MAD-POWER SUVs. But which (fuel) would you buy?
Discussion
I've seen quite a few exotic silly-fast 4x4s lately, like a Lamborghinin Urus, Tesla X, Bentley Bentayga, BMW X5M and Audi Q8 RS, all with around 600 bhp, or even more.
But would you go for one of the twin turbo V8 petrols, or the electric car?
OR would one of the 435 bhp diesels do you? 4 litre V8s with two blowers making sure they aren't exactly slow? Is that the ideal fuel for an SUV?
But would you go for one of the twin turbo V8 petrols, or the electric car?
OR would one of the 435 bhp diesels do you? 4 litre V8s with two blowers making sure they aren't exactly slow? Is that the ideal fuel for an SUV?
Had an X5M for about 6 months and found it entirely pointless. No really 'fast' either, just felt very disconnected from both speed and handling. Made a cool flat shift noise but that was about it. Feel like it would've been a better proposition in a regular sized car. I'm not one for SUVs though really so maybe a bit biased. Did have an L405 V6 diesel for a bit though and that made more sense, I liked that.
Did have a Corvette at the same time as the X5M though so maybe my V8 needs were just being filled elsewhere.
Did have a Corvette at the same time as the X5M though so maybe my V8 needs were just being filled elsewhere.
I had a Jeep SRT 8 with 420bhp (not quite as mental as other mentioned here). It was epic and put a smile on your face every time you put your foot down.
Very practical too.
I've had a Model X for a day with ludicrous mode and was epically fast, but was just sterile.
If total performance and noise etc, it would have to be a big litre V8 for me but with a young family I never got to use the power much as my wife hated it, so would now go for a Tesla
Very practical too.
I've had a Model X for a day with ludicrous mode and was epically fast, but was just sterile.
If total performance and noise etc, it would have to be a big litre V8 for me but with a young family I never got to use the power much as my wife hated it, so would now go for a Tesla

Dave Hedgehog said:
the X can be prone to a lot of problems especially with the fancy doors, its a very old design now
it is a monster car thou
i suspect a lot of people are waiting on the model Y, if the uk ever gets it ...
Our X has had ALOT of issues, the fancy doors bizarrely isn't one of them, its mainly been the simple stuff like suspension that doesn't fall apart, seats that work!it is a monster car thou
i suspect a lot of people are waiting on the model Y, if the uk ever gets it ...
It may have come out in 2016 but there still isn't another 6-7 seater SUV quite like it. I would buy a new one, but the cost of change would be close to £50K, and all that essentially buys is 100 miles for range which we don't need. Though at present Tesla aren't building the X so you wouldn't be able to get hold of a new one anyways.

gangzoom said:
Our X has had ALOT of issues, the fancy doors bizarrely isn't one of them, its mainly been the simple stuff like suspension that doesn't fall apart, seats that work!
It may have come out in 2016 but there still isn't another 6-7 seater SUV quite like it. I would buy a new one, but the cost of change would be close to £50K, and all that essentially buys is 100 miles for range which we don't need. Though at present Tesla aren't building the X so you wouldn't be able to get hold of a new one anyways.

Do you find the Tesla a big inconvenience when it comes to parking with rear passengers (I see you have a child seat). I can imagine they are a pain compared to a standard door?It may have come out in 2016 but there still isn't another 6-7 seater SUV quite like it. I would buy a new one, but the cost of change would be close to £50K, and all that essentially buys is 100 miles for range which we don't need. Though at present Tesla aren't building the X so you wouldn't be able to get hold of a new one anyways.

Only real use I have for an SUV is to tow my trailer and snowboarding in winter (and on occasion transporting bigger stuff) - so an electric car doesn’t really cut it and I want power to move the 5+ tones of weight, so not that keen on a small engine either. for me G63 is pretty much perfect (and yes the sound is great). I think the “sporty” SUVs are a bit pointless, but each to their own - clearly plenty of people like them. I’d quite like a Cullinan if I could afford it.
BroadsRS6 said:
No fans of the all electric 611 bhp Tesla then?
I like them a lot but out of my price range, I imagine a lot of people that can afford one of the really high end SUVs might wait for the Plaid version now, a 500+ mile range and 2 second to 60 time is going to make most other things look silly, those are the figures for the S but can’t imagine the X would be much slower!.fflump said:
I guess those doors are no problem as long as you don't use car parks. FFS.
Jamescrs said:
Do you find the Tesla a big inconvenience when it comes to parking with rear passengers (I see you have a child seat). I can imagine they are a pain compared to a standard door?
Quite the opposite, they open fully in space where normal doors struggle with!!

The best bit for my daughter is the central aisle though, its a bit like a mini play room in the back!!

I probably should add the fuel cost per mile for our sub 5 second to SUV (its the slowest version of the X) is around 3p/mile, I think you need to hit around 150mpg for the same fuel cost in a diesel/petrol. Its clearly not about running costs with these things, but when its so cheap to run the hard thing is actually to stop using it all the time.
My commute is barely 10 miles, but I ended up doing 15K/year in it in the first 2 years of ownership, Lock down gave an excuse to cut down on the car usage laster, but the millage is gradually starting to creep back up again.
Cost aside I think the Plaid+ version coming some time in 2022/23 will be utter nuts. Its a 2.6ton machine on the weigh scales, and sending that much mass down public road with a WOT launch is bordering on lunacy, given there is zero noise to warn anyone whats about to happen!
My commute is barely 10 miles, but I ended up doing 15K/year in it in the first 2 years of ownership, Lock down gave an excuse to cut down on the car usage laster, but the millage is gradually starting to creep back up again.
Cost aside I think the Plaid+ version coming some time in 2022/23 will be utter nuts. Its a 2.6ton machine on the weigh scales, and sending that much mass down public road with a WOT launch is bordering on lunacy, given there is zero noise to warn anyone whats about to happen!
Edited by gangzoom on Friday 28th May 07:11
gangzoom said:
fflump said:
I guess those doors are no problem as long as you don't use car parks. FFS.
Jamescrs said:
Do you find the Tesla a big inconvenience when it comes to parking with rear passengers (I see you have a child seat). I can imagine they are a pain compared to a standard door?
Quite the opposite, they open fully in space where normal doors struggle with!!The best bit for my daughter is the central aisle though, its a bit like a mini play room in the back!!


I see extra hinge on the door-very clever.
fflump said:
I know its not allowed on PH but having been proved wrong I will come back to acknowledge it 
I see extra hinge on the door-very clever.
if you have not seen them open it is pretty smart stuff
I see extra hinge on the door-very clever.
https://youtu.be/aBtKSTW5CD8?t=48
dammit now i want a model X plaid ....
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Friday 28th May 08:43
Dave Hedgehog said:
fflump said:
I know its not allowed on PH but having been proved wrong I will come back to acknowledge it 
I see extra hinge on the door-very clever.
if you have not seen them open it is pretty smart stuff
I see extra hinge on the door-very clever.
https://youtu.be/aBtKSTW5CD8?t=48
dammit now i want a model X plaid ....
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Friday 28th May 08:43
ChocolateFrog said:
It does look clever although I'm not sure I'd want a 10 year old X as the mechanism looks expensive and fiddly to repair.
IIRC Elon said he regretting not fitting regular doors.
The doors are literally the most over engineered thing on the car. I have no worries about the doors, the normal stuff like suspension seems car more fragile. IIRC Elon said he regretting not fitting regular doors.
I doubt Tesla will make another car like the X, simply due to the complexity, I personally love it, for what is essentially a people carrier its got more than a sense of drama. The front windscreen is something I just cannot live without though......

Edited by gangzoom on Friday 28th May 11:40
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