by "not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
Published 05/09/2017 at 08:06
by "not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
Published 05/09/2017 at 08:06
No Tags
STARS: 5
The original X5. Especially in 4.4i trim. It’s like a 540i that can go offroad (well, more than the regular one).
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
05/09/2017 at 08:10, STARS: 2
I don’t hate these. They’re aging well in a way that good SUVs should.
"Tripper" (tripe46)
05/09/2017 at 08:13, STARS: 1
The 4.4 and 4.8 are the best to drive, but I’ll take the straight six for longevity. There were two in my family at one point. My dad sold his to a friend, who still has it and is approaching 200k miles! It still looks new inside and out.
"PS9" (PS9)
05/09/2017 at 08:31, STARS: 1
I want to like it, but it’s still an old BMW, which means the lucas wire smoke is going to be released right as you are at the point of maximum deflection on the trail.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
05/09/2017 at 08:32, STARS: 1
I will say my LS400, for being a Luxury sedan is pretty darn good at off road endeavors. I’ve flown past X5 drivers during snow and have gotten into some places up near our friends property(basically a large plot of land with washed out dirt roads to the cabin) that everyone was shocked by. They thought they were going to have to pick me up at the bottom of the hill until I parkedright next to their F350 and Land Rover.
"V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches" (jbv12)
05/09/2017 at 08:35, STARS: 0
Can confirm: LS400 with Blizzaks and cement in the trunk=snow beast.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
05/09/2017 at 08:38, STARS: 0
We get snow 1-3 times a year so I don’t need winter tires but I put it in snow mode, leave traction control on(it works so darn well in that car) and then get on my way. I was helping people get unstuck on my way to the parents shop to grab the Tundra and more than one person asked if my car was frd or awd because of how well it scooted. Their faces when I said rwd V8 was great.
"jasmits" (jasmits)
05/09/2017 at 08:53, STARS: 1
Can it go off-road though? BMW, especially then, never had the best AWD systems and AWD is a far cry from a proper 4-wheel-drive system. I’ve marched right on past these things in the snow in my 4Runner and, more comparably, in my dad’s 2004 MDX.
What I will give it is it’s essentially a manual wagon and probably the only luxury crossover-SUV-thingy(bigger than a ‘crossover’ but still completely car-based) that you can get in a manual.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/09/2017 at 08:55, STARS: 0
Well actually AWD (Viscous center diff) Is much better in most amounts of snow than true locked 4x4 which causes forced wheel spin. Depending on year your 4runner might technically be running in “AWD” Mode when you drive it in snow
"RT" (rt-p)
05/09/2017 at 08:59, STARS: 1
Even the later gens, while hopeless off-road, were amazing to drive on it.
"jasmits" (jasmits)
05/09/2017 at 09:04, STARS: 1
Nah it’s a 2nd gen, my options are rear-wheel drive or locked 4-wheel drive high or low. I understand the limitations of the system and it’s definitely a lot more work to drive in the snow(especially lacking traction control and having rear-only ABS) but it’s pretty unstoppable if you’re careful and respect the system for what it is.
The MDX is AWD and it’s very good for the snow, especially because it has an option where it simulates a center-locking diff which is nice if you end up in the deep stuff(as I understand pressing the lock button just sends full voltage to the computer-controlled wet clutches that modulate how much power goes to the back wheels).
"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
05/09/2017 at 09:14, STARS: 1
Straight Six with a 6 speed manual is the move with these.
"The World of Vee" (theworldofvee)
05/09/2017 at 09:17, STARS: 1
yeah but the 3.0 came with a stick
which is silly and that’s why it’s awesome
"V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches" (jbv12)
05/09/2017 at 09:19, STARS: 0
I don’t have snow mode in my 97, but just the TCS works great.
"JR1" (type35bugatti)
05/09/2017 at 09:19, STARS: 1
They do look good. The interior on them looks top notch I think.
"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
05/09/2017 at 09:28, STARS: 1
I like these as well. My favorite is the 4.8is, even though it loses all pretentious of off-roading.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
05/09/2017 at 09:32, STARS: 0
I’m wondering if the 1,000,000 mile testing around Japan before introducing the car helped the TCS be so amazing. There’s only so many roads in Japan and I think a good chunk towards the mountians get covered in snow pretty regularly. I don’t think mine has ever gotten stuck as long as I’ve owned it.
"fintail" (fintail)
05/09/2017 at 09:43, STARS: 2
Turn signal option pack take rate <1%
"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada)
05/09/2017 at 09:43, STARS: 0
Probably not, but it was still better in the snow than basically any other BMW before it, apart from maybe the 325ix.
"KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs" (kusabisensei)
05/09/2017 at 09:59, STARS: 1
I’ll agree that they have aged fine, but at one point you could get a manual with the 3.0i trim, and you don’t have the time bomb of a V8 BMW.
I know a few people that use them to tow their Spec E30s.
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/09/2017 at 10:24, STARS: 0
ahh yeah I had two 02 3rd gens and in snow I always went viscous center (4wd button) whereas on gravel and mud obviously true locked center 4x4
"jasmits" (jasmits)
05/09/2017 at 10:37, STARS: 1
Having both options would be ideal. The simplicity of the transfer case is pretty nice, there just isn’t a hell of a lot to go wrong. If I had to choose one though, old school 4wd all the way because I like putting myself in situations like this lol
To be fair 90% of my snow driving has been in the MDX, I haven’t had the 4Runner all that long and my E36 is useless in the snow so I’d just trade cars with my dad for the day if I was going up skiing(never really snows in Portland, Oregon and you can plan accordingly when going to the mountain).
"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
05/09/2017 at 11:38, STARS: 1
Can confirm. A friend had a 4.8is, that thing was a beast. Until the X5M came out it was the most ridiculous in the lineup, I believe. Sounded awesome and was comfy as hell.