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Comments
When I first sat in the FX the first thing I noticed is the much higher seating position (like a SUV) but as soon as I took the first turn I was amazed at how well the vehicle handled, especially considering its added height. The next thing I noticed is the power, expecially from a dead stop the thing accelerates like crazy (and the allroad is not exactly slow, especially with the chip that I had in it). Once you are underway, the performance of the two cars is very similar - the twin turbo six in the allroad (especially chipped) provides some serious thrust, as does the FX. The exhaust note from the FX's V8 is definitely meetier - I find it to be intoxicating and very cool. And last but not least is the FX's braking feel - much smoother pedal feel than the allroad, which does have a well-known problem with their rotors that some have had to replace about every 10,000 miles. Toward the end mine were going bad and there was noticeable vibration when braking.
Looks are subjective but I think most would agree that the FX's styling is several years ahead but of course some might prefer the less-flamboyant look of the allroad wagon body. I like the lines of the FX and it sure does attract a lot of attention on the road, whereas the allroad blends in more.
As for reliability it's too early to say but my allroad was very reliable with only one unscheduled problem, other than the above-noted brake rotors. If I had not learned that Audi plans to discontinue the allroad after the next model year - at least that's the strong rumor - I probably would have gotten another one. But I guess in a way I was ready for a change, and the Infiniti really grabbed my attention. So far it hasn't disappointed.
I'm sure there will be aftermarket stuff put out by some tuners real quick. I doubt that a chip would do much since it's a non-turbo engine. I have no plans to mess with it myself.
Strictly a political decision.
Personally, I think the FX45 should be Infiniti's flagship model. It's a prime example of a vehicle that plays by its own rules and doesn't apologize for it. You've got to respect that.
The Orlando Infiniti dealership and Scott Infiniti in South Florida both have approximately 40 FX models.
It seems that the initial demand is not what Infiniti expected. Hopefully this will translate into big savings come negatiating time. $500 over invoice anyone?
Maybe it will take time for the market to respond to the FX dramatic styling and lack of practicality relative to the competion.
It is ok with me because I like to drive something that few people have and the quality of the vehicle should be great.
Let me pose my question one more time regarding ordering a 2004 with cloth as opposed to leather. Will I be able to sell the vehicle eventually? Living in Florida Leather really makes my back sweat in the summer.
Hopefully for 2004 Infinity will allow you to get the brick interior without the bone crushing ride of the sport package.
Seems that Grubbs Infiniti can now ship anywhere in the 48 states for only $250 additional shipping cost. Wow!
BTW, I bought my FX35 AWD at Orlando Infiniti for VPP price (benefit of my employer) and those guys are great. One of the best buying experiences ever!
But cloth as standard equipment on a $35K+ car is just plain ridiculous to me. If you're leasing, that's fine but buying..no way. BTW, couple years back when I leased my BMW X5 3.0i, vinyl-covered seating was standard! Even a cheap CD player was optional!
That's what I bought too. How are you doing keeping it clean? Looks beautiful after a wash & wax job, but it's a dust magnet! It's the first black car that I've owned since a '83 VW GTI, and I forgot how hard they are to keep clean! So far it's a "labor of love" though. Sure getting lots of stares around town.
1) At LEAST 340 HP (Lexus, BMW, MB will catch up fast)....the new Caddy SRX SUV is just as fast.
2) Adjustable suspension or air suspension (i.e. Porsche Cayenne)
3) Voice-activated NAV system (like Acura/Lexus)
4) 6-sp. Automatic (or a "sport" mode like in X5)
5) Bigger passenger room/cargo area
6) Bigger glove box/storage area for headphones
7) Body side moldings (to prevent door dings)
8) LED instrument panel (current orange-lit gauges are kind of ugly)
9) Options separated instead of in "packages"
clpurnell, I was thinking of one of those CA Dusters too - just something to sweep the dust off that would not scratch the paint, which is something I am taking great pains not to do. I hate the thought of getting lots of small scratches and swirl marks on the finish. Even a soft cloth can do this with dust. Where is a good place to buy the CA Duster? Do they work as advertised?
Walmart has a small dash one for $6 and a medium sized one for $10. I think an autozone type store might have an even larger size. I have not used one personally but I talked to an infiniti dealer who had a black G and he swore by it. At 10 bucks it's worth a try.
Wish List
1) More Seat adjustment for Passenger u/d(supposedly on 2004)
2) Factory Chrome wheel Option (starting with may production per FA)
3) Wider back seat entry wells
4) More storage place in the cabin
5) Nav as stand alone
2 of my 5 I have heard are being adressed. I really don't think it needs more power I mean the 45 beats everything short of a TT cayenne and my FX35 will run with a X5 4.4 All for a lot less $$$$. These are great cars. My wife likes mine so much she is asking for her own
My main wish list would echo that mentioned in the post above, which would be an adjustable suspension (with sport/normal setting, the sport being the current setup). In the reviews and customer feedback that I've seen, the firm ride is the main criticism and addressing this issue would greatly expand Infiniti's potential customer base, I think. That said, I hope they don't do anything that would lessen its handling abilities by softening it up too much - just add the option via a switch for when you're driving on really rough roads, have clients aboard, etc.
The brick interior is fun but not available on the white or non sport vehicle.
How about a nice medium metalic red which would be more elegant than the red offered.
The willow interior is going to be a pain from a maintainance standpoint and it is kind of boring unless you choose an exciting exterior color.
There are many inexpensive cars that offer a much broade range of color choices.
I am hoping that sometime in the future car companies will allow us to individualize our color combinations.
Can anyone comment on how much below invoice they are buying the FX for?
I have the willow interior and have twin toddlers. The interior does require a bit more maintenance but I think it's a small price to pay to get a more inviting, airy, and spacious feeling, IMO. Just get a good quality Leather cleaner/conditioner like Lexol and it should be OK.
The brick interior is also good but not in my Ivory Pearl FX35 AWD . I don't think it would have blended in well. Graphite is too spartan, IMO.
Does anybody know if the factory all weather mats match?
The factory all-weather mats are in Tan, which is a bit darker than Willow. The factory mats are a perfect fit in the FX. You can also try WeatherTech Mats but I cannot vouch for how the mats fits in the FX.
4300 miles, no problems, no complaints. This is one sweet machine! It is everything I expected and more. The engine just gets better the more it is driven.
Try it, you'll like it!
Like their instructions say, do not use it on a warm vehicle or the wax will transfer from the duster to the vehicle. big mess! I also noticed the first few times I used it, I did get some small deposits of wax on the finish, but that has since disappeared. No problems anymore. Make sure you let it sit on the newspaper, like the instructions say to leach out the excess parifin wax.
Once a day and it looks great! Now if i could figure out how to keep the bugs off that easy.