a bimmer owner switching to FX45 am I nuts

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I now own a BMW 745 Li. I really need an SUV. I'm considering the FX45, BMWX5 or Range Rover. The FX is such a wonderfully strange vehicle that I tend to lean to it.

[Mr1der]

no, you should however consider the FX56.

maintenence won't hurt as much.

the other two are better suited for off road if that's your thing.

[rydwhite]

I think you would be making a very wise choice gain with the FX45. It is in my opinion, the best looking SUV on the road. And you get a helluva a power package with the V8. Tons of great options available as well. Be sure to check out our SUV section at the link below. http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....d=100

[rydwhite]

1der, what you talking about? FX56? Do you mean the QX56? I don't think that the FX, QX or the BMWX5 are really suited too well for off roads. The Range Rover on the other hand is deffinetly a good off road vehicle depending on which one you get. But, I don't own any of the above, so I don't really know what I'm talking about. Just my perceptions from afar.

[Mr1der]

nope, FX 56, it's got the bigger motor in the same body.

oh no, watch that damn BMW short film, they put that sucker off road, not to the extreme the range rover can handle, but still...

[jdmfreak]

Really? I coulda sworn I read in Car&Driver that the QX could go off road. I might be wrong though.

[AZhitman]

There is no FX56, Beavis.

I was the passenger in an FX45 racing a Cayenne back in October. FX held its own pretty well, certainly better than one would expect for HALF the money.

X5 is IMO overpriced for what you get... But then again, I wasn't all that impressed with the 750il I drove for a few days. Especially not for what the guy paid for it!!!

[AZhitman]

QX is based on the Armada, and is as capable a performer off-road as its Nissan counterpart.

Whupped on the Navigator and the Escalade, and they're similarly sized and equipped.

[Nismo_Freak]

BMW X5 4.4i$52,7954.4L DOHC V8 w/ VVT and Variable Intake Manifold6-Speed AutomaticAWD (Adaptive control)315 bhp @ 5400 rpm324 lb. ft. @ 3600 rpm 0 - 60: 6.8 sec. Weight: 4927 lbs.MPG: TBD

Infiniti FX45$44,3754.5L DOHC w/ CVVT and Variable Intake Manifold5-Speed Automatic w/ Manual Shift ModeATTESA ET-S AWD 315 bhp @ 6400 rpm329 lb. ft. @ 4000 rpmWeight: 4309 lbs. MPG: 15/19

These IMO are the two strongest choices. However, allow me to make my opinion on the two based on the facts above.

I would go with the Infiniti for several reasons. The first being that the vehicle is designed to drive more like a sports SUV than a truck. The engine breathes better at higher RPMs, it features a sports shift transmission, has higher compression, titanium inlet and exhaust valves, and microfinished camshafts, crankshaft, and pistons for increased engine response, and on top of that the tires are wider and the suspension is sports tuned as standard (option on X5). The Infiniti has 20" wheels which does actually make tires more readily available than the 19" rears on the X5. The Infiniti has a lower coefficient of drag and on a SUV with alot of surface area that adds up to fuel efficiency. It has a 1" longer wheel base, and 2" more width, which helps to add stability to the car. Moreso the Infiniti is 2" shorter than the X5, which more than likely aids in rollover prevention. The VK series engine is an updated design of an engine that has proven to be reliable in the Q45 for 14 years and running.

The ATESSA AWD system has been in the Nissan line-up since 1987 with the invention of the MID4 II. It was the system by which every other manufacturer rated their AWD systems. It uses G sensors in relation to engine sensor input and ABS sensors at all 4 corners to calculate the best power split for whatever the driver is doing. The ATESSA system was the same AWD system used in the Skyline GTR, which is the best sports car ever produced for mainstream usage by the Japanese. Even today the ATESSA AWD setup on a 1989 R32 Skyline GTR is more advanced than the AWD setup on a 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STi and the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII. The point being is that this system started out as the best on the market, and has been improved upon for the past 17 years. I'd venture to say it's the best AWD system ever produced on the market.

That and the Infiniti costs $8,000 less... thats a LARGE chunk of change. Get some cool options with that change!

[AZhitman]

Well-said. Good show, Mr. Magoo.

[AZhitman]

p.s. Add to that the fact that the BMW engine is tuned to it's max in the X5. Yet the FX45 has a DETUNED (via the ECU) version of the 340-hp Q/M engine!

Shouldn't be long before JWT starts unleashing those extra 25 hp for willing owners.

[jdmfreak]

340+hp FX's? I wish I had the dough.

[UncleBen]

Excellant comparisons. I'm sold.

[[Zero-S]]

Saw a QX56 in person the other day. All I can say is dayum.(and this is coming from a guy who doesn't like SUVs)

Too bad gas is so outrageously expensive right now:(

[UncleBen]

:Werd to that crap

[jdmfreak]

Yea gas really kills it. I dont hate SUVs though. I love Yukon Denalis, Escalades, Escalade EXTs, and H2s along with a variety of pickups as well. That is only if you got the $$$ though. I love trucks with 20-22in. blingin rims and moderate stereo/electronics and if I had the $$$ Id definately love having one for 2-3 days out of the week.

[Nismo_Freak]

Well-said. Good show,

Please don't put my last name on the board.

[Nismo_Freak]

p.s. Add to that the fact that the BMW engine is tuned to it's max in the X5. Yet the FX45 has a DETUNED (via the ECU) version of the 340-hp Q/M engine!

Shouldn't be long before JWT starts unleashing those extra 25 hp for willing owners.

The BMW engine is not tuned to it's max. It's doing it's job of providing the driver with a usable powerband at all speeds. I'd be more than willing to bet that the exhaust and manifolds on the X5 are more restrictive. Remember BMW produces a 3.2L engine that makes 333hp.

However the last thing I'm sure the guy would want to do is have to modify the engine to do what he wants it to.

Still the X5 is a nice vehicle, but to my standards it has nothing on the Infiniti.

[Nismo_Freak]

Yea gas really kills it. I dont hate SUVs though. I love Yukon Denalis, Escalades, Escalade EXTs, and H2s along with a variety of pickups as well. That is only if you got the $$$ though. I love trucks with 20-22in. blingin rims and moderate stereo/electronics and if I had the $$$ Id definately love having one for 2-3 days out of the week.

I'd buy a FX45, put a VK56 in it with twin GT25R's running about 1.0 bar, drop the FX about 4", custom fabricate control arms to re-align the geometry, switch out the 20's to some FX35 owner in favor of a light set of custom CCW racing wheels in 18x10 front, 18x13 rear. Totally gut the thing out but keep it sorta lookin stock, limo tint, 4 Recaro racing seats, 10 pt. cage.

My license plate would read: TRYIT

Not that I've given any thought to this.

[jdmfreak]

That would be sick as hell. My mom almost bough an FX35, but she didnt like the tail lights so we ended up getting a Polished Pewter 04 SL AWD Murano. That thing is so nice. Its got black leather, sunroof with wind deflector, BOSE 225 watt stereo, a few other things, and no navigation(Pops says its for idiots). Whenever I do get to drive it(havent gone more than amile away from home), I get lots of looks, especially the girls. I guess they think I got $$$ or something.

[SmithSR]

Please don't put my last name on the board.

I thought it was a joke? Hell, I'm stuck with plain 'ol Smith

:oface

[SmithSR]

Oh, back to the topic at hand.. The area I'm in is heavily saturated with SUV's. Mostly soccer mom's trying to see over the steering wheel of the massive Excursion or Yukon XL. I saw an FX35 take me down like I was standing still on the freeway. The sound was intoxicating..

A girl once told me the FX are ugly. She liked the styling of the VW beetle and said the new beetle is "cute" so I put no weight into her critique of the FX lineup.

Since most SUV's see street duty and never go anywhere near a dirt road, let alone "off-road" why not get the SUV that's got the most car-like qualities?

Every car magazine test says just that. The FX is a sports car in SUV clothing.

[AZhitman]

Anyone who ever gets a chance to drive an FX35/45 will realize there's NOTHING suv about it. It is indeed a sports car.

Keep in mind it has the same platform as the G35, which is also the 350Z platform - Nothing to sneeze at.

After driving several of them, I'd venture to say it'd do damn well on a road course.

[[Zero-S]]

I'd buy a FX45, put a VK56 in it with twin GT25R's running about 1.0 bar, drop the FX about 4", custom fabricate control arms to re-align the geometry, switch out the 20's to some FX35 owner in favor of a light set of custom CCW racing wheels in 18x10 front, 18x13 rear. Totally gut the thing out but keep it sorta lookin stock, limo tint, 4 Recaro racing seats, 10 pt. cage.

My license plate would read: TRYIT

Not that I've given any thought to this.

:jawdrop: Thats insane...

[jdmfreak]

I love the FX's cuz of the RWD. The only problem I see with the Murano is that its FWD until the AWD kicks in. Im interested in knowing how close the Murano, FX35, and FX45 tracktimes would be.

[[Zero-S]]

the murano has a transverse mounted VQ? Wow news to me...

[Nismo_Freak]

It's FWD if you don't get AWD... too bad they didn't release it with ATESSA E-TS

[jdmfreak]

How is it not AWD? I know that it isnt full time AWD, but it does come on when needed.

[[Zero-S]]

He means get a cheap base model murano with no awd.:pface

[Jesda]

For what its worth...I drove an 03 Cadillac Escalade today. Drives like a comfy quiet truck.