X5 vs RX300, BMW fans please help out

[Rob ITR1035]

all of them look like damn minivans....

[ebdy]

You come to a BMW forum and ask whether to pick an X5 or an RX300? I think you know what kind of answer you are going to get

I, personally, am not a big fan of either of the two. I prefer the Escalade and Navigator. They are huge, and would STOMP on the X5 and RX300

[SI///M3]

My parents choose a RX300 over the X5 for a few reasons:

- Much more comfortable ride vs a X5 with or without a sport package the RX is way smoother.
- Much better bang for the buck, brand new '02 RX300 was a little less than $36,000 out the door with everything cept nav (not many options availbe for the lexus though), compared to deep into the 40s for a similarly loaded X5.
- RX300 has more usable cargo space.
- Better gas milage (although the X5 3.0 gets pretty decent)
- After literally going to the dealer EVERY week with something wrong on our E46 328i my parents were completely fed up with BMW. So far after 22,000 miles the only thing we went back to the dealer for is standard mantience and to have the pin striping re-done where it was peeling off.

Also my parents could care less about the 'performance' of a SUV, they wanted something comfortable, affordable, reliable and fun. If they want a sporty ride they can ride in either my brother's or my M3... I do think the X5 is styled better, but the RX300 is a better vehicle for what my parents goals are.

[J Clark]

first of all,

HEY! i'm buying an RX, and i'm a guy!!!!!! but thats because i found a great deal on it. Also, this suv is FOR my mom, but my dad is doing the shopping.

2...Read the first post, i'm looking for info on the x5 i can only get from people who've driven it, not "which would u pick"

3...SI///M3: what you said is how my parents feel right now. i'm just lookin for info on the x5.

thanks again. Anyone else have driving impressions of the x5 vs rx as far as comfort and interior...usefulness (for lack of a better word)

[///M3 Kevin]

It sounds to me like your parents are very confused. I'm willing to bet your mother is ignorant and feels that if you are in an SUV, you are somehow 10^infinity times safer than in a car. Is there really any reason to buy an SUV?

Get them a 5 series station wagon if they are so concerned about carrying stuff about. It's more comfortable than an X5 and an RX300 (I"m guessing), and I bet it gives a better ride. Although I don't know the pricing on 5 series, I'm sure a 525 would be in their price range.

[Estoril Blue]

im gonna go against the grain

everyone has an x5, its the most common car i see on the road and being an "suv" it barely has any room at all

if ur dad is looking for long drive comfort then the rx300 will DEFINATELY be better. Theres tons of leg room and the interiors are pretty damn sweet......or at least the one i saw was nice

lexus just releasred a revamped version of the rx called the RX330 and its pretty tight, u might wanna check it out

[BavBrwlr]

just remeber...lexus is barely 10 years old while Bimmer has been around since before wwII. Lexus are cheapley made cars and are not as nearly as solid as bm's. The x5 4.4i has the most technoligacly advanced engine in the world. I read this in many different magazines....tell him that lexus suv's tend to flip alot more and that they Look ugly as shit..........good luck

[Estoril Blue]

bavbrwlr:

i think lexus's arepretty well made (at least the newer models) such as the gs, is,lx and ls are all pretty nice cars, and from what ive heard theyre very reliable

[ebdy]

Originally posted by BavBrwlr
just remeber...lexus is barely 10 years old while Bimmer has been around since before wwII. Lexus are cheapley made cars and are not as nearly as solid as bm's. The x5 4.4i has the most technoligacly advanced engine in the world. I read this in many different magazines....tell him that lexus suv's tend to flip alot more and that they Look ugly as shit..........good luck

Just to let you know, Toyota owns Lexus, and Toyota has been around for awhile now, longer than 10 years. Lexus is NOT cheaply made. Most technically advanced engine in the world, I doubt it, but I may be wrong about this. And Lexus SUV's tend to flip over?? Any SUV is probable to tip over if you are driving it in that fashion. I think the most probably SUV's to tip over are the Land Rover and Mitsubishi Montero. As far as looks, everyone has their own opinion about it.

Just let your parents decide what they should choose. Both are good SUV's

[SI///M3]

Originally posted by BavBrwlr
just remeber...lexus is barely 10 years old while Bimmer has been around since before wwII. Lexus are cheapley made cars and are not as nearly as solid as bm's. The x5 4.4i has the most technoligacly advanced engine in the world. I read this in many different magazines....tell him that lexus suv's tend to flip alot more and that they Look ugly as shit..........good luck

Uhm, ok. Lexus in terms of luxury, comfort and build quality are very much equal or ahead of BMW in every catagory (not performance though, obviously). The X5 4.4i is NOT 'the most technologically advanced engine in the world', thats the advertising slogan for the 745. Where do you get your data that Lexus SUV's flip alot more??? Lexus is definatly doing something right since the RX300 alone counts for 28% of ALL luxury SUV sales (according to autoweek at least, not sure how accurate that stat is)..... Also, in terms of finish and feel our RX300 is very much equal or ahead of any BMW I've driven cept for the new 7...

[NismoBlitz]

It seems like it's Japan against Germany now...

Here are some specs for both cars:

4.6L 340 hp V8 on the 4.6Is BMW X5
3.0L 220 hp V6 on the Lexus RX300

Retail Price Range $39,500 - $66,800 for the X5
Retail Price Range $35,125 - $36,925 for the RX

Comparing time: RX300 left/X5 right

Engine--

Base Engine 3.0L 220 hp V6/ 4.6L 340 hp V8

Turbo / Supercharger None/ None

Horsepower 220 @ 5800 RPM/ 340 @ 5700 RPM

Torque 222 lb/ft. / 350 lb/ft.

Displacement 2995 CC/ 4619 CC

Bore X Stroke 3.44 X 3.27/ 3.66 X 3.35

Compression Ratio 10.5:1 / 10.5:1

Fuel Type Gas/ Gas

Fuel System SEFI SEFI

Fuel Economy City 18 mpg 13 mpg

Fuel Economy Hwy 22 mpg 17 mpg

The RX is 4WD and the X5 is the 4.6Is in this comparison.

RX300 left/X5 right
Comforts--

Standard Seating 5/5

Optional Seating N/A / N/A

Front Headroom 38.1 in./39.3 in.

Rear Headroom 38.6 in./35.4 in.

Front Legroom 40.7 in./39.3 in.

Rear Legroom 36.4 in./35.4 in.

Front Shoulder Room 57.8 in./58 in.

Rear Shoulder Room 57 in./57.2 in.

Steering and suspension--

RX300 left/X5 right

Turning Diameter (left) 41.3 ft/39.7 ft

Turning Diameter (right) 41.3 ft/39.7 ft

Steering Type R&P/R&P

Front Suspension Independent/Independent

Rear Suspension Independent/Independent

Tires 225/70R16 /\ 275/40R20

Okay, this is the comparison, and i am not going to tell you "What I think" because it doesn't matter. Look at these stats and choose what you will. Hope it all helps.

[SI///M3]

Good stats, but I doubt he was comparing the 4.6is to the RX300, no offense. If you happen to have comparative stats of the 3.0l X5 and the RX300 that would be more of a apple to apples comparision.

[MrPayne]

If reliability is a primary concern, go for the RX. Hasn't the X5 had about 14 recalls? If your parents were fed up going to the BMW dealership, it doesn't seem like the X5 would be a wise choice.

[J Clark]

First of all, the main reasons for buying an suv is cargo space combined with awd (we have the driveway from hell in the winter). and station wagons are a disgrace to the 5 series imo.

second, lexus's are NOT cheaply made cars. We've owned two and they've never had any problems. They have THE BEST reliability of any car company i've ever heard of. including bmw.

ps: the rx300 has an even lower center of gravity than the x5 and their brand new VSC system. no, they dont flip. i own one.

[bmw3181995]

My friend bought a x5 4.4 I never saw soo many electrocal problems in my life, The thing is not reliable.