I too have occasional brake squealing but only when I back up on cold mornings.
As far as rattles are concerned, i do not have too many but do have one that is very annoying. Seems to come from the sun roof, sounds like a marble rolling back and forth. need to run that by the dealership... Jon.
I am considering buying one of these 2 cars this week and would appreciate any advice on differences between the two? Which one would you advise buying and why? Any pricing experiences in Socal? Thanks!
I have a 2005 FX35 with >5k miles. I love the car but get a strange noise (almost a boing!) from the front left (driver side) when hitting the brakes in the snow. It almost sounds like th ABS has a problem. Infiniti checked it out and found nothing. Anyone else experience this, or have a diagnosis?
I have the FX35 and love it. My neighbor drives the RX330 and I've driven it a few times. I chose the FX for the additional space and performance. The FX has a few more features, larger engine and handles much better.
I can't understand how people could like the looks of the RX330. To me it seems squished, narrow looking, rides to high, small tires etc. Definitely Toyota looking.. Maybe this appeals to the female buyer type.
Granted the FX35/45 is not for everyone but to me the FX looks stunning with it's wide, squat stance, 20 inch massive wheels and awesome tapered rear pillar. I think it basically looks like a show car and am starting to see other companies copy the rear end look and the wide stance in their SUV's.
I had a boing in my minivan when it was newer. Turned out to be an aftermarket metal mud flap flexing. Maybe you have something hanging down around your wheel well that doesn't like snow?
I have heard the same thing before- Pretty rare but i have heard it when breaking pretty hard on loose snow. Not sure what it is but seems to be part of the build of the car.
Not sure if anyone else has encountered this... I would think this is a defect with the FX and hopefully someone can shed some light on how to proceed with it...
I have an infiniti fx35 and 2x's in the past month it has been broken into. The perpetrators used what appeared to be a screw driver over the key hole on the driver's side door... when popping the silver cover off the handle they were able to get the window's of the FX to come down for easy access. Although nothing in the car was stolen or damaged, the damage to the door and handle was about $1100. Less than a week after I got my car fixed... BAM, it happened again!!! There has got to be something Infiniti can do or should do about this. I can't keep paying to get my car fixed! :sick:
I checked out both before buying an FX35, AWD, Tech, Sport and Touring package. Here is how I saw it:
RX330 - soft, comfortable ride; gorgeous, luxo interior; silent ride; nice front, terrible posterior (what's with those odd looking tail lights?); very expensive, no dealing.
FX35 - bad [non-permissible content removed] looks (I practically drool every time I approach an FX); awesome engine, incredible acceleration, great engine/exhaust sound; stiff ride (sometimes too stiff if the roads are bad), but also incredible handling; great NAV system; plenty of dealing room and got a great price for a very loaded car, significantly less than an RX330.
So, hope that helps a bit. You must test drive both and over bad roads!!! If you want a cushy, upper class ride, go with the RX330. If you want a sport wagon with an attitude that handles like a Porsche, well, you know what to do.
Yup; It's an issue with really ANY cars that have the auto-down window via the door lock cylinder. I think some are having the wire that activates the auto-down feature cut to disable the system. :mad:
We have both - my wife drives the RX and I have the FX45. I think the comments here sum it up pretty well. The FX is more of a "guy's car" while the RX is a bit more feminine if you know what I mean. The FX is much more fun to drive with its rear drive bias. The RX is quite a bit smoother over bumps especially compared to the Sport version w/20" wheels & tires (and all FX45's). The RX also has more cargo room if that's a factor for you, and the rear seat does slide back and forth for more cargo room or more rear seat passenger space - nice touch. But overall if I had to choose I would go for the FX - more of a driver's car.
P.S. Both of ours have been incredibly reliable - no issues after a combined 75,000 miles.
I am new to this forum, but looking for a good SUV. I have not driven an FX35, but it seems to meet most of my requirements. Question - Why no 2006 model? Anyone know when this will be intro'd? Next question - do rear seat fold totally flat for max cargo? For current owners - How do you like using cargo space? And what do you generally use this space to haul? Hope I can get some feedback.
Do a lot of cars have this feature? I know volkswagons do. The other cars parked on my street don't seem to be getting the attention that FX's are in terms of breakins. I know of a couple other infiniti's in the area who have met the same fate... The volvo suv and range rover that were parked right next to mine have been ok...
I would disable the wiring, but even if I do that and get it fixed, a car thief would still break the door to try to get in... so I would still have the expense of fixing the door each time. I think for now I am leaving the door as is until I can get a parking lot for it or something.
Not sure about the 2006 models. I bought a 2003 FX 45 used with 9K miles about 1.5 yrs ago. I don't think they fold totally flat, but i have not tried that. The back of the seats are leather so unless you cover them i am not sure what you would want to haul in it/on it anyway. The molded back plastic floor cover is useful and sturdy for you to put things in the back, but not alot of room. When i am in need of a Home Depot run and need lumber or the like i will take my wifes pathfinder and leave the FX in the garage. But for groceries and items that will fit in back it works fine and is also water proof. If you want something to haul things in and don't have a second SUV/Truck I would maybe look at a new Pathfinder/Xterra.
"I bought a 2003 FX 45 used with 9K miles about 1.5 yrs ago. I don't think they fold totally flat, but i have not tried that. The back of the seats are leather so unless you cover them i am not sure what you would want to haul in it/on it anyway."
Strangely enough, I have tried folding mine, and mine do indeed fold flat. Even more strangely, the backs of mine are carpeted just like the load area, so it actually makes a pretty useful load area. Keep in mind that with the seats up, there is a decent amount of floor space, but the slope of the seat backs and the slope of the back glass means there will be no bulky items hauled along with a full load of passengers.
I echo the approval for the cargo liner. (I've got the OEM liner that only covers the area behind the seats, so it doesn't help when the seats are folded flat.) I've always thought it was handy, but it elevated to near lifesaver status about three weeks ago. A gallon jug of milk apparently got punctured when it was tossed back in the cart after checkout, and I didn't catch it when I put it in the car. By the time I got home, there was probably a pint or two of milk roaming free. made a mess of the groceries and stroller, but I shudder to think of having all that milk soaking into the carpet and running down to the spare/subwoofer etc... I'll be looking into something similar for the wife's vehicle soon.
The rear seats do not fold completely flat, but nearly so. There is a slight incline starting at where they fold, but it's not significant enough to cause a problem. I've used the extra space many times to haul all sorts of things, including bikes, lawnmowers, sporting equipment, etc. It's certainly not as spacious as many other SUV's, particularly its height opening, but for most things it's very practical and much larger than the trunk of a sedan or the back of smaller wagons.
For the '06's I think I read somewhere that Infinity is delaying the launch a bit in order to more easily clear out the remaining '05's. I also think I read that the '07's will see a styling change, but I haven't yet seen any pictures.
I just purchased an FX35 in Oct. I love the car but hate the AWD system. This is a RWD car that transfers power to the front wheels when it feels the rear wheels slipping. What this means is that if you want AWD, you need to be applying power to the drivetrain. I have Blizzaks on the car, but find it very easy to fishtale the car in a corner at normal speed in snow mode. In order to pull the tail in, it seems that you need to keep applying power so it will be distributed to the front wheels. I can't say I like this system. Our other car is a Full Time AWD Yukon and do not have this problem at all.
I don't have a whole lot of confidence in the FX35 AWD system.
It's likely the thieves know the FX35 has the auto down system. Cutting the wire will do nothing to prevent them from trying, thus doing the damage. I have no idea why they are breaking into your car. They must know it has the vehicle immobilizer system and they can't steal it. They must be kids after loose change. Perhaps a "viper" or equivalent aftermaket alarm would deter them (it would make a lot of noise once the interior lamp lit).
Have to disagree with your opinion on this. I enjoy it the way it is, with rear drive bias but with assistance from the front wheels when needed. I also run Blizzaks and think the traction is great. One difference is on my '03 there is a 4 wheel "Lock" button instead of the "Snow Mode" they've put on for the past couple years. I engage this in deeper snow and on ice, and it makes a huge difference. I don't know why Infiniti decided to drop this feature - too bad.
I wish I had 4 wheel lock on the car and I don't know why they would drop it. I am confident the car would handle the snow & ice much better with this feature. I like to drive cautious but agressive, but I feel I have to really tame it down with this system. I really hate being passed in the snow by Subaru's, Volvos and other full time AWD cars.
How sure are you that Snow mode does not lock AWD? I would think if they had AWD Lock in 2003 model, the 2004-05 models would only have an improved version. I tried asking Infiniti customer service this question but they offered generic answer that Snow mode helps in snow. Blah, blah, blah... They did not tell me if it does or does not lock AWD. I originally assumed that snow button is simply re-labeled AWD lock button for dummies, because lots of folks are dumb enough not to know what AWD lock would do. Now I am not sure what is that snow mode.
I understand that it reduces engine power on take-off, but does it or does it not lock AWD? Can anybody confirm with confidence?
They are different: "Snow mode" simply changes the throttle mapping - making it less sensitive for easier starts. In low-traction situations, the AWD - theoretically - can go 'in milliseconds' to 50:50 mode, in essence: locked. However, I would assume that is reactive and there is a bit of slip before it kicks in from a standing start. From Infiniti's website, "Engage snow mode when roads are especially slick, and throttle sensitivity is reduced for greater drivability." It says nothing about locking the clutches front/rear as the older FX did. The older FX definitely locked the AWD in 50:50 at start - similar to system in the Acura MDX.
"The older FX definitely locked the AWD in 50:50 at start - similar to system in the Acura MDX."
Out of curiousity I checked my '03's owners manual on this. Yes it does lock the 2 axels, but only until you reach 19 mph and then it automatically goes into "Auto" mode. This is OK because it's mainly useful in very deep snow, where it truly does provide a big boost in traction. I've also used it on slippery boat ramps when pulling my boat out of the water.
The manual also gives several warning on its use, including not to engage the button when going around curves and using it on dry paved surfaces.
Yes, as is the MDX. The MDX is normally front wheel drive, until slippage is noted or expected. Then AWD. The VTM-4 Lock in the MDX locks the rear axle till ~18mph to help get the vehicle moving or unstuck. The reason BOTH can't be driven on dry pavement or around curves is loading the driveline causing heat/friction and an early wearing out of the system. Perhaps the Infiniti ATTESA E-TS is similar to the VTM-4 in the MDX where the axles are fully locked till ~5 or 6MPH. Then, as speed increases, power is decreased proportionally till the vehicle goes back into AWD auto. Of course, the Infiniti is a far higher performance AWD as the MDX goes back into auto at a lowly 18mph while the Infiniti waits to a screaming 19mph Gotta think marketing had something to do with the single mph difference.
Infiniti says "milliseconds" but in actuality it is very easy to get the car into a spin. Unfortunately, you have to learn how to drive with this system. What I have found is that you must continue to apply power to keep the front wheels engaged. No Power = No AWD. Thus going down a snowy/icy hill with a corner at the bottom is not a pleasent experience as you might need to power through the corner. Mountain passes are not a fun nor confident experience in this vehicle. No problems going up hills, but going on a down grade with corner is tricky.
Also, no mention whatsoever about the AWD system in the '05 owners manual.
It may just be over driving the conditions. Unfortunately AWD really adds NO traction advantage - especially when trying to turn downhill. The reason AWD gets a vehicle moving or keeps it moving on slippery surfaces is you are spreading out (sharing) the torque of the motor to more wheels, not overpowering the available traction to a single tire WITH power. OK, to a degree you are also multiplying traction by sending power to more than one tire, BUT, that would not overcome the limited contact patch with braking OR the weight of the vehicle combined with centrigugal force pushing the vehicle outward while cornering. Wear sneakers on ice and have someone push you over, you'll slip and fall easily. Wear spike shoes on ice and have someone push on your shoulders, you may not "slip" but you'll still fall over - just takes a bit more effort. That's physics, I guess. Any AWD or 4WD, in essence, only provides power to the wheels while under acceleration. Traction or "grip" really comes from the tires as related to the surface the vehicle is driving on. On ice and snow, likely a NEW dedicated winter tire (read about comments on Blizzak's when 50% worn) will be the best advantage as far as traction, grip, & cornering force is concerned.
"...A front-drive economy sedan on four top-quality snow tires will go more places than the best 4WD vehicle on all-season tires. An AWD- and stability control-equipped sport sedan on high-performance summer tires will get stuck on a snow cone spilled on an August highway. AWD and computer driver assists can only manage available traction, they can't increase grip...4WD equals go; not turn or stop. 4WD and AWD can only help you accelerate, they can't help you turn or stop..." http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=104125
"...A word of caution to those who drive SUVs. Just because you have four-wheel drive doesn't mean you can stop or turn any better than a two-wheel-drive car. Four-wheel drive allows better motive traction, but when you're off the gas (such as when you need to turn quickly or stop) it doesn't matter; the laws of physics still apply..." http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/tires/articles/100811/article.html
"...By conducting acceleration, braking and cornering tests on the ice we've confirmed the differences between various winter tires and the traction advantage they have over All-Season and All-Terrain light truck tires..." http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=129
I've had a difficult time starting my FX a couple of times, but each was due to low battery caused by leaving a light on. There was one time where - and I can't remember if this was one of these low battery occasions - where after I did get it to start the engine ran very rough at first, and it was touchy to keep it going. During these few moments there was a good deal of smoke that came out of the exhausts. After it warmed up a bit it ran normal, and has ever since.
Thanks... and I agree. BTW, I do have new Blazzaks on the car (<2500 miles). My biggest concern with the system is the so called "milliseconds." When taking a corner with a FT AWD car w/power, you typically will not have the tail fly out. This is true for my FT AWD Yukon XL Denali, which should have a higher chance of this due to it's length and light weight rear end. Being that the FX is a PT AWD, the system does not distribute the power to the front fast enough to ensure no back end slide out. This slide out can be controlled by continuing to apply power.
Were I live, they have elected to place traffic circles where a 4 way stop would normally be. You really can't take these at a high speed, 15 - 20 mph tops, however under icy conditions the tail of the car will slide out. When this happens, it is important to learn not to coast or brake, but apply power for the car to come under control.
The biggest concern about going down a curvy decline is that you are trying to control your momentum, however in order to implement the AWD system, you must apply power and have slippage to get the front activated. They say this takes milliseconds, but whatever the time is, it is enough for the car to loose rear end traction and slide out. You must keep the power going if you want to bring the rear end back in, but who wants to do this while going down hill and trying to control your momentum.
Sorry but I much prefer the FT AWD as you don't have to deal with this problem.
"When taking a corner with a FT AWD car w/power, you typically will not have the tail fly out. This is true for my FT AWD Yukon XL Denali..."
This is largely due to the fact that a Yukon XL understeers like the huge, heavy SUV that it is.
"Being that the FX is a PT AWD, the system does not distribute the power to the front fast enough to ensure no back end slide out."
Given the gentle nature of this forum, I will merely say that I believe you may have been introduced to lift-throttle oversteer, a phenomenon particularly prevalent in performance-oriented cars, and especially so in low-traction situations.
If your AWD system is responding so slowly that you are getting sideways before any torque is distributed to the front, I recommend you visit your friendly local dealer, as your car is clearly faulty.
My favorite proposal in discussions involving driving in snow: Rather than fret over dedicated snow tires or (even more to the point) fancy AWD systems, we could drive as if we were in a low-traction situation, using gentle control inputs, and leaving a large safety margin where speed is concerned. Hmmm.
"My favorite proposal in discussions involving driving in snow: Rather than fret over dedicated snow tires or (even more to the point) fancy AWD systems, we could drive as if we were in a low-traction situation, using gentle control inputs, and leaving a large safety margin where speed is concerned. Hmmm."
I vote for dedicated snow tires + AWD + using the common sense approach that you describe. Winter driving would be so much safer if everyone practiced this.
In addition to the rear-drive bias in the FX, which I find very entertaining AND SAFE when driven correctly, I also appreciate the tremendous road feel you have, where you can feel the tires as they begin to lose traction and make adjustments before it's too late. Here in Minnesota when we occasionally do get treacherous driving conditions, I've see LOTS of Yukon's, Suburbans, Tahoes, Durango's, etc in the ditch - even more than regular sedans sometimes. Some of this is overconfidence on the part of the driver and going too fast ("My truck has four wheel drive and I am invincible"). But I suspect that much is also due to lack of roadfeel and they do not sense an impending loss of control until it's too late.
Perhaps the system is faulty. Whenever the system kicks in and is used for extended periods of time (over 10 min) I get a very nice melting plastic smell through the vents. I've noticed this only when the awd system has been engaged. Anyone else experience this.
I am a huge proponent of safe driving during winter conditions. I just expected a better system when purchasing the vehicle. I really feel the manufacturer overstated the capabilities.
I was considering replacing my '05 G35x lease with an '06 FX35 with all the options but some of these posts are making me reconsider. The G35x works flawlessly to this day and now I'm afraid to chance my luck with the FX35!
Good posts. Very informative. Thanks for posting those links makaye.
I had the unfortunate experience of meeting a sturdy tree on a snowy night in November of '04 driving my '99 Jeep GC with QuadraDrive. Impact was diagonal into the driver's door. Jeep was totaled but, other than a badly bruised side, I suffered no serious injuries. I had no problems along most of my 30mi. trip home until the rear began to slide out on a gentle left-hand bend in the road. I did not apply the brakes and tried to keep an even throttle. Unfortunately I began to fishtail and eventually went off the road, into the trees.
QuadraDrive was a PT/AWD system, sending 100% to the rear until slippage occurs. (I believe the new QD II system is FT/AWD.)
From what has been said here perhaps had I given it some gentle throttle, power would have been sent forward and maybe averted the loss of control. Obviously this is speculative.
I will say my '92 Subaru SVX was the best I ever drove in snow with its front biased AWD system.
I do agree that we are often lulled into a false sense of confidence having a vehicle with 4- WD. Caution, no mater how good ones tires and how sophisticated the AWD, is paramount in snow.
I have to say that you really have to learn how to drive this system. I have learned that when the tail slides out you must apply more power and the vehicle will pull out of the slide. However, it is not very confortable to apply more power and speed when loosing control of the vehicle.
I bought these last Summer (actually posted commnets about about them on this site a month or so ago) I have had them in some light snow and already saw they are much better than the originals. The only heavy snowfall exparience is when I was only able to take the car out the day after. I went to an unploweed lot with 5" of day old snow & ahd some fun.
The tires gripped when I hit the gas hard (but not all-out floored) and did not slip, it turned well adn braked well. The only caveat is this was day-old crunchy snow. I want to ceheck them out in falling wet 3" type snow to really be sure, but they absolutely beat the OEM's.
If you scroll back on this site there are now some 20" winter tires finally avaialble that would be better in the snow perhaps, but the Toyos are jsut as good in the dry adn rain as the OEM's -no noiser, no rougher, ec. so if they'll get me through moderate snow I'll be satisified. The other psots indicate teh winter tires are hard, noisy and not as good in teh dry (to be expected).
Bottom line: the FX with the Toyoy won't be a snow king like my wife's 4WD Blazer -that car goes in 8" of slop with ALl SEASON SUV tires and nothing stops it, but it is a truck -the FX 45 is a sports car so I am willing to accept a trade-off as long as it is not totally lame in the snow, as was the case with the OEM rubber. I live in NYC area so we only get a few real snow storms and as long as it can get me homw I'll be happy. If you live in Maine or Denver then I'd get winet tires adn swap them every Spring and WInter.
Hope this helps and I'll psot when I get them into some fresh deep snow.
Hi Steve, thanks so much for taking the time to respond. Sounds like the tire for the FX. i live in Chicago and like NY we only get a few snow storms every winter so i really would like to avoid buying dedicated snow tires. the OEMs stink so the Toyos might just do it for me too. Thanks again, Jon.
My 2005 FX35 just had a break in at a Marriott Hotel in Whippany, NJ. I was there for a 3 day meeting, I was leaving the hotel when I saw the Windows were down on my car. The vandal broke the drivers side lock. Nothing was taken because I don't leave anything in the car. The center armrest was broken because the thief couldn't figure out how to open the box so he ripped it off the mounting bracket. $1100.00 worth of damage. Nice way to end a business trip.
Getting it repaired this week. What can I do to disable this feature? Why didn't the Car Alarm Horn sound??
Regard the smell, yep had the same smell. Last year we came back from skiing in VT and drove though a wicked snow storm. The smell started about 20 miles into the trip (live in CT) This year the smell got so bad I traded the FX in. Infiniti claims nothing is wrong "it just runs hot" The mech had the gall to tell me I wasn't using the AWD system correctly, i.e. don't use it when not in snow.
Anyway the smell plus the 'ding' noise the car made after just moving away drove me nuts.
SPT
PS The ding noise I'm told is the ABS system check, had an A4 that did the same, me new Acura does NOT make the noise and is equipped with ABS !!!
Sorry this happened to you, I too would be totally bummed out. Hopefully your insurance will cover most of the cost and they can repair your car seamlessly. Was the car parked in the hotel parking lot or garage? Are you sure the horn did not sound? Unless the car was parked under your window you may have not heard it? I wonder if this is a recurrent problem at that hotel, worth making a complaint to the hotel? Best of luck, Jon.
Interesting about the smell. I usually use just the vent w/o the AC on which will distribute the smell throughout the cabin. Turning on the A/C clears up the problem. Even so, the smell to me would be an indication that something is wrong with the system.
Is there any chance the smell you're noticing could be brake pads? The stability control system operates by engaging individual brakes - if you're relying on the DSC a lot, the brakes could easily overheat.
I need to pay the $500 Deductible. Marriott not taking responsibility. Parked outside in their parking lot, actually a nice end spot next to the Walkway that leeds to the Hotel. I think that the Horn alarm must also get disabled during the Windows Down operation, does anyone know this to be the fact? It also rained, so the interior was soaked. The drivers door is jammed, so I need to hop over from the passenger side - not a pretty picture.
Has anyone enabled the standard radio with The Sirius Module? I have a 2005 FX35 with the standard BOSE radio with the SAT button. I did not order Sirius at time of purchase...wondering if Infiniti dealership can upgrade or install the Sirius module now? I don't like the looks of the Sirius radios that you can purchase at Best Buy etc.., I'm also not a big fan of plugging the radio into my cigg lighter plug.. Thoughts??
You can get the dealer to install the sirius module. The cost(parts + labor) is about $600. I was thinking about it, but haven't pulled the trigger. I wish my '05 FX-35 had it as an option when I bought it. That way it would have only cost me $400.
Comments
As far as rattles are concerned, i do not have too many but do have one that is very annoying. Seems to come from the sun roof, sounds like a marble rolling back and forth. need to run that by the dealership... Jon.
Thanks!
If you are a woman, buy the RX-330.
If you are a guy, buy the FX-35.
Granted the FX35/45 is not for everyone but to me the FX looks stunning with it's wide, squat stance, 20 inch massive wheels and awesome tapered rear pillar. I think it basically looks like a show car and am starting to see other companies copy the rear end look and the wide stance in their SUV's.
Steve, Host
I have an infiniti fx35 and 2x's in the past month it has been broken into. The perpetrators used what appeared to be a screw driver over the key hole on the driver's side door... when popping the silver cover off the handle they were able to get the window's of the FX to come down for easy access. Although nothing in the car was stolen or damaged, the damage to the door and handle was about $1100. Less than a week after I got my car fixed... BAM, it happened again!!! There has got to be something Infiniti can do or should do about this. I can't keep paying to get my car fixed! :sick:
RX330 - soft, comfortable ride; gorgeous, luxo interior; silent ride; nice front, terrible posterior (what's with those odd looking tail lights?); very expensive, no dealing.
FX35 - bad [non-permissible content removed] looks (I practically drool every time I approach an FX); awesome engine, incredible acceleration, great engine/exhaust sound; stiff ride (sometimes too stiff if the roads are bad), but also incredible handling; great NAV system; plenty of dealing room and got a great price for a very loaded car, significantly less than an RX330.
So, hope that helps a bit. You must test drive both and over bad roads!!! If you want a cushy, upper class ride, go with the RX330. If you want a sport wagon with an attitude that handles like a Porsche, well, you know what to do.
Bon chance! Jon.
It's an issue with really ANY cars that have the auto-down window via the door lock cylinder. I think some are having the wire that activates the auto-down feature cut to disable the system. :mad:
P.S. Both of ours have been incredibly reliable - no issues after a combined 75,000 miles.
I would disable the wiring, but even if I do that and get it fixed, a car thief would still break the door to try to get in... so I would still have the expense of fixing the door each time. I think for now I am leaving the door as is until I can get a parking lot for it or something.
Strangely enough, I have tried folding mine, and mine do indeed fold flat. Even more strangely, the backs of mine are carpeted just like the load area, so it actually makes a pretty useful load area. Keep in mind that with the seats up, there is a decent amount of floor space, but the slope of the seat backs and the slope of the back glass means there will be no bulky items hauled along with a full load of passengers.
I echo the approval for the cargo liner. (I've got the OEM liner that only covers the area behind the seats, so it doesn't help when the seats are folded flat.) I've always thought it was handy, but it elevated to near lifesaver status about three weeks ago. A gallon jug of milk apparently got punctured when it was tossed back in the cart after checkout, and I didn't catch it when I put it in the car. By the time I got home, there was probably a pint or two of milk roaming free. made a mess of the groceries and stroller, but I shudder to think of having all that milk soaking into the carpet and running down to the spare/subwoofer etc... I'll be looking into something similar for the wife's vehicle soon.
For the '06's I think I read somewhere that Infinity is delaying the launch a bit in order to more easily clear out the remaining '05's. I also think I read that the '07's will see a styling change, but I haven't yet seen any pictures.
This is a RWD car that transfers power to the front wheels when it feels the rear wheels slipping. What this means is that if you want AWD, you need to be applying power to the drivetrain.
I have Blizzaks on the car, but find it very easy to fishtale the car in a corner at normal speed in snow mode. In order to pull the tail in, it seems that you need to keep applying power so it will be distributed to the front wheels.
I can't say I like this system. Our other car is a Full Time AWD Yukon and do not have this problem at all.
I don't have a whole lot of confidence in the FX35 AWD system.
I understand that it reduces engine power on take-off, but does it or does it not lock AWD? Can anybody confirm with confidence?
Out of curiousity I checked my '03's owners manual on this. Yes it does lock the 2 axels, but only until you reach 19 mph and then it automatically goes into "Auto" mode. This is OK because it's mainly useful in very deep snow, where it truly does provide a big boost in traction. I've also used it on slippery boat ramps when pulling my boat out of the water.
The manual also gives several warning on its use, including not to engage the button when going around curves and using it on dry paved surfaces.
Perhaps the Infiniti ATTESA E-TS is similar to the VTM-4 in the MDX where the axles are fully locked till ~5 or 6MPH. Then, as speed increases, power is decreased proportionally till the vehicle goes back into AWD auto.
Of course, the Infiniti is a far higher performance AWD as the MDX goes back into auto at a lowly 18mph while the Infiniti waits to a screaming 19mph
Mountain passes are not a fun nor confident experience in this vehicle. No problems going up hills, but going on a down grade with corner is tricky.
Also, no mention whatsoever about the AWD system in the '05 owners manual.
Any AWD or 4WD, in essence, only provides power to the wheels while under acceleration.
Traction or "grip" really comes from the tires as related to the surface the vehicle is driving on. On ice and snow, likely a NEW dedicated winter tire (read about comments on Blizzak's when 50% worn) will be the best advantage as far as traction, grip, & cornering force is concerned.
"...A front-drive economy sedan on four top-quality snow tires will go more places than the best 4WD vehicle on all-season tires. An AWD- and stability control-equipped sport sedan on high-performance summer tires will get stuck on a snow cone spilled on an August highway. AWD and computer driver assists can only manage available traction, they can't increase grip...4WD equals go; not turn or stop. 4WD and AWD can only help you accelerate, they can't help you turn or stop..." http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=104125
"...A word of caution to those who drive SUVs. Just because you have four-wheel drive doesn't mean you can stop or turn any better than a two-wheel-drive car. Four-wheel drive allows better motive traction, but when you're off the gas (such as when you need to turn quickly or stop) it doesn't matter; the laws of physics still apply..." http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/tires/articles/100811/article.html
"...By conducting acceleration, braking and cornering tests on the ice we've confirmed the differences between various winter tires and the traction advantage they have over All-Season and All-Terrain light truck tires..."
http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=129
My biggest concern with the system is the so called "milliseconds." When taking a corner with a FT AWD car w/power, you typically will not have the tail fly out. This is true for my FT AWD Yukon XL Denali, which should have a higher chance of this due to it's length and light weight rear end. Being that the FX is a PT AWD, the system does not distribute the power to the front fast enough to ensure no back end slide out. This slide out can be controlled by continuing to apply power.
Were I live, they have elected to place traffic circles where a 4 way stop would normally be. You really can't take these at a high speed, 15 - 20 mph tops, however under icy conditions the tail of the car will slide out. When this happens, it is important to learn not to coast or brake, but apply power for the car to come under control.
The biggest concern about going down a curvy decline is that you are trying to control your momentum, however in order to implement the AWD system, you must apply power and have slippage to get the front activated. They say this takes milliseconds, but whatever the time is, it is enough for the car to loose rear end traction and slide out. You must keep the power going if you want to bring the rear end back in, but who wants to do this while going down hill and trying to control your momentum.
Sorry but I much prefer the FT AWD as you don't have to deal with this problem.
Thanks, Jon.
This is largely due to the fact that a Yukon XL understeers like the huge, heavy SUV that it is.
"Being that the FX is a PT AWD, the system does not distribute the power to the front fast enough to ensure no back end slide out."
Given the gentle nature of this forum, I will merely say that I believe you may have been introduced to lift-throttle oversteer, a phenomenon particularly prevalent in performance-oriented cars, and especially so in low-traction situations.
If your AWD system is responding so slowly that you are getting sideways before any torque is distributed to the front, I recommend you visit your friendly local dealer, as your car is clearly faulty.
My favorite proposal in discussions involving driving in snow: Rather than fret over dedicated snow tires or (even more to the point) fancy AWD systems, we could drive as if we were in a low-traction situation, using gentle control inputs, and leaving a large safety margin where speed is concerned. Hmmm.
I vote for dedicated snow tires + AWD + using the common sense approach that you describe. Winter driving would be so much safer if everyone practiced this.
In addition to the rear-drive bias in the FX, which I find very entertaining AND SAFE when driven correctly, I also appreciate the tremendous road feel you have, where you can feel the tires as they begin to lose traction and make adjustments before it's too late. Here in Minnesota when we occasionally do get treacherous driving conditions, I've see LOTS of Yukon's, Suburbans, Tahoes, Durango's, etc in the ditch - even more than regular sedans sometimes. Some of this is overconfidence on the part of the driver and going too fast ("My truck has four wheel drive and I am invincible"). But I suspect that much is also due to lack of roadfeel and they do not sense an impending loss of control until it's too late.
I am a huge proponent of safe driving during winter conditions. I just expected a better system when purchasing the vehicle. I really feel the manufacturer overstated the capabilities.
The FX uses the same platform as the G35 and exactly the same AWD system!
I had the unfortunate experience of meeting a sturdy tree on a snowy night in November of '04 driving my '99 Jeep GC with QuadraDrive. Impact was diagonal into the driver's door. Jeep was totaled but, other than a badly bruised side, I suffered no serious injuries.
I had no problems along most of my 30mi. trip home until the rear began to slide out on a gentle left-hand bend in the road. I did not apply the brakes and tried to keep an even throttle. Unfortunately I began to fishtail and eventually went off the road, into the trees.
QuadraDrive was a PT/AWD system, sending 100% to the rear until slippage occurs. (I believe the new QD II system is FT/AWD.)
From what has been said here perhaps had I given it some gentle throttle, power would have been sent forward and maybe averted the loss of control. Obviously this is speculative.
I will say my '92 Subaru SVX was the best I ever drove in snow with its front biased AWD system.
I do agree that we are often lulled into a false sense of confidence having a vehicle with 4- WD. Caution, no mater how good ones tires and how sophisticated the AWD, is paramount in snow.
The tires gripped when I hit the gas hard (but not all-out floored) and did not slip, it turned well adn braked well. The only caveat is this was day-old crunchy snow. I want to ceheck them out in falling wet 3" type snow to really be sure, but they absolutely beat the OEM's.
If you scroll back on this site there are now some 20" winter tires finally avaialble that would be better in the snow perhaps, but the Toyos are jsut as good in the dry adn rain as the OEM's -no noiser, no rougher, ec. so if they'll get me through moderate snow I'll be satisified. The other psots indicate teh winter tires are hard, noisy and not as good in teh dry (to be expected).
Bottom line: the FX with the Toyoy won't be a snow king like my wife's 4WD Blazer -that car goes in 8" of slop with ALl SEASON SUV tires and nothing stops it, but it is a truck -the FX 45 is a sports car so I am willing to accept a trade-off as long as it is not totally lame in the snow, as was the case with the OEM rubber. I live in NYC area so we only get a few real snow storms and as long as it can get me homw I'll be happy. If you live in Maine or Denver then I'd get winet tires adn swap them every Spring and WInter.
Hope this helps and I'll psot when I get them into some fresh deep snow.
Getting it repaired this week. What can I do to disable this feature? Why didn't the Car Alarm Horn sound??
I'm not happy with this situation.
Anyway the smell plus the 'ding' noise the car made after just moving away drove me nuts.
SPT
PS The ding noise I'm told is the ABS system check, had an A4 that did the same, me new Acura does NOT make the noise and is equipped with ABS !!!
CPP
The cost(parts + labor) is about $600. I was thinking about it, but haven't pulled the trigger. I wish my '05 FX-35 had it as an option when I bought it. That way it would have only cost me $400.