THE ULTIMATE CAR GUIDE

The Hunt for Santa's Sleigh Verdict! Santa has 24 hours left and Myk Belmonte saves the day by offering a last choice for the ride that could make kids around the world happy. Santa asked. But, you'll love the utility and space that it provides. Then again, there is more than that, and you'll be surprised with what would Santa pick. See the verdict after the X3 picture at the end of this article! If the formula of creating compact SUVs with sedans as their base is successful when it comes to mainstream brands such as Honda, Subaru, and Toyota, what more if luxury brands have one on their line up? Lexus started this trend back in 1998 (a year earlier for the twin named Toyota Harrier) with their RX300 that is based on the Lexus ES sedan, basically a glorified and more expensive Toyota Camry. It may cause some stir on this statement, while the Land Rover Freelander arrived a year earlier (and sold at the same time with the Harrier), the Lexus sparked the market and had German brands develop theirs.

Filipino Bimmer fans had to wait until late 2004 for the arrival of the X3 in our shores. Initially, it was offered with a gasoline engine but a mid cycle refresh in 2007 had the 2.0 diesel engine paired with a stick (it was only in its category to offer one) than an automatic box. Finally in 2008, the 2.0 can be ordered with an AT transmission as well the 3.0 diesel is available. Enough of engine stories, this waved goodbye in 2011 for the F25 chassis. Fancy a 3 Series but worry that it cannot survive floods nor the dirt roads to your hacienda? Then a second hand X3 is the prudent choice in this case, with units costing between P1,200,000-P2,500,000 which ranges from different engines to vehicle amenities. A wiser decision would be checking out your nearest BMW dealer and ask if they have pre-owned X3's, since they do have a limited warranty and these units went through a thorough inspection. Owning a German vehicle could be a pleasurable experience but have its components break down it would be a huge hassle.

Have the engine overheat regularly, electronic gadgets fail on you, and the dashboard crack due to our tropical climate, prepare to shell out a huge sum for these problems. So from the start, inspect the unit well and have them repaired before taking possession. Do not forget to fill up with fuel from reputable gasoline stations with premium gasoline as the preference. The X3 is definitely not a shrunken X5 nor a raised 3 Series Touring, but rather it carries styling cues that do not come together. The black bumpers and lower body cladding do not go in harmony, especially if you are considering an earlier model in light colors. A facelift rectified this problem which had the bumpers colored. If you are style conscious, go for the 2007 and later models. Going inside, you'll notice that the dashboard layout and the gauges are inspired from the Z4 convertible, which dictates to you "let's go out and have some serious driving fun". Trim materials are expensive feeling, which should be.

However, the X3 can be nominated as one of the nominees for the less human friendly interior especially the E90 3 Series is more hospitable, to say is that five people is a snug fit. The cargo bay is more than enough for the monthly trips to the airport (just make sure you'll be fetching one or two relatives plus their luggage). A huge advantage over the X3's rivals are the numerous engine choices. If you are seeking for a smooth ride, click that back button on your browser since this SUV (or shall I say SAV) is not for you. The X3 loves to attack corners and does such with confidence, handling is excellent and this can be attributed with the much criticized harsh ride. It drives similarly to the 3 Series but it is less prone to road bumps thanks to the increased suspension travel. If you aim for a less jarring ride, go for the 2007 and later models since this problem has been rectified.