Gah... Not sure what to do.

[Kruzen]

yeah when I was looking for my ix there were only two in the state for sale.. the one I bought and a beater that had a salvage title! :P

how do you like the ix by the way?

i've heard that BMW's impelementation of AWD isn't exactly the best.. and i donn't know if i'd like not beign able to throw around my tail end ;)

[nando]

I love my ix. in the autocross yesterday I was also only 1 second slower than an 89 325i and 3 seconds faster than another 89 325i (both of which were experienced drivers, I'm in the novice class with only one previous and very sucky autox). Also, my tires are pretty much gone, plus I have a heavy 4 door AWD slusbox :P I placed 4th out of 30 in the novice category, less than a second behind 3rd place (a mazda miata), and way ahead of many cars that are much faster than mine!

i've heard that BMW's impelementation of AWD isn't exactly the best.. and i donn't know if i'd like not beign able to throw around my tail end ;)

where'd you hear that? it may have been surpassed recently with all the electronic gizmogadgetry, but at the time it was far superior to any other AWD system, and still quite capable. You won't find any AWD car like the ix with it's cost vs performance ratio. Try buying a WRX (or any newish subaru) for $5k! Older audis used a manual locking differential, and might be better for getting unstuck, but the ix's full time AWD and VC center diff are much better for high performance driving. Sure there are now cars that are much faster with "better" awd systems, but not for anywhere near as cheap!

seriously, ask anyone who's driven one extensively what they think about it's performance. I don't think you'll find anyone dissapointed by it.

and throwing the tail end around isn't impossible either, it's just harder to go too far and spin out. With proper weight transfer and throttle/brake inputs, rotating the car becomes second nature. no I can't do a burn out, the whole point of AWD is having lots of traction! ;)

[Kruzen]

I love my ix. in the autocross yesterday I was also only 1 second slower than an 89 325i and 3 seconds faster than another 89 325i (both of which were experienced drivers, I'm in the novice class with only one previous and very sucky autox). Also, my tires are pretty much gone, plus I have a heavy 4 door AWD slusbox :P I placed 4th out of 30 in the novice category, less than a second behind 3rd place (a mazda miata), and way ahead of many cars that are much faster than mine!

i've heard that BMW's impelementation of AWD isn't exactly the best.. and i donn't know if i'd like not beign able to throw around my tail end ;)

where'd you hear that? it may have been surpassed recently with all the electronic gizmogadgetry, but at the time it was far superior to any other AWD system, and still quite capable. You won't find any AWD car like the ix with it's cost vs performance ratio. Try buying a WRX (or any newish subaru) for $5k! Older audis used a manual locking differential, and might be better for getting unstuck, but the ix's full time AWD and VC center diff are much better for high performance driving. Sure there are now cars that are much faster with "better" awd systems, but not for anywhere near as cheap!

seriously, ask anyone who's driven one extensively what they think about it's performance. I don't think you'll find anyone dissapointed by it.

and throwing the tail end around isn't impossible either, it's just harder to go too far and spin out. With proper weight transfer and throttle/brake inputs, rotating the car becomes second nature. no I can't do a burn out, the whole point of AWD is having lots of traction! ;)

I heard it from my brother actually.. He has a '91 Eagle Talon TSi (AWD, got about 300HP and 17lbs of boost)

its AWD works amazingly.

[bimmerphile]

definitely not a diamond in the rough.

Keep looking.