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i'd be interested to know:
are there any other current MDX owners who have gone out and actually test-driven the BMW X5 before purchasing their MDX? believe it or not, i only test drove the 3.0i a month after getting our baby. i was thoroughly impressed with its performance, but disgusted by the sticker price. if the sticker shock weren't so bad, i'd probably be a german SUV owner right now instead of a loyal Honda Fanatic.
any other thoughts?
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| Isaac |
Yes, of course I did! I actually tested the 3.2L one not the big 4.0L (though my friend has one of those).
What I liked about the X5:
- Nice _drivers_ machine. "typical" German handling which I prefer.
- Feels very sporty, even though it has smaller engine and supposedly less horsepower, feels like it's got more ooomph to it.
- I like the interior decor (at least on the one I drove) better.
- Smaller exterior size
- Available GPS nav system (in Canada), this is not on the MDX for some reason
What's not so hot about the X5 (or why I bought the MDX):
- Price! Yikes!
- Gas consumption on MDX is supposedly better
- MDX makes a better _passenger_ machine than the X5. One of the reasons I wanted the car anyways. If I wanted a drivers machine, I would've gone with my old GS-R or an M3.
- Less interior room. Frankly, I'm not that big on SUV's, I like a small car, but I like being able to toss my gear, bikes, skis, etc. in the back. Right now, on my GS-R, I have to fold down the rear seats. If I had to do that in the X-5 anyways, well, there's not much reason for me to upgrade. MDX, I can fit it in and still have 2 full rows of seats.
- Err..."legendary" BMW quality. Still have some electronic gremlins to figure out. I was hoping Acura wouldn't, based on my experiences, and so far okay.
- I did not like the rear end of the X-5. Not so hot on the MDX either, but better.
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| I actually test drove the BMW X5 3.0i before I even considered the MDX which I just ordered last week (Mahogany with Touring Package and Navigation System). I like the handling as well as the MDX but the acceleration is not quite as good. The X5 exterior looks better but the interior appointments appear cheaper than the MDX which is the same opinion I had of the MB ML320 interior when it first came out. However the X5 is overpriced and undersized compared with the MDX. There is both less rear seat room and less cargo room probably due to its shorter overall length. However the real deal breaker was the tailgate with the flip up glass and higher cargo floor. This is extremely poor design and forces one to bend over to put groceries or other items in the back. We have a 110 lb. Great Pyr who most of the time is more fondly regarded by my wife than I am. Doggie comfort and ease of entry and departure are key criteria for vehicle selection which is why we are current leasing a 1999 GMC Yukon which has to be returned by May. Overall, I was disappointed in the X5 compared to the 1988 BMW 325ix that I had over 10 years ago. The X5 is hardly the "ultimate driving machine" compared the former car or to the MDX in either price or performance. On the Acura web site, I believe the price of a comparable X5 3.0i was about $9K or $10K more when all of the standard equipment on my MDX was included. Perhaps the X5 has more yuppie appeal but I graduated from that stage of my life 11 years ago! Buy the MDX over either X5 or ML 320 you won't regret it. |
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I drove the 4.4 X5. I loved the power, the ride at high speed, the "ambiance" of the car, this was by far the nicest car I have sat in.
I hated, the ride at low speed - it seemed to exagerate every slight bump in the road, the way the rear opens, the small luggage space (we have 2 kids, and want to be able to go away for a weekend ski trip and be able to take what we need) and the price (well over 55K). The car is really an extra tall 5 series wagon with 4WD.
The MDX got my vote. |
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| Isaac |
Au contraire!
I thought the X-5 really was the "ultimate driving machine" (well, compared to other SUV's anyways).
The key word here is "driving". In terms of fuel efficiency, passenger and cargo space and cost, MDX came out ahead. But I've always preferred the handling of the BMW over the Acura's and the X-5 vs MDX was no exception.
Not sure about that back tailgate thing. Doesn't the glass fold up, and optionally, you can fold the bottom half down? That's pretty handy, I thought. On the other hand, the MDX scheme leaves a nicer rainshield.
If I did not have to worry about passenger space, fuel economy and cargo space, I would've gone with the X-5.
Then again, if that were the case, I would've used the money to spring for an NSX or M3 instead :) |
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quote:
If I did not have to worry about passenger space, fuel economy and cargo space, I would've gone with the X-5.
i couldn't agree with you more.
if a comparably-equipped BMW X5 4.4i was anywhere close to our fully loaded MDX, i would've opted for the BMW. not for the nameplate, but i think for the overall styling and performance. not to mention some of the other goodies BMW offered, like HID lites....
but, BMW isn't anywhere close to the price, and heck, i've got other bills to pay....
don't forget the most important factor: It's A Honda
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| My brother and I just completed weekend ski trips. He has the 4.4X5 (fully loaded) and I have the MDX tour/nav. I had remarked that I had a car load of 7 (kids in back) and no complaints. He on the other hand, said that the 4.4X5 is too small and rough riding for four adults on a long trip and will be looking to trade it for an alternative. The X5 is fun to drive on short trips, but there isn't much room. |
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I compared MDX to Lexus300, BMW X5, Mercedes, Infiniti QX4, and Audi Allroad (a wagon with AWD). With the exception of the Audi, both Motortrend and Car and Driver had head-to-head comparisons and rated the MDX the top SUV.
I rated the BMW the best handling, but you got so much more for the money with the MDX, it wasn't a close comparison. I am a gadget guy and the GPSS was a big selling point, along with cargo space. The similarly equipped BMW goes for 8-12K more. What car would I buy if they were the same price? Still, the MDX. I see too many BMWs here.
The Audi should be a hot car, but I would be afraid to get it dirty. The interior is plush. A nice alternative to an SUV, but priced like the BMW. Again, preferred the MDX, although the Audi sales rep compared the MDX to a minivan. |
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