BMW X3?
 

I have a few sporty cars with stick shifts that I alternate as daily drivers. I have no desire to drive anything without a clutch pedal. I am at a point I need to drive something with more than two seats due to different times toting the grandkids.

I want a small SUV, but something with some fun. I looked at Porsche Cayennes, but there is only one I can find for sale nationwide with a clutch pedal and they want almost double the normal price due to the demand for a stick model.

I stumbled across an early BMW X3 with a six speed manual. I have always thought of BMW’s to be wonderful in the drivers seat, but not all that durable or reliable.

Any knowledge here about BMW’s in general and X 3’s in particular? They are so cheap on the used market it makes me suspicious.

I would not recommend a BMW to anyone. If you get one make sure it has n52 engine. Stay away from n56.

Keep stumbling until you find a Toyota 4 Runner with a manual trans. The fun part of the ownership experience will be avoiding the need to sell your internal organs in order to keep it on the road.

Thanks Jim! I consider that advice conclusive. I think finding a fun to drive SUV is a hopeless search. Guess I’ll have to dig one of the 123’s out of the field.

Okay then, anyone know anything about Porsche Cayenne. There is a base model with a six speed manual for sale.

Complex, problematic, expensive to maintain…

How about a Mini Cooper Clubman? Reliability is roughly as execrable as a Cayenne, but they are available with a stick, and are a lot less expensive…

Appreciate the 4 Runner suggestion, but my late wife had one. Although it was incredibly durable and long lived, it had a solid straight axle in the back and was ver “tricky”, as my current wife would call it.

The later models may have received an independent rear. I will check into it.

I think the Cayenne is really nice and have reputation for acceptable reliability, but they are SOoooo heavy. I drove first generation V8 and was disappointed. It feels heavy and rides like a lumber wagon. The newer model with active suspension might be better.

If the Porsche were incredibly well handling with enough power to be fun, I might be able to wean myself from a clutch pedal……, maybe. Is there a fun to drive ML AMG?

Look at a Honda CRV with manual.

I had a Porsche Cayenne for a while. It drove very nicely with the automatic. The steering was just right. Unfortunately it was caught up in the vw dieselgate which took the dealer 6.5 weeks to fix. After that I decided to sell it having lost confidence in it.

Which generation Tom? I drove a first generation with a V8 and no active suspension. I don’t mind a firm ride if I get handling in return, but this one fell short. I am wondering if a second gen with active suspension would put a smile on my face.

Thanks Tom. I read your thread and started looking for a manual transmission Golf wagon and couldn’t find one. Do you still have it?

Also, did your Cayenne have the active suspension? If so, which setting did you normally drive withA.

The porsche was purchased when vw bought back my wagon.....I wish I had just kept it. The suspension was not active that I knew of though it was very nice to drive and the ride was good.

I got more thumbs up with that Porsche than any other driver car I have owned. The check out girls at McDonalds knew the Porsche badge.