With a budget of GBP 25k, both cars can be bought under current market conditions.

For the BMW, I'm only considering the 4.8is and not other models because I like the power, V8 roar and all the additional equipment that comes with this top of the range X5. It retailed for GBP60k+ in '05 and can now be bought for GBP20k.

For the RRSPORT, I love the sporty looks and refinement of RR. I plan to export the car back home. For now, my choice is confined to 2005 RRS ONLY. Any newer car will be subject to too much import tax!!

The E53 X5 has a pretty hard ride. My preference is for a softer ride- much like the Freelander. I can drive through roads with bad surfaces without my teeth chattering! How is the RRS ride? Should I be looking at the RRS 4.2 supercharge or TDV6?

Finally i really like the black piano wood trimming I have seen on some Range Rovers. i assume this can also be found on the '05 RRS?

Actually I really like both cars but which one should I choose? Any advise is much appreciated!

mercuryf1 wrote:

With a budget of GBP 25k, both cars can be bought under current market conditions.

For the BMW, I'm only considering the 4.8is and not other models because I like the power, V8 roar and all the additional equipment that comes with this top of the range X5. It retailed for GBP60k+ in '05 and can now be bought for GBP20k.

For the RRSPORT, I love the sporty looks and refinement of RR. I plan to export the car back home. For now, my choice is confined to 2005 RRS ONLY. Any newer car will be subject to too much import tax!!

The E53 X5 has a pretty hard ride. My preference is for a softer ride- much like the Freelander. I can drive through roads with bad surfaces without my teeth chattering! How is the RRS ride? Should I be looking at the RRS 4.2 supercharge or TDV6?

Finally i really like the black piano wood trimming I have seen on some Range Rovers. i assume this can also be found on the '05 RRS?

Actually I really like both cars but which one should I choose? Any advise is much appreciated!

I did not have the 4.8, but I did have the 4.4 and TBH, the X5 lost on all counts for me. I ran them side by side for a few weeks and when I got back into the X5 to take it to it's retirement home (the auction), it felt b y awful to drive and just felt wrong somehow. Amazing what a RRS does to you.

For me the RRS became king of the sporty SUV overnight - people also give the RRS much more respect.....it's a LR thing

The RRS has the benefit of air suspension - so the X5 is always going to be harsher and ultimately far less capable in the rough stuff......BMW hardly have heritage when it comes to 4x4's now do they They relied on hand me down's from LR

Make the right choice and buy the better car - the RRS wins hands down  L322 Big Daddy SUPERCHARGED 5.0 Autobiography - Here & Now!

5 series for the miles

RRS S/C factory built HST - Gone

45 others have been and gone!

Is the air suspension of the RRS adjustable in height? Do many cars suffer suspension failure ie: some corners sag when parked too long in one position?

mercuryf1 wrote:

Is the air suspension of the RRS adjustable in height? Do many cars suffer suspension failure ie: some corners sag when parked too long in one position?

Absolutely. 3 user settings and 1 car derived setting for tricky off roading (the car decides!!).

No issues with suspension sag, that was only on the old P38 FFRR upto 2001.  L322 Big Daddy SUPERCHARGED 5.0 Autobiography - Here & Now!

5 series for the miles

RRS S/C factory built HST - Gone

45 others have been and gone!

I'd go RRS everytime purely based on its a more special car

I had the choice of a RRS or X5 and went for the RRS.

As much as I say it myself I made the right decision..........loving it..............

Good luck.

05 RRSPORT or '05 X5 4.8is ??

that's the wrong question in a RRS forum  
L 405 2013 FFRR 5.0 SC
--------------------------------------------------------------
WINNER - 2009 �Best Avatar� Award
WINNER - 2009 Comedian Of The Year Award

Depends exactly what you want.

I didnt' own an X5 like WW, but test drove one in comparison to RRS.

X5 for me drives better than RRS but it is more like a jacked up estate.

The interior quality is better than RRS too.

As for performane, I suspect the X5 will also be significantly quicker and probably a bit more frugal.

Would I buy the X5? NO!

The RRS has an indefinable magice about it. It's a car that just makes you feel SOOOOO good behind the wheel, not to mention it is the best looking 4x4 around.

Hope that helps!!!

Oh yeah, don't even think about off roading in an X5!  Runner up - 2009 Best Avatar Award
Joint runner up - 2009 Outstanding Contribution Award
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Runner Up - 2008 Comedian Of The Year Award
Runner Up - 2008’s Funniest Incident

06 RRS TDV6 HSE, Java/Ebony, PTI, Running Boards, Privacy, S/C Grille/Vents, Stormers, Tasmods - GONE - (

S/C FFRR then?  Current

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2015 Audi RS6
2015 FFRR
2014 Bentley GTC V8
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2010 BMW X5
2006 FFRR SC
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The 4.8i X5 sounds better & performs better on the road than the RRS imho, but agree with the fact that the RRS has something special about it. It's better offroad and the cabin is a nicer place to be. People will also let you out of side turnings without having to push in

Believe me, I burn no candle for LR and certainly wouldn't turn down the X5, but if I was in your shoes, I'd be choosing the RRS  

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Supertrotter wrote:

Depends exactly what you want.

I didnt' own an X5 like WW, but test drove one in comparison to RRS.

X5 for me drives better than RRS but it is more like a jacked up estate.

The interior quality is better than RRS too.

As for performane, I suspect the X5 will also be significantly quicker and probably a bit more frugal.

Would I buy the X5? NO!

The RRS has an indefinable magice about it. It's a car that just makes you feel SOOOOO good behind the wheel, not to mention it is the best looking 4x4 around.

Hope that helps!!!

Oh yeah, don't even think about off roading in an X5!

mercuryl wrote:

Supertrotter wrote:

Depends exactly what you want.

I didnt' own an X5 like WW, but test drove one in comparison to RRS.

X5 for me drives better than RRS but it is more like a jacked up estate.

The interior quality is better than RRS too.

As for performane, I suspect the X5 will also be significantly quicker and probably a bit more frugal.

Would I buy the X5? NO!

The RRS has an indefinable magice about it. It's a car that just makes you feel SOOOOO good behind the wheel, not to mention it is the best looking 4x4 around.

Hope that helps!!!

Oh yeah, don't even think about off roading in an X5!

I agree entirely with this sentiment. The X5 will probably be faster, more economical and probably have less problems with the trim ........ It's probably a "better" car in many respects.

But, that doesn't mean it is more desirable. There are a lot of them around and they are driven by mums on the school run just once too often for me.

The RRS on the other hand is a "head turner" - simple as that.

It is {slightly} quicker at 6.4 sec. Fuel wise, expect 15.6 mpg mixed, 20 motorway so again {marginally} better. Interior wise, the BMW is terrible, it feels good, but looks awful and if it was anything like mine, it will go wrong OFTEN  L322 Big Daddy SUPERCHARGED 5.0 Autobiography - Here & Now!

5 series for the miles

RRS S/C factory built HST - Gone

45 others have been and gone!

I have just come from a 2003 4.6is BMW X5 to a 2005 s/c RRS

The X5 was faster and I felt it drove/handled better and the interior was better built/felt nicer.

the range rover sport however looks better and has alot more presance about it, you feel better driving it and there is a certain stigma that goes with the range rover sport, that if you have one you have made it

At the end of the day, I think we can clearly state it's down to personal taste  L322 Big Daddy SUPERCHARGED 5.0 Autobiography - Here & Now!

5 series for the miles

RRS S/C factory built HST - Gone

45 others have been and gone!

One thing i have noticed is that when i had my RRS and even now in my FFRR, all X5 drivers always seem to look at you with envy and you cant help but feel like you are reading their mind and knowing they feel inadeqate or not totally satisfied with the X5, then 6 months later you spot them in a RRS...point proven  Current

McLAren 720s
2019 G63 AMG
2018 Bentayga

---------------------------------------------
Previous

2019 AMG GTR
2018 Urban SVR
2018 Urban FFRR
2018 AMG E63s Edition1
2018 SVR Rejected from Stratstone Teesside !
2017 G63 AMG 463 Edition
2017 M3 CP
2017 C63s AMG Edition 1 Motorsport
2016 RRS SVR
2016 Bentley GT Speed 626
2015 Audi RS6
2015 FFRR
2014 Bentley GTC V8
2014 Audi RS7
2011 Lumma CLR GT558
2014 BMW M3 F80
2010 BMW X5
2006 FFRR SC
2005 RRS HSE