Topic: Test Drive: 2009 BMW X6 xDrive50i

[OliverD]

Lets just call it a failure in North America then. In which case, they should pull it from the market here.

Without knowing what their sales expectations were, how can we call it a failure?

Also, considering it is built in South Carolina, it would be silly not to sell it here.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Lets just call it a failure in North America then. In which case, they should pull it from the market here.

Without knowing what their sales expectations were, how can we call it a failure?

Also, considering it is built in South Carolina, it would be silly not to sell it here.

Are you serious? Selling less than 5k a year is a failure for anything other than high end sedans and performance cars. It's selling 10 times less than the X5. The only cars that sell worse in this bracket are the XC70 from moribund Volvo and the ZDX which even Acura has admitted was a bomb. It was outsold by the cow-catcher MKT, which Lincoln has admitted to being a disappointment.
I couldn't find the projections, but IIRC they had planned on 15-20k a year in NA. They never came close.

[OliverD]

Are you serious? Selling less than 5k a year is a failure for anything other than high end sedans and performance cars. It's selling 10 times less than the X5. The only cars that sell worse in this bracket are the XC70 from moribund Volvo and the ZDX which even Acura has admitted was a bomb. It was outsold by the cow-catcher MKT, which Lincoln has admitted to being a disappointment.
I couldn't find the projections, but IIRC they had planned on 15-20k a year in NA. They never came close.

I'm surprised the XC70 sells that poorly, I assumed it did quite a bit better. Though I am amused that you consider it to be in the same bracket as the X6.

It looks like initially BMW said that the U.S. would get half of the 40,000 X6s it planned to build, then revised that to 8000. So they did miss those targets, but unlike the ZDX, they have managed to sell in fairly consistent numbers, and they sold more outside of the U.S. than they had anticipated. That explains why they are also building the X6 in Russia.

Being a niche model, it's likely fairly tough to accurately gauge demand for something like this. I think the X6 does well enough that it will stick around.

[blotter]

say what you will (and I already said it's not my thing)

if it continues to make money it'll stick around. 


(I am shocked by the XC70 - I seen plenty of them around, but they're older ones - I don't see too many new ones)   The X6 is a very rare sight.

[DriverJeff]

Aesthetics are subjective, sure, but really, people look at an X6 and say "Day-um… that's a really sexy car that justifies its useless cargo hold!"  ?  OliverD, do you?  Yarkony?

Yes, I do.

FWIW, the X6 has more cargo space than the Mercedes GLK that is the subject of a circle-jerk in this forum now that it offers a diesel motor in base form.

Why on earth, Yarkony, would an X6M "be in the running" after your lottery win?  What redeeming qualities does this monstrosity have to justify it over an X5M or E63 wagon?  You have a purse dog, don't you?   

I think it looks better than the X5. Ultimately, I'd take the E63 wagon but I wouldn't fault someone for choosing the X6.

It amuses me that on a forum full of supposed car enthusiasts any vehicle purchase needs to be justified.

Interesting point about the cargo space vs the GLK.  Although as we all know, the cargo measurements account for volume, no matter how misshapen the space is.  The lack of height in the cargo area makes it little more useful than a sedan, no? 

And no, the purchase need not be justified (at least not to me anyway), just explained to me in this case so I can understand why someone would choose it over its mechanical twin that's more functional and arguably better looking.  Clearly the X6's distasteful appearance is less objectionable to the niche market customers who purchase them, but I sure as heck don't see it. 

[DriverJeff]

Jeff, FWIW I think the M6 or 6 series is just about as silly as the X6.

The M6 is just as heavy as the M5 and it's more expensive. But, would we start throwing out insults to the people we know who bought one?

No, not insults of course.  But I agree, the M6 is silly too.  After driving the previous generation I turned and said "It's a German Camaro.  Big, heavy, powerful and ridiculously space inefficient."  That said, doesn't the M6 have a lower of gravity than the M5?  So in terms of its mission as a performance car, it is theoretically a superior handler to its cheaper stablemate. 

I don't mean to insult or attack someone who lusts over an X6 either, I just want to understand how it's possible.  So far all I've seen is a lot of people saying "Well, I sure don't like it either, but good for others for thinking it's swell."  At best we could suggest its very polarizing styling is enough reason for those who like it to buy it.  Fair enough.  People throw away money on all sorts of things I don't understand. 

I'll chock it up to the X6 being the equivalent of a hot pink, velour leisure suit.  If it works for you, more power to ya, but it seems most of us wouldn't be caught dead in it.   

[Snowman]

I'm a value buyer. I'm also function over form. I think a lot of people are similar in that respect. The X6 is the antithesis of everything I'm looking for.

With low sales to begin with and declining from there, it's only a matter of time before they pull the plug.

Wow, the RX is king.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I'm a value buyer. I'm also function over form. I think a lot of people are similar in that respect. The X6 is the antithesis of everything I'm looking for.

With low sales to begin with and declining from there, it's only a matter of time before they pull the plug.

Wow, the RX is king.

If I wanted something with performance it would be a wagon, if someone would produce one at a decent price. But even this same powertrain in the X5 makes more sense. Or the Jeep SRT8. At least it has room to go with the fuel consumption and performance.

[blotter]

Interesting point about the cargo space vs the GLK.  Although as we all know, the cargo measurements account for volume, no matter how misshapen the space is.  The lack of height in the cargo area makes it little more useful than a sedan, no? 

I seen the X6 the year it came out at the Toronto Auto Show, the cargo space claim really surprises me.
IIRC I was thinking one would be hard pressed to fit a full size cooler, mainly due to the extreme curved lines. 

[DriverJeff]

At the end of the day the X6 is still pretty cool and if a buddy of mine bought one (as much as I wouldn't buy one myself) I'd still be in a rush to head over to his place and check it out.

Well of course.  But that's because people like you and I are new-car-smell junkies. 

[WRX_Pilot]

But look at those furry red seats!  Like some kind of cheap brothel on wheels 

(Sorry, nothing meaningful to contribute here)

[tenpenny]

I don't think Jessica Simpson is overweight, she looks normal/healthy.


Sent from my Vic20 using Java Moose

[llarose87]

I own a Red on Tan 2009 X6 drive50i - I'm characterized by family and friends as a chill, laid back 'simple' guy. Not sure why all the negative rants. Have you naysayers actually lived with one for more than 5 mins?

[Snowman]

I own a Red on Tan 2009 X6 drive50i - I'm characterized by family and friends as a chill, laid back 'simple' guy. Not sure why all the negative rants. Have you naysayers actually lived with one for more than 5 mins?

Well said , most haters have probably not been withing 25m of one. Drive what you want, who cares what others think