by "OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
Published 02/16/2018 at 09:18
by "OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
Published 02/16/2018 at 09:18
Tags: Oppo review
; Review
; Infiniti
; FX35
; Friyay
; Embiggen this
STARS: 15
The FX35 is the definition of a Sports Utility Vehicle. It is definitely sporty, it has the cargo space be utility, and it is also a vehicle. When I asked if anyone wanted a review I was surprised at the number of “Yes!” I got. It seems everyone(including me and my non Oppo friends) have a soft spot for this truck. There are also not a lot of them, even here in the land of Nissan NA HQ, adding to the mystique. Very few people seem to have had a real experience so here is mine.
Disclosure: Infiniti wanted me to test drive the FX35 so bad they sold it to my mother in law. Seven years later my LS400 decided that 314,000 miles was enough and that the speedometer needed shipped off and repaired. Rather than driving a car with no speedo for this past week and a half, I asked my mother in law if I could borrow her extra car. It came with half a tank of gas, the tank was refilled, slightly used, and then car was returned to its parking spot so she doesn’t have to take the MB E550 Cabriolet to downtown Nashville. Wow this is the longest “wanted me to test drive a car” ever.
So now on to the review.
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Exterior 9/10
Yes it’s a crossover, but let me explain. The FX35 does not age. This car is nearly a decade old and still could pass for brand new. The “scarab” design still has not grown old. This is partly because Nissan has gone the route of updating their cars only every decade, or longer (i.e. GTR, QX90, Titan, etc). This could also be attributed to the fact that they got the proportions right in the first iteration and have resisted messing up a formula that truly was way ahead of itself. The grill has a fantastic 3D design to it that makes me smile every time I walk up from the front. It goes back to it being way ahead of its time. The fake grill vents behind the wheels break up the flow of sheet metal. The biggest detractor on this particular car are the small wheels. The FX50 wheels fill up the wheel well better and to the overall aggressive styling.
Interior 8/10
Overall it’s a pleasant thing to be in. My biggest complaints are some of the controls are easy to mix-up(climate control and audio are almost identical but at different heights). As a design change, I love how the dash curves by the passenger but I wish they would have worked the gauge cluster area better. My thought was to continue the curve towards the drive and envelop that area. The steering wheel is very worn but I attribute that to general abuse of the car by an ex-husband and the brother in law. The tan helps alleviate the cave like feel but blind spots are still atrocious. This car needs blind spot monitoring if I’ve ever seen it. This car does come with panoramic cameras though which are very helpful, especially in tight parking spaces where the dramatic wheel arches create the blind spot of where the corner of the vehicle is. The back seat is tight for people but has been perfect for my backpack and Preds jersey.
Handling 7/10
This car handles much better then it has any right too. Imagine a G35 with better seating position. It also gets quite tail happy but the traction control is quick to butt in. Having power sent to the rear wheels is something I dream of in the wife’s RX350. My biggest gripe is the steering. The communication from the wheels into the steering wheel while cornering is fantastic but there’s about a 3 inch gap at center that is almost dead. My dad’s 4x4 Tundra has less play at dead center. As was stated earlier though this car has been abused a bit though and that could be the cause. The other problem is the steering ratio. Wow. It feels like you are turning for days before the wheel gets anywhere. Nearly 180 degrees to get the wheels to turn 40 degrees. This is probably my biggest gripe but it is definitely livable.
Engine 9/10
Potent. This VQ35HR with 303 horsies is legitimately fast. My wife’s RX350(the closest competitor I’ve driven) has about the 30 less horsepower and you can feel the difference. The power delivery through the rear also helps as the RX tends to torque steer and sometimes has problems laying the power down (the AWD and Hybrid AWD versions are much better and actually a joy to drive overall). Another underrated fact is the exhaust. It sounds wonderful and is miles ahead of the G35 this car is related to. Really a great setup overall. As a side note, this car has had little to no problems that I know of since I started dating my now wife six years ago. This car will sit for two months, start right up, can get wringed out, and will not care. Newer Infinitis have had trouble but 2010 was the end of their glory years and these cars tend to be dead reliable and pleasant(The mid to late 2000’s M35 is one of my favorite DD cars ever). The biggest problem is gas mileage. I saw around 17mpg around town or so with some spirited driving thrown in. Seeing that would make you go “I could’ve had a V8” and had more power for similar efficiency.
Comfort 8/10
This is a fairly loaded FX35 so all the creature comforts are there. Heated and ventilated seats, Nav(lol who uses that), panoramic cameras, parking sensors, keyless access/start and the works. The biggest thing missing is blind spot monitoring which appears to have become an option in 2011. A Countache has a smaller blind spot then a FX35 which makes changing lanes when not fully aware of who is where difficult to say the least. Also, being a more sport oriented model, it rides much harsher then the RX350 but also has the drawback of increased road noise. The oddest complaint I have is how loud the AC seats are. They work great but sitting in traffic the other day it sounded like a vacuum was running beneath the car. Muffled but still present. In comparison the 2014 Tundra ventilated seats are dead silent. Overall, as far as comfort is concerned, there are definitely better places to spend a road trip but for around town it’s great. One of my favorite things is the ride height. I am 5’11’’ and getting in is like butter. I don’t have to bend down, I don’t have to slide across the seat, and I don’t have to step up oddly high (I’m looking at you Tundra). Infiniti made it perfect in that way.
Overall 41/50
If this were a brand new car I would put my wife in one in a heartbeat. It’s engaging to drive, fills the SUV “need”, and looks great. All this means it wouldn’t matter whose car we take. I would maybe swing for the V8 as the V6 efficiency is not great, the better looking wheels, and also because powweeerrrr(87 more powers to be exact). This receives a pretty good 41/50 while living up to all the expectations I had of one as a kid.
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/13/2017 at 15:21, STARS: 2
Nav(lol who uses that)
I use mine pretty frequently, I must admit. Not necessarily to navigate, but if I’m in a new location and know that I have to turn on “Road A,” I use the map on the car’s nav screen to get an idea of when that street is coming up.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/13/2017 at 15:29, STARS: 1
I tend to veer towards Waze no matter what. Nav systems get out of date so quick plus they won’t warn me if there is an accident, traffic, or cop ahead.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
10/13/2017 at 15:30, STARS: 2
If I had to get an “suv”, the FX35 might be my top choice. It’s the closest thing to a “Driver’s crossover” I have ever experienced.
"fintail" (fintail)
10/13/2017 at 15:35, STARS: 0
That drone though.
I actually don’t mind the first gen one these days, the design aged well.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/13/2017 at 15:38, STARS: 0
What drone?
Also, I personally like the 2nd gen more as the first gen had the right shape but not enough aggressiveness.
"Arrivederci" (arrividerci)
10/13/2017 at 15:46, STARS: 1
I like Waze, but it obliterates my battery. It also seems to frequently revert to the voice that doesn’t speak street names. When you’re in a city and it simply tells you to turn in a quarter mile, there could be 2-3 streets that meet that criteria. When I finally realize, I’m already driving and can’t change the setting without stopping.
"fintail" (fintail)
10/13/2017 at 16:14, STARS: 1
Overly aggressive exhaust tuning, an Infiniti trait for some time. Many newer models are a little less flamboyant.
To my eyes, the second gen model kind of has a catfish face. The fender “vents” are not a design classic to my eyes either. The first one, 15 years old now, has stood the test of time pretty well.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/13/2017 at 16:23, STARS: 0
Ahh i was wondering if that was what you were talking about but this one didn’t have it so I was not quite sure. I’ve noticed it with G35s though. The exhaust is really good in this car.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
10/13/2017 at 16:43, STARS: 1
I thought about trying to get an FX50S before I ended up with my 335xi. I was worried about the mileage and the 21" tire replacement costs. Plus it was more expensive to buy. Then I bought my 335xi and modified the crap out of it and probably have spent just as much as if I had gotten the FX50S.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/13/2017 at 18:44, STARS: 0
I don’t think you would have been disappointed.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
10/13/2017 at 19:43, STARS: 0
This was based on having test driven a QX70 3.7 at a dealer so yeah, I was familiar with the car. Honestly I’m hindsight it may have been a better idea than what I ended up with. Then again, my car is way more fun to drive like an asshole with.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/13/2017 at 21:00, STARS: 1
I was driving the RX today and I drove like an old man after completely being a BMW driver with the Infiniti.
"DrDDay" (drdday)
10/14/2017 at 11:36, STARS: 0
They are pretty decent vehicles. I really liked the first gen FX45.
It got me fired from a job, but I still have fond memories.
"fintail" (fintail)
10/14/2017 at 12:06, STARS: 2
Maybe it isn’t obvious from the outside, but the VQ noise can be kind of grating from the outside. A lot worse in G35/37 though, yeah, and I have noticed it in first gen FX. I don’t if the entitled suburban demographic who flocked to these things needs to be encouraged to be aggressive :)
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/15/2017 at 01:09, STARS: 2
How did it get you fired? I haven questions.
"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke)
10/16/2017 at 12:17, STARS: 2
I also have questions about how the FX45 got you fired...
"Nibby" (nibby68)
10/16/2017 at 12:19, STARS: 2
bookmark for explanation please
"deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
10/16/2017 at 12:21, STARS: 1
Does this get the same CVT the murano has? Boy did I hate that thing. My friend had a similar year Murano and everything about it was decent except the feel from that transmission. I guess you can learn to ignore it but I had a lot of trouble getting over it...
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/16/2017 at 12:25, STARS: 0
I think it’s a 7 speed but that’s something I forgot about. The transmission was kind of janky at times but not bad enough that I remembered to include it. Only looking back and reading on it do I agree.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
10/16/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 1
Ever driven the EX35? I saw one up close once and liked the look.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/16/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 2
I have not but if they are anything like the FX35 but lighter I would drive one.
"DrDDay" (drdday)
10/16/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 15
I had just moved to California when the FX came out, and I was working part time running cars back and forth for a detail company. On my second day of work I showed up at about 8am and there were 2 brand new FX45's and like a Q45 or something sitting in the corner of the parking lot waiting to go out first thing. I get the keys and head off with the chase car and the other 2 cars lagging behind me. If anyone is familiar with the freeways in SoCal, the 91 going out to the desert is big and wide open, especially if you’re leaving the beach cities area in the morning. So I’m heading from Santa Ana to like the Corona/Riverside area and I merge from the 55 to the 91 and there is this beautiful right curve and when it opens its just wide open freeway. Well obviously anyone that was into cars knew what the FX45 was, so I stabbed it. And man, it was great! I was very familiar with very fast cars, and this thing put a smile on my face immediately. So this trip is usually about 30-35min or so, and I’m pretty sure this one was under 20. I had a blast. I raced every 4cyl fwd car with an exhaust that wanted some (this was 2004ish SoCal so plenty). I pull into the Infiniti dealer in Corona and I am all smiles.
I hop out of that beautiful beast with a smile on my face like you wouldn’t believe. As I’m walking into the dealership I stop to take one last glance back so I can capture the memory. Beautiful black FX45 with black leather interior and these black pearly chromey wheels. Even the black plastic dealer advertiser plate with the bold highlighter yellow words: INFINITI of CORONA, looked great on that car. I turn, walk into the dealer, and start looking around for the guy that I’m giving the car to and collecting a receipt from. I finally find the guy and I’m waiting for him to write up the slip I need, and in comes this well dressed gentleman who I’m assuming was the General Manager. We exchange casual greeting and he asks if I had brought back that FX45. I say yes, and he then asks what I thought of it. I say, “Man, that thing was great! By far the best SUV I’ve ever driven!” Then, with a bit of growl in his voice he asks,”How was it at 115mph?” I look at him and said in a shocking calmness,”It was excellent.” He then looks at me and tells me to leave the dealership and wait in the street for my pickup because he doesn’t want me on the property. Apparently I blew past him when he was on his way in to work that morning. As I was walking out of the store the people I worked with were just walking in. When they came out they were laughing their asses off because apparently the guy was inside screaming at them and telling them if he ever saw me again they would never use their detail company again. As we were walking to the chase vehicle they said that I must have been flying because they said I was totally out of sight once I left the parking lot at the detail shop, and then asked if I wanted to drive back home. They had a little Nissan Hardbody truck, so I drove them back in that and we all laughed like little kids because the needle was buried all the way to the bottom the whole time. When I got back the owner was waiting in the parking lot. He didn’t even yell at me. He handed me $50 and told me to get lost, and he didn’t ever want to see me again. I sat down at a Del Taco around 11am, and discovered the majesty of a Macho Nacho, and thought that an awesome test drive, $50 and some pretty damn good fast food nachos wasn’t such a bad morning.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/16/2017 at 15:25, STARS: 1
Share this to the main oppo page. Please.
"DrDDay" (drdday)
10/16/2017 at 15:36, STARS: 0
I’m going to be totally honest with you, I don’t know what that means.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
10/16/2017 at 15:38, STARS: 1
I’ll share it. Basically makes it a mini-post on the Oppositelock Home page.
"LOREM IPSUM" (lorem---ipsum)
10/17/2017 at 11:53, STARS: 1
Picked up a black on black ‘03 FX45 with Tech Package a couple of weeks ago and have been loving it.
Previous owner had removed the oem resonator and muffler, replacing them with a Y pipe. Sounded mean, but droned a bit, so I had a 3" Magnaflow added which toned it down just enough. Still sounds mean, screams when you give it the beans, but much more tolerable while tooling around town.
Still starts runs and drives like a brand new vehicle, and is quicker and better handling than one would expect for something so seemingly high from the ground. Pitch it into a corner at speed and it somehow remains as flat as the horizon. Also, rear wheel bias awd is the best awd, because 4 wheel drifting around wet roundabouts.
Backup camera is a godsend because it has the rearward visibility of a panel van, but I haven’t had many issues with blind spots, although they most certainly do exist... You just need to make sure your mirrors are adjusted properly, and you need to make double sure you turn your head far enough when shoulder checking and look out the rear side windows, because a full size pickup with a trailer can easily hide from your mirrors view.
Fuel economy is roughly 15mpg city. Haven’t done enough highway to say how the economy is at sustained speeds, because our highways are generally underdeveloped bumper to bumper shitshows.
Premium fuel only, so Sunoco 94 is it’s beverage of choice.
The best part? I paid around 4 grand for it.
Just not looking forward to paying for the 4 20" Blizzaks I’ll be putting on it for winter.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
02/16/2018 at 09:22, STARS: 1
Floppy wallowing dog if my dad is to be believed, but that’s coming from a G37x sedan.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
02/16/2018 at 09:27, STARS: 2
We test drove one when looking for our last family hauler. It’s definitely top of the list for me if I was forced to get an SUV/Crossover. Strangely, I liked it better than the manual G35 I test drove.
But it was a bit on the small side for family duty, and my wife wasn’t as interested in the sporty crossover as I was.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
02/16/2018 at 09:28, STARS: 0
Just get her an RX450h AWD and be done. That is the answer.
"CobraJoe" (cobrajoe)
02/16/2018 at 09:30, STARS: 2
We ended up in an Outback. Larger, softer, quieter, slower, but perfect in my wife’s eyes. Which is good, because even used Lexus’s are pricey.
Pro-tip: Don’t go to a private college on the east coast.
"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
02/16/2018 at 09:33, STARS: 1
My wife went to a Private college in the South. Probably just as expensive.
"Chariotoflove" (chariotoflove)
02/16/2018 at 11:36, STARS: 0
I wouldn‘t have thought it would handle that much differently.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
02/16/2018 at 12:02, STARS: 1
Take the last G35 sedan and add a second story to it. Bingo.