[gio14]

Honest question do we really need an X3/X5M?! And further more competition packages in these models? I mean the concept is pretty odd to me. Granted I don't have kids, I would assume these are mainly family cars. I was at m track days n rode in the x3m and x5m, fast, torquey, something about great lap time ....but it just felt wrong. I felt like I should have a full load of groceries n kids in the back. To each their own I guess. Maybe I'm not seeing the niche, drop the kids off then chuck it into M mode n rip it up? In that case the 4 door M3 would be my choice. Thoughts?

[Violator]

Yes

[Pittz1]

Does the Jeep Trackhawk need to have 707HP? No, but it does. God Bless America!

[Feddersen]

It doesn’t matter whether they are necessary or not. Some people are willing to pay the premium for the top model of any range because the want the most expensive or simply because they want to say: “Hey – it’s an M”.

No explanation needed – just because.

[SteveinArizona]

The original post and one response. Very interesting to me. The OP drives an M3 sedan and wants to keep the M designation for true M cars, not SUVs. The responder drives an SUV and thinks it is a great idea to have M SAVs.

Personally, I like the handling characteristics of a car compared to an SUV (but I must admit that I like the viewing position of the SUV) which is why I drive one. But the horse has left the paddock...most buyers are purchasing SUVs, not cars and some want more power, better handling, etc.

The M Performance designation was a good idea IMHO. But BMW was probably getting hurt by MB's use of the AMG designation on its cars that were similar to BMW M performance. So I think BMW made the change to meet its competition.

Ultimately, again IMHO, who cares. Drive what you like and ignore the badging on your vehicle and on that of others. Focus more on whether the other driver is actually doing things like using a turn signal instead of the badging on the car.

[gio14]

Originally Posted by Pittz1

Does the Jeep Trackhawk need to have 707HP? No, but it does. God Bless America!

Lol valid point

[KennyFSU]

Do YOU need one? No.

Other people may want it; their money, their choice.

[gio14]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

The original post and one response. Very interesting to me. The OP drives an M3 sedan and wants to keep the M designation for true M cars, not SUVs. The responder drives an SUV and thinks it is a great idea to have M SAVs.

Personally, I like the handling characteristics of a car compared to an SUV (but I must admit that I like the viewing position of the SUV) which is why I drive one. But the horse has left the paddock...most buyers are purchasing SUVs, not cars and some want more power, better handling, etc.

The M Performance designation was a good idea IMHO. But BMW was probably getting hurt by MB's use of the AMG designation on its cars that were similar to BMW M performance. So I think BMW made the change to meet its competition.

Ultimately, again IMHO, who cares. Drive what you like and ignore the badging on your vehicle and on that of others. Focus more on whether the other driver is actually doing things like using a turn signal instead of the badging on the car.

I don't necessarily think only sedans should be M's, personally didn't like the whole m performance route they were going. Was just thinking about the appeal. Absolutely your money buy n drive what u want. Was just thinking bout...who are you x3 x5 m competition man/woman. Did you buy it cause you can get your family stuff done in it and rip it up on your spare time, was it for the M badge or just cause you wanted the top of the line model. No judgment here just curious as I saw the main news feed article pop up on the x3m x3m competition package.

[allinon72]

The X3M is one of the more impressive cars BMW has put out in the last 5 years. The X5M has been the benchmark for a while.

The train has left the station - US buyers want multipurpose vehicles that they can still have some fun with. And it's not exactly a new concept.

[Housekeeping]

The X5M is one one of the best overall packages on the market today....imho. If I needed one car for everything, that would be it.

[yco]

a heavy SUV with lots of power is a confused concept.. though at one sense its nice that cause by this you can still go fast even if the car is heavy etc.. do we really need it.. no we dont.. actually we dont need a lot of things but we buy them and use them.. sometimes not even using them..

i had E71 X6M for 2 years maybe more or less i dont know.. but the car i really miss is E46 M3.. some people like to see themselves in big cars.. there is something unhealthy about it though..

[AlpineWhite_SJ]

Yep, we do because I refuse to be bored driving my wife's car, she liked it, we do haul groceries in it and it's a blast to drive in the mountains to/from hiking.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

We don’t need 99% of the cars on sale today

[The Libertine]

Diversity is a good thing.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by AlpineWhite_SJ

Yep, we do because I refuse to be bored driving my wife's car, she liked it, we do haul groceries in it and it's a blast to drive in the mountains to/from hiking.

Glad you are letting her drive a car with some performance. I have a friend who is going to replace a BMW X5. He has three kids so he wanted three rows.

First, he was leaning toward a Hyundai Pallisade. Then he told me that he had decided to get a Honda Odyssey. I told him that it would suck the life out of him. He replied: "no it won't. it will suck the life out of my wife. I am getting an Aston".

[AlpineWhite_SJ]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Glad you are letting her drive a car with some performance. I have a friend who is going to replace a BMW X5. He has three kids so he wanted three rows.

First, he was leaning toward a Hyundai Pallisade. Then he told me that he had decided to get a Honda Odyssey. I told him that it would suck the life out of him. He replied: "no it won't. it will suck the life out of my wife. I am getting an Aston".

Good on him! I still have the F80, but she doesn't drive manual, so if we take my car we can't share driving duties. Bonus is now it's two fun cars to drive! If we need a third row or to haul a bunch of firewood, we can use our Honda Pilot.

[Hegge]

Originally Posted by yco

a heavy SUV with lots of power is a confused concept.. though at one sense its nice that cause by this you can still go fast even if the car is heavy etc.. do we really need it.. no we dont.. actually we dont need a lot of things but we buy them and use them.. sometimes not even using them..

i had E71 X6M for 2 years maybe more or less i dont know.. but the car i really miss is E46 M3.. some people like to see themselves in big cars.. there is something unhealthy about it though..

Agree with this. The bigger is better concept is flawed with cars.

[DanG]

With BMW SUVs outselling BMW cars it is understandable that BMW would build M SUVs. But you need to remember that the majority of M cars or SUVs will never see a track. The members here are not the typical BMW buyer.

[..Rush..]

On that similar thought, do we also need a Lamborghini SUV Urus?

[AlpineWhite_SJ]

Originally Posted by Hegge

Agree with this. The bigger is better concept is flawed with cars.

Don’t disagree. There’s size creep on all models at this point. I don’t think I would have bought the original generation X3 because it seemed like a compact car, but the newer ones seem almost as big as the earlier X5s. The X3M is actually smaller than the Pilot it’s replacing as a daily family car, but it’s still plenty spacious. Length and width wise it doesn’t look or feel much bigger than an F80, just higher.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

another one of these threads. probably not; welcome to america where anything is sold if there is a buyer.

[gio14]

Originally Posted by Rush1

On that similar thought, do we also need a Lamborghini SUV Urus?

Absolutely we do! Seen a few of them out here they look brutal, aggressive n very well balanced. Nothing about em screams fam car.