X3 boot size not good for golfers

[neilto]

I spend an interesting time at my local BMW dealer today with a tape measure.
I had short listed the X3 but I thought I'd better check that it could accommodate golf clubs.  Conclusion is its not a good golf car.  Its too narrow to accommodate golf clubs without at least removing the driver and I can't be fagged with that sort of inconvenience.  You need 51" into the rear recesses to lay the clubs widthways which is the golfers preference.  Also the boot looks tiny.  I know its meant to be 550 litres but there must be some creative measuring going on to get that!  I had to check that I was looking at the right car thinking it must be X1 but no it was indeed a X3.  So I thought I'd check a E70 X5 and again thats too small Yes a X5 is too small to take golf clubs unless you remove the trim on the LHS exposing the Amp and safety triangle which is OK but a bit disappointing.  What is the matter with BMW designers it would be so easy to design this properly?  As Bowie said "Good God I could do better than that."

Anyway I looked at the boot of an X1 and was surprised to see that it is bigger than an X5 and way bigger than a X3 and would accommodate golf clubs and dogs easily - the world's gone mad. 
Why do they feel the need to stuff the useful spaces behind the rear wheels with amps an fuses and ECUs and other stuff that could easily go into the huge space under the floor that should house the spare wheel anyway (another gripe)
Out of interest I went to see a Hyundai Santa Fe just down the road and it has a much better designed boot - a good 3" wider than the X5 and it still manages to design in a tool kit and spare wheel and get better actual MPG. These volumetric measurements tell you nothing about the practicality of boot sizes. 
This has not helped me decide which is going to be the car purchase as I'd quite like another BMW in my life but the space design is not good.

[X5Sport]

Have a look at the incoming Škoda Kodiaq too.  A much better car than the Santa Fe!

[graemeX5]

Hi

I guess from what you have said it appears the designers at BMW aren't golfers at heart, or come from Scotland.

Well if you tried to fit the clubs diagonally across the boot area and they still didn't fit, that does amaze me, but not personally tried it.

Graeme

[neilto]

[quote="graemeX5"]
Hi

I guess from what you have said it appears the designers at BMW aren't golfers at heart, or come from Scotland.

Well if you tried to fit the clubs diagonally across the boot area and they still didn't fit, that does amaze me, but not personally tried it.

Graeme
[/quote]
Sure they would fit diagonally but its more of a hassle as you have to lean that bit further into the car and in the case of the X5 lean even further due to the split tailgate.  This puts extra strain on your back getting them in and out and I don't see why i should endure this when modern cars are supposed to make life easier - electric tailgates etc.

There are around 4 million golfers in UK (about 8%) of the adult population.  Less in Germany but it is more of an eletist sport there requiring a licence etc however it is still the 2nd most popular spectator sport there after football.  It seems to be bad business to alienate your product from such a significant sector of the market when it would be so simple to accommodate them.  Its funny that the German car makers feel that its ascetically pleasing to have a square boot shape rather than a big boot.  Mercedes are as bad in the ML but at least my E estate can accommodate the golf bag straight across but thats what I'm looking to change along with a Land Cruiser for a "compromise car" that embodies key elements of both which brought me to the X3/X5.  I also have a M135 (modified and a keeper) and like the driver interface that it has and is similar across all BMWs so big tick there then.  Incidentally even that car takes the clubs diagonally so just as bad/good as the X5.

I'm thinking about getting an upholstery specialist to re design the boot as I'm pretty sure it could be done but that would impact on the floor liner which would also then be bespoke.

[Insight G40]

I very much doubt that when the designers came up with the X5 that they said:

"We must make sure that a full set of golf clubs will fit horizontally across the boot to ensure we don't alienate 8% of the UK population who play golf"  )

I transport all manner of things in my X5, with 3 young kids and regular camping trips in the summer, and have to compromise, even trips to the local forestry commission area require Tetris like skills to accommodate buggy, bikes, scooters etc.
I'm sure there are vehicles better suited, but I'm happy to make it work as I love the car and am therefore prepared to compromise. I also bought it because it can fit 3 child seats across the back seats, which most normal width cars will not.

This thread does remind me of a criminal case in Germany about 20-25 years ago, where a dentist, was convicted of having his 911 stolen for the insurance after he bought the car and realised he couldn't fit his golf clubs in it, so bought a Merc SL.

[Reusch]

It isn't April 1st is it you've got to be pulling our legs surely OP.

[neilto]

[quote="Insight G40"]
I very much doubt that when the designers came up with the X5 that they said:

"We must make sure that a full set of golf clubs will fit horizontally across the boot to ensure we don't alienate 8% of the UK population who play golf" 


[/quote]

Well its a bit tongue in cheek of course but thats what forums are for.

Anyway this is exactly the sort of consideration that must happen in a major German car manufacturer marketing departments.  4 million is a massive market sector and anyone who can afford to play golf is a potential BMW customer.  Last year BMW sold only 170,000 cars in the UK across its whole range with no expectation of expansion in the future.  Hyundai sold 93,000 most of which are SUVs and see it growing.

Imagine my credibility in the golf club car park when I'm shoehorning my clubs into the ultimate driving machine thats the size of my first house!

Don't get me wrong I love BMWs and have owned lots over the years.

[MattX]

Golf is boring.
Play darts.

[Pinewood]

Buy a road bike. Fold seats and shove that baby in [emoji3]


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