Personally I'd be more interested in a 335d (or even better the new 330d (but as usual in the US we get Europe's "last year leftovers"), but I guess people here with that kind of $ will probably buy the SUVs over the Sedans because they will feel guilt-free of getting an SUV since "it's OK: it runs on diesel", which almost sounds a lot like 'biodiesel' (even though those engines probably don't run on biodiesel). On the west coast diesel is like the 'new hybrid' now and therefore quite fashionable (your neighbors already all have a Prius (as a second car), so you need something else to 'one-up' them).
I still can't quite figure out is something like the X5D makes economic sense over say a 4.8... I'm sure dealers will want to not discount the diesels as much....
I'm not sure someone buying a BMW SUV cares that much about 'making economic sense' :). But I'm pretty sure they care about the image. They just started selling (new) TDI Golfs and Jettas in California, and they are almost all sold out already, because people that bought them can pretend to be a 'nice to the planet' as that guy running his '81 Merc 300D on used cooking oil in Berkeley :).
CW I'm not sure why you suggested it, but the 335d is anything BUT a leftover vehicle. It possesses the first all-aluminum 6cyl diesel engine block for BMW (a new development), as well as the first application of the SCR NOX emissions control system for BMW, which is never-seen-before, US-only equipment.
I'm guessing you saw part of the Audi Mileage Marathon ...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/07/audi-mileage-marathon-day-1-down-cleveland-here-we-come/
Personally I'd be more interested in a 335d (or even better the new 330d (but as usual in the US we get Europe's "last year leftovers"), but I guess people here with that kind of $ will probably buy the SUVs over the Sedans because they will feel guilt-free of getting an SUV since "it's OK: it runs on diesel", which almost sounds a lot like 'biodiesel' (even though those engines probably don't run on biodiesel). On the west coast diesel is like the 'new hybrid' now and therefore quite fashionable (your neighbors already all have a Prius (as a second car), so you need something else to 'one-up' them).
ReplyDeleteI still can't quite figure out is something like the X5D makes economic sense over say a 4.8... I'm sure dealers will want to not discount the diesels as much....
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure someone buying a BMW SUV cares that much about 'making economic sense' :). But I'm pretty sure they care about the image.
ReplyDeleteThey just started selling (new) TDI Golfs and Jettas in California, and they are almost all sold out already, because people that bought them can pretend to be a 'nice to the planet' as that guy running his '81 Merc 300D on used cooking oil in Berkeley :).
CW I'm not sure why you suggested it, but the 335d is anything BUT a leftover vehicle. It possesses the first all-aluminum 6cyl diesel engine block for BMW (a new development), as well as the first application of the SCR NOX emissions control system for BMW, which is never-seen-before, US-only equipment.
ReplyDelete-Freep
OK, AC, just saw your comment as well, and I've already tried to explain it in person. So here's an example. Plug in your own numbers and have fun.
ReplyDeleteModel mpg price/gal miles cost
X54.4i 14.4 3.49 1000 $242.36
X535d 27.0 4.19 1000 $161.15
335i 20.0 3.49 1000 $174.50
335d 30.0 4.19 1000 $139.67
-Freep
Freep the 4.4 only gets 14mpg HWY? wow... yeah it's a no brainer then. What's the deal with that government kickback on the diesels?
ReplyDeletebut wait...there is no 4.4 X5... it's a 4.8 and it claims 19mpg/hwy
ReplyDeleteso those numbers would be 183.60 for the gas X5? do I have that right?
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ReplyDeleteMy bad, I meant 4.8i (E70) but everything else was accurate.
ReplyDelete-Freep