3 series wagon vs X3 SUV

suparockin · 07-13-2014, 04:21 AM

Interesting review, thought I'd share.

I had my heart set on the X3 but ended up ordering a 328i Msport, just couldn't compare the driving experience! The 328i has plenty of room for 4 and that's all we really need.

Try not to faint at the prices, BMWs are much more expensive in Australia than in the US.

http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-revi...711-zt49b.html

ipilcher · 07-13-2014, 05:01 AM

A bit surprised you didn't end up with a 3GT.

suparockin · 07-13-2014, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipilcher

A bit surprised you didn't end up with a 3GT.

Nah, didn't like the look of it.

ontheway · 07-13-2014, 05:50 AM

Agree. 3GT is fugly.

I think the review actually understated the cost as that car looks fairly well optioned.

I just ordered a F31 328i as well - is yours on the boat as well? (mine is due in Port Kembla in mid August).

suparockin · 07-13-2014, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ontheway

Agree. 3GT is fugly.

I think the review actually understated the cost as that car looks fairly well optioned.

I just ordered a F31 328i as well - is yours on the boat as well? (mine is due in Port Kembla in mid August).

I ended up with the sedan, Alpine White 328i Msport. Picking it up tomorrow, yippee!

ontheway · 07-13-2014, 06:14 AM

Enjoy - Mine is somewhere offshore of Sierra Leone at the moment ;p

300hp · 07-13-2014, 09:14 AM

The SUV vs Wagon debate.

I nearly got a 535i GT but of course other than being ugly it lost to the X5 due to it's inability to transport 3 adults and 2 kids in car seats comfortably. I drove to Florida, 1200 miles away, with my mother in law in the back. You can't do that in the 5GT mostly because it has that huge hump in the middle of the rear seats where the transmission links up to the rear wheels. The X5 is flat back there.

Some positives on SUVs in general:
For long trips you sit higher so you get a better view
Your seating position and the seats themselves are definitely more comfortable than on a wagon.
At night your lights are cast wider and longer due to the higher ride height.
The SUVs elevated position helps in the snow
Very fuel efficient especially if you have a diesel.

The last point is interesting, I average about 21-23 mpg combined when I don't go on long trips. However I just did a 2000 mile road trip and averaged 27.3mpg. I was seeing just north of 30mpg at times. C&D has a 328d that's averages 33mpg combined and I guess the 328i wagon would split the difference. The X5d is faster than the 328d. The only place it would lose to the 328xd wagon would possibly be in an auto cross set up. I guess the 328i wagon is a little faster than the X5d.

Unless if you are going to track the car I don't see the point for the added advantage of sportiness in the wagons. The BMW SUVs drive very well for SUVs and often compared to sports sedans too as you can see in this article

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...rive35i-page-5

I am sure the X3 would be a lot more athletic and more fuel efficient than the X5

BMWFanatic2008 · 07-13-2014, 10:28 AM

F31 all the way. 3GT and X1 are ugly and X3/X4 aren't big enough to offer any space/practicality advantage over F31. F31 or go big with X5. I wish F31 was offered in 335 variant here in US

Professor///M · 07-13-2014, 11:19 AM

I am very happy with my X3. Was considering X1, wagon, X5, and the GTs. Unfortunately it just came down to proportion. All except the X5 just 'look off', especially the GTs and the X1. Wife wouldn't be caught dead in a wagon, so the choice was really price of X5 and X3.

Love the x3, especially when I get 500+ miles to the tank

07-13-2014, 04:21 AM	#1
suparockin Enlisted Member 3 Rep 34 Posts Drives: Audi Q3 Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	3 series wagon vs X3 SUV Interesting review, thought I'd share. I had my heart set on the X3 but ended up ordering a 328i Msport, just couldn't compare the driving experience! The 328i has plenty of room for 4 and that's all we really need. Try not to faint at the prices, BMWs are much more expensive in Australia than in the US. http://www.drive.com.au/new-car-revi...711-zt49b.html
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07-13-2014, 05:01 AM	#2
ipilcher Captain 435 Rep 940 Posts Drives: 2024 M3 Compensation Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: North Texas, USA iTrader: (0)	A bit surprised you didn't end up with a 3GT.
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07-13-2014, 05:50 AM	#4
ontheway Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 230 Posts Drives: F31 MSport 328i Join Date: May 2014 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Agree. 3GT is fugly. I think the review actually understated the cost as that car looks fairly well optioned. I just ordered a F31 328i as well - is yours on the boat as well? (mine is due in Port Kembla in mid August).
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07-13-2014, 06:14 AM	#6
ontheway Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 230 Posts Drives: F31 MSport 328i Join Date: May 2014 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	Enjoy - Mine is somewhere offshore of Sierra Leone at the moment ;p
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07-13-2014, 09:14 AM	#7
300hp Brigadier General 317 Rep 3,619 Posts Drives: X5 & 335xi Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	The SUV vs Wagon debate. I nearly got a 535i GT but of course other than being ugly it lost to the X5 due to it's inability to transport 3 adults and 2 kids in car seats comfortably. I drove to Florida, 1200 miles away, with my mother in law in the back. You can't do that in the 5GT mostly because it has that huge hump in the middle of the rear seats where the transmission links up to the rear wheels. The X5 is flat back there. Some positives on SUVs in general: For long trips you sit higher so you get a better view Your seating position and the seats themselves are definitely more comfortable than on a wagon. At night your lights are cast wider and longer due to the higher ride height. The SUVs elevated position helps in the snow Very fuel efficient especially if you have a diesel. The last point is interesting, I average about 21-23 mpg combined when I don't go on long trips. However I just did a 2000 mile road trip and averaged 27.3mpg. I was seeing just north of 30mpg at times. C&D has a 328d that's averages 33mpg combined and I guess the 328i wagon would split the difference. The X5d is faster than the 328d. The only place it would lose to the 328xd wagon would possibly be in an auto cross set up. I guess the 328i wagon is a little faster than the X5d. Unless if you are going to track the car I don't see the point for the added advantage of sportiness in the wagons. The BMW SUVs drive very well for SUVs and often compared to sports sedans too as you can see in this article http://www.caranddriver.com/comparis...rive35i-page-5 I am sure the X3 would be a lot more athletic and more fuel efficient than the X5 __________________ EBII 2014 335i xDrive 335HP, Sport AT, 19" Wheels, MPE, Prem, Tech, Cold, HK, Driver Assist & DH pkgs Deep Sea Blue Metallic 2013 X5 35d Sport Prem, Convenience, Cold and Premium Sound packages
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07-13-2014, 10:28 AM	#8
BMWFanatic2008 Major 233 Rep 1,179 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 6MT Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Miami iTrader: (5)	F31 all the way. 3GT and X1 are ugly and X3/X4 aren't big enough to offer any space/practicality advantage over F31. F31 or go big with X5. I wish F31 was offered in 335 variant here in US __________________ Current: 2022 X3M Comp Previous: 2020 X4M Comp \| 1982 E24 633CSi \| 2016 F82 M4 \| 2015 F80 M3 \| 2014 F30 335xi \| 2013 F30 335xi \| 2010 E92 335xi
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07-13-2014, 11:19 AM	#9
Professor///M Brigadier General 819 Rep 3,341 Posts Drives: 2022 M3, 2022 X5 40i; Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northeast iTrader: (5) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 Comp. [0.00] 2016 BMW X5 35i [10.00]	I am very happy with my X3. Was considering X1, wagon, X5, and the GTs. Unfortunately it just came down to proportion. All except the X5 just 'look off', especially the GTs and the X1. Wife wouldn't be caught dead in a wagon, so the choice was really price of X5 and X3. Love the x3, especially when I get 500+ miles to the tank
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