Q7 vs BMW X5
Hi folks
First of all please allow me to apologize for not writing in German, but being danish living in the Netherlands my German is most probably a lot worse than your english!!!
And - being Danish I could not find a forum "back home" since these cars cost in excess of 160.000 EUR in Denmark, so - here I am hoping that you will reply anyway (in German of course) .
I am currently driving an almost 10 year old Audi A6 avant 2.8 Quattro, and will be ordering a new car within the next 3-4 weeks. For a long time I was sure that it would be the Audi Q7 3.0 tdi, but then the new X5 came along. Having looked at both, testdriven both, compared them endlessly etc. I am not a lot further. The X5 clearly has the better engine (especially the SD!), but the Audi has the larger interior (7 seats and still a bit of boot-space, or 5 seats and a large boot).
Until a couple of days ago I was sure that the Q7 would eventually win the race, but I must admit that I am a bit disturbed about some negative threads on this forum mentioning chronical problems with the Q7. It somehow seems unacceptable that a car of this class (and price!!!) can not get rid of rainwater from the window of the drivers door.....
Another one that I have come across a couple of times is the rattling noises from (parts of) the interior - is that something that a lot of you have experienced?
And finally - as I have just opened a similar thread in the X5 forum, I also have to ask here whether some of you have done the same comparison as I am currently doing (Q7 3.0 tdi vs X5 3.0 sd) and what made you go for the Q7.
Thanks in advance - looking forward to reading your reactions!!!
22 Antworten
Hello Thedane,
I myself have done a lot of comparisons between SUVs before buying my Q7 in november 2006.
Here are the main reasons fo buying especially this SUV:
- good experiences with Audi as a brand (a good lokal dealer too)
- best design/ exterieur (Q7 versus the others)
- fine technical equipment of the Q7
- best handling (!) of this car.
May be the engine of the Mercedes ML (320) is a bit better too (so it seemed to me) but I never regretted my choice.
My Audi Q7 has no main problems, no noises. The problem of the rainwater at the window seems not such a problem to me (but it's real).
Richard
Hi Thedane,
as driving the Q7 with the 3.0 litre engine since April 2007 I can only report positive points. Inspite of a little irritation at the pick-up at Neckarsulm (not 100% fitting rear bumper - was corrected afterwards) I have no any of the herein or at other places described problems.
In my opinion, you can not objectivily compare this two cars, because they are both playing in the same league and every car have some plus and some minus points in the personal view of everybody (I'm sure in the X5 forum you'll find also persons, who are not satisfied or have some technical problems). So at last you should decide for that car, in which you feel best and most comfortable.
My decision was taken because of the good handling (like a smaller sporty car), the better quality of interior and, of course, because of my personal taste regarding design and personal feeling (I cannot feel well in a BMW cockpit).
You're right, the engines of BMW are great but this is only one point out of the whole (e. g. the air suspension (complete) by Audi is much more better than the only front air suspension of BMW). You should decide at the basis of the whole car. And this you only can do after driving both cars alot - best every car for one weekend or longer (if you have the right dealers for this).
Wish you all the best for your decision!
MM
Noch Fragen? Ich suche noch mein Wörtenbuch, dann gehts gleich los mit Antworten!
Zitat:
Original geschrieben von Thedane
but I must admit that I am a bit disturbed about some negative threads on this forum mentioning chronical problems with the Q7. It somehow seems unacceptable that a car of this class (and price!!!) can not get rid of rainwater from the window of the drivers door.....
Another one that I have come across a couple of times is the rattling noises from (parts of) the interior - is that something that a lot of you have experienced?
As a conclusion you may also say that the Q7 enthusiast seem to be very critical and expect a high class quality standard ;-)
As MartiMark hast stated try to decide for one car (the decision wont be bad anyway) by seeing the car as a whole.
I have not had the opportunity to go for X5 since the FL was not on the market in May 2007.
Today I would have taken this car into deeper consideration.
One minus of X5 experience might be that the 3.0 d/sd engine has had major temperature and cooling issues (esp. the early ones). Could be that BMW has already found a solution.
JGOK, Du kannst Ihm auch auf Deutsch schreiben.....;-)
God nytar!
Frank
Ähnliche Themen
hi thedane
writing in english is absolutely fine buddy, nothing to apologize for..
some issues have already been discussed further up, but here's my point of view:
u say "Having looked at both, testdriven both, compared them endlessly etc. I am not a lot further."
to be honest.. i don't think u can do much more! AND: seems to me like u made a decision already, but then revised it because of some topics in this board, where people complain about problems with their cars.
i can't - in fact no one can - tell you rather to pick the Q7 or the X5... both are outstanding cars in every aspect but i wouldn't base the decision on fears of issues which MIGHT - but most likely NOT - occur... i never had any problem with my Q7- everything went well till now.
base ur decision on ur feelings on ur heart, not only on rational reasons. if one car was obviously much better than the other, everyone would buy it, right? but it's not... so i think u can't make a mistake buy choosing any of them.
sooo.... last word: i'd buy my Q7 again- anytime...
Hello `the dane` and welcome to the forums,
As far as i am concerned, i cannot report big problems. I had some problems with the heating and some annoying sounds from the front doors because of some loose cables within the doors. it was fixed within a week, so i dont think u can call this a real problem. Maybe some people in germany tend to pay more attention to negative aspects than to the positive ones and that we germans tend to be perfectionists. For a few years Audi has been wearing the crown for best interior quality so AUDI customers`expectations are growing year by year. As a conclusion they are much more disappointed if somethings wrong than many customers driving other brands, who are used to problems more or less. Also, i understand that if u pay 70k+ Euro for a car u want its perfect as can be. But its still a car with a hell lot of technology. And if u cruise through the forums u can find customers moaning a lot about the X5 and ML as well. I am daily reading all kinds of threads in many forums on here. Sometimes i think The X5 (E70) forum is much more positive about the car than the Q7 but i think its because the community has grown over the years since the pre model (the E53) and they have left most of the stuff (moaning about new luxury models to get attention on forums) behind them and are talking more about the pleasures of driving their SUV.. If u read the E53 forums closely, it seems that its kind of a copy of the Q7 forums nowadays. And the old X5 wasnt a bad car at all. So its kind of "dont trust the newest technology" -kind of thing sometimes to me and maybe being more critical with brand new models. The E70 is the 2nd X5 and therefore kind of an evolution (also in the mind), so customers maybe are kind of not too critical, because they think the new model must be an improvement, BMW must have done a better job and of course in reality they have done a better job, i mean techology is improving very fast and u learn from mistakes, but so does AUDI during the model phase of the Q7 . I am not saying that the Q7 is an absolute "problem free zone", but u can find customers having a hell lot of trouble with their ML or X5. Some people are cursed with their cars. But thats totally normal. I think u made up ur mind about the problems mentioned on here and therefore i would say, that u should rent a Q7 for a few days to find out if u can confirm these problems.
As far as i can tell u i am totally happy with my car and enjoy every single minute driving it and yes, i can say, it makes my life more beautiful!. Maybe its because i am more relaxed and have this "over-all-look" on all car manufacturers and SUVs. In general when i am about to buy a car I am not hoping to get a 100% car, otherwise i would wait a few years and buy a Q7 3 years after the initial launch of the model. If u buy a model which is launched not long ago, u are a in a way beta tester, but thats the way its is. On the other hand u are driving a car which is very rare on the streets and gives u the feeling of having the newest technology and design. As for me, I just dont want to throw money out of the window and want to get value for the money and i can only tell ya, if u compare the prices and discounts for the SUVs und wont get more SUV, space and luxury for ur money. if God wants u to get a rubbish car u will get it, no matter if u have chosen a Q7, X5, ML or any other car in the world . 🙂
Hi there
Great that most of us have done the same review (X5, ML,GL,VWT etc). I have purchased the Q7 4.2 TDI and there is nothing better on the market at the moment, in every aspect. I have found that the tech and motor etc make up about 40% of the decision to purchase the other 60% is emotional and lifestyle driven.
Your choice at the end of the day, but am sure you will agree there are only a limited amount of threads listed in this forum that state NEVER A Q7 !! It is truly a great car and I can only state that if you are not sure take another week to think it through and you will find out that the Q7 will come out tops. There are always teething problems, but if you value quality and comfort the X5 cannot hold up to the benchmark the Q7 has set.
I am sure you will make the "right" choice, however send us some photos of the Q7 you decide to call yours !!
Good luck !
Hi everybody, and thanks a lot for all the answers....and the moral support during these difficult times of choosing a luxury SUV??!?!! 🙂
Thanks to your comments and answers, my feeling is confirmed - there are a few unlucky people that have had problems, but on top of that a large majority that enjoy driving their cars and have no (or at least only very few minor) problems.
And yes suworow - the choice is probably made already as you say, and it is just a matter of doing it. I can not say that I need the space of the Q7, but the freedom of having lots of boot space or 7 seats and still a bit appeals a lot to me. In the case of the X5 it is either a realitively large boot (marginally bigger than what I currently have in the stone-age A6....) or the 7 seats, simply because the basic car is different if it is a 7-seater.
And the AAS - have never driven a car that comfortable, and since we will be using it mainly on the Autobahn (NL to DK and back) I am therefore more concerned about the comfort than very sporty driving characteristics......which I by the way think that the Q7 has anyway. The testdrives certainly gave me the impression of a big car that handles as easy as a small car.
But - how is the handling in the city...parking it in narrow spaces etc? Do you guys experience major problems with that?
And to catchmyshadow - I am probably a bit of a German nature when it comes to quality and it would annoy me a lot to spend a lot of money on a luxury car and then have trivial problems like rattling noises etc.
So - a lot closer to a decision I feel, and the rest is pretty much down to the configuration of the car - not really sure whether that fits into this thread, so I will save for next time......but I am of course open for your comments and experience on that as well. I do intend to tick most of the boxes, and maybe even the entertainment system now available on the German market.
Thanks a lot again - will let you know how things develop when they develop.....
JGOK, Du kannst Ihm auch auf Deutsch schreiben.....;-)
God nytar!
Frank
And Frank......Godt Nytår to you as well..thanks for your comments as well!
@the dane, i understand that little sounds can have big effects on u 🙂
anyway i have a very good connection to my local AUDI dealer, he does everything to satisfy ur needs and helps u out as quick as possible. I think in many terms its more important to have a good dealer than the slightly better car according to test drives (not saying the X5 is better) or the biggest discount u can get in the world etc.
I woulnt buy a car which is great and not being backed up by a dealer who has a great service.
The dealer and service is as much important as a good car, cause i know how it feels "standing out in the rain" with a 70k+ car, if u know what i mean. Greets to Mercedes.
Therefore i rather have little problems being fixed through my dealer in a week, than major problems with a car and my dealer not taking care of it all year long.
Zitat:
Original geschrieben von Thedane
But - how is the handling in the city...parking it in narrow spaces etc?
Hello Thedane,
I am example for the fact that even a woman can park the cow* in the city without problems.
My car has up to now no scratches 😁
Greetings
Ewa
*cow = Q7 🙂
Zitat:
Original geschrieben von Thedane
But - how is the handling in the city...parking it in narrow spaces etc? Do you guys experience major problems with that?
Well, I just quote my wife saying "Driving Q is like driving a Polo". Ok, in real life she's driving a Volvo V90, slightly larger than a Polo ... 😉 btw: the only scratch in our Q has been caused by myself 🙂
You should really not worry about handling and parking.
My short story of desicion:
Regarding comfort as an important/major aspect, I quickly forgot about the X5 after testdriving it; the AAS is just a must to me.
Regarding quality as another important aspect, I quickly forgot about the ML after testdriving it.
Looking to the price list, I quickly forgot about the GL before testdriving it.
From 2002 to 2007 I have been driving twice a VWT - I never thought about a third one.
The XC90 felt to me like driving a front-wheel-driven car - I don't like that.
And today? Some minor problems, that's true, but the strong feeling of fine decision.
jm2c
Zitat:
Original geschrieben von Thedane
But - how is the handling in the city...parking it in narrow spaces etc? Do you guys experience major problems with that?
Audi parking system advanced....
it's not a MUST HAVE, though its a useful feature in my opinion
If you're looking for a car that handles well in the city, buy a Smart.
Neither a Q7 nor an ML nor an X5 are built as a city-car. I have a Q7, for drivng into the city we have a VW Caddy - or I take the bus or a taxi. But since this is only a very rare occasion, that was nothing that prevented me from buying the Q7.
So: Whatever car you buy, either Q7 or X5 or ML, is just a question of which one YOU like best - and probably a question of which brand offers the best dealer close to your home.
Quality differences - there are none. Every car has its mistakes, they're just different...😉