Considering buying a 2011 EX35

[kernel32]

Hi,
I consider buying a 2011 ex35 journey awd at 48k miles. It is very clean and loaded with premium package. The price after negotiations is $21.5k. What do you guys think about the car? Do you recommend the car to a new family? We don't have a child yet but will probably have in 2 years.

My only concern is about very narrow rear doors. Btw, how reliable are these ex35s?

Thanks

[XIS]

can't comment on the price, but I love mine and it has proven to be pretty darn reliable.
My teenagers handle the back seat just fine. I think that gripe is old news... it is small, but it isn't a 911 backseat or anything.

[ArcticBlue]

Go for it ! We bought ours new 4 years ago, never has had a wrench turned on it other than routine maintenance. Terrific handling,safe, great on wet/slick roads, fun to drive, utterly reliable, comfortable on long trips. Not your typical SUV, for sure, it has a degree of exclusivity not common to the breed.
Sounds to me like you are getting a fantastic price !

[meanie]

As the owner of a loaded 2011 with more miles on it I find the price you are getting slightly distressing, as I'd hoped mine was worth more. I'd suggest borrowing an infant car seat and trying it out before buying. See how difficult getting a child in and out would be. It is a really nice vehicle and pretty versatile, but undeniably tight back there (or as Motor Trend puts it "stylistically gifted and dimensionally challenged"). You will still have 12k left on the bumper to bumper and 22k on the power train warrantys, so if there are any issues you should be okay. Mine has been pretty good withg minor glitches around the nav screen (fixed under TSB) and visor mirror (fixed under warranty).

[kernel32]

Thanks for the information. My offer is slightly over the dealer one because the owner needs to leave the country asap. Instead of giving the car to the dealer, he is giving to me for the same price. It was good luck for me.

[NJGuy]

I'd say that the EX is a pretty reliable car. I bought a pre-owned model, so I don't really know what issues were addressed by the prior owner. But over the past 3 1/2 years the powertrain and related systems haven't given me any trouble. I've had to take care of a couple of issues, but they had no effect on the car's drivability.

I'd suggest borrowing an infant car seat and trying it out before buying. See how difficult getting a child in and out would be. It is a really nice vehicle and pretty versatile, but undeniably tight back there (or as Motor Trend puts it "stylistically gifted and dimensionally challenged").

I'd agree with meanie's statement here. While I like my EX and think that it could work for a family hauler, I wouldn't put it at the top of the list for a family car. The back seat is pretty tight. I didn't have an issue getting the infant seat in and out, but the seating options in the car become very limited when one is installed. I'd say to take a look at the following threads when it comes to car seats in the EX.
2012-ex35-and-child-seats-you-gotta-be- ... 70330.html
2010-model-car-seat-rear-leg-room-issues-t477083.html
stroller-vs-ex35-trunk-t458565.html
infant-seat-traded-with-car-seat-now-my ... 14868.html

If you guys are in love with the car, there are a couple of things that would make it easier for you and your significant other to deal with any space issues.
-Don't be tall . Ok, if you are, you can't change that; but if you're not, you're ahead of the game.
-Look long and hard at the carseat options and models available on the market. While an infant carrier is the most convenient for babies, some convertible carseats may actually offer more practical space around it in rear facing mode.
-Like the carseat, choose your stroller wisely. Some take up a significant amount of cargo space, which the EX doesn't have tons of.
-Be mindful of the baby gear, supplies, and odds and ends you pack and need to load into the car, especially on extended trips. Some people feel the need to bring every large baby accessory along. A rooftop cargo carrier may help on those longer trips.

If you plan bringing a couple of adults in the car with the three of you, or having more than two kids, I'd definitely look at changing out the EX for something bigger.

[AWGD8]

My son loves this car since he was 5. (He's 12 now) he always sits behind the front passenger seat. @ almost 5'4 he is stil fine sitting there. (Wife is petite 5'2") So we never had issue with space.

The rear hatch is a plus and also the separate folding rear seats. Gives us more vesatility hauling stuff. That is the only thing I will miss if I ever trade it in for a G sedan. Maybe the ground clearance also. =)

So far here in my area, this car is exclusive. I hardly see them around. Maybe 2x a month???

If I put on my Summer tires and Rims, it becomes more exclusive.. LOL!

I also removed the EX35 badge. So no one knows what it is except the Nissan/Infiniti fannatics. One guy says nice FX! Hahaha!

The only thing I do not like is the MPG. 20MPG in mixed grandma driving.

The car is pretty soild. If you are not into performance engine, there are other car/suv for the money if you would just like a point A to point B vehicle with better MPG buy something else.

[kernel32]

Thanks for all your comments. They were so helpful. I bought the car today. We loved the car.

The only problem is that the white plastic cover around the fog light is missing. Is there any way to find this part? I could not find it on ebay.



The car was serviced at 45k miles (new tires, brakes, oil & filter). It is now at 49k. Do I need to change the oil (don't know whether they put synthetic or not) ? There is no infiniti dealers in my town, is it OK to go to somewhere else to change the oil?

I will post the photos soon.

[AWGD8]

Congrats and welcome to NICO! if you are planning to keep the car for a long time, rule of thumb in buying a used car is change all the fluids, but since it is only 30K miles, I would definitely change the Engine oil and filter, Air filter (check if still ok), that filter under the glove compartment( brain fart forget what it's called?) , Check brake pads and tire wear, rear differential fluid is a good idea too maybe around 35k miles or 40. (Car is RWD bias, so this rear differential is used most of the time).

I am not sure where to get that white thingy lights...

[NJGuy]

The car was serviced at 45k miles (new tires, brakes, oil & filter). It is now at 49k. Do I need to change the oil (don't know whether they put synthetic or not) ? There is no infiniti dealers in my town, is it OK to go to somewhere else to change the oil?

Oil change intervals depend on both your driving habits and personal preferences. Infiniti's maintenance guide for the 2011 models (https://owners.infinitiusa.com/content/ ... _I_SMG.pdf) calls for intervals of 3,750 miles for schedule 1 ("more severe"), and 7,500 miles for schedule 2 ("less severe"). I personally like 5K intervals, as it keeps it easy for me to keep track of things.

If you're worried about how the car was driven in the last 4K miles since the last service, then change the oil now. Like AWGD8 mentioned, it's probably not a bad idea anyway. You don't have to go to Infiniti to get an oil change. However, I'd take it to a trusted shop and avoid those quick lube places.

In the meantime, I'd still recommend that you find a good Infiniti dealer nearby. If you encounter a problem that requires diagnostic and repair tools specific to Infiniti, it's possible that fixing it may be beyond the capabilities of many independent mechanics. The dealer will also be able to address recalls, as it seems nowadays the automakers are issuing them left and right.