Cayenne or X5

[screwtape]

Guys

We have a 3.0d sport X5 which we will be replacing with either the new shape 3.0d M Sport X5 or Cayenne S. The car will be my wife's and she will use it for driving our 2 year old son around. It will also be used as the family car at the weekend.

Can anyone offer advice especially over which would make the better child carrier, and offer any insights into problems/issues with either SUV.

Many thanks for your help.

[loach]

Sort of feel compelled to ask the obvious, but if it's just the 2 and a half of you, would you not be thinking of anything a bit smaller and sportier? Of the two you've listed, the X5 is a no-brainer. It's the new model, residuals will be comparitively decent, you can get a diesel with relatively bearable economy, the car is built well and IMO looks ten times better than the Cayenne. A Cayenne S may be a bit nippier and handle better, but in every other respect the X5 has it soundly kicked in the bollox.


ETA - Obviously something like a new 325d Estate / A3 Sportback / S4 Estate / whatever is a far better proposition than either of the above for just shopping and the weekend. Getting a big luxo-jeep just seems so hopelessly middle aged and defeatist. One tip I can give you whatever ou go for, is to stick with black leather. Creams and pale greys will survive about a week in the company of a 2 year old.

Edited by loach on Friday 4th May 18:41

[screwtape]

I should have mentioned that we also have a 997 c2s cab for fun and a polo to use as a run around.

Our instinct is to get another X5 but are tempted by the Cayenne.

[magic torch]

X5

[ballcock]

Just Idle curiosity here , but .. Why?

Does your wife really need a couple of tonnes of metal to wheel the little man around in?

I'm not trying to be harshI'm just trying to understand .

And to be totally fair , My wife has a 7 seater 'SUV' but she regularly uses all 7 seats..







BTW , XC90 every time !!

[screwtape]

No clear answer as to why to be frank - when my wife was pregnant we got rid of the 330 Cab and bought an X5. Bought the polo as needed to be able to drive the tube station when we moved, bought the C2S Cab for fun as missed not having a convertable and its now become my daily driver to work. Not a good reason, but I know we would miss having a SUV if we got rid of it and didnt replace it

[jdelmo]

Why not an AWD estate - something like an Audi S4?

[screwtape]

She hates estate cars!!!

[mbutchers]

Of the 2, the X5 diesel get's my vote - I like the Cayenne (barr the looks), but running costs are a little prohibitive...maybe not for you tho'...?
I'm with the others on here tho'...... 330d Touring, A4 Avant (S4, 3.0Tdi).
Surely an X5, or Cayenne 'is' an estate car anyway - just a big tall 4WD one !

[Grey Ghost]

As another option I suggest you take the new Range Rover Sport TDV8 diesel out for a drive.

Very nice vehicle

[loach]

It's a woman thing. It has to be. As was said above, an X5 is an estate - just a bigger, taller and heavier one. I've no wish to cast dispersions, and I think both the X5 and Cayenne are fine cars. But I've a Sister who's of the same mind as the OP's wife. She ran an X5 for a year or two having come from a 'normal' car, loved it to bits, and now won't go back to something in 'regular' size. She's got a Q7 at the moment, and that's big enough to require mooring ropes for parking. I just don't get it. She's not huge, so when she climbs into one of these things, she becomes another one of those tiny sets of bodyless, red-fingernailed claws that I see perched like bejeweled spiders on the steering wheel tops of these land-yachts, as they wander distractedly across the white lines of the highways and byways of Europe.

Ah well - another one of life's little mysteries to ponder. Again - I've nothing against 4x4s, and quite fancy a LR Defender myself.

[gpm3d]

If you want a new X5 Sport you may have a wait? Thought they weren't out 'til next May?
Unless someone knows different?
Graham

[rimmer]

i dont like either to be honest but id go for the x5 if i were you because its a brand new model unlike the cayenne which has just been facelifted.

[Geneve]

X5 3.0d, never quite seen the point of the Cayenne.

But, as others have suggested, for just your wife and 2 year old, there may be far better alternatives.

[Henry-F]

Just to throw a spanner in the works and from someone who actually uses an SUV, indeed someone who has actually owned Cayennes for nearly 4 years now in their various guises rather than just sat in an armchair and with their spare hand flicked through some internet pictures of cars & who has bought sold & driven most of the others:

I think the Cayenne chassis on air suspension is a far more rounded machine than the BMW. The BM jarrs over bumps, the Cayenne will allow wheel travel to soften out the pot holes and speed humps whilst still supporting the car very well on faster corners, something the Range Rover isn`t so hot at.

The 4.5S is a very capable engine, not lacking in power. The Turbo is a treat, spoiling you. The 3.2 reminds me of the little engine that we put on the back of the boat tender dingy when we don`t want to row ashore (I think it`s a 2.2hp jobbie).

Take one out for a spin and see what you think (but make sure it`s the model you`re going to buy - most of the loan / demo Cayennes are 3.2 engined).

Re: running costs I`m not sure where the extra expense over a BMW comes from. How much was the BMW extended warranty again !

Henry

[loach]

Henry-F said:

Just to throw a spanner in the works and from someone who actually uses an SUV, indeed someone who has actually owned Cayennes for nearly 4 years now in their various guises rather than just sat in an armchair and with their spare hand flicked through some internet pictures of cars & who has bought sold & driven most of the others:

I always get irritated when you post this riposte to any Cayenne criticism, as though no-one else here has ever driven a Cayenne. Or an X5, or indeed whatever it is that you happen to be championing because you're trying to shift stock. We don't need further reminding that you're in the trade, and your position in this regard doesn't automatically give you the right to dismiss other views to your own as ill-informed or based on 'some internet pictures'. Moreover, because of your position in the trade, you might forgive some of us for accepting that your own opinions may be somewhat biased in favour of whatever it is you're trying to sell, thus in this instance rendering your touted SUV experience somewhat moot. Given the prevailence of SUVs generally, and the relevant affluence of the posters in this forum, I'd say there's more SUV experience here than than you credit. I can only speak for my own arguments, but they're borne out of a lot of SUV experience. I'l provide a list and references if they're required. Really.

And for the record, the Cayenne does handle and ride pretty well. It's a nice car. Second hand, and at around 25k it's probably a good buy. But new and against the new X5 I think a Cayenne S falls short on build quality, on versatility, on practicality, on running costs, on looks, and on comfort. This is my opinion, and one borne out of actually leaving the armchair to try a new X5 out.

[screwtape]

Guys

Many thanks for taking the trouble to reply

It is indeed a woman thing - We preordered the X5 3d Sport over two years ago and have been told that we can pick it up in Oct this year if we want to proceed.

I think we will test drive the Cayenne and then make up our minds.

Once again, many thanks to you all

[nervous]

loach said:

Henry-F said:

Just to throw a spanner in the works and from someone who actually uses an SUV, indeed someone who has actually owned Cayennes for nearly 4 years now in their various guises rather than just sat in an armchair and with their spare hand flicked through some internet pictures of cars & who has bought sold & driven most of the others:

I always get irritated when you post this riposte to any Cayenne criticism, as though no-one else here has ever driven a Cayenne. Or an X5, or indeed whatever it is that you happen to be championing because you're trying to shift stock. We don't need further reminding that you're in the trade, and your position in this regard doesn't automatically give you the right to dismiss other views to your own as ill-informed or based on 'some internet pictures'. Moreover, because of your position in the trade, you might forgive some of us for accepting that your own opinions may be somewhat biased in favour of whatever it is you're trying to sell, thus in this instance rendering your touted SUV experience somewhat moot. Given the prevailence of SUVs generally, and the relevant affluence of the posters in this forum, I'd say there's more SUV experience here than than you credit. I can only speak for my own arguments, but they're borne out of a lot of SUV experience. I'l provide a list and references if they're required. Really.

And for the record, the Cayenne does handle and ride pretty well. It's a nice car. Second hand, and at around 25k it's probably a good buy. But new and against the new X5 I think a Cayenne S falls short on build quality, on versatility, on practicality, on running costs, on looks, and on comfort. This is my opinion, and one borne out of actually leaving the armchair to try a new X5 out.

couldnt happen to a nicer guy. tho it actually couldnt happen to a more smug one.

Keeping Smiling,
Nervous.

[Koln-RS]

Henry-F said:

Re: running costs I`m not sure where the extra expense over a BMW comes from. How much was the BMW extended warranty again !

Henry

X5 running costs are very good. Had two and done nearly 60k mls in them.

- 3.0d is a gem of an engine - does 27+ mpg average - even better if you try.
- Tyres last 35k miles (£600 a set)
- Servicing is cheap enough (every c18k miles)
- Residuals have been excellent
- Warranty is 3 years (and reliability has been faultless)

...and it hasn't been battered with the ugly sticky

[magic torch]

X5 is one of the best cars I've ever owned, plus I got my money back after running one for a year. Having driven a Cayenne, it's quick, but I'd still rather have the X5.

New one looks good (not driven one yet), love the wheels, and the extra seats.




But then again I don't sell either, so what would I know.

Looking forward to the mystery posters, there's a reputation to uphold.