empower77
AMG Aficionado
- Messages
- 1,681
Hi all, I picked up my 2019 SQ5 two days ago.
The journey started a year ago when I got an itch to have an SUV in my stable a year after I sold my 2014 X5. Going in I didn’t know what I wanted this time around except that it had to be reasonably fast and fun to drive since the X5 had spoiled me with its dynamic handling and a very responsive motor in a vehicle the size of a living room....
The search started with a lot of contenders, including some saloons. In the end I ended up driving the following
BMW - 530i; 540i; X3 30i; M40i ; 330i; M340i; X540i; 750i
MB - E300; GLC300; GLE350
AUDI - Q3; Q5; SQ5; A6; A8; Q8
Porsche - Cayenne; Macan S
I won’t bore you with my detailed experience but in a nutshell, the 5 series wasn’t as dynamic as the last few generations and felt floaty; the 540i has very aggressive gearing. The X3 30i was weedy; the M40i was brilliant and very well balanced.The 330i was ok, M340i was excellent but was too aggressive with hard steering and somehow did not ‘feel’ fast even though you can reach triple digit speeds without even trying. The X5 still sits as my fave SUV, brilliant in every way but I did not get it (more
On that later). The 750i reoriented my mind on limos as I was completely staggered on how I was able to make the damn porker dance (truly science altering dynamics).
The E300 was a huge surprise since all E classes I had driven to date were crap (excuse my French) and this one was actually a good drivers car — better than the G30s. The GLC 300 was a good allrounder and one that was high on the list. The GLE 350 was garbage; from the weedy motor to the extremely plasticy cabin - way overpriced for what it is.
The Porsches were mind numbingly good; but the aggressiveness of the Macan S and the lack of basically everything that the dealers order here on every car was a deal breaker. In another world I would have gotten the cayenne - no questions asked.
The Audis were good; not great especially the Q8 that i wanted really badly but wasn’t convinced by its lack of driver drama. Too much of a boat; great car otherwise. The A8 was a massive surprise since I had just driven one in Germany last month as a rental (50 diesel). It is at this point that I was introduced to the S4 and SQ5 and the rest they say is history. I loved the way they drove, the brilliance of the cabin quality and the solid feel of the products as they stand are too great to ignore. Yes they are not AS good as the BMW or Porsche but they are threateningly close.
Side note— most of you know that I am a hard core BMW enthusiast but I have had a bad experience with my last two.... bad quality; too many things breaking and multiple insider sat my local dealer telling me either to stay away or lease for three years and then get out before the warranty is out, hence my decision.
With that said, here are some pictures. Enjoy—-
The journey started a year ago when I got an itch to have an SUV in my stable a year after I sold my 2014 X5. Going in I didn’t know what I wanted this time around except that it had to be reasonably fast and fun to drive since the X5 had spoiled me with its dynamic handling and a very responsive motor in a vehicle the size of a living room....
The search started with a lot of contenders, including some saloons. In the end I ended up driving the following
BMW - 530i; 540i; X3 30i; M40i ; 330i; M340i; X540i; 750i
MB - E300; GLC300; GLE350
AUDI - Q3; Q5; SQ5; A6; A8; Q8
Porsche - Cayenne; Macan S
I won’t bore you with my detailed experience but in a nutshell, the 5 series wasn’t as dynamic as the last few generations and felt floaty; the 540i has very aggressive gearing. The X3 30i was weedy; the M40i was brilliant and very well balanced.The 330i was ok, M340i was excellent but was too aggressive with hard steering and somehow did not ‘feel’ fast even though you can reach triple digit speeds without even trying. The X5 still sits as my fave SUV, brilliant in every way but I did not get it (more
On that later). The 750i reoriented my mind on limos as I was completely staggered on how I was able to make the damn porker dance (truly science altering dynamics).
The E300 was a huge surprise since all E classes I had driven to date were crap (excuse my French) and this one was actually a good drivers car — better than the G30s. The GLC 300 was a good allrounder and one that was high on the list. The GLE 350 was garbage; from the weedy motor to the extremely plasticy cabin - way overpriced for what it is.
The Porsches were mind numbingly good; but the aggressiveness of the Macan S and the lack of basically everything that the dealers order here on every car was a deal breaker. In another world I would have gotten the cayenne - no questions asked.
The Audis were good; not great especially the Q8 that i wanted really badly but wasn’t convinced by its lack of driver drama. Too much of a boat; great car otherwise. The A8 was a massive surprise since I had just driven one in Germany last month as a rental (50 diesel). It is at this point that I was introduced to the S4 and SQ5 and the rest they say is history. I loved the way they drove, the brilliance of the cabin quality and the solid feel of the products as they stand are too great to ignore. Yes they are not AS good as the BMW or Porsche but they are threateningly close.
Side note— most of you know that I am a hard core BMW enthusiast but I have had a bad experience with my last two.... bad quality; too many things breaking and multiple insider sat my local dealer telling me either to stay away or lease for three years and then get out before the warranty is out, hence my decision.
With that said, here are some pictures. Enjoy—-
