X5 3.0i or Cayenne 3.2 V6

[aniguchisan]

Hey,

I've got a cousin in London who wants to buy a used 4x4. He's boiled down to either a 2005 X5 3.0i or an 05 Cayenne 3.2 V6. He doesn't want a 3.0d, unless someone can convince him otherwise. He doesn't like diesels, and diesel costs more in London.

Frankly, there are pros and cons to both cars, but at present, I'm a little inclined towards the X5 due to its completeness. 2005 X5's come with leather, satnav, xenons and the works, whereas similarly aged Cayennes are often missing xenons. However, there's something altogether different in owning a Porsche too. I guess the badge does carry considerable weight. Remember, it's the standard Cayenne with the VW engine, not the 'S's V8 and beyond.

Options have to include satnav, which is found in both cars (PCM for the Porsche). The Cayenne is the first generation variant, whereas the X5 is the facelift circa 2004 onwards, but not the newest shape.

He doesn't want anything older than late 2004, nor does he want anything above 40,000 miles. In other words, he won't be buying an overused engine from an old car, but something relatively new and fresh. Cars with these specs are usually £20-25k. He may also go into aftermarket fitment of bigger alloys, wheel painting, etc. Keeping all this in mind, he needs a decision and relatively quick.

Any help would be great.

[akshay1234]

id go for the porsche because a porsche is just a different league. thats IMO.

[abhinav.gupta88]

@ akshay12345 Porsche would always be a porsche.. and he could get those xenons and the stuff missing anytime later

btw as far as i know the porsche's a tad (20 bhp) more powerful than the x5 for the same price..

[extreme_torque]

Cayenne without a doubt! Its better on the road and off it.

[abhinav.s]

Dont know about the 05 Cayenne but have sat in the more recent one here in bangalore. Have had the good fortune of being driven in the same one as well. Its awesome and the Porsche badge does carry a lot of weight and personally its my favourite.

Abhi

[RJK]

I'd pick the Cayenne. Drove it a few times and just love it ! The Porsche brand name helps too

[Sahil]

Originally Posted by RJK

I'd pick the Cayenne.

+1
The Cayanne is brilliant to drive and handles like a dream. The X5 is good too but there is just something about the Cayanne that the BMW lacks.

The exhaust note and the overall drive of the Cayanne is more on the sporty side. I have just driven the V6 version and loved it, the S would be a different ball game.

The X5 has less legroom at the back too, i believe.

[lancer80]

What about the X6 35i? Its more like a competitor to Cayenne and it sure does better overall in price, performance, mileage, and not to forget an award winning engine of the year. Also, its a brand new car unlike Cayenne. Have seen one in person and it looks better than the pictures. But a Porsche still has more prestige than the BMW IMO.

[CaliforniaKnight]

havent driven the 6 cylinders of both so i have no clue..
but as an overall package i would prefer the X5 because it has more cabin space than the cayenne.
I still am of the opinion that the cayenne only sells because of the PORSCHE badge..
Both 8 cylinders that i drove in bangalore was one after the other..cayenned definitely had a cramped interior and till date i am not a big fan of how it looks.

[iraghava]

Given that the Cayenne in consideration is a 3.2 & a X5 3.0 is about 200+ kgs. i.e. more than 10% lighter than the Porsche, I would go with the X5.

Better performance & I believe it should be cheaper to buy too leaving your cousin quite a bit of bit of moolah to upgrade whatever he wants to on the car.

[flipsyde]

cayenne would certainly be a better performer on the road and off it. maybe just the base model but still packs quite a punch.

[dipen]

All those highlighting the off road abilities of either choices : where in London will you go real off-road ?

[SanMan]

In your situation, I would go for the BMW. It is a better built SUV. Porsche is a great sports car company. First gen SUVs are not it cracked up to be. If it was the 8, I wouldve voted based on the engine. Newer ones especially the Turbo is really good. First gen vehicle, when it is a new class from a manufacturor, I will think twice.

Foot note: Ask him to go for Rangerover Sport turbo. It is a the best tata group SUV I drove to date. period. :-)

[Ricky_63]

Having driven the X5 4.4 petrol & the base model Cayanne. I'd go with the BMW with my eyes shut. The X5 has more road presence & has more space inside the cabin. The Porche has the brand value BUT the drive of the base model cannot cpmpete with the X5.

The above observations are based on extensive driving of both the vehicles.


Cheers

[akshay1234]

Originally Posted by Ricky_63

Having driven the X5 4.4 petrol & the base model Cayanne. I'd go with the BMW with my eyes shut. The X5 has more road presence & has more space inside the cabin. The Porche has the brand value BUT the drive of the base model cannot cpmpete with the X5.

The above observations are based on extensive driving of both the vehicles.


Cheers

hmm. i dont think the base cayenne can be compared to the 4.4 x5. why dont you take a td of the gts or the turbo and tell us how it compares then.