Buying a used FX

[hlsess]

My daughter (18) wants a used FX 35- how many miles is too many on this car- I know ZERO about these cars-she is looking at a few that have over 50,000 miles- anyone here have one that has over 100,000 miles- how do they do with alot of miles on them???

[seldomseen]

Unless you plan on paying for her gas, maintenance, repair and insurance bills I would not consider the FX35/45 for an 18 year old. Your daughter is probably better off with Murano or Rogue if she wants to stay within the Infiniti/Nissan family---since they will be more cost effective vehicles to own for a teenager and supporting parent.

However, if the decision is to get an FX just get one that is a CPO or one with low miles and has an Infiniti/Nissan backed extended warranty. The FX can last beyond 100k miles if properly maintained and cared for. You'll want to keep an eye out for oil consumption on these vehicles though. There are a handful of other common carry over issues too, but the oil consumption is the major problem.

[Chris92SE]

I would agree that a Murano or Rogue would probably be a better choice. Compared to a lot of other cars, the FX is a little more difficult to drive, too. They are wide vehicles and have somewhat difficult blind spots. The FX is in the highest insurance rate class (because of the cost to repair), it doesn't get that great of mpg and the maintenance costs are pretty high. Dealership maintenance is especially high compared to standard Nissans. The insurance might be a big issue with a teen driver. I know that when I was in my early 20s, I wanted a 300zx, but the insurance was more than double what I ended up paying on a nearly new Maxima. Stuff like tires (over $1k for a set of the 18s) oil changes ($50 at the dealership) and brakes are quite a bit more.

I love my FX, but I do a lot of maintenance myself and I have connections at a tire store, so those things aren't as big a problem for me. Overall, I think they are great cars and I have always had good luck with Nissan as far as reliability. It is a VERY sporty SUV. When you look at the handling and hp, I think there are few that compare in the same price range. If my son was 18, I don't think I would want him owning an FX.

[pippen99]

Probably agree about a Murano or Rogue being a better choice. Not sure about the insurance cost though. I went from a 08 G37 coupe to 2010 FX35 and my insurance went down $45 a year. Of course I'm old but still did not expect to pay less for a vehicle 2 yrs newer and more expensive!

[Chris92SE]

The G was probably considered a sports car, since it was a coupe. Sometimes rates go by the type of vehicle and the statistics on accidents.

When I got the FX (I traded in a 2001 QX4) and talked with my agent on the phone, she said that it was in the "highest category." I can't remember her exact wording. Maybe she meant for SUVs? My rates went up some. It wasn't incredibly high for me, but for a teenager, it might be. I just meant it would be a good idea to look into it.

There are some vehicles that are extremely expensive to insure if you are under 25.

[hlsess]

thanks for the info- I think she can find something else then

[Socaldiablo]

Besides all the good info infiniti_lineup gave, your daughter will be the girl with the cool car if she drives an FX. I know that when I was 18, most of the other 18 y/o I knew were not driving luxury brand cars ...they were driving beat up Mustangs and other American crap cars that were barely road worthy.
Joking aside, the FX is a great car. I'm not sure why there is so much emphasis on here with people saying you need to get an FX with an extended warranty. These are Japanese cars made in Japan ...when you stack up the list of issues these cars have, the list is much shorter than other makes and models (like American cars which I refuse to buy anymore). I've owned my FX45 for over a year and other than the bubbling dashboard (replaced under warranty), mine has been flawless and completely dependable. My QX56, on the other hand, has had some problems in just over 2 years and you know why ...b/c it was made in the U.S. by union workers. Sorry to rant but just trying to make a point. If you/she can afford the maintenance on an FX35, I say go for it. I will say the dealer labor rate is like $90/hour (depending on your area ...can be as high as over $100/hour) so you'll pay a premium for service. Try and find an Infiniti specific independent mechanic in your area.

[hlsess]

Thanks for the last 2 replies- what is your opinion on the gas mileage -it couldn't be worse than most other SUV's??? We unfortunatley live in an affluent area where alot tof the teens drive nice cars..... we buy used ones that are in my preice range

[Chris92SE]

Thanks for the last 2 replies- what is your opinion on the gas mileage -it couldn't be worse than most other SUV's??? We unfortunatley live in an affluent area where alot tof the teens drive nice cars..... we buy used ones that are in my preice range

I get about 15 around town and 20-22 on the freeway going about 70-73 mph. The Oregon speed limit is 65.

Some of the previous comments sounded kind of FX biased. Most cars on the road today are plenty safe and reliable. Unless you need AWD for snow, I would recommend a nicer car (not an SUV). Acura, Lexus, BMW, Volvo, Infiniti all make quality "affluent" cars that are safe and get better mpg than the FX. Even if you needed AWD, a G35x sedan or BMW 3 series xi would be better choices in my opinion. They would cost less and get better mpg.

About the insurance thing, I am sure that there are super expensive SUVs that might be more, but compared to almost everything else on the road, the FX is going to be higher. It was just something to consider. I would think it is far from the perfect car for a teenager. Higher insurance, so-so mpg, expensive to maintain, stiff suspension, nearly 300 hp engine, somewhat difficult blind spots and it's wider than most vehicles. At least drive one yourself and compare to a sedan.

[hlsess]

Thanks Chris- she doesn't want a sedan she wants a SUV- I will try and research it a little more

[Socaldiablo]

Thanks for the last 2 replies- what is your opinion on the gas mileage -it couldn't be worse than most other SUV's??? We unfortunatley live in an affluent area where alot tof the teens drive nice cars..... we buy used ones that are in my preice range

Gas mileage is not that great on mine but I have the V8 engine (FX45). Also, I drive mainly on LA's city streets so mine is below 15 mpg, probably more in the 12-13 range (stop and go traffic). This is not going to be a cheap vehicle to operate if you get her an FX35. But it sounds like you're not too worried about that. Also, I wouldn't really categorize the FX as an SUV. It's a cross-over style vehicle. It sits higher than a sedan but much, much lower than a typical SUV and it doesn't really have any typical SUV capabilities ...for instance, you would never take one of these off road. The wheels are too large in diameter and the ground clearance is not comparable to a typical SUV.

[hlsess]

Thanks for the last 2 replies- what is your opinion on the gas mileage -it couldn't be worse than most other SUV's??? We unfortunatley live in an affluent area where alot tof the teens drive nice cars..... we buy used ones that are in my preice range

Gas mileage is not that great on mine but I have the V8 engine (FX45). Also, I drive mainly on LA's city streets so mine is below 15 mpg, probably more in the 12-13 range (stop and go traffic). This is not going to be a cheap vehicle to operate if you get her an FX35. But it sounds like you're not too worried about that. Also, I wouldn't really categorize the FX as an SUV. It's a cross-over style vehicle. It sits higher than a sedan but much, much lower than a typical SUV and it doesn't really have any typical SUV capabilities ...for instance, you would never take one of these off road. The wheels are too large in diameter and the ground clearance is not comparable to a typical SUV.

I actually meant a sporty car not SUV

[Chris92SE]

well, whatever works. Not going to argue about insurance. Just something to look into.

If she wants and SUV, there might be a few others to consider.

For a little worse mpg, you can spend a lot less and get a QX4. I recommend a 2001 and up. I had one for several years. Had a few minor problems, but I fixed them all myself pretty cheap.

I would also consider an Acura MDX . My brother has an 04 or 05 MDX and it is very nicely equipped and he paid a couple thousand less than I paid for my FX35 and we bought them within a couple of months of each other.

[Socaldiablo]

I have the same engine in my 2006 Infiniti M45 and my typical MPG range is around 22mpg-23.5mpg. The lowest I've ever gotten is 13.1mpg over a period of two days with heavy acceleration and WOT several times. I'm sure you could equate the difference of ~400lbs between the M45 and FX45 as the reason for the enormous difference in gas mileage, but then I'd mentioned how my 2005 Infiniti QX56 gets 16.4mpg and is 1300lbs HEAVIER than your FX45.

I'd say you need to question how heavy your foot is on the accelerator, especially when the FX45 is rated at 15mpg/19mpg.




Also, I've driven both the FX45 and FX50 and had no issues with blind spots.

And, again, insurance is not high in comparison to many of the other crossover vehicles in that category (mainly because of the high crash test rating it has received when compared to others in the same category). Moreover, the G37 and BMW 3-Series, both cars you mentioned in your post, will cost more to insurance for a teenager driver than the FX35 because statistics from the NHTSA show that those cars, when driven by those under the age of 25, are more prone to crashing than the Infiniti FX35 when also driven by those under the age of 25. Call your insurance company, they will confirm this.

My foot is no heavier on the accelerator than yours is. It's more dependent on the type of driving conditions you're in. I stated I was in stop and go traffic mostly. And it's typically more stop than go ...when you're stopped, you're getting 0 miles per gallon. I've been using the on-board calculator for my gas mileage and my FX45 is telling me that based on my driving conditions, I'm getting about 13 mpg. I'm not hard on the accelerator at all. I can't be ...I'm mostly stopped waiting for the people in front of me!

Also, you mentioned not noticing a blind spot in the FXs. There is a significant blind spot ...believe me, it's there. You don't have an FX so your limited time in one is probably the reason you didn't notice.

[pippen99]

I'm not quite sure what blind spot is being referred to, but I'm grateful for the backup camera in my FX35. The visibility issue i've had the most concern about is the drivers side rearview mirror blocking my vision on left hand turns particularly while turning uphill. This has been a problem with all my Infiniti's (4). At least twice I've almost turned into an oncoming car because the mirror was blocking the oncoming lane.
As far as gas mileage my first 1200 miles have been a combined 18 mpg. I don't know if this would apply to older models.

[sultan]

yeah, the front blind spot is crazy

i have no issue with the rear but i do think visibility is comprised a bit with how the (?) pillar comes down. dunno what letter that pillar is.

[hlsess]

Just asked my car salesman guy about mileage and he says
"By far the FX35 gets better fuel economy. The EPA rates the FX 35 at 16/23. REmember that their ratings are about 2 MPG less than actual mileage. How it is driven greatly affects fuel economy. She should be able to average around 20/21."


as far as the blind spot-I buy those mirrors at brookstone that go in the lower corner of drive' sside mirror-solves the blind spot problem