Having posted the topic below on the X5 Club forum, things are leaning towards an X3

Prime choice seems to be a 3 litre petrol on an 04/05 plate for between £7k and £8k.

The X5 seems to be coming out rather large compared to my old Freelander, which is big enough already.

I've already got a 130i M Sport and having another lovely engine (albeit the older one) is tempting enough.

Not massive use - maybe 5k a year with some towing of a 3 bike trailer.

Mostly road work but will need to work on slimy grass and rough farm type tracks - NOT 'offroading'.

Do not want wallowing - I have fitted spring assisters in the LR to help that issue.

Needs a decent sized boot - most for sale photos seem to ignore that bit - say to take a 21" bike wheel.

Cycles would go on a tailgate rack.

Any thoughts beyond those already expressed on the X5 side?

No, worse than X5's lol

For the price difference and use it will get....YES

I'll take that as a yes then.

Had an extra dilemna over the weekend.

Assuming I go for a 3 litre petrol, do I pay the 'up to £8k' to get a 80k miler or save some money and accept one with say 120k?

As you can tell, it won't be my main car but the few pounds (£2k?) I save could end up being spent on repairs on a higher mile car.

I've only got as far as 60k in any BMW so far before changing (328i coupe to 330ci to 130i) so no experience of running costs when the miles rack up.

At the moment, I can't bring myself to cash in the 130 and add the £8k-ish to the equation (maybe up to about £12k-ish) in case I don't like the X3.

My wife won't sell her Mini and use the 130 so that idea is out and I owe her so many brownie points that I wouldn't consider pushing the point.

I've looked at hiring one for a week but it would be a new one and about £700!!!

From past experience, trying to get a test drive of more than a run round the block is almost impossible, especially on older cars.

Sorry about waffling on - I'm usually pretty sure about what I'm doing but this is a bit of a departure for me.