EX as a new daily?

S

Sisko99

Member
Location
North Carolina
Greetings all.

I'm in the forth year of owning my 04 350Z and will soon have it paid off. Once that happens, I'd like to relegate the car to track and playtime use only. Thus, I'm going to need a new commuter and I'm looking for something different. I'm forever spending money on the Z to add new bits and pieces to it to get around the turns faster and I've decided that if I'm going to mod this car to the point that I want to, I can't afford to have two cars I want to mod. So I'm looking into the more luxury side of things.

Right now, it's something of a toss up between a Lexus IS250 and the EX35. I've driven both and they're both comfortable. The ride on both is much smoother than my Z (lowering springs and Koni dampers will roughen up the ride a bit) and the interiors are really nice.

There are two things that draw me towards the EX:

1) The VQ35HR engine....which is an amazing engine. In the EX I test drove, it had a lot of go given it's size. Like most people...I like that sort of thing.

2) It has more room to carry things than the IS250. As you might imagine, one of the drawbacks to the Z is the fact that it doesn't do well in the cargo capacity arena. Granted you can get plenty of stuff crammed into the back of the car, but if you have to move anything with some size on it....forget it. (like my spare set of track wheels for instance)

Now...this is where I'm sorta stuck. I've never owner an SUV of any kind and certainly haven't driven one for an extended period. I know a lot of people do it every day, but I'm looking for some input here on what living with one might be like.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
The IS250 is kinda slow. I would get the get the G35. Living with an FX, which is an SUV, is pure bliss . . you may want to consider one
 
If you like boring, get the IS. Most boring car I have ever driven. EX vs. FX, it comes down to how much room you want vs. size of the vehicle.
 
My uncle has the EX35. He has a suped-up S2000, and he really likes the performance of the EX. He loves the power, performance, and comfort. But, the one thing he can't stand now is the lack of cargo room. They wish they would have jumped up to the FX35 just for the more cargo room alone. For an SUV, it really doesn't have any...and with the rounded rear end..it makes for less room.

But, comparing it to an IS250, or a Z...i guess it has a ton of room. That is there only gripe with the EX.
 
Tko512iFX said:
It is a lil bigger and a bit better looking. Are you looking for both these cars new or used?
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Since the EX is pretty new, chances are I would end up picking up a new one. The price isn't bad to start and I imagine the economy won't have picked up enough by the spring that dealers won't be be dealing still. As for the FX...a new one is a little more than I'd like to spend currently...so if I picked one of those up it would be used.


toy4x said:
My uncle has the EX35. He has a suped-up S2000, and he really likes the performance of the EX. He loves the power, performance, and comfort. But, the one thing he can't stand now is the lack of cargo room. They wish they would have jumped up to the FX35 just for the more cargo room alone. For an SUV, it really doesn't have any...and with the rounded rear end..it makes for less room.

But, comparing it to an IS250, or a Z...i guess it has a ton of room. That is there only gripe with the EX.
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Thanks for the input. I know the EX is smaller....though I didn't know it was that much smaller. Guess I didn't really pay that much attention to it when I was at the dealership....though I haven't had a chance to really compare one to an FX either.

StuLax18 said:
If you like boring, get the IS. Most boring car I have ever driven. EX vs. FX, it comes down to how much room you want vs. size of the vehicle.
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To be honest...the most boring car I've ever driven was actually a BMW. I test drove a 330 a couple years ago and I felt like I was driving a sofa. The IS250 did feel a little underpowered, but I wasn't expecting a lot out of a 2.5L engine. The EX definitely felt a lot quicker.

As for size....well...I'm somewhat torn there. I don't want a huge vehicle. Having driven the Z every day for 4 years, I've come to a rather strong distaste for giant SUVs. Part of what appeals to me about the EX is that while it's an SUV, it's not a huge one. Though what's the point of owning an SUV if can't move things with it? Definitely something to consider.

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 PM ----------
trainerKEN said:
What about an Audi A3?
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I've heard questionable things about Audi's quality. One of the guys that works for me has an A4 and it hasn't really impressed me a whole lot. On top of that...the A3 is sorta bland to me. I don't know....but it doesn't speak to me at all.
 
EX has a nice interior and the HR motor will whoop both 1Gen FX's. Out of the 2 given options.. I vote EX.
 
FX actually drives like a small vehicle if it's equipped with suspension mods. You can really throw it around. The EX & FX in stock form are floaty as hell.

Check out the size diff, . . & the FX cargo area is actually quite limited too. I can only imagine how useless the EX is. The IS 350 is way more entertaining than a 250, but I would still rather have a decked out G than either.

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Definitely the fx for a few of reasons a) aggressive looks, b) rear seat room (try and sit in an EX and if you take a friend or two, it is really tight....) and c) not crazy about the wagon look.....and unfortunately, the salesman told me the EX was initially marketed to attract working mothers...(I don't put too much into this, but unfortunately it stuck with me when I was deciding).
 
trainerKEN said:
:laugh: to each his own I guess, cuz that's how I feel about the IS250 and the EX. Good luck with whatever you decide on. :tup:
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Thanks. I appreciate it. If I could have what I really wanted, there'd be a G37Cx sitting in my driveway. lol.


fxlr8 said:
EX has a nice interior and the HR motor will whoop both 1Gen FX's. Out of the 2 given options.. I vote EX.
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I tell you what....having the HR engine under the hood is a pretty powerful draw for anyone that knows what it is. Love that thing.


gto said:
FX actually drives like a small vehicle if it's equipped with suspension mods. You can really throw it around. The EX & FX in stock form are floaty as hell.

Check out the size diff, . . & the FX cargo area is actually quite limited too. I can only imagine how useless the EX is. The IS 350 is way more entertaining than a 250, but I would still rather have a decked out G than either.
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You know, I'd seen one in traffic a few weeks ago and it looked kinda small. But at the time I was riding in my friend's F250, so i thought that had something to do with it. Perhaps I was mistaken....


jawaii99 said:
Definitely the fx for a few of reasons a) aggressive looks, b) rear seat room (try and sit in an EX and if you take a friend or two, it is really tight....) and c) not crazy about the wagon look.....and unfortunately, the salesman told me the EX was initially marketed to attract working mothers...(I don't put too much into this, but unfortunately it stuck with me when I was deciding).
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I'm not a terribly big person, so when I sat up front it wasn't bad. 'Course I'm used to the Z, which has a pretty close cockpit anyway. All of the Infinitis I've driven have felt pretty open to me....but as I said, I didn't sit in the back. I just sort of assumed it would be ok. Something else to think about.
 
I have a G sedan, G coupe, and and FX. I have driven over 750 miles in an EX loaner from the dealer. I really like the EX, which is based on the new G sedan underbody, and I'm considering one when the G sedan wears out. It's much more of a car like drive than the FX and the seating position as much or more comfortable than a G coupe (03-07), plus it will haul more people and goods than the G coupe. The EX has as much or more usable space as a G sedan too.

Of course, the FX has more room inside because it's larger. You can't go wrong with either the FX or the EX, or any Infiniti for that matter. They each have their advantages over the others. I would not get an EX to replace the FX though.
 
Thanks for the input, Gilley. I guess your thought process is a bit similar to my own in that the G sedan and the EX are somewhat interchangeable.

I dunno. It's kinda dumb....but I don't want to be driving around in a mommy mobile but at the same time I don't necessarily want or need a full blown SUV. Guess I need to go find an FX and drive one. Plus...there is new vs. used debate. <shrugs> More stuff to think about.
 
Sisko99 said:
Thanks for the input, Gilley. I guess your thought process is a bit similar to my own in that the G sedan and the EX are somewhat interchangeable.

I dunno. It's kinda dumb....but I don't want to be driving around in a mommy mobile but at the same time I don't necessarily want or need a full blown SUV. Guess I need to go find an FX and drive one. Plus...there is new vs. used debate. <shrugs> More stuff to think about.
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The FX is hardly a full blow SUV. If you look at most of the FXs on this forum, you can quickly see that we are headed more towards a performance/street feel than an SUV/off road feel. I agree with everyone's comments about FX vs. EX. Not to be a biased owner but I have yet to see a car that looks as aggressive and well balanced (for under 50K) than the 1st generation FX. . . so many companies have tried to capture the "sport wagon on steroids" look and Infiniti did this back in late 02/early 03. Ballin.
 
If you don't HAVE to make the choice immediately drive them all. IF you have the opportunity drive an FX 35/45 stock and then drive one that has some suspension gear and performance mods, you will be surprised, they are much more of a performance car than you would expect. As for the look of the vehicle either you like it or you don't but I still get positive comments from unlikely sources and it makes me reflect that Infiniti was far ahead of their time on the styling.

PLUS you get to be a part of the SCENE.....
 
Whatever I get....I'm going to try as hard as I can to resist any urges to modify that might come up. It will most likely be tough....but I'm going to try.

Both EX and FX are built on the FM platform which is what my 350Z and the G35 is built on...so the fact that they handle decently isn't at all surprising. Neither is the fact that they handle better with tweaking.

Anyway....let me explain my "Full Blown SUV" comment. I wasn't comparing it to things like the Armada or Expedition/Excusion. To me those aren't SUV's....those are trucks with a long cab. I put the FX on the same level as the Xterra or Explorer. Perhaps that's a simplification (it probably is), but that's where I'm coming from.

I'm getting a lot of good input here and I thank everyone who's offered something up thus far.
 
"Xterra or Explorer" ?!?! Wrong again (surprised you didnt include Murano . . you'd surely get a flaming.
FX in no way has a ladder frame build. It's pretty much a Z with more weight & some fire road & towing capability. It aint no truck. Go drive a modded one.
As Logan said "you will be surprised"
 
gto said:
"Xterra or Explorer" ?!?! Wrong again (surprised you didnt include Murano . . you'd surely get a flaming.
FX in no way has a ladder frame build. It's pretty much a Z with more weight & some fire road & towing capability. It aint no truck. Go drive a modded one.
As Logan said "you will be surprised"
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I said it's built on the same platform as the 350Z/G35. I'm also aware that the Murano is built on the platform used by the Altima (which is the FF-L platform). The FM Platform gets around. lol

And I wasn't comparing technology or construction. I was comparing general size....from my point of view. I was simply trying to explain that I wasn't comparing it to vehicles much larger (such as the Armada or QX) when I said full blown SUV.
 
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