New car - X5 45e or X3 30e
Discussion
Wife and I are looking at changing the car and it's down to either the X5 45e and the X3 30e, both new with M-sport plus packs although the X3 could be a cancelled order with more spec.
Just the two of us currently although a first child (and maybe dog) is on the cards within the next 12m. We are coming from a high mile 2015 LCI M135i which has served us well and acknowledge neither will be as sporty but we've got my Exige for that. We would be buying with the intention of keeping the car for the long-term, so 8-10 years.
The car will be used for daily suburban driving inc my wife's 30 mile total daily drive to old street and back (want all-electric for this), a longer drive every few months and we can charge it overnight on the drive daily so the plug-in option seems the logical choice - better than the high teens MPG she's getting on the commute currently. Car does anywhere from 8-12k miles a year. We're looking at a deal price difference of £15-18k. Putting down the same deposit there is likely to be c£150pm difference.
Is the extra £150pm worth it? Which would people go for in our circumstance?
Just the two of us currently although a first child (and maybe dog) is on the cards within the next 12m. We are coming from a high mile 2015 LCI M135i which has served us well and acknowledge neither will be as sporty but we've got my Exige for that. We would be buying with the intention of keeping the car for the long-term, so 8-10 years.
The car will be used for daily suburban driving inc my wife's 30 mile total daily drive to old street and back (want all-electric for this), a longer drive every few months and we can charge it overnight on the drive daily so the plug-in option seems the logical choice - better than the high teens MPG she's getting on the commute currently. Car does anywhere from 8-12k miles a year. We're looking at a deal price difference of £15-18k. Putting down the same deposit there is likely to be c£150pm difference.
Is the extra £150pm worth it? Which would people go for in our circumstance?
kiethton said:
Just the two of us currently although a first child (and maybe dog) is on the cards within the next 12m. .
Is the extra £150pm worth it? Which would people go for in our circumstance?
X5 is a bigger car, if you don't need the bigger car and don't have any other reason for liking the 5 over the 3 then save yourself £150pm and use man maths to spend this 'saving' you have made on a second fun car Is the extra £150pm worth it? Which would people go for in our circumstance?
Also like all batteries and EVs, technology will advance and year by year your new purchase's battery will give less of a charge so you may be keeping it for less.
If you need a bigger car later, perhaps part-ex it then rather than paying more now (for example your wife may want a 7 seater in the future so her mates and their kids can go with her).
Edited by hyphen on Wednesday 22 December 19:34
Thanks both - aim would likely be 2 in time
I prefer the X5 - quality, on-paper performance, 6cyl engine for when it's on and finish but it's a little extra a month - £775ish vs £620ish in our spec. Both would also be our first ever new car so would prefer to spec to our tastes (we've got a thing for dark brown interiors with a good grey/blue). Only issue right now is the chip shortage (no Harmon Larson stereo, just the standard system) and the manufacturers instance of bundling the one option you want (ventilated seats or HUD) with others you don't (eg gesture control) inside a package...
We're due to test drive both in coming days but would a X3 feel slow coming from a M135i? - in a way it's not an issue with the Exige for fun but it still needs some go...
I prefer the X5 - quality, on-paper performance, 6cyl engine for when it's on and finish but it's a little extra a month - £775ish vs £620ish in our spec. Both would also be our first ever new car so would prefer to spec to our tastes (we've got a thing for dark brown interiors with a good grey/blue). Only issue right now is the chip shortage (no Harmon Larson stereo, just the standard system) and the manufacturers instance of bundling the one option you want (ventilated seats or HUD) with others you don't (eg gesture control) inside a package...
We're due to test drive both in coming days but would a X3 feel slow coming from a M135i? - in a way it's not an issue with the Exige for fun but it still needs some go...
Pistonheader101 said:
Any budget for an X3M
Yes, for the payments, although the idea was to have a small increase in current costs vs now (£650pm inc petrol and likely repairs) - having the commute do-able on electric alone saves £200pmFor this I don't think it's all about power/speed - we've got the Exige for fun, this is just for comfort/practicality with a turn of pace when needed
kiethton said:
Yes, for the payments, although the idea was to have a small increase in current costs vs now (£650pm inc petrol and likely repairs) - having the commute do-able on electric alone saves £200pm
For this I don't think it's all about power/speed - we've got the Exige for fun, this is just for comfort/practicality with a turn of pace when needed
Makes sense. For this I don't think it's all about power/speed - we've got the Exige for fun, this is just for comfort/practicality with a turn of pace when needed
New X3 is pretty similar in size to the older X5’s
We have the X3 30e MSport and all of the packs on it. Absolutely cracking car, and delivers comfort and performance when we need it. Mrs S drives it almost exclusively and only ever uses the electric so mpg never a consideration, but fwiw she gets 25 miles pretty regularly. When I use it and end up on petrol power, it pulls absolutely fine and is incredibly refined, if that's your thing.
The issue with the X3, and you should check this out, is boot floor is raised to accommodate the batteries and it does impede the carrying capacity somewhat. I mean the boot is still plenty big enough for most people, but it is some way down on a standard X3 and worth checking just to make sure it suits you.
We did look at the X5. but despite the obvious higher quality and better engine it was just too big to justify the additional outlay, although we got a decent discount on the X3 which have disappeared now so perhaps the delta is less of an issue.
The issue with the X3, and you should check this out, is boot floor is raised to accommodate the batteries and it does impede the carrying capacity somewhat. I mean the boot is still plenty big enough for most people, but it is some way down on a standard X3 and worth checking just to make sure it suits you.
We did look at the X5. but despite the obvious higher quality and better engine it was just too big to justify the additional outlay, although we got a decent discount on the X3 which have disappeared now so perhaps the delta is less of an issue.
An X3 would be a compromise for a family of five and a dog who go off-road regularly. In the OPs case (and mine), there's two of them and the Mrs needs to use the car for a short suburban commute every day. In these circumstances the X3 would actually be overkill.
An X1 would do just fine, and the s
t interior they have is a perfect example of compromise. The X3, not at all.
An X1 would do just fine, and the s
t interior they have is a perfect example of compromise. The X3, not at all.Thanks all, just been to BMW to look at them and the quality/refinement etc of the X5 was a different league. Firming up figures and expect to have one on order in the next few days. The only issue is insurance - £1500! The current M135i is £400, guess that's the joy of a CR2 postcode...
Edited by kiethton on Thursday 23 December 17:27
I think the X5 is the right choice. I don't think the boot on the X3 would take much more than a baby's travel system. It might work for day trips out, but I doubt you'd have enough boot space for any trips that might require more luggage/high chair/travel cot/whatever else babies need. The dog might also want a bit more space if in the boot.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff