Discussion
gazzab said:
My lack of understanding of what?
I am not anti, I have come round to desiring cars that protect my family from harm and an X5 suits that need. Whilst an X5 is a fantastic car in so many respects it isnt a 'drivers car' in my defn, it might be in yours and thats fine with me. Just depends on your defn. Whilst the X5 scores well in many respects it doesnt when compared to (say) a standard 5 series - the height, weight, 4 wheel drive (in off roader application) etc of an X5 just dont make the grade as drivers car in my personal defn no matter how well it drives.
What qualifies as a drivers car in my defnition is something that responds faithfully to driver input, that provides excellent steering feedback, that encourages and then rewards being driven hard, that invites you to take the challenging twisty route rather than the motorway. The X5 has one of the finer chassis that BMW makes, but it's limited by being 6 inches further of the ground and a few hundred kilos heavier than a 5-series.
I would also argue that it has the best steering feel of any BMW bar none, certainly compared to the new variable servotronic ones on the latest 5 and 6 series. Whenever I drive a 5 or 6 series I end up asking "why aren't they better?", when BMW can do such a good job with the X5 then the 5-series should be a whole lot more impressive than it is. And what about fun? The 4.8 engine in an X5 makes it feel like a 'hot rod', not uncivilised but with an engine more rudely sporting than in any 5-series, including the M5 (which I drove again last week). I regularly have the opportunity of driving all types of 5-series back to back with my X5 and it takes more than a 'standard' 5-series to cover the route as quickly.
Ultimately, I wouldn't choose to drive an X5 if it wasn't a drivers car, or tolerate something that impeded my ability to enjoy a fine drive. I choose an X5 over a 5-series 'because' I find it more enjoyable and rewarding to drive.
Sorry if it seemed as I was having a go.
Surprisingly I actually found the 4.6is dissapointing. I've owned a 3.0i Sport for two years, then I bought a 4.6is which I ran for 18 months, then I changed this for a 4.8is and more recently another 4.8is. Up until the 4.8is I preferred the 3.0i Sport which was more rewarding to drive than the 4.6is. The 4.6is felt much heavier, the engine although more powerful than the 4.4i didn't feel like it had any more torque, and the chassis felt much harder work than the lighter 3.0i. Also the gearbox seemed to be programmed far too aggresively and the engine's twin cooling fans really sucked power in hot weather, which could be very frustrating. But then I changed it for the 4.8is which took the whole X5 game to another level, but until them I was beginning to wonder if my 3.0i Sport had just been a fluke. So the X5 can be a rewarding drivers car, but you need the right chassis that maintains body control.
One of the 4.8is I ran (that BMW lent me) had literally 'no body roll', I kid you not, you could turn it aggressively through left to right bends and it would drive like a big Mini Cooper. Astounding ability, but they didn't all do that, and BMW could never explain why some did and others didn't.
One of the 4.8is I ran (that BMW lent me) had literally 'no body roll', I kid you not, you could turn it aggressively through left to right bends and it would drive like a big Mini Cooper. Astounding ability, but they didn't all do that, and BMW could never explain why some did and others didn't.
foz01 said:
Doctor D what do you mean softer?
The software maps for the auto gearbox in the 3.0D is less sensitive to changes in inertia than in the 4.6is. The 4.6is is designed to be a more sporty drive, so will change down a gear more aggresively under braking and will hold onto gears longer before changing up. Also the adaptive learning programs are developed to be less sensitive to change in the 3.0D. Overall it makes the 3.0d a more relaxing car to drive if you're looking for a less sporty drive. It's not unsporting, it's just more in tune with the softer throttle response of the diesel engine.
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