Question for you X1 lovers?

[Itgb]

Originally Posted by ATX78703

x3 can do all those things, suburban is a whole different league (body-on-frame based on a silverado)

Yea, but the X3 is a SUV. The X1 is a lifted wagon, with some SUV styling.

[ATX78703]

Originally Posted by Itgb

Yea, but the X3 is a SUV. The X1 is a lifted wagon, with some SUV styling.

Amen, brother. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by ATX78703

I think there needs to be a reasonable amount of ground clearance, the ability to stand 2 bikes in the boot with the rear row folded, and a "reasonable intent to tow".

On those grounds, you are eliminating a large number of cross-overs that exemplify the tradional definition, which is merely a utility vehicle that is built on a passenger car chassis. That is to say that, there are plenty of CUVs out there that can't tow or fit bicycles, some of them greatly popular such as the Ford Escape for example - the most popular CUV in America.

I also feel that the RX350 and the SRX are "fakers".

They are what they are. And the former is the best selling luxury crossover here in the states, by the way.

I'm not intending to be overly critical of your position. I am merely saying that while I appreciate your apparent effort to suggest that the utility vehicle has perhaps become watered down as of late, we just can't just rewrite the definition of a crossover on arbitrary terms.

The third thing that came to my mind was "I'll take an F20/F21/F31 over this anyday."

Thankfully, BMW has decided to bring the F31 stateside. The F20/F21 aren't currently viable in the US. The necessary asking price would keep sales too low to be profitable. The next general 1-series, based on the FWD UKL platform to be shared with Mini, has a better shot I'd say. But then that one won't be nearly as interesting to most Bimmer-phile types.

[shabadoo25]

Originally Posted by Itgb

Yea, but the X3 is a SUV. The X1 is a lifted wagon, with some SUV styling.

This is the truth. I sat in one the other day.

As a whole, Americans abandoned wagons for the SUV. The X1 is a wagon in SUV clothes.

[Lucky13]

I want a wagon in SUV clothes. I want the handling of a BMW car and the utility of a wagon and the X1 is perfect.

[BMWDave]

Just for the record, I think the X1 is a great tow vehicle - I regularly tow trailer loads of mulch, moved house with it towing a moving trailer, use it to take our 17 foot boat to the river, etc. It would easily tow two jet skis - has a towing capacity of 1400kg. Towing a caravan or horse float would probably be pushing the integrity of the chassis but short of that, it's more than capable - especially the torque-y diesels (the 23d I have has 400Nm)

[Hansee]

Many good points here. I'm waiting for my car being imported from Germany to Norway. A nice specced 2010 with 70k on the meter.

I'm a huge Volkswagen and Audi enthusiast and was mainly looking for a SUV with auto transm, leather, NAV and 4WD. Tiguan was the obvious first choice. Then Q5 and Touareg. I felt the X1 was a better buy, even used. (64K USD).

Hopefully I made the right choice, even with two small kids. I've had two 5 series earlier and I really missed the handling and joy of driving that BMW do so well.

My current 2007 Passat is dead boring even with the biggest diesel engine and finally I can look forward to Norwegian winter again.

Nothing bad to say about X1 except size?

[Blue Bottle]

Hansee, you will love the car, a joy to drive and hugs the corners like a child with a teddy bear, size is ok, I often have adults in the back, just came back from Holland to UK with four adults and baggage with no issues at all.
Of course you can always find something to complain about if you want to, as I am sure you can with any car, but I do love mine and have pride in driving it..

Enjoy..

[Teutonic]

1. We wanted a BMW for handling, engine & torque (power), workmanship, value, enjoyment, gadgets and aniticorosive protection.
2. We wanted an AWD that can handle 6 months of winter without trouble but we don't want a tank, a Panzer or a mobile big box called SUV.
3. It must be not too tall but not low like 3 Series Xi's because she used to scratch the bottom.
4. It must be not too long, not too short, but no longer than a regular sedan (Corolla for example).
5. It must be able to take us everyday in town and in weekends in decent roads for a fishing trip or close to a hiking site in confort.
6. To be able to acomodate 2-3 people nice and have a decent trunk. For some it might be small trunk, for an organized person is just what you need.
Not too mention it has a small 2.0 biturbo engine with a V6 power and with a torque that other V6 don't have, hatchback design with back seats that can acomodate all kind of cargo if ever you need...

X3 was too big, too tall, too long, we waited for X1. Price didn't matter for us, just the right vehicle. X1 fit the bill like no other!