Thinking of leaving the stable. FX45 VS X5

[airlordz]

A sad day indeed that i have to consider leaving the BMW stable . Test drove an Infiniti fX35 and FX45 and i must say they both were very impressive with regards to their road handling, speed and the price. Also what comes standard is very impressive so i am seriously considering one instead of the X5 but we will see. Anyone test drove any of them? If so their thoughts on them will be appreciated.

 

[dumayou]

they are good SUV. At the end, whatever make you happy

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

There is a thread comparing the X5 and the FX's It turns out that the only thing infiniti has on the X5 is space and price. The main things to consider are the interior materials quality and your financial state and basically if you want a Nissan.

 

[Tom]

I've driven both and do feel you get much more for your money with the FX. However as far as off-roading is concerned, the FX with it's large wheels really isn't cut out for it.

I also did a brief review as Steve stated in the FX vs. X5 thread.

What are you looking for in terms of usage? Will it be for mainly commuting or leisure?

 

[airlordz]

I've driven both and do feel you get much more for your money with the FX. However as far as off-roading is concerned, the FX with it's large wheels really isn't cut out for it.

I also did a brief review as Steve stated in the FX vs. X5 thread.

What are you looking for in terms of usage? Will it be for mainly commuting or leisure?

Both actually. But all in all i prefer the BMW but when i look at the options with the infiniti and what comes standard its hard to ignore it. Though from the long term point of view its not been tested like a bimmer so.... hence my apprehension

 

[Average Jae]

are you thinking of buying or leasing? if a lease, then the long term issues shouldn't matter as much. i'm still kicking myself for not test driving the fx. getting over the style was tough, but i like it now.

 

[MrElussive]

The FX is a great value, it looks good (but styling is subjective), it is fast and handles very well. All this makes the FX a really tempting and well-rounded SUV. That being said, Nissan/Infiniti does a lot of cost-cutting on materials and things like that, in order to make the vehicle such a great value. Not to mention you do not get free maintenance for 4 years/48K miles like you do with the BMW.

They are both great SUV's and I don't think you can go wrong either way. Just keep one thing in mind, and I think Tom will agree with me on this one. When you go Infiniti (or any Japanese product), you lose that typical German character that all of us enjoy. And it's one of those things you don't really appreciate it until it's gone.
But at the same time, knowing you'll toast an X5 4.4i with an FX45 should make up for that character loss.

 

[airlordz]

are you thinking of buying or leasing? if a lease, then the long term issues shouldn't matter as much. i'm still kicking myself for not test driving the fx. getting over the style was tough, but i like it now.

Actually buying. I like the styling there is beauty in its ugliness. I test drove the fx45 and believe me the handling is superb i tell yah. Took a curve at 140km/h and it handled like a car. I was impressed and the sales lady actually told me to step on the gas more. Anyways its a tough choice i tell yah.

 

[airlordz]

The FX is a great value, it looks good (but styling is subjective), it is fast and handles very well. All this makes the FX a really tempting and well-rounded SUV. That being said, Nissan/Infiniti does a lot of cost-cutting on materials and things like that, in order to make the vehicle such a great value. Not to mention you do not get free maintenance for 4 years/48K miles like you do with the BMW.

They are both great SUV's and I don't think you can go wrong either way. Just keep one thing in mind, and I think Tom will agree with me on this one. When you go Infiniti (or any Japanese product), you lose that typical German character that all of us enjoy. And it's one of those things you don't really appreciate it until it's gone.
But at the same time, knowing you'll toast an X5 4.4i with an FX45 should make up for that character loss.

Actually they have the 100000km or 4yr bumper to bumper warranty, road side assistance and free maintenance if i am not mistaken. Yes i agree with the german character. If only i could buy the infiniti and put the BMW badge that will make me happy.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Actually buying. I like the styling there is beauty in its ugliness. I test drove the fx45 and believe me the handling is superb i tell yah. Took a curve at 140km/h and it handled like a car. I was impressed and the sales lady actually told me to step on the gas more. Anyways its a tough choice i tell yah.

Took a curve at 88mph in an SUV? you mean a highway bend.... I don't think my 330i can take a curve at 88mph without rolling over or flying off the road.

Infiniti doesn't offer free maintenance, maintenance is oil changes, wiper blades, lightbulbs, filters, etc...

 

[airlordz]

Took a curve at 88mph in an SUV? you mean a highway bend.... I don't think my 330i can take a curve at 88mph without rolling over or flying off the road.

Infiniti doesn't offer free maintenance, maintenance is oil changes, wiper blades, lightbulbs, filters, etc...

Yeah your right my bad. Mistook the 2 of them yes they dont have free maintenance but the warranty is a ok for me. As for the curve i mean an off ramp curve and i mean a CURVE at 140km/hr. I had to clap i tell yah it left a big smile on my face. The FX has got stability and i'm a living witness. You should try it. Funny thing is the sales lady kept on urging me to go faster and i am thinking is this break and pay. Does she want me to crash the vehicle so i am forced to buy it.

 

[Average Jae]

Devante, you should've had her go faster to really show you what the car's made of. then again, i don't know if i want her driving that fast, w/ me in it..

 

[MrElussive]

Actually they have the 100000km or 4yr bumper to bumper warranty, road side assistance and free maintenance if i am not mistaken. Yes i agree with the german character. If only i could buy the infiniti and put the BMW badge that will make me happy.

I can't speak for the way things are in Canada, but Tom and I both have Infiniti's (Tom even has the FX45) and neither of us get free maintenance. Maybe you can work something out with your dealership, but I take my car in every 3,750 miles for service. Most of the time it is just an oil & filter change which comes to $36, which isn't bad, but FREE is better.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Yeah your right my bad. Mistook the 2 of them yes they dont have free maintenance but the warranty is a ok for me. As for the curve i mean an off ramp curve and i mean a CURVE at 140km/hr. I had to clap i tell yah it left a big smile on my face. The FX has got stability and i'm a living witness. You should try it. Funny thing is the sales lady kept on urging me to go faster and i am thinking is this break and pay. Does she want me to crash the vehicle so i am forced to buy it.

An offramp curve at nearly 90mph? That doesn't sound correct to me, unless it was a really wide one...

I would have major reservations to taking an offramp which says 35mph at 85, not in my car and definately not in an SUV.

 

[airlordz]

An offramp curve at nearly 90mph? That doesn't sound correct to me, unless it was a really wide one...

I would have major reservations to taking an offramp which says 35mph at 85, not in my car and definately not in an SUV.

All i can say a this point is go test drive one and let us know what you think. After that you will become a believer. I know i am. And not one off ramp curve 2 different ones that had the entering speed limits at 50km/h. Lady said slow down let the car in front of you go so we can take the curve aggressively and i am thinking poor lady must be off her bonkers. But hey i am a believer now.

 

[airlordz]

I can't speak for the way things are in Canada, but Tom and I both have Infiniti's (Tom even has the FX45) and neither of us get free maintenance. Maybe you can work something out with your dealership, but I take my car in every 3,750 miles for service. Most of the time it is just an oil & filter change which comes to $36, which isn't bad, but FREE is better.

Yes i know no freebies here already corrected that post. My bad

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

All i can say a this point is go test drive one and let us know what you think. After that you will become a believer. I know i am. And not one off ramp curve 2 different ones that had the entering speed limits at 50km/h. Lady said slow down let the car in front of you go so we can take the curve aggressively and i am thinking poor lady must be off her bonkers. But hey i am a believer now.

A 30mph offramp at close to triple the speed in the FX which is an SUV now I really don't believe you, unless they SEVERELY underposted the speedlimit for those off ramps. They probably want drivers to exit safely, and smoothly so as a result they posted such low speedlimits. I took a 30mph (50km) offramp in NYC at about 60mph (100km) in a 325i and the tail swung out a good 30 degrees sending my passenger into the door and causing the tires to screech loudly. After that I decided not to take a non-sports suspension BMW at highspeed through curves. That FX must have a very hard suspension and good tires, which I find less than believable...

Anyone else with an FX take 30mph offramp curves at 85-90 mph and lived to tell of it?

 

[northstar]

A 30mph offramp at close to triple the speed in the FX which is an SUV now I really don't believe you, unless they SEVERELY underposted the speedlimit for those off ramps. They probably want drivers to exit safely, and smoothly so as a result they posted such low speedlimits. I took a 30mph (50km) offramp in NYC at about 60mph (100km) in a 325i and the tail swung out a good 30 degrees sending my passenger into the door and causing the tires to screech loudly. After that I decided not to take a non-sports suspension BMW at highspeed through curves. That FX must have a very hard suspension and good tires, which I find less than believable...

Anyone else with an FX take 30mph offramp curves at 85-90 mph and lived to tell of it?

What you had just described is one of the few cons of RWD vehicles.

A very simple experiment will probably convince you. Get a hold of three vehicles, a RWD, a FWD and a AWD. Go to a shopping center parking lot and park each vehicle one a time at a parking slot. Each time approach the parking slot at about the same speed. You will notice that the AWD is the easiest and quickest. Then the FWD and the last is RWD.

Reason is that FWD vehicles when making turns, they turn to the inside. AWD vehicle is even quicker because of the two additonal wheels to assist in the turn. For RWD vehicles, they turn from the outside. That is why RWD is easier to "fish tail" on a hard fast turn.

That is why for FWD and AWD vehicle to perform a hard fast turn, all the driver need to do is just to step on the gas paddle. The vehcile will take you in the turn.

Given a SUV like the FX35/45 with tight sports suspension and thick tires, I am not a bit surprise.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

What you had just described is one of the few cons of RWD vehicles.

A very simple experiment will probably convince you. Get a hold of three vehicles, a RWD, a FWD and a AWD. Go to a shopping center parking lot and park each vehicle one a time at a parking slot. Each time approach the parking slot at about the same speed. You will notice that the AWD is the easiest and quickest. Then the FWD and the last is RWD.

Reason is that FWD vehicles when making turns, they turn to the inside. AWD vehicle is even quicker because of the two additonal wheels to assist in the turn. For RWD vehicles, they turn from the outside. That is why RWD is easier to "fish tail" on a hard fast turn.

That is why for FWD and AWD vehicle to perform a hard fast turn, all the driver need to do is just to step on the gas paddle. The vehcile will take you in the turn.

Given a SUV like the FX35/45 with tight sports suspension and thick tires, I am not a bit surprise.

First off I'd like to thank you for enlightening me about the characteristics of the various drivetrain setups.... I know that RWD cars favor wider turns and tend to fishtail a little on hard turns and how the handling in FWD cars is unstable and whatnot. My main point was that the way he describes taking a 30mph (which is tight) offramp curve at 90mph with ease (saleswoman egged him on to turn even faster...) and doesn't mention any bodyroll or tugging on the wheel or even screeching tires sounds exaggerated to me. Not even F1 cars can take sharp curves at 100mph, come on now give me a break. It may be a sporty SUV, but it is still subject to the laws of physics.

The main reason I cited the 325i example was to show how at 60mph on a turn like that the *passenger gets almost shoved into the door* not that a RWD car fishtails...

You also forgot to mention taking fast sharp curves in a FWD car is unsafe and careless...

 

[northstar]

Hmmmmmm......., may be I will take my wife's ML320 for a test drive tonight. There is a very nice on ramp not too far from my house. I wonder if she will get mad if I roll the car over a few times.