4.8 was in accelerating up steep hills where you can really feal the torque pulling you.
The thing I find is with such a big car its hard to feel like your doing any speed at all till you look at the spedo. The X I drove also had 21" 128's so I was keen to find how they rode over the 20" V spoke ones I have on order. surfice to say I have now upgraded to the 128's as the dealer has given me a buy back on the 20" rims. You do feel the pot holes but you do with the 20" wheels so I don't think there is any difference. The X did'nt have adaptive drive which mine will so im hoping the non sport setting softens things up a bit. Drove over a cobbled street though and bounced all over the show.
So in short, im glad ive held out for the SD which I should have mid December. Its worth the extra few K and feels on par with the 4.8 on the flat but really torquey on the inclines.

thanks for posting that, was keen to hear how the sd goes

thanks, was hoping these opinions would come in soon... would love to hear more from others.

My dealer sent theirs back as it came with a big dent in the bumper!

It looks like here in the U.S., we will have to wait until 09? It was rumored to be out Spring of 08, but doesn't look likely... I'm waiting for the 3.0 SD myself...

Craig

I would think 2009 is more likely given the shortage of them availblle here. We will probably start to see press reviews in the next couple of weeks...I imagine they will be great!

I was sitting in one last night while at the dealers for the new MINI Clubman Launch.

Have to say the E70 has grown on me was very nice.

Also in the new M3.

Same at my dealers, never seen so many mini's in one place. They had removed all the cars from the show room and replaced them with mini's and turned the pace into a Disco. As for the clubman, thats a weard car, intresting to see what the take ups like on them.