Your opinion - new X5 M50d or Cayenne S Diesel?

[JLBM]

Hi all, without yet having seen the new X5 M50d, what would you prefer and why? The Cayenne is due for a facelift soon as well.

Please bear in mind, a properly specced Cayenne will be about 20% more expensive than that new X5.

Thanks
James

 

[Human]

F15 X5 for me. As I discussed with you via PM I drove the Cayenne and was very impressed, still the best seating position IMO (have to wait to sit in the F15) and that V8 Diesel is a jewel! Yet somehow I don't feel the Cayenne to be that more special than the E70, so I would rather wait and check out the F15's when they arrive locally.

Btw, did you make contact with the Cayenne owner who's I have driven?

 

[JLBM]

Hi Naas - I decided to wait a month and call him after he has passed the ecstatic honeymoon period!

 

[paxah]

I'd say wait for the facelifted Cayenne and then make your decision.

 

[Human]

LOL. Now that's wise. Actually a great idea at that. Truth after the honeymoon

What does your 'gut' tell you, James? Which would you prefer (F15 or Cayenne)?

 

[klier]

Yeah you can go on and on that way... Why don't you wait for the facelifed F15? Or the next gen ML?

 

[martinbo]

Cayenne Diesel S would be my choice - primarily because it's actually rather compact compared with some of the other SUVs it competes with.

Of course, I'd be putting a deposit down on a new RR Sport - if it were me. Hotel Phaphalati, here I come!

 

[JLBM]

LOL. Now that's wise. Actually a great idea at that. Truth after the honeymoon

What does your 'gut' tell you, James? Which would you prefer (F15 or Cayenne)?

Naas, my gut tells me to go for the Cayenne. I am disappointed with the interior design of the new X5, and the rear lacks "aggressive tension". Something doesn't feel right. But they say in the flesh it's fantastic. BUT my wallet tells me to go for the X5 - I specced the Cayenne the way I wanted and it was R250K more than the current M50d price

Martin, the new Rangie looks fantastic and will come with all the bells and whistles (from rear-seat entertainment - which my Golden Retriever really appreciates - to active cruise etc). And it will be less common on the road. BUT, if I have to live with that infotainment system for another day I think I'll go nuts. Not to mention only two dealerships, miles from my home!

 

[JLBM]

Yeah you can go on and on that way... Why don't you wait for the facelifed F15? Or the next gen ML?

I hear you Klier, but the Cayenne facelift is imminent (around January) and the new X5 only gets to South Africa in late November. So I may as well wait.

 

[martinbo]

Sheesh, I must be backward or something. I hardly ever look at the ultimate functionality of infotainment systems. I need my phone to connect via Bluetooth, I need the navigation system entry screens to be logical and I want my iPod playlists to appear as they do on the actual device itself. Fook. What am I missing?

 

[Giannis]

I would choose the Cayenne Diesel, too. It's the best handling SUV and comes with a Porsche badge. If you were after more superior off road capabilities I guess you would be asking weather to choose anything else over a Discovery.

 

[JLBM]

Sheesh, I must be backward or something. I hardly ever look at the ultimate functionality of infotainment systems. I need my phone to connect via Bluetooth, I need the navigation system entry screens to be logical and I want my iPod playlists to appear as they do on the actual device itself. Fook. What am I missing?

Hi Martin

Where shall I begin? (Kilcrohane, don't get excited, it's just the infotainment system)

1. Inputting addresses is painstaking and slow, letter by letter, and the system has to think for about 1.5 seconds before you can input the next letter. Too many steps as well.
2. Bluetooth music streaming from my iPhone won't allow steering wheel button skips from song to song - it moves to the next album, unless you have selected the album and have the screen set to "Audio".
3. When starting the car, the system takes ages to boot up. Forget about using the reverse camera. By the time I'm finished reversing and am about to move forward, the camera kicks in too late.
4. Rarely (but it happens), the system freezes completely and I can't turn the radio on or off. Sometimes the screen blacks out.
5. Voice Control for inputting numbers works OK, but not when there are similar digits in tandem. Also there are two extra unnecessary steps needed to make a call by voice.
6. The user interface is completely outdated (and the graphics).
7. You do need a degree in electrical engineering to utilise the rear seat entertainment via remote control. It's not intuitive.
8. The hard drive takes only 10 CD's. That's a joke. I may as well have a CD shuttle ala 1992.

In short - I'm not a fan of touchscreens, but this is an antiquated, very poor system for such an expensive vehicle. In my experience, BMW's iDrive is best - but I haven't experienced the new system MB have launched with the W222.

James

 

[Human]

I would choose the Cayenne Diesel, too. It's the best handling SUV and comes with a Porsche badge. If you were after more superior off road capabilities I guess you would be asking weather to choose anything else over a Discovery.

Naas, my gut tells me to go for the Cayenne. I am disappointed with the interior design of the new X5, and the rear lacks "aggressive tension". Something doesn't feel right. But they say in the flesh it's fantastic. BUT my wallet tells me to go for the X5 - I specced the Cayenne the way I wanted and it was R250K more than the current M50d price

Martin, the new Rangie looks fantastic and will come with all the bells and whistles (from rear-seat entertainment - which my Golden Retriever really appreciates - to active cruise etc). And it will be less common on the road. BUT, if I have to live with that infotainment system for another day I think I'll go nuts. Not to mention only two dealerships, miles from my home!

One thing you can bank on James is that you will smile and most probably get back what you payed more for the Cayenne come resale.

Enough (everybody) on the RR-Sport, let the man have his Porsche then. I should get Kilcrohane into this thread

 

[klier]

I hear you Klier, but the Cayenne facelift is imminent (around January) and the new X5 only gets to South Africa in late November. So I may as well wait.

Yeah that seems fair enough!! Either way, keep is informed about what you do. Always interesting to read!

And since we are talking about the infotainment systems in these cars...I have had some experience with the (nav) screen of the all new Range Rover.....now I don't know how it compares to the Sport (probably similar)...but I do know I found out about it being a low resolution antiquated mess. Big enough of a reason not to buy the whole car for me, as it all looks too much like I am back in the '90s.
No thanks. Give me cutting edge high tech German entertainment screens and systems please! The screen in the F15 X5 is many generations ahead.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

For me it would be the Cayenne S, but I admit I have no real experience of it, and obviously I have zero of the new X5.

The Cayenne looks good and the interior looks good too. I'm sure handling wise it's very good too.

 

[JLBM]

Yeah that seems fair enough!! Either way, keep is informed about what you do. Always interesting to read!

And since we are talking about the infotainment systems in these cars...I have had some experience with the (nav) screen of the all new Range Rover.....now I don't know how it compares to the Sport (probably similar)...but I do know I found out about it being a low resolution antiquated mess. Big enough of a reason not to buy the whole car for me, as it all looks too much like I am back in the '90s.
No thanks. Give me cutting edge high tech German entertainment screens and systems please! The screen in the F15 X5 is many generations ahead.

It's the very same system klier - across all JLR products, from the new f type to the discovery. It's a shocker!

 

[JLBM]

Hi guys, after all is said and done I placed my order for a new Cayenne this morning. I decided to be sensible and went for the V6 diesel, not the V8. I'm taking such a hiding on the trade in value of the Range Rover Sport, so that's where the V8 money went

But I feel good about being responsible and not throwing cash away - I also intend to keep this car for much longer this time. The car drives so well - went for black on black this time. Haven't had a black car for years!

 

[Giannis]

Congrats! Very wise decision

May I ask why you are trading the Range Rover in?

 

[mini_cooper4]

Congrats! Very wise decision

May I ask why you are trading the Range Rover in?

@Kilcrohane

PS: Sorry guys... I had to do it

Congrats on your new purchase, James! The Cayenne is surely one great SUV

 

[Kilcrohane]

Hi guys, after all is said and done I placed my order for a new Cayenne this morning

You utter, utter fool! The world's greatest and oldest motoring publication has after long and hard consideration just concluded that the new Range Rover Sport from Land Rover is the automotive equivalent of The Second Coming, and resoundingly thrashes the dreary, soulless, lacking that certain factor only the British can do Porsche Cayenne.