I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan

"Dan" wrote in message
nk.net...
I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily commute
and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a Mercedes
but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan

Whatever floats your boat, I guess. :-)

Seriously, I can't offer any opinion or experience. I don't know what the
tow ratings of either are. Although we had an X5 for a couple of years, it
was not set up to tow nor did we ever try.

Speaking of BMWs .... you might get a kick out of this. Mrs.E. is taking
delivery of a Z4si Roadster on Monday. She decided she wanted something
"sporty" to drive and other than her pickup truck, she's hooked on BMWs. At
first she called me from the dealership and was going to get the Z4-M but I
talked her out of it. Too much car and only available in a 6 speed manual
that I know she would tire of quickly.

She thinks she's gonna race me against the Porsche. hehehehe.

Eisboch

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

On Sun, 05 Nov 2006 00:25:50 GMT, Dan
wrote:


I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.


Jumpin' Tree Frogs...

And I'm bitchin about the price of a 2006 F-250 diesel!! :)


There isn't that much of a difference!

Dan

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
. ..
On 11/4/2006 7:25 PM, Dan wrote:
I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily commute
and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a Mercedes
but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan


A 4.8 liter engine for a daily commuter? A fool and his money...

Depends on where and how far your commute is. These modern engines aren't a
Toyota Prius in terms of gas mileage, but they aren't that bad either
considering the performance they deliver.

Eisboch

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 19:43:36 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

She thinks she's gonna race me against the Porsche. hehehehe.

Take her up on it.

~~ snerk ~~

Most of the time I drive it like an old lady. I shift at or before 3000
rpm. The turbos don't kick in until 3000 rpm. But, once in a while it's
fun to nail it and when you do, it's like being launched off an aircraft
carrier.

Eisboch

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...

On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 20:13:11 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:


Most of the time I drive it like an old lady. I shift at or before 3000
rpm. The turbos don't kick in until 3000 rpm. But, once in a while it's
fun to nail it and when you do, it's like being launched off an aircraft
carrier.

I wonder - can you add NOX to it? :)

I've read that it's done ... quite often. The flat 6 engine in the 911 is
pretty much bullet proof and there are all kinds of both factory and
aftermarket upgrades to increase horsepower. Mine's stock at 420hp and I
feel no need for more. It's not that kind of a car, to me.

Eisboch

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...



Performance? Well, maybe you can use it in Montana. Not around here. Not
commuting.

That's true. I've forgotten. Actually, I very rarely had to drive in
commuter traffic for the past 25 years. My business was local (within 10
miles) and traffic was minimal because I traveled in the direction opposite
to the main flow. I always felt badly for the people driving from the South
Shore to Boston everyday. I could never do it. Got spoiled, I guess.

Eisboch

Dan wrote:
I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan

It's your money, but I wouldn't consider either of these to be an
acceptable towing vehicle. Their cars designed to look like something
else, don't be fooled. I would go with a domestic vehicle equipped with
the towing package. Towing is not easy on any vehicle, but using an
expensive vehicle like your talking about, that really isn't up to the
task, is foolish.
I'd get to know the service manager real well if I were you, your going
to be leaving some cash with him.

"Capt John" wrote in message
ups.com...

Dan wrote:
I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan

It's your money, but I wouldn't consider either of these to be an
acceptable towing vehicle. Their cars designed to look like something
else, don't be fooled. I would go with a domestic vehicle equipped with
the towing package. Towing is not easy on any vehicle, but using an
expensive vehicle like your talking about, that really isn't up to the
task, is foolish.
I'd get to know the service manager real well if I were you, your going
to be leaving some cash with him.


Just for kicks I looked up the tow capacities of a 2001 BMW X5 with the 4.4L
V8 and was surprised.
It was the only vehicle out of the 30 or so manufacturers that listed the
tow capacity in terms of transmission type, off road towing limitations and
maximum towing of a trailer without brakes. No other manufacturer breaks it
down like that. The ratings a

4.4L V8 with automatic transmission: 6000lbs
3.0L I6 with automatic transmission: 5000lbs
3.0L I6 with manual transmission: 6000lbs
Max towing weight without trailer brakes: (all) 1,650lbs
Max towing weight off-road with trailer brakes: 3,300lbs

I've seen many X5's on the road with a factory, receiver type hitch but
frankly I don't think I've ever seen one towing anything. It's interesting
though, that BMW rates them in this kind of detail, unlike other
manufacturers.

http://a178.g.akamai.net/7/178/8932/...owingguide.pdf

or: http://tinyurl.com/4wbcl

Eisboch

Harry Krause wrote:

On 11/4/2006 7:25 PM, Dan wrote:

I need to get a new tow vehicle that I can also use for the daily
commute and I've narrowed it down to two but that could always change.

'07 BMW X5 4.8 (limited info out right now)

or

'07 MB GL450

Any thoughts? I have an '04 X5 4.4 right now. I've never had a
Mercedes but I am impressed with what I see in the GL.

Thanks,
Dan



A 4.8 liter engine for a daily commuter? A fool and his money...

Both are very small V-8 engines and there are less efficient V-6's on
the road. The trip to my office is 18 miles so 1-2 mpg is nothing.

BTW - both are made in the US with union labor. Seems like just a few
weeks ago you were talking up some Japanese vehicles...