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BMW X3 vs Subaru Forester XT vs Infiniti FX 35 vs Toyota RAV4
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Comments
First of all, this is going to be my wife's daily driver, and honestly the FX35 (0-60 approx 7.2 seconds) has way more than adequate power for her. She probably won't need a 5.3 second sprint against soccer moms on the way to my daughter's school.
Secondly is features. To her. things like navigation, keyless operation, bi-xenon headlamps, LED tail lamps, rear DVD system for our daughter, side curtain airbags, tire pressure monitoring, outstanding braking and handling are very valuable features.
Next is the availability of an interior color other than black. My wife loves the brick interior, but she'll probably choose beige due to the occasional travel of our yellow labrador. (We've learned to color coordinate with that shedding beast!)
Next is V6 power. There isn't much that matches the smoothness of a Nissan VQ V6. Also, she is used to the feel of a smooth V6 after 8 years of driving our '92 Legend...
Next, unbelievably, is towing. The 3500 pound capacity allows me to tow my 2600 pound boat.
Lastly is style - she loves it! Sure, I agree than the XT has excellent visibility, but she simply doesn't like it, "and if momma's not happy - ain't no one happy"! Nothing more needs to be said here.
And now to price. Like our Acura, I will most likely be purchasing a 2-3 year old car in a while, as I've noticed the "outstanding depreciation" of the FX. It's going to be a used car lover's delight!
serioulsy, sweet lookin' legend. wish Sube painted the XT in a clean classic black...
srp
Did you put that Legend in a time capsule or something? She looks better than new. In fact, why trade at all?
-juice
It has been my wife's daily driver for the last 8 years, 6 of which I have been (ab)using it as a tow vehicle for my boat. It has been an outstanding car, but it is nearing 160,000 miles, and we really could use a little more room for my daughter and yellow lab, who currently are sharing the back seat.
Are you looking for something that depreciates more so your price is lower?
-juice
The Legend has been a great compromise for my wife and I, as it offers the luxury, safety, and style that attracts her, yet it still has an athletic feel for a larger sedan, so driving can still be fun, and not just a chore.
I would like to quickly comment on the reliability of this car. After nearly 160,000 miles, I have been more than pleased with the lack of service visits required. Other than CV joints (just recently), front struts, an ignition switch, and brakes, this car never sees the dealership. And when it does, the dealer has given nothing but outstanding service, and been extremely courteous. I cannot say enough good things about my experience.
Lastly, the depreciation factor of the FX is an added benefit for me, just like the icing on the cake.
-juice
overtime
james
If I wanted to drive something that looks more like a Mack or Kenworth truck than a passenger vehicle, I'd buy the real McCoy and not a phony pretender.
The FX is popular in my neighborhood, I'm starting to see them all over the place. Of course there is a dealer close by...
-juice
Gosh, then, let's raise the beltline another foot and leave only a scant 6" of window to look out through.
I'm unalterably committed to the proposition that the safest vehicle is the one that helps you avoid the collision in the first place. Ergo, given a choice between one with crummy outward visibility (but that supposedly, might, maybe deform less in a crash), and another that gives panoramic, unobstructed outward visibility to help avoid the crash, I'll choose the latter every time. And that rules out FXs, H2s, Muranos, Magnums, and all the rest of these high-waisted atrocities.
Assertive isn't the word that comes to mind when I see a doddering old man with the waist of his pants belted up around his ribcage. Same goes for cars.
Ed
"It's a very unwelcome trend. It's one thing to separate from the pack; it's another to sacrifice functionality merely to look different, and when the result is downright unattractive, it's just dumb."
"that rules out FXs, H2s, Muranos, Magnums, and all the rest of these high-waisted atrocities."
WOW! Don't go ballistic!
If you are so concerned about visibility, get a Pacer!
The more relevant question is, why aren't you concerned about visibility?
X3 3.0 Auto w/ Premium Package, Heated Seats, Xenon Adaptive Lights, Premium Sound System (MSRP $43,545)
Here are my general impressions, after driving them both.
Power: FX
Handling: Even
Ride Quality: X3
Exterior Design: FX
Interior Design: X3
Interior Quality: Even
Ergonomics and Comfort: Even
Features: Even
Passenger Space: FX
Cargo Space: X3
Price: FX
Price independent, these cars are about as close to even as you can get. Price dependent, I'd give the nod to the FX.
My '76 Pacer X (a deep chocolate brown with, I might add, a silky smooth three on the floor) turned more heads than all of these three vehicles combined. A true bellwether that car.
OK, you can all stop laughing now.
Zman
I am concerned about visibility, but you've taken it to an extreme. You obviously don't care for "obnoxiously over-styled", "dumb", "high-waisted atrocities" such as the FX, but I like the fact that cars have developed unique personalities, unlike many of the eggs of the 80's and 90's. I even like that the styling of the Forester makes it readily apparent as to what it is.
Your lack of an open mind seems to have severely hindered your "visibility".
-Frank P.
I did however agree with the conclusion in the C&D article, that a 330xi wagon would be better solution, but unfortunately, the wagon only comes with the 2.5, which is a little weak for an AWD wagon.
I've driven both the FX35 and FX45, and I found both rides very acceptable, but I have always have driven sporty cars that never were known for smooth rides.
I will be looking at the X3 at the auto show in a few weeks, and depending on my initial impressions, perhaps I'll look a little further after that.
If their limited visibility causes them to run into you if you are in their enormous blindspots, you might want to reconsider.
For me the lack of rearward visibity was almost 100% responsible for eliminating the FX whcih drove comparably to the the Cay and X-5 and would have been an excellent value. (I had an order in for a X-5 4.4 which I decided to cancel because of reliability problems BMW was having.)
Styling is way down on my priority list but when it presents unsafe conditions it is a major negative.
For what it is worth I don't much care for the FX (silly looking), X-5 (nothing much looks), SRX (a big box) or Cay (also nothing much looks). My favorite is the Volvo XC-90 which is not a possibility due to performance and thus safety concerns. I also like the 4Runner and Grand Cherokee in terms of styling. But basically I do not much care as long as a car meets my other criteria.
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr?doit=done&urltext- - - =http%3A%2F%2Fwww.subaru.co.jp%2Fforester%2Fstiversion%2Findex.ht- - - ml&lp=ja_en
Bob
I saw an ad for the current XT that said " Your 350Z just got smoked by a family of 5 and a dog - Forester XT 0-60 in 5.3 seconds"
Anyone want a nice low milage 04 Impreza STi - 4,200 miles - :-)
Really talented automotive designers have no difficulty providing good looks and good functionality. Anything else is lame.
I'm a firm believer in: "The customer is NOT always right!" Just because the customer wants it, doesn't mean it right or good. Customers are often their own worst enemy.
Bob
So it's not a one trick pony after all.
-juice
Especially when they behave like lemmings, stampeding after the latest contra-functional styling gimmicks.
More like that untouchable stud, Secretariat.
This just in - the Forester STi actually has not "just" 300hp, it's actually 355hp! 6 speed and HIDs, too.
X3 would need an M version to deal with that one.
-juice
Bob