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BMW X3 vs Subaru Forester XT vs Infiniti FX 35 vs Toyota RAV4

1193 messages,  Last post on Apr 18, 2008 at 2:49 PM

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What is this discussion about? BMW X3, Subaru Forester, Infiniti FX35, Toyota RAV4, SUV

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#1152 of 1193 Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kdshapiro] by kumari Jan 10, 2006 (7:12 pm)
Replying to: kdshapiro (Jan 10, 2006 6:54 am) I guess I'll have to try the X3 again. I was actually *afraid* to drive it hard and take the turns fast, because it felt like such a boat, just driving down the street! After driving the XT and being much closer to the ground with a lower center of gravity, I was scared to drive the X3 the same way. When I go back to Toyota to check out the RAV4 V-6, I'll stop by BMW (which is down the street) and drive the X3 again to check out what you're describing. At any rate, I don't want another 6 cyl car because my current one eats too much gas. The XT is the fastest 4 cyl SUV/wagon on the road and that's why it's really my only option. Unless the RAV4 V-6 gets similar mileage, which I doubt.   Samantha Replies to this message: kdshapiro (Jan 10, 2006 7:36 pm) kumari (Jan 12, 2006 1:46 am) kdshapiro (Jan 12, 2006 5:45 am) jrynn (Jan 11, 2006 2:16 pm) kumari (Jan 12, 2006 1:58 am) leo2633 (Jan 12, 2006 5:35 am) and 2 more...
#1153 of 1193 Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kumari] by kdshapiro Jan 10, 2006 (7:36 pm)
Replying to: kumari (Jan 10, 2006 7:12 pm) The X3 seemingly has more mass than the XT, but it doesn't drive like it has more mass. Don't expect miracles in gas mileage from the XT though. The most I get is about 27 mph, but I have to refrain from punching it at every light. One of the negatives is the lack of a 5 gear in the tranny causing the engine to spin at a rate higher than some other vehicles at highway speed. You can probably expect similiar mileage from the X3 as the XT. The X3 does weigh about 500 lbs more than the XT but you could never tell. Of course the X3 3L is a bit more expensive.   The RAV6 should have decent acceleration, but again, no matter how fast in a straight line, it will not drive like the X3. I'm not saying BMWs are for everybody, but the X3s overall handling will be much better than both of these.   Having owned a BMW I'm sure you can appreciate the comments. Replies to this message: kumari (Jan 12, 2006 1:46 am) kdshapiro (Jan 12, 2006 5:45 am)
#1154 of 1193 X3 by ateixeira Jan 11, 2006 (11:08 am)
I thought it did feel heavy, much more so than a 3 series wagon for instance. In fact I'd recommend that vehicle if you want to stay in the BMW family and truly enjoy sporty handling.   Before you say I drive like grandma - at the X3 Test Drive event, I won that little orange cone they hand out for "Best Performance". And my X3 didn't even have the Sport Package.   -juice Replies to this message: leo2633 (Jan 11, 2006 12:29 pm)
#1155 of 1193 Re: X3 [ateixeira] by leo2633 Jan 11, 2006 (12:29 pm)
Replying to: ateixeira (Jan 11, 2006 11:08 am) No one ever said you drive like grandma. They said grandPA.   Len
#1156 of 1193 Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kumari] by jrynn Jan 11, 2006 (2:16 pm)
Replying to: kumari (Jan 10, 2006 7:12 pm) Samantha/kumari, you ABSOLUTELY can drive the X3 VERY hard.   What sold me (more than a year before I actually bought) was the BMW X3 Ultimate Driving Event during the summer of 2004. The firm organizing the event for BMW brought in as instructors people who race professionally. (No, they weren't NASCAR/Indy-level racers -- they supplement their income doing BMW testdrive events, after all -- but they were professional drivers nonetheless.   Each instructor was "paired" with 3 event participants. One person would drive, the instructor would ride shotgun, and the other two would sit in back, listening to the critique/advice.   The course was defined by cones set up in a stadium parking lot. It was perhaps 2 miles long, with a variety of driving challenges -- long and short straightaways, sweeping turns, S-turns, hairpin turns. Top speed, maybe circa 60/70 on the longest straight.   Everyone accelerated HARD, braked HARD, and cornered HARD. They went through a LOT of tires.   The instructor in my X3 (riding shotgun) moved the transmission to neutral when one of the other participants did something phenomenally stupid (shortly before completely blowing out the course completely), but otherwise it was very evident that the level of confidence that the X3's could be pushed very, very hard without a serious safety risk.   So when I was back in the market late this year, the X3 was at the top of my list.   The one vehicle I might have waited for is the Acura RDX (due out this year). But after truly awful service experiences with the two Acura dealers in my area, that brand knocked itself out of contention. (It would have been a different story if I were still in the state where I'd orginally bought my Acura.)   If you want the utility that a SAV/SUV offers, you're going to have to give up some gas mileage to get it. The larger shape will never be as efficient as a comparable station wagon.   But with family and dogs, I want every bit of extra space I can get in a SAV/SUV that's still a blast to drive.   (And I'm not regretting my decision to forgo the RDX, even though the photos out of Detroit just this week and the engine specs are impressive.)   VERY happy with my X3. Replies to this message: kumari (Jan 12, 2006 1:58 am) leo2633 (Jan 12, 2006 5:35 am) kumari (Jan 14, 2006 6:27 am) and 1 more...
#1157 of 1193 GrandPA by ateixeira Jan 11, 2006 (2:55 pm)
Thanks for straightening me out.   jrynn is describing the same event I attended, I still have the miniature orange cone to prove it.   -juice
#1158 of 1193 Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kdshapiro] by kumari Jan 12, 2006 (1:46 am)
Replying to: kdshapiro (Jan 10, 2006 7:36 pm) I can't believe you get as much as 27 MPG from the XT!!!! I'd be thrilled with 20 MPG!!! I only do city driving - primarily w/in 5 miles from my house, so I'll probably get 18 and be thrilled with that! I just want the extra power for those times when I'm on the freeway or want to go to the mountains. I wouldn't feel safe in an automatic 4 cyl car w/o the turbo. I like knowing the power is there if and when I need to use it. The BMW X3, being a 6 cyl, gets less gas mileage - I think the sticker may have said 17 or 18 city and it's usually a few miles less than that. The XT said 21/27, I think, and that was for the auto. The stick didn't get as good mileage according to the brochure.   BTW, where are you guys doing all this fun test track driving? I've never heard of these things.   Samantha Replies to this message: kdshapiro (Jan 12, 2006 5:45 am)
#1159 of 1193 Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [jrynn] by kumari Jan 12, 2006 (1:58 am)
Replying to: jrynn (Jan 11, 2006 2:16 pm) You piqued my interest with the Acura RDX, so I googled it and saw a preliminary pic. It reminds me of the Toyota Prius, more like a car than a wagon or SUV. I really need the height in the cargo area to accomodate dog crates and home repair supplies (lumber, tools, etc.), so that's why I need something different.   Right now I have a Mazda Navaho 4X4 which is on a truck chassis and has a lot of hauling room and can handle weight. I bought an armoire on eBay last year and schlepped it home in the back of my car!! Won't be doing that with any of these. Heh, heh, heh.   You know, I actually started a conversation with someone in a parking lot today because they were driving a Toyota Prius - and she was so proud of it - said it gets 42 MPG average! And, it does have a lot of cargo room with the fold-down seats. But, unfortunately, not enough for me, which is too bad, because I can pick up a certified one used at the Toyota lot.   Thanks guys, for all the tips,   Samantha Replies to this message: leo2633 (Jan 12, 2006 5:35 am) kumari (Jan 14, 2006 6:27 am) p0926 (Jan 17, 2006 8:54 am)
#1160 of 1193 Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kumari] by leo2633 Jan 12, 2006 (5:35 am)
Replying to: kumari (Jan 12, 2006 1:58 am) Regarding the cargo area of a Forester: I have carried a full size top freezer refrigerator, a full size dishwasher in its shipping crate and several low dressers in the back of my 2001 (not all at the same time of course!). I can also stand several full size garbage cans up in back at the same time. I think juice said he has carried a washer (or dryer) in his as well. It may not fit an tall armoire (but then again, it just might, depending on how you load it in), but it does fit an amazing amount of stuff.   Len Replies to this message: kumari (Jan 14, 2006 6:27 am) p0926 (Jan 17, 2006 8:54 am)
#1161 of 1193 Re: Subuaru Forester XT vs. BMW X3 [kumari] by kdshapiro Jan 12, 2006 (5:45 am)
Replying to: kumari (Jan 12, 2006 1:46 am) "The BMW X3, being a 6 cyl, gets less gas mileage"   Not necessarily, the BMW has a 5th gear overdrive so the engine revs much lower than the XT at highway speeds.

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