Jrboulder

It seems like they would fit me pretty well for a DD. I would be looking at the 2004-05 3.0L 6-speed.

Yes, I've driven one.

I can fully maintain and repair a 944 so that should be a yardstick for my wrenching capabilities. Could I maintain one mostly on my own?

Thanks,
Jackson

insite

Get an '07+ if you can. Big changes tone ride quality, motor and x-drive system.
We have an '08 m-sport and love it.

insite

As for maintenance, you can DIY most stuff, but the electrical gremlins will consume your soul on a high mileage model....

fivepointnine

here is my 04 2.5...I have 72k miles on it, not one single electrical problem. I have towed this trailer (with my race bike) across the country (Ga to Wa) and all over Wa to races. Repairs I have done to the BMW...
Intake boot
Crank Case vent valve (think AOS for the M96 engines)
Valve cover gasket
belt tensioner
changed fluids
1 headlight
front brake rotors/pads

that is it!
it is very comfortable, cheap insurance, extremely reliable, very safe to drive in the PNW wet weather
it has auto climate control, rain sensing wipers, massively huge sun roof, cruise control, Ipod interface, all the good stuff

the 07-up have problems with the auto tranny and are more electrically intensive

it is actually a very very easy vehicle to work on

insite

Ours lost the front washer pump, rear washer pump and the passenger side mirror motor (all under warranty). Other than that, the car has been dead reliable. Of course the warranty ended three weeks ago.......

Jrboulder

Thanks guys!

I'm going to go drive a few and see how I like them. I think they will fit what I'm looking for very well.

fivepointnine

its a SUV that handles and drives like a 3 series, we LOVE ours!

Jrboulder

Basically that's what I want to hear!

fivepointnine

one thing negative I will say is that the AC is pretty weak in anything above 110 degrees. I was in Oklahoma for a class this summer (hottest on record in forever, around 115 every afternoon) and by the time I got back to my hotel is about the time it was cooling down inside. It is a pretty big space inside with a big glass roof to cool down!

daynarankin

I am absolutely obsessed with and in love with mine.

insite

Ac in ours is awesome, even in atlanta

fivepointnine

we bought our X3 in Flowery Branch, GA...the AC works much better in the humid GA heat than it did in the super dry and much hotter Oklahoma

Jrboulder

Interesting. It is hot and dry here in AZ so that might be a little bit of a problem.

fivepointnine

I could just have a weak AC in mine also..........