I’ve heard nothing but good things about the X5 60i. I wouldn’t touch the X5 M as it’s way too harsh.

I like the way the M8 looks but it seems quite low and I’m curious as to whether it’s comfortable?Not just for a test drive but long term ownership. Would it get tiresome after a while. Low cut roofline, low ingress/egress, noisy?

Did you find the X5 significantly more comfortable than the Cayenne S? Was it the suspension? What did you think of the seat comfort?
Obviously pricing is a huge advantage for the X5.

Thanks in advance for answering my barrage of questions!

 

In 2004, we ordered two cars at the same time: My SL500 and my wife’s E500 sedan. Took delivery on the same day, which was sort of fun. Both cars were spectacular. The E500 had AirMatic and rode very well. It was also quite peppy with the V8. The SL was my “toy” car and I kept it for 12 years, selling it with only 22K miles. We sold the E when the warranty ran out. When I think back on the MB’s I’ve owned and how much I liked them, how well they performed and how I was always so excited about my next one, it just disappoints me to no end that there is nothing currently made by MB that I want to drive. Oh well.

 

Wow Stream that sounds amazing! Two Beautiful cars on the same day!! I owned a 2007 SL 55 AMG and I loved that car. They nailed it with that model. Mercedes should be ashamed of themselves that they are losing a client such as yourself. Your history and Pedegree with Mercedes Is in my opinion unrivaled. It may not matter to Mercedes from a dollar cents perspective but losing a customer like you is something that they should truly be embarrassed about.

 

The M8 sits lower than this car but higher than a Panamera. The seating is firm ala BMW; unless something has changed that isn't immediately obvious it feels the same as it was before which was good for long stints in the saddle. It's not immediately cushy as you have here, more similar to Porsche which also uses a firmer padding. The ride is very stiff, better in the GC but still very stiff. The attraction there is the car is just a straight-up hoot. I suspect I might tire of it myself, which is why I'm still test-driving. That one in the near term hinges on getting a steal, something I can't pass up. The 850 would be much better in the daily, better suspension tuning, very strong, but lacks the over the top ridiculous nature of the M which is intoxicating enough to get my attention despite knowing it's probably not the right car.

I had actually expected to purchase a Cayenne S which was at the top of my short list. It's a better car than the 60i: the steering and so on feels more precise, more connected, you have the option to more specifically tailor it to your wants and needs, I don't like some of the changes Porsche is making to cheapen up their cars but build quality is still high. Where it goes bad is the pricing and how good the X5 has become. I hadn't been in one for quite a while and they've really upped the game significantly. The Cayenne as I configure it is 142 compared to 108 for the 60i but it's only fractionally better driving and doesn't give you any added content, you're just paying more or getting a lot less with a price match. It's hard for me to find myself wanting to pay that upcharge and I like my cars loaded. Part of this is I have 4k miles on the 580, I'm overseas a lot and just not driving that much anymore, it's hard to convince myself to throw the kind of money at cars that I have in the past.

The main down for me with the Cayenne is simply the added cost and little to show for it. I find both comfortable in terms of seating; I've always liked the 14s in the Cayenne but the seats in the BMW are a little better IMO. I'm not sure on the performance numbers but the BMW feels stronger in the seat as you're futzing about. The 60i has a little better packaging. The basic ergos are good with both but the BMW has some issues with primary functions being buried in the GUI. I like having a shift lever, neither do. I would want a pedal commander with the Cayenne, really soft off the bottom due to the throttle calibration.

Realistically they're both great cars but one is only slightly better, while much more expensive, and that slight difference isn't something I missed in the X5. IMO you should consider getting a spin in it, particularly the 60i, and seeing what you think.

 

High praise for the W212.

 

Sorry if that offended you, I am trying to say it squeaks and creaks as complained by my friend. It doesn't bother me as long as it doesn't happen when driving, it does for my friends and I respect that since those are their vehicles which they paid for.

For what it is worth there are competitors that you push on to trims it doesn't squeak from my experience. Porsche and BMW from experience but I prefer MB over Porsches or BMWs so there is that. Opinions and sharing experiences with vehicles are welcomed but personal insults are not necessary. Everyone have their own experience, preferences and opinions that is what makes humans unique. Thank you : )

 

Thanks Crab, appreciate the thorough review. These days comfort is my number one priority!

 

Well... The X5 does have seat and side bolsters that may be too aggressive for your tastes; you're going to have a hard time getting around that one if you want something with real oomph. I forgot to mention there is an issue with step in for shorter people, or at least may be an issue you've probably seen before: The car has door seals that are set in somewhat, so you will have a dirty area there that I think a shorter person can drag their calf on when climbing in. A taller person wouldn't even notice it but I remember Mrs Crab had that problem with a similar arrangement elsewhere.

Remember when figuring out which car to buy was easy?

 

I’m trying to remember when it became all about ride quality and comfort for me. I guess it was when my daily driver became a Lexus LS400 in 1993. I was commuting back then between L.A. and South Orange County and I wanted something big, solid & comfortable. So, one LS segued into the next and I had eight of them, between 1993 & 2012. I was going to say “in a row,” but then I remembered my last BMW, a 1995 750il, 12-cylinder sedan, which I only had for a short time before it was bought back by BMW.

After my last Lexus, I got my first S Class, a 2013 S550 with 18” wheels, ABC & the upgraded leather and I fell in love. That car was reasonably better than my last LS460L. Then came the three W222’s, all with 18” wheels, MBC & Exclusive Nappa and my love deepened. I now judge ride quality & comfort by comparing any possible new acquisition to the W222’s and the ONLY thing that has come close for me, has been the I7.

Once you get spoiled by something wonderful and then find out you can’t get it anymore, it really can be a huge disappointment. As when Nordstrom stopped selling their John W. Nordstrom Egyptian Cotton dress shirts. One day you can buy them, the next day you can’t. What I would give to be able to order a new S560 sedan again! I don’t care what anyone thinks, the W222 was the high water mark for MB, in my opinion, with the W221 a close second place. The W223 gets no spot on the podium.

 

I think some of us just refuse to admit defeat even though we'd be a lot happier if we did.

 

I know how you feel. It seems our lifetime love of Mercedes Benz automobiles is no longer an adventure since they have weakened the brand and are now making so many models for every type of bread winner that the brand is no longer set apart. BMW seems to be the only brand that is its own parent company with the fewest different sub-models. Mercedes should have just stayed true to its SL, S, and its E class sized cars. Basically the 1990s and earlier were the perfect years in terms of prestigious status.

 

For me, it has always been the SL’s. I remember lusting after the 230-280SL’s but couldn’t afford one. Then, in 1975, I bought a used ‘72 350SL. I liked it, but it had been beat to death previously and I sold it within a year. Then, in 1979, I got my first new one, a Signal Red with Bamboo 450SL. I bought it from W.I. Simonson in Santa Monica. Paid MSRP of $32,200.00. The salesman’s name was Henry Heil, if you can believe it. I kept that car for 7 years, driving it only for pleasure, keeping it pristine, while driving Honda Accords & Toyota Supras to work.

After I sold the ‘79 to take advantage of a deal I had made with the owner of a Porsche dealership, where I could order one car and get it at his cost, I ordered a 1986 911 Cabriolet, Guards Red with Cork full leather. I took factory delivery in Germany, but since it was snowing, I merely signed the papers and had the car shipped home. After driving the 911 for a few months, I missed my SL and bought a new ‘86 560SL, Signal Red with Palomino. I just loved that car, but three years later, I sold it as I needed money to put the finishing touches on a new commercial building I built for my business and I had run out of cash.

New ‘90, ‘91, & ‘04 SL’s followed with a used ‘13 in there as well. My last one, a 2019 SL450, that I ordered, will have its fifth birthday soon. To me, it is the finest SL ever made, the original 300SL’s from the 50’s & 60’s notwithstanding, as they were completely different animals. As I find the current S Class sorely wanting, I find the current SL to be even worse. The luxuriousness is gone, along with the retractable hardtop and the classic interior. The SL is no longer a luxury cruiser but yet another AMG rocket ship, which I find so very unappealing.

My first SL & my current (last) SL:

 

Loved reading your car history timeline. The only SL I ever had was that used 2015 SL550 I had for a little over a year and it was a blast to drive and I agree, the soft top current model is nice but I want a hardtop SL if I were looking for one. I remember all of the cars of your past and it seems the main arteries of our Benz loyalty have been cut. Just enjoy the BMW just like I've been enjoying my Audi and eventually things will sort themselves out. I probably won't trade off the Audi if I ever find another MB that I trust. Keep us posted on your BMW as I think you did the right thing for the time being.

 

Glad to hear that the cars serve you well : )