X3 - How big are they?

[968CSReading]

We have a 3yr old and 5yr old and have noticed how well priced they are at the moment.

How big are they in the back and whats the boot like? Has anyone lived with one and got a young family?

Cant afford an X5 before anyone says buy one of them.

[clonmult]

They're one helluva lot taller than a lot of other cars around ...

But why even consider the X3? Surely a similarly priced 5 series (saloon) will have more space (especially in the back seat), and a 5 series touring will have considerably more usable space in the boot as well?

[968CSReading]

That would be my choice but its the wifes car and she wants a 4x4. She idealy wants a XC90 but I cant justify the cost to run one. I look at a small 4x4 as a possible stop gap.

Seems to be a lot of mixed reviews on the X3 though

[Orangecurry]

a friend currently has an X3 as a loan car whilst his X5 is with BMW.

His words...

slightly less legroom in the back, slightly less boot space, but not a lot in it. For heavens sake, don't get the 2.0D - it's utter shite. Great engine if you rev the nuts off of it, but I don't know what they've done to the flywheel/whatever as I can't drive it in traffic/low revs - I've stalled 4 times.

Price difference? Just get an older X5 - pre 2001 the Gov can't even load up the tax.

[Donut]

Orangecurry said:

a friend currently has an X3 as a loan car whilst his X5 is with BMW.

His words...

slightly less legroom in the back, slightly less boot space, but not a lot in it. For heavens sake, don't get the 2.0D - it's utter shite. Great engine if you rev the nuts off of it, but I don't know what they've done to the flywheel/whatever as I can't drive it in traffic/low revs - I've stalled 4 times.

Price difference? Just get an older X5 - pre 2001 the Gov can't even load up the tax.

Yes the old 150 bhp 2.0d was a bit sluggish but the new 177 transforms the drive and so the car

[Deva Link]

968CSReading said:

That would be my choice but its the wifes car and she wants a 4x4.

Is that because *all* her friends have one?

My next door neighbour nearly ended up getting divorced because his missus was the only one in her circle of friends who didn't have a 4x4 - it's a nightmare round here when they all come to visit and go off-road over the grass verges. She ended up with a CRV.

If you get an X3 make sure you (or she) can live with the ride - it's absolutely horrendously hard. I drove one of the earlier ones - maybe they've improved things on later models?

Edited by Deva Link on Monday 4th February 15:33

[Thorny]

968CSReading said:

We have a 3yr old and 5yr old and have noticed how well priced they are at the moment.

Yeah the market for 3 and 5 yr olds has really dropped...

[Orangecurry]

Donut said:

Orangecurry said:

a friend currently has an X3 as a loan car whilst his X5 is with BMW.

His words...

slightly less legroom in the back, slightly less boot space, but not a lot in it. For heavens sake, don't get the 2.0D - it's utter shite. Great engine if you rev the nuts off of it, but I don't know what they've done to the flywheel/whatever as I can't drive it in traffic/low revs - I've stalled 4 times.

Price difference? Just get an older X5 - pre 2001 the Gov can't even load up the tax.

Yes the old 150 bhp 2.0d was a bit sluggish but the new 177 transforms the drive and so the car

it's a 57-plate; a loan car, brand-new....

[rfl]

Can definitely recommend one. Had one for two years and 50k miles up to last summer- 2.0d Sport. Ideal for 1-2 kids + dog. Drives well on both m'way and country roads and light off roading when shooting.
Sold it and moved into an XC90 as we have twins and need the extra space but given the choice I'd rather be driving another X3.

[968CSReading]

rfl said:

Can definitely recommend one. Had one for two years and 50k miles up to last summer- 2.0d Sport. Ideal for 1-2 kids + dog. Drives well on both m'way and country roads and light off roading when shooting.
Sold it and moved into an XC90 as we have twins and need the extra space but given the choice I'd rather be driving another X3.

Thanks for that, just what I needed to onow. Just need to convince the wife.

[Donut]

Orangecurry said:

Donut said:

Orangecurry said:

a friend currently has an X3 as a loan car whilst his X5 is with BMW.

His words...

slightly less legroom in the back, slightly less boot space, but not a lot in it. For heavens sake, don't get the 2.0D - it's utter shite. Great engine if you rev the nuts off of it, but I don't know what they've done to the flywheel/whatever as I can't drive it in traffic/low revs - I've stalled 4 times.

Price difference? Just get an older X5 - pre 2001 the Gov can't even load up the tax.

Yes the old 150 bhp 2.0d was a bit sluggish but the new 177 transforms the drive and so the car

it's a 57-plate; a loan car, brand-new....

More than likely an old engine, I have an old engine X3 2.0d M Sport in the showroom for sale can be on an 08 plate if you like, I'll do you a bloody good deal on though

Best way to tell on an X3 is if it has the new style pully-in-and-outy handrest in the front (should be a button on the side which moves it towards the head)

If it's got them then I stand corrected!

[StuB]

Had an X3 when they launched. Really good car and fun to drive too in 3.0 petrol.

Never had issues with space taking 4 adults & ski gear across France with all out ski's & luggage etc. Now have a E60 5 series and it's no bigger IMHO that the X3. 4wd works really well on these cars too! Would have the 3.0sd tomorrow!