[arsenal55]

Hey everyone. Looking to see if some of you guys have some life experience to share. I lease a G80 (long story short, small business owner so it has advantages) that I plan to hopefully buy out at lease end. I'm married with a toddler (maybe one more on the way soon). We're leaning X5, X7, Lexus TX, GX, Toyota Grand Highlander type SUV and trading in the wife's car.

The G99 changes things though. I'd think it has X5 interior size/space (perhaps not cargo "height") and would work for a family of 3-4. I see some RS6s driving around yearly in Chicagoland and see a guy at my gym with two car seats in his. Practical me liked the idea of leasing a mid-sized, "reliable" SUV to the wife's liking and buying it out at lease end. Enthusiast me likes the idea of an M3 and M5 in the same garage. Could always just keep wife's SUV (2019 Tiguan) for bad weather/long hauls/groceries, etc.

Anyone here thinking too the G99 can be the ultimate parent car? TIA!

[danniexi]

what are your priorities?

with my first child I had an F80 M3 that I shared with my wife for family duties. it was more than enough to carry the three of us as well as all of our belongings. when the second one came, the interior was "ok", but the luggage space was lacking. it was doable for a year, until I bit the bullet and got an X3M to replace it.

when it comes to interior space, i'm sure the G99 will be MORE than enough for a family of four (passenger space, rear space with two car seats, etc). however, judging by the specs of the touring, the trunk capacity of 500 liters IS lacking in my opinion, especially for such a large vehicle. to put it into perspective, an X3 has 550 liters and an X5 has 650 liters. if you'll be lugging around a lot of crap, especially with a new born who will need a diaper bag and stroller at a minimum, a G99 might be a bit tight for the first year or two. easily possible, but you'd have an easier time with a vehicle that can accommodate more boot space and not worry about it.

at the end of the day, it's what you feel is most important. you're already a dad of one and have your own personal experience. if you think the boot space of a G99 will be enough for both your toddler and a new born, then sure, the new touring would be a great option for the family. if you feel you DONT want to compromise on luggage space and are the type of parent who likes to bring everything with them, there are other options.

[masd79]

I was suppose to be a g99 buyer and have the first allocation and backing out to go to g90. My wife and GenZ kidscalled me an UNC and didn’t approve. I still think the wagon looks bad ass.

[arsenal55]

Originally Posted by danniexi

what are your priorities?

with my first child I had an F80 M3 that I shared with my wife for family duties. it was more than enough to carry the three of us as well as all of our belongings. when the second one came, the interior was "ok", but the luggage space was lacking. it was doable for a year, until I bit the bullet and got an X3M to replace it.

when it comes to interior space, i'm sure the G99 will be MORE than enough for a family of four (passenger space, rear space with two car seats, etc). however, judging by the specs of the touring, the trunk capacity of 500 liters IS lacking in my opinion, especially for such a large vehicle. to put it into perspective, an X3 has 550 liters and an X5 has 650 liters. if you'll be lugging around a lot of crap, especially with a new born who will need a diaper bag and stroller at a minimum, a G99 might be a bit tight for the first year or two. easily possible, but you'd have an easier time with a vehicle that can accommodate more boot space and not worry about it.

at the end of the day, it's what you feel is most important. you're already a dad of one and have your own personal experience. if you think the boot space of a G99 will be enough for both your toddler and a new born, then sure, the new touring would be a great option for the family. if you feel you DONT want to compromise on luggage space and are the type of parent who likes to bring everything with them, there are other options.

Thanks! I just blindly assumed the G99 would have similar cargo capacity to an X5. I guess the big question is - how does the M5 touring compare to the X5's boot width-length wise? Factoring height of course the SUVs will kill the sedan/wagon/estate/saloon. Width and length across the flat surface is what I need to know.

Another factor - I'm thinking of keeping our 2019 VW Tiguan as a beater. That has more than enough space for another kid. For a compact SUV, it's huge. The issue I have with that is do I really need 3 cars? Absolutely not. Then again, 2 will be paid off and 1 will be a business lease.

Practicality and sensibility would dictate getting an SUV every time. Long term reliability of the drivetrain is still TBD too.

[danniexi]

Originally Posted by arsenal55

I guess the big question is - how does the M5 touring compare to the X5's boot width-length wise? Factoring height of course the SUVs will kill the sedan/wagon/estate/saloon. Width and length across the flat surface is what I need to know.

actually that's a very good point. i guess height wise it's not really that important unless frequent long distance driving (e.g. family road trips) is required. that being said, no idea when it comes to dimensions in terms of length and width. i havent really found anything with the G61 Touring and i believe the G99 has a smaller capacity because of the hybrid drivetrain.

guess we'll have to see until we have more concrete information.

[Carac]

For the few times you'll need the extra space there's always the roof box option. The G99 will be replacing my '18 E63. It's been an awesome family hauler for nearly 7 years. The new M5 should be also.

[arsenal55]

Gorgeous. May I ask - how baby kids and how old? Was she able to handle two young ones?

[arsenal55]

Originally Posted by danniexi

actually that's a very good point. i guess height wise it's not really that important unless frequent long distance driving (e.g. family road trips) is required. that being said, no idea when it comes to dimensions in terms of length and width. i havent really found anything with the G61 Touring and i believe the G99 has a smaller capacity because of the hybrid drivetrain.

guess we'll have to see until we have more concrete information.

Would love to get that info!

[Crazy1323]

I’ll be your huckleberry!

I have two kids (eight and six) and a Newfoundland (big fluffy dog) and drive an RS6.

A wagon is an awesome family hauler. I can haul tons of stuff with the seats down, or can haul the whole family (dog included). The other day we went for a walk around a big lake. I put both kids, their scooters, and the dog all in the car no problem.

My RS6 is pretty modded, so the other day on the highway we pulled on a Urus HARD. I just imagine his thoughts as he looks through my back glass and sees a giant Newfy head staring at him.

[borys]

I've had X5 50i (2019) and the second row space is very limited. I then upgraded to X7 M50i and never had a better vehicle. It does everything family needs, and more when you would like to have a bit of fun driving. I am on my second X7 M50i right now.
I know the G99 is very tempting. I would love to have it too as a family car. Figure out what's more important for your family, test drive both and then make a decision.

[arsenal55]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Sensibility would say to trade in my wife's car and get an X5 of some sort (40, PHEV, M60), Lexus GX or TX, or an X7 or the like. Trying to sell the wife on her primary car being a wagon is tough. I'd keep my M3 as DD. With the M5 I'd see no use in trading/selling out Tiguan as it could be there as a true beater/hauler. With that comes the thought of "why have 3 cars? So needless."

I'd love to see a 5 series touring of any kind to get a sense of its practicality and space vs a mid-sized SUV.

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by arsenal55

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Sensibility would say to trade in my wife's car and get an X5 of some sort (40, PHEV, M60), Lexus GX or TX, or an X7 or the like. Trying to sell the wife on her primary car being a wagon is tough. I'd keep my M3 as DD. With the M5 I'd see no use in trading/selling out Tiguan as it could be there as a true beater/hauler. With that comes the thought of "why have 3 cars? So needless."

I'd love to see a 5 series touring of any kind to get a sense of its practicality and space vs a mid-sized SUV.

My wife has a Lexus TX 550h+ (terrible name, but it is the PHEV version). That thing is AWESOME. In 6 months she has used 3/4 of a tank of gas. We love her TX and I highly recommend it. It is a car designed for hauling a family around.

[blake6551]

Depends how many kids you have. The G99 backseat will likely be a lot tighter than an X5. Will it work, yes, but it's not ideal. I just moved from an F95 X5MC to an i7, purely for the backseat room even though I wanted to go M5. I tested out an i5 m60 and the backseat was terrible.

[subterFUSE]

I think a 5 series is fine for young children. But teenagers probably need more back seat room. I much prefer taking my friends to dinner in my Audi S8 or my old Mercedes S class. Much more comfortable back seats in a full size sedan.

[B-1Pilot]

Originally Posted by arsenal55

Anyone here thinking too the G99 can be the ultimate parent car? TIA!

Yes, Absolutely. I think that is also why the Germans design such powerful wagons. I lived over in Europe for a couple of years working at NATO HQ. One of my German colleagues once explained how high powered tourings fit in their social standing -- If you are young and successful you have a powerful coupe - porche/Merc/smaller BMWs/or one of those 4 ringed volkswagens. But if you are successful, and have a family too, you need a vehicle like you described to carry your family in luxury and speed -- and these bespoke wagons will blow past everyone on the autobahn.

This is exactly what I want - high speed, high comfort (for me and my family), torque on demand.

I'm gonna put bars on the roof of my G99 -- for bikes, other toys, and maybe even for a travel box.

I'll keep my F90 as a daily driver.

[Alan l.]

I plan to use the G99 as my family car just like the F95 I currently have. The only area where the Touring will lack is the trunk height compared to my X5M but that actually doesn't impact me because I never like loading my trunk to the point it blocks my vision to see out the back window on long road trips. If I need extra cargo I can just throw on my roof box which might fit inside my garage mounted on the G99 (its too tall on my X5M)

[arsenal55]

Originally Posted by Alan l.

I plan to use the G99 as my family car just like the F95 I currently have. The only area where the Touring will lack is the trunk height compared to my X5M but that actually doesn't impact me because I never like loading my trunk to the point it blocks my vision to see out the back window on long road trips. If I need extra cargo I can just throw on my roof box which might fit inside my garage mounted on the G99 (its too tall on my X5M)

Thanks again everyone. Alan I, these are my thoughts exactly. Another factor I love (like the comment re. the TX 550) is wife has a total commute (home to daycare to work to daycare to home on the worst of days where she has daycare drop off and pickup) of slightly over 20 miles. The M5 can do that on electric.

[Crazy1323]

Originally Posted by arsenal55

Thanks again everyone. Alan I, these are my thoughts exactly. Another factor I love (like the comment re. the TX 550) is wife has a total commute (home to daycare to work to daycare to home on the worst of days where she has daycare drop off and pickup) of slightly over 20 miles. The M5 can do that on electric.

Relative to its size on the outside, the TX also has an insane amount of space inside. The TX has about 40% more room than the X5 and about 10% more room than the X7.

In real world driving we get about 40-45 electric miles out of the TX.

[DocWeatherington]

Another option keep the M3, get an X7 with the v8... its fast, tons of room and a good driver. Way more space than you need but will get the flexibility if family comes to town or you need lots of room for gear.

[matowi]

Originally Posted by arsenal55

Thanks for the replies, everyone. Sensibility would say to trade in my wife's car and get an X5 of some sort (40, PHEV, M60), Lexus GX or TX, or an X7 or the like. Trying to sell the wife on her primary car being a wagon is tough. I'd keep my M3 as DD. With the M5 I'd see no use in trading/selling out Tiguan as it could be there as a true beater/hauler. With that comes the thought of "why have 3 cars? So needless."

I'd love to see a 5 series touring of any kind to get a sense of its practicality and space vs a mid-sized SUV.

Bud...

just go get an X5M. You'll get the performance and the size to fit your driving pleasures and your family's space requirements. With two young kids, the rear bench will be way too roomy anyway, the boot will swallow anything you want to throw at it, and the performance will leave most desires satisfied. It looks, drives and feels like a genuine M product. And, considering you already admit the option of an SUV, there hardly is a better choice out there

If you want a family-friendly option, and don't mind the added sitting height, it's hard to beat an SUV

Since you want a performance oriented car, you won't mind the slightly less cosseting (but by no means harsh or uncomfortable) suspension - it's all for the benefit of your constant smiles while driving a bit quicker

Since you're in the BMW forums, no Merc or Audi will satisfy (Cayenne Turbo might be a great option if you can stomach the badge-premium on the invoice)

Performance-wise you're most likely looking at very similar real life performance in most driving situations. Just think how hard you'd need to be pushing that G99 to leave the X5M in the dust

Plus, you limit your risk. The current X5 is a reliable, tested platform. And has no electric engines or batteries to worry about. Who knows what reliability surprises await those who go for G90/G99 from the early production lots. If you can wait a year or two, the G99 may become a more interesting option (expecting that most pressing issues will have been ironed out by then)

[bmfanatic]

Are you a big guy? If so you should test drive the x5m before you pull the trigger. I’m 6’1 225# and I hated the seats. Sold the x5m after 5 months mostly because of this. M3/4/5 seats are more comfy to me