MOTORING with Jerry Clayton BMW
Steve Hilson, the enterprising Jerry Clayton BMW Dealer Principal, laid down a challenge to Takapuna Business Association Chairman, Dave Donaldson in early April – to drive a new BMW X3 and provide a review for Channel Magazine. The visit to the dealership to pick up the car was a bit like a trip down memory lane for Dave. Way back in 1986, young Dave bought a brand spanking new 560 SEL Mercedes from Jerry Clayton, which was then the local Mercedes dealership. He has remained a Mercedes driver ever since. But never one to back down from a challenge – or from supporting local business enterprises – Dave accepted Steve’s challenge to give the X3 a good workout and report back.
He filed this report for Channel.
Hang on Dave! What Are You Doing Driving a New BMW X3?
I’ve got to make a confession right from the start. I am not a candidate to buy an X3 as my own drive-car. So when Steve Hilson suggested I test-drive the brand new model BMW 2.0 X3 Diesel I didn’t know whether to feel challenged or flattered. Eventually I chose the former and decided to give the vehicle – that has already received rave reviews since its launch – a really good work out and report back, warts and all.
I must admit I like the X3’s shape. It’s a great looking vehicle, as are its close relations the X1, X5 AND X6.
My first impression of the vehicle was how light it was on its feet, with a very snappy performance. I soon realised that the modern diesel engine being connected to an eight-speed very smooth gearbox in the drive chain, gave this vehicle its outstanding performance. It was impressive to learn later from Steve that this 135kW/380Nm car delivers 4% more power and 9% more torque while using 16% less diesel than the model it has replaced.
I found the braking on the X3 superb, very smooth and easy to get used to. Often, when you get into a different vehicle it can take a while to get used to the brakes, but this was not the case at all.
The most unnerving feature initially, but something I got used to, was the engine turning off when you come up to a set of traffic lights or are in heavy stop-start traffic. Apparently this is the new X3’s amazing fuel saving technique, which I realised later was how I managed to drive for approximately 100km in the vehicle with very little movement of the fuel gauge. This is the first time the eight-speed auto has been coupled to start-stop, which cuts the engine when you halt and automatically fires it again when you want to pull away. Very clever.
Being a bit fussy about the simple things in cars I drive being done right, I particularly liked the indicators returning to neutral immediately after they had served their purpose, avoiding any unnecessary indicator flashing.
I was very impressed with the turning lock on the new X3. I have been a Merc driver now for over 30 years and I never thought any other manufacturer could match one of the things I love about my Mercedes.
Another feature I really liked about the vehicle was the sensational and easy Bluetooth connection. It established a great connection with my phone straight away and never faltered the whole time I drove the vehicle. BMW have obviously got all this well sorted as the navigational equipment was very easy to operate, with a very smart control mechanism for all these integrated features that is shown on the dashboard screen. The backing video screen was excellent as well, with the sensors on front and rear bumpers giving very good parking manoeuvrability. When I returned the vehicle and commented on the ease of operating this system, the team at Jerry Claytons’ told me that soon new model X3 drivers (with the right spec’d SatNav) will be able to get calendars and emails too, along with internet streaming via their Bluetooth phone and controlled through iDrive – now that’s getting techo and well over my head!
So, in conclusion Steve, even though it has got all the bells and fancy whistles this is still not the vehicle I would personally buy, due to my requirement for a larger SUV. But I have to admit I was very impressed with this new SUV from BMW. It was a lovely vehicle to drive with plenty of room right through the cabin. Apparently this model has increased cabin space over the
previous model.
My wife also enjoyed driving in the car and although she too is pretty attached to her current vehicle, she had a number of friends that were keen on the X3 and it wouldn’t surprise me if one or two of them will be popping along to see Steve Hilson and his team at Jerry Clayton BMW in the very near future.
– Dave Donaldson.
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