I’ve had a lot of cars and what I’ve realized over the years is that the cars I hang onto the longest are those that are most enjoyable to drive. I’ve had nine Lexus, three Mercedes and four BMWs. I currently have two BMWs, an IX50 and an X7. I have more than one car at a time.
I’ve also had other brands including RR, Lamborghini, Alfa, Land Rover, etc. and of all of them, as daily drivers the Alfa Giulia was a standout and I never had a problem, and the driving characteristics of all BMWs. It doesn’t matter what model, I’ve never driven a BMW that wasn’t a pleasure to drive.
I’ve passed over the brand many times in the past because I didn’t like the interior or because I thought they were falling technologically behind, but in the last ten years or so, I’ve not been disappointed. I had an i8 Roadster that I liked a lot, but I never drove it because I always want to be with my dog. It’s why I finally settled on the two I have now- both SUVs. Without a doubt, the iX50 has been the best car I’ve ever owned and the one that gives me the most enjoyment on a daily basis. I don’t think an EV is practical if it’s your only car, but I can’t recommend it enough as a daily driver if you have an at-home charger.
The reason BMW has become such a standout is that they are pushing the technology curve while Lexus and some others continue to fall behind. The LX600 is nowhere near as advanced as the X7 and BMW and Mercedes keep pushing further ahead of the others. I’ve never owned an Audi, and they are just too boring for me.
What makes BMW special for me is that every time I now sit in one, I can feel the engineering team speak to me. There are so many small details that are sorted out and little things that make me feel like I’m connected to the car. It’s hard to find a bad review of either the iX or the X7, and the small negative stuff you read about the iX was of no consequence to me and I watched each review on YouTube.
A big test for me is how I feel about the car after a very long drive. Two hours in a Lamborghini and you want out. Nothing is more fatiguing. I had some fatigue with Lexus but they were just boring to drive. Mercedes was okay and I'd buy another if the right one came along, but it doesn’t matter how much I drive either the iX or the X7, I am ready to keep driving and that’s what makes the difference for me.
People bitch about reliability or cost to repair and that cost is a consideration and why I got rid of the i8, but when you look at resale numbers and lease residual values, the hype about unreliable isn’t born out by the numbers. Even Consumer Reports gives BMW high marks for a reason.
The one lesson I’ve learned after buying cars is within your given price point, buy the car you love driving the most. Don’t pour over specs and make a decision based on that. There is never been a second when I said I was glad I bought something because it got one more MPG or because there was an extra inch of cargo space. It always came down to driving and I’d encourage you to pick that car on the basis of enjoyment because that will be the car you keep the longest and will likely lead to a strong bond between you and your car.
One last thing- I’ve developed a low tolerance for virtue signalers in automotive discussions. Argue about preferences, likes and dislikes about cars and specific models but the personal attacks will be deleted, and sometimes blocked.