Which lumpy 4x4?

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 10:58

Please try and avoid the "none of them" comments

The contenders are:

Range Rover Sport

M class Merc

X5 BMW

Or another Cayenne but this time a face lift 2007 on version. (iv got a 2006 one now)

All the cars will be 18-24 months old and the petrol derivatives.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 12:04

I need a bit of ground clearance because of where i live, i like a high driving position, i tow the odd horse box

My partner and i have just drawn our anual bonus from the business, this is my chosen method of spending it.

Iv pretty much already made up my mind but was a bit bored and thought i'd see what the general opinion was.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 12:15

That is the way i am leaning, or wait 6 months and get an X6.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 12:17

My experience of this Cayenne has been less than epic sadly or i would get another.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 13:01

Stop the crying, it dont hurt for long

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 13:52

I really dont want a diesel.

As for AMG, the few i have driven in the past have never seemed worth the premium over normal mercs.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 15:07

Im quite sure Touareg's are very able cars, as are the Audi's.

However i really dont want a diesel, and have pretty much decided on an X5 or an X6 depending what im offered for my car.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 15:23

Thats why i mentioned a bit further up waiting 6 months for a few more petrol X6's to surface. As you say there are only 2 listed at the moment.

However a BMW dealer near me says he can possibly find 2 others in the next month, both ex BMW cars.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 15:36

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Before buying an X5 for towing, pick up the current issue of "WhatCar" and turn to page 94.

A chap there has written to the "Helpdesk" feature of that magazine bemoaning the near £2k (yes thats right!) BMW have just quoted him to get a towbar & uprated fan fitted to his X5!

In a nutshell, it appears the X5 needs additional cooling capacity to make it a decent towcar consisting of Towbar & electrics for £1175 and an uprated fan for £700! - If this work is not carried out, the warranty will be invalid should you have furture overheating issues whilst towing!

Sytner leicester have eventually dropped the total price of the conversion to £1150, but, I'm sure you'll agree that's an awful lot of cash for a sodding towbar!

FWIW, Audi's Q7, Landrover's Discovery and Volvo's XC90 all have no requirement for such a cooling system upgrade.

Food for thought & shame on BMW!

I shall go and read that, my towing needs are basically 2 sundays in the month horse box. But none the less 2 grand is more than Porsche charged me for my current car.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 15:38

jamief said:
Just curious, but why are you so keen on a petrol? It would seem to me that you are very much in the minority, given that 99% of the X6s available are diesel....

Because when all is said and done, diesels offer me 0 or negligible benefit cost wise, and i'd rather not have to listen to a diesel engine.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 15:53

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
August 2009 issue, just to be clear.

Nice one thank you for that, i will grab a copy.

2 grand seems incredible for a tow bar. If i get a BMW, thats what i will be asking to have thrown in it seems

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 15:55

Dangerous Dave said:
It is a good list you have and you are set on a X5, if you haven't I would try a Range Rover and a Q7 just to rule them out if anything.

On a side not my mums friend has a couple of horses and she had a 3l Diesel X5 and said it was useless at towing it just didn't feel stable and the autobox overheated on many occasions (not sure if it had this upgraded cooling that was mentioned however it was a dealer fit tow bar). She now tows with a 4.2 TDI Q7 and swears by it.

I am now going to seriously look into this towing thing with X5's, thanks for bring it up.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 16:02

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Yes, it does seem high. The £2k (which is negotiable it seems!) also includes £700 for an uprated cooling fan - either way, its still a hell of a lot of cash on an effective cure for a poor design - most 4x4's at some point in their life will have an owner who wants to tow something I'd guess.

Im now wondering if X6's have the same problem. It seems quite a few people have had towing woe's with X5's now iv started looking. I cant see me getting an honest answer from BMW.

Im actually glad i posted this now, towing ability was something i had just taken for granted.

DM · 3 Aug 2009 at 16:04

mjt said:
but if the car comes with a factory-fitted towhook, you'd think that the uprated cooling system would come in the package.
if it is that much of an issue, get an RR(sport)

I suppose if someone just went and had a tow bar fitted at a tow bar centre they could run into problems.

I didnt like the sound of the warranty invalidated bit.