Thinking about one but won't be able to drive one until after the first of the year, and probably not for an extended time then.

How's the ride and handling? TIA

OK, I'll bite. What's an X-3? Didn't Chuck Yeager fly one of those...without the sports package?

( Aviation buffs: I know, he flew the X-1 & X1A, IIRC)

Oh sorry, it is the new small BMW SUV or SAV in BMW speak (SAV = Sports Activity Vehicle)

the reviews i've read by people who've driven both preferred the new Subaru to the X3... but if you believe you have too much money to be seen driving a Subie, go for it :-) ...

motor trend hates it

Becko bought one a few months ago and thinks its great.

Didn't the toureg beat that one hands down?

Thanks for the replies.

I know the car rags don't seem to like it. They seem to complain primarily about the interior being plasticy and the ride particularly with the sport package.

I've been in one at the auto show and didn't find the interior plasticy at all.

I suspect the ride won't bother me

The X-3 is quite a bit smaller than a Toureg. I also don't believe the Toureg is available with a manual transmission.

Currently there is nothing Asian on the short list, and only one thing that is not European. I'm a long standing BMW Car club member which would entitle me to a rebate (and it is entirely independent of the sales negotiation (you send the documentation after the sale))