[strongdeo]

As an alternative to an E90 you can try a used X6 twin turbo diesel. So! I borrowed one from my local Sytner garage today for 6 hours to drive today.

Yes I know it is so BIG so HEAVY so HIGH up so WEIRD-LOOKING that it cannot feel like a real driving machine. And it is all of those things, big, heavy and tall and how shall I put it... very distinctive in it's looks.

But I'll tell you what, in such rainy conditions, it was chucking it down, the body control was awesome. It gripped the tarmac like nothing, better than an E90, it kept very flat, puts my wifes A6 quattro crap to absolute shame. The A6 is so rubbish.

The x6 has DPC which is like a limited slip diff for X drive BMWs. A little icon on the display shows when the DPC is sending unequal amount of torque to the wheels - normally when you leave a roundabout high on the power or exiting out of a give way junction. It worked seamlessly and probably kicked in more today because it was so wet, in normal dry conditions the chassis would have handled it easily. Compared to this the X5 relies on the traction control to cut the power (this slows down the progress) and of course the x5 silhouette is much higher which makes it less streamlined to cut thru the air.

So, for a bit more money to a brand new E90 you can get a used X6. It is a different drive the E90 has an awesonely lithe balance and feel whereas the X6 is so much more brutish.

By the way the engine for the 335d is very well suited, the gobs of torque easily can handle the sheer weight of the X6.

The other thing is that compared to the E90 the X6 is a rare sight on the roads, I have only seen teo.