jwong1977

Asking here for unbiased advice: I'm looking for a family SUV for occasional road trips. Not looking for a fun car, since I have an S2000 and a 993. Want to spend in the 30k range. I'm comparing a 2017 Lexus GX460 with 50k miles to a 2018 BMW X3 M40i (the one with the Supra Engine) with 50k miles. The costs: Lexus is 38k, the BMW is 33k. The Lexus will still be worth something by the time I'm done, the BMW will likely be worth less than my shirt. My heart goes to the M40i, my mind goes to the Lexus. Which way to go? Thank you in advance for your advice.

Other car in my garage (wife's car) is a Tesla Model Y Long Range.
Family of 3, daughter is 6.

Things I like about the Lexus:
- Expected reliability
- It can tow my S2000/993 to the track
- Gets almost no attention at all
- Likely to still be worth something by the time I'm done with it
- Its very tall
- Can go offroad (I've never done that before but maybe I'll try it if I get this car)
Things I do not like about the Lexus:
- Horrible gas mileage
- Interior is pretty old design compared to the BMW
- Tech is from 10-15 years ago
Things I like about the M40i
- The B58 engine, I've heard that its likely to be one of BMW's best engines, good enough that Toyota put it in the new Supra
- The interior is much more modern
- More fun to drive compared to the Lexus
- Much more fuel efficient, while being significantly faster vehicle
Things I do not like about the M40i
- Perceived lack of reliability of everything aside from the engine itself (I haven't owned a modern BMW in a while so I may be out of date with this)
- I may care about it enough that it won't be as carefree of an experience compared to the Lexus
- I cannot go offroad with it as much (again, I've not done this before so I don't know if its something I'll really be missing)

E30M3

My opinion is to go for the Lexus.

SpineConnection

its like 993, cant never go wrong with gx.

good luck with your search.

Mr.Woolery

Lexus is the smart bet.

sacman

Lexus all days

71-3.0-911

X3 would be way more fun but it sounds like you've got the fun car side nailed.

I'm going to side with the other folks here and say Lexus is the winner. Won't leave you stranded and requires much less maintenance and down time. For a family hauler, that was #1 for me. If the off-road bug bites you, I'd upgrade that Lexus to a Land Cruiser. There are a lot of folks that have LCs and 911s running around here.

993Auto

Secret alternative:
2010-2013 LR4 (v8 engine) [do not buy 2014-2016 v6 engine]

Little less reliability, look up timing chain issues, but its a one and done kinda service
Good forum support like 993 on LR4 too

Edit: Can retrofit screen into a CarPlay / Android Auto compatible display

StevenGilroy

WE have a 2017 X3, with M Sport package, nice car, but I don't like it. The turbo motor is good, but poor mileage, costs for service and parts are crazy. Get a Lexus/Toyota. Or go with a new Mazda CX5, it does everything better than either.

m32

Lexus all the way. Not trying to bash any BMW owners here (as I’ve owned a few myself) but I always felt that BMWs are all-around good cars but nothing about them are great. The Lexus may be the boring/safe bet but reliability and resale can’t really be beat

Edwin

3healey

My wife’s dd is a 2016 GX460. I don’t like it, but she does.
Heres why I don’t like it: It’s a double handful in a stiff, gusty crosswind, my Ram 2500 diesel gets better highway mileage (and the Lexus requires 93 octane), I’m not comfortable in the seats on long trips (I’m 5’9”, 165lbs) and it lacks some of the silly, little amenities that should be standard on a high end luxury suv, like heated steering wheel (I know), predictive backup camera, ventilated front seats, (my Ram has all three).
Some positive things about the GX: the Lexus/Toyota V8 is superb and mostly trouble free. Routine dealer maintenance is expensive, but thorough. Resale value is pretty good, and the ride is as good as any suv I’ve had, with the exception of my 2001 Yukon Denali (best suv I’ve ever owned in every regard).
I know absolutely nothing about the Bimmer, so I can’t give an opinion on which is better for you. I just know that I don’t much like the GX.
Let us know which one you choose and why. Good luck.

NC TRACKRAT

Suggest you look at a Ford F150 Super Crew Cab with the EcoBoost engine. Put a lockable cap on the bed and you have luggage space out the kazoo. Great tow vehicle, roomy, excellent visibility, good gas mileage, seats four or five comfortably. My wife prefers ours over her Macan Turbo. Everybody needs a truck!

clib

I have a 2013 landcruiser. Winter daily driver and occassional tow trips with it in summer to the track. Similar qualities to the lexus. Its rugged for sure, not a fun to drive car but i love the reliability and utilitarian nature and the classic aspects of it. I tend to keep things a long time like the 993. If thats not what your after dont bother. My wife almost wont drive it because its so lumbering. And i get 13mpg all winter long which is disgusting but i dont drive many miles, so its not a big expense. Will probably keep it forever which is in keeping with the type of person who enjoys them. Sometimes i wish I werent that type of person.

pp000830

The BMW will be a money pit for servicing once out of warranty. The Lexus will have manageable long-term costs.
This mostly has to do with how BMW USA vs Toyota USA views customers in their dealer servicing arms.

jwong1977

Thank you all for the thoughtful responses, I knew other 993 owners wouldn't disappoint with great feedback.

Many of you have garages I could only dream of. I still haven't made up my mind but will follow up when I do. A part of me believes this is the worst time to make any largish purchase and I'd prefer not to part with these funds, but I can't use my 993 as a family car for much longer.

. I am also the type of person who keeps cars a very long time. I had a 2007 BMW 328 that I kept until it was totaled earlier this year by a person running a red light. It was my first nice car, reasonably reliable and I was quite proud of it, even after it was very old and newer models came out. I even learned how to wrench on it.

I never thought of it this way, thanks for your feedback. This is an interesting angle.

jwong1977

I hadn't considered crosswind, thank you for your generous feedback. I grew up with no trucks and have never owned any. The GX would be my first foray into body on frame 4x4. My perception is that the bigger American body on frame SUVs are likely out of my price range, but I'll look around and see what I find. Thanks again!