Petrol SUV (X3 M40i) vs separate petrol car and diesel suv?

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months

Sunday 26th June 2022

Hi all

I'm looking for a new car and have almost settled on a BMW X3 M40i.

I do about 5k mileage a year which consists of multiple short trips with a monthly long trip from London to Birmingham, which is why I'm considering a petrol.

I will be buying second-hand, 3-4 years old, with a budget of around £35k.

The X3 above seems to strike the perfect balance between being fun to drive, sporty yet practical for a family car.

Now the dilemma....

What if I was to buy a separate diesel SUV for my longer trips and get a petrol car for my short trips?

My reasoning, it would open up the range of diesels to choose from. I could then consider a Range Rover Sport, Porsche Cayenne, even an X5 for less than £30k. These are cars I initially was keen on but the petrol versions are too expensive and I feel like these SUV's would be better suited to diesel anyway. I'd also get much better mileage on these long runs than the M40i.

The remainder of that £35k can be spent on a small petrol runaround, maybe even put a bit more down and get something fun like a BMW M135i. So I still get my sporty fun hot hatch for local trips and a comfortable SUV for the family with good economy for the long trips.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months

Sunday 26th June 2022

Thanks both however I’d prefer to have an SUV over an estate for various reasons.

When you say the X3 M40i isn’t fun or sporty, are you comparing that to a regular car? Or is there any SUV you would put in that fun/sporty category?

I appreciate an SUV will never handle like a regular car, I accept that, one doesn’t buy an SUV to take it on the track. However from everything i’ve read/watched, it does seem to handle pretty well compared a typical SUV. I’ve driven a regular X3 and it’s not bad, especially when in sport mode, so I do feel like it’s something i’d be happy with.

Yes good point about maintaining two cars, that’s worth factoring in as it will definitely add up, twice the insurance, road tax, servicing, MOT. Just writing that list is painful.

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months

Sunday 26th June 2022

ZX10R NIN said:

Thanks for this, some really good cars there however my budget is around £35k for both cars.

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months

Sunday 26th June 2022

h0b0 said:

I have a Cayenne GTS and rented an X3 with M badges. No idea what engine it had but it sure did have a lot of M badges. The X3 was not sporty in any way and was a little disappointing. Frankly, the Cayenne GTS is about as sporty as an SUV gets but it’s still not a sports car. It does fit my needs perfectly though.

Maybe it was just a regular X3 with M-Sport trim as opposed to an actual M engine?

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months

Sunday 26th June 2022

Johnnytheboy said:

Can you list the reasons?

Edited by Johnnytheboy on Sunday 26th June 21:55

Sure.

Aesthetics (Personally not a fan of estates)
Higher driving position, good visibility of the road.
Easier to get in and out of
More comfortable, especially for long trips, less chance of lower back pain
Easier with kids in car seat
Big tall boot as well as depth

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months

Sunday 26th June 2022

Chris Hinds said:

As an X3 M40i owner (2019 model) I have what you are contemplating. Some thoughts, since most have written it off already. If you go in expecting it to handle like and Elise then you won’t be surprised to learn that it doesn’t. If you go in expecting it to be flat like a Ferrari then no, it isn’t. If you go in expecting it to have very good body control for its height, the ability to be steered on the throttle and a decent turn of speed you won’t be disappointed.

Today mine has been from Loughborough to Wolverhampton and back via the M69/M6/M54 route and done 57mph av speed and 31mpg. I consider that pretty good. Would I buy another, actually yes I would… because actually it surprises me by being refined, suitably menacing of engine tone and also more agile than you would expect. Yes if you tried to take it round Donington it would be all bent out of shape by the fourth or fifth corner but if you find a twisty bit of road and aren’t driving at 10/10 then it will make you smile.

Basically don’t write it off until you have tried it

Thanks Chris for your feedback. This is exactly it, I appreciate it's still an SUV so is never going to drive like an M3 but that's ok, because it's also a very fully functioning SUV with a lot more space than an M3.

I've driven some SUV's that just feel like your driving a truck and you would never put those and sport in the same sentence. The M40i however is in a different league when compared to those. I was also considering a Macan but it's just a bit too small for my liking.

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months

Monday 27th June 2022

Roger Irrelevant said:

For a total combined mileage of 5k miles p.a. I definitely wouldn't bother getting two cars. The fuel savings on your long trips will be miniscule compared to the hassle of running two vehicles.

Yeh I was thinking more about this last night and you are spot on, I was coming to the same conclusion. The annual mileage doesn't justify 2 cars.

Roger Irrelevant said:

If you want the X3 then get that - seems to fit your brief very well and for £35k you might just get an approved used one too which would be a bonus for me. I'd really like the 40d variant as my next car so am keeping a beady eye on prices of those (I do circa 17k miles p.a. so diesel makes a lot more sense).

Yeh I do think so too. Also the fact it's very new (GO1 model) and has the latest tech is another plus point. It does seem to tick all the boxes for me. I've heard a lot of good things about the 40d too so good choice.

Part of me is still considering the Macan and my this is my wife's fave car (she's never really liked BMW's and this is meant to be for her too biggrin

), but I was thinking I may consider that as my next car as the price of the recent 2019 models come down in price.

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months

Monday 27th June 2022

arfur said:

In case you'd considered it, but I had an Alfa Stelvio as a hire car in Spain a couple of weeks ago - don't ... just don't ! It was awful

Ha I did consider that actually. What happened?

The quadrifoglio looks and sounds amazing however from what I've researched, after the novelty wears off, you'll find it's not as refined as the Germans. Would love to drive one though.

Original Poster

327 posts

52 months