Like choosing between airline food or prison food.

with the x5 I think engine choice is critical, the 3.0 is a good reliable motor, BUT if you want a v8 (who doesn't) you open up your wallet to some really significant damage, valve seals going way too early, internal coolant pipe leaks, my indi mech has an x5 3.0 for his personal car, me thinks there's a reason

My Jeep SRT8 is def bad@ss - is fastest production SUV (2007) period. Personally, I love it! Really only compares to the other brands M or P- twin turbo - just better and much more simple

Great commentary and helpful as we debate the choice. Thanks for input so far.
I have a Range Rover albeit a '94 "classic" and, well one is enough. It's a fine truck but not a DD anymore. Future restoration project.
I've also located an 05 Cayenne with just under 100k miles (here on Pelican) - Porsche enthusiast owned with the work all done on coolant pipes, replaced Cardan shaft and other items I've read one can expect to replace. That's good to know - as the pipes appear to be a mandatory fix.
As I learn more will help make decision.
Thanks again for input

I hate to say it, but if you take any out of warranty European car to the dealership for service, you will get exactly what you deserve.....

For any appliance like that, why not just buy something reliable?

It's a utility vehicle.

Do yourself a favor and just buy a Toyota or Honda...

Porsches, BMW's, make great 3rd cars... Primary drivers, not so much.

We have a 2005 BMW...50,000 miles. So far we replaced the sway bar links, cam covers, sensors, window motor, multiple key fobs, 2 air bag recalls, etc...

No more bmw's for me. Right window just stopped working, and check engine light is on. Piece of shiit. Drives nice though...

Just bought a toyota highlander. Can't believe how much I love this car. Has everything that BMW has, Mercedes has, etc... And it was way cheaper and doesn't break. I choose to drive this car over the BMW, 911, and others each day...

The 911 is great for weekends...

the previous generation Range Rover Sport is preferred transport for drug dealers over here.

When I needed an SUV I test drove a bunch of X5's, really wanting to like one.
Drove one MBz - hated it.
I was pretty much refusing to consider the Cayenne --I mean, WTF was Porsche thinking making an SUV?
I drove one. I put it thru all sorts of tests, expecting it would fail one (so I could reinforce my displeasure with Porsche making an SUV) It didn't. I bought one. Sooo glad I didn't settle for a BMW.

The pepper-wagons are a lot of tech tightly packaged.

If you can afford a Porsche or BMW suv go for it. If you want low maintenance then Toyota, Lexus or Honda are the way to go. With my RX350 I don't think about breakdowns. Reliability is there plus I have an extended warranty.

From what I've heard around here, the Cayenne is the better vehicle of the two but either one could eat you out of house and home. I say stick to American or Asian for DD type vehicles and have a fun car or two that you don't have to depend on for transportation.

Previously we had a 325xi wagon and the AWD system took us skiing and through several NE winters sans a problem - So good experience with BMW in winter. Hence X5 on list.
Recycled sixtie: How is an RX330/350 in snow/winter conditions a la Edmonton?

Our 2011 RX350 is great in winter. I bought snow tires for winter and so far so good. It may not be as fun to drive as a BMW in winter but that is fine by me. I looked at the BMW X1 but for value used I think the RX350 is a winner plus it has a spare tire.
Guy

Deviating slightly, there is a VW Toureg with <30k miles for similar $ that buys a 70k-90k BMW/Cayennes. Newer by 3-4 years too. VW reliability a consideration. After that it's a CR-V if stick to budget. Will try to get this done this week.
Is there any reason to avoid the VW - if one accept a 1000/yr in maintence?

I looked off/on for 3 months for a BMW SUV as I researched their forums.
Decided otherwise - found this on CList.
Trouble free since 2011. I did change wiper blades. :)

I bought a new Toyota Tacoma as a family hauler in 2005. By 2010 I was thinking of getting a used Cayenne or X5, and found that my Toyota was worth more on the used market than either of those. I almost pulled the trigger until I ran into a guy who had just bought an x5 one year out of warranty and his steering sensor went (to the tune of $2500.00)

I still have my Tacoma. I do a lot of towing.
At 230,000kms I just replaced the second set of front pads and first set of front rotors for the first time. Still haven't done the rear brakes. Other that that, oil changes and tires. That is all.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1438780257.jpg

fwiw, I recently spent some time driving a buddy's T-reg. --it's the same year as my Pep-wagon, has air-suspension, V8 .. I expected it to be the same, minus 10% power. It's not. The T-reg isn't bad, but the Cayenne is superbly crisp, by comparison. Shifting is super smooth, handling crispness also goes to the Pepper, and it just gets up and moves with greater ease. --seemingly more than the 10% difference on paper. OTOH, the Pepper isn't that much better considering the price difference. ...essentially, it cost a lot more for that bit better performance.

I would definitely buy a T-reg over the BMW.

I drove a late model, (2010?), Tourag w/ V-8 for a while a few years back. Really nice rig but it got the worst fuel mileage of any vehicle I've ever driven. My friend had it as an extra car, lease had a year left and he'd moved on to another car. He's the richest guy I know and even he was complaining about the mileage.

Is the Cayenne this bad?

Yes it is, but who buys it for economy?

My buddy drives his T-reg around in 'sport mode' where it revs higher between shifts and never goes into 6th. His computer was saying average was 15.6mpg. My Cayenne S usually is around 17.3 combined and ~20 highway (22mpg if you can stand keeping it under 55nph) However, I have seen fuel economy go below 15mpg. Depends on use. It's NOT a Prius.

I will also note that where the T-reg has that sport mode (which isn't all that sporty) the Cayenne does not. Rather, it pays attention to how you're driving. If you start flogging it, it goes beyond any sport mode, and right into psychopath mode --all shifting happens at redline... holds rev's in hard corners... suspension firms up. Becomes a different animal.