SUV shopping, R3V weigh in

[blocke]

Seven pages of noise: What did you purchase or decide upon?

Haha Really..look what I started.

We haven't decided upon anything for sure yet, much of this hinges upon if my wife transfers to a position closer to our house.
If the commute is eliminated, then we may lease something like the X3 (then maintenance, warranty isn't a concern anymore).
If she keeps the commute, then we will purchase.

Either way, she has opened up to the idea of the Honda Pilot, and is also looking at Nissan Murano, Jeep Grand Cherokee and a few others.

She isn't due to have the baby till May, and we wont need the car immediately after that, so we are still a few months out.

[M-technik-3]

Wife planning on going back to work or telecommuting? Reason I ask is that Kids are expensive! Child Care in some aspects can equal one salary.

I have two kids, a 17 year old and a 12 year old. Plus my current lady has twin 9 year olds.

[blocke]

She will be going back to work. Shes a special ed teacher, so just planning on changing to a district closer to home. Yeah we just started looking at child care..that shit is pure rape.
I work from home, so I am hoping that we may only need to use child care a few days a week. Have to wait and see...

[CabrioPunk]

now may be the better time to buy and pick from leftover 2011 models.

[Emre]

yeah right, I don't believe that for1 second without some pics??????? and 2 that you know of RIGHT!!!!

Both of them are close friends. I won't post their names without their permission, but here are the stories:

Older guy who lives in Rhode Island. Races a Spec E36. Bent the chassis of his X5 whole towing his Z3 M-coupe on an open trailer. Switched to an American pickup truck and closed trailer.

Younger guy who lives in Quebec. Instructor with the BMW Club. Bent the chassis of his X5 towing his E46 M3 in a closed trailer. Switched to a Cayenne and has had no trouble since.

I've been instructing with the BMW Club for 10+ years and I spend many weekends each year at the track. Sometimes as many as 30 days per season. Seen lots of people tow with lots of cars. I only had 3 close friends who towed with an X5 and 2 of them stopped because the frames were damaged. The third (who is active here on r3v, BTW) stopped because he switched to a dually. Maybe it's just a coincidence; or maybe the X5 isn't well suited to towing heavy loads.