There are a lot of sore hearts at Topcar this month. No, not only because Bryce Lawrence beat us in the Rugby World Cup, but because we have had to say farewell to our big Bavarian X5. Without sounding too much like a eulogy to a lost friend, its last month in our care, typified the X5’s appeal, character and attributes. It started with a trip down the red carpet, chauffeuring a young couple to their Matric dance in Monte Vista. I can just about remember my Matric dance, it was very low key affair and it didn’t really matter too much what got you there as long as it didn’t look too much like your dad’s car (which it was). Sure, there was one guy who splashed on a lone limo, but the only people it impressed were the two bored looking juniors posted at the school entrance to open doors and usher us in the direction of the school hall.
Now if you’re a parent these days and been tasked with the driving duties to a matric dance, you’ll understand my surprise at the level to which some teens go to impress their peers. Today, it’s an altogether glitzier affair, as if one was arriving at the Oscars, complete with screaming groupies, paparazzi flashes and a long red carpet to greet you. There was an immensely impressive array of machinery on display from Italian supercars to pimped out muscle cars, and a few old classics (which I personally thought won the ‘look at me’ competition.) Apparently last year, one student even arrived in a helicopter. Haibo.
The X5 was up against it in this lavish crowd, but it’s big on comfort and 20-inch bling appeal held their own for the most part and delivered the handsome couple to their adoring entourage. Days later, the X5 was carting ski boats to storage facilities, mountain bikes to mountains and garden equipment to a new abode, such is its versatility.
Looking back over the last year, the ownership experience we’ve had with X5 has been exemplary, not to mention the excellent aftersales and servicing support we received from Auto Atlantic in Cape Town for its scheduled service. We will miss the big German, for its extensive array of comfort and luxury features, its dynamic poise, frugal consumption (averaging 10.3L/100km around town) solid build and trouble free reliability. It never missed a beat and constantly impressed, make it an easy to recommend to potential SUV owners, not to mention any would be chauffeur (read parent.)
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The Superior Feeling
Sounds good! The superior feeling. And its been scientifically proven too - SUVs cause more testosterone in you, great for more aggressive driving and pleasure! SUV drivers are also narcississtic and vain, as car manufacturers marketing analysis has shown. Also statistically more likely to cause road rage incidents, I suppose because of all that testosterone. All good for more personal pleasure at the expense of the stupid rest of the human race. I will definitely be buying an X5 ASAP.
Keep left pas Right
Osma remember to move over not matter what speed you are doing!!
Osma - Shame
Sounds like your BMW had to be towed out of trouble by a faster true off-road Toyota?
I would drive one
The newer X5's are very frugal and I would certainly have one if I could afford it.
Unfortunately, drivers of Toyota Fortuners (an ugly, ungainly and thirsty beast) are giving SUV's a bad name by tailgating and never being able to park straight.
What a pleasure to drive
Nothing beats the feeling of driving in an X5. Far from being pricks, as suggested by Anonymous (too scared to print his name?), X5 drivers are actually very safe and patient drivers. He is spot on when he says that some drivers despise us, not just on the road but also in the parking lots. I for one, had my car scratched on numerous occasions, I even have a dent on the right hand side caused by a kick!
As for driving on the road, the superb drive height makes one feel superior over the less fortunate folk. You dont even have to show-off. If you look at the people most likely to speed, overtake recklessly and drive like pricks, it is those driving ordinary cars. Maybe it is their way of trying to show-off.
The Idiot Factor
Surely you must feel like a prick driving this car? I know that whenever I get to drive a SUV I feel kind of evil, like I've joined the pricks on the road who think they have more rights than everyone else. This includes the right to smash small cars in parking lots without leaving notes and being a real danger on the road since you can easily kill other road users. I don't know if it's just my imagination but I always feel that other road users are more rude to SUV drivers which makes the experience less pleasant than if you drive an ordinary car...
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