EX35 A Man's Car or a Woman's Car

[MagicM]

MagicM, what's more interesting to me is that you see enough EXes on the road to be able to make a generalization about the average driver of this vehicle. I never see them on the road at all!

Where i live crossover suv's are the most popular vs the bulky sized ones. I'll see a couple Ex's a week in fact there's a few driving around in my neighborhood. Basically i'am just making a generalization of the drivers in my area, and what I've seen in my city daily driving. Don't know about Texas though, to me it looks like it favors the big bulky / pickup trucks vs a crossover.

[nghivdo]

Hmmm... I'm a little stumped on this one... Ok, ok, I know, I know... I vote the EX is... a GAY MAN's car, because that is what I am! Oh wait... Where's the OPTION 'C' button at?

[exfactor]

Woman's car men would love to drive!

[rn79870]

I was very close to buying an EX but have been hearing a lot about this being a female car so I'm not sure now. It's still on my list but dropped a few slots because of that.

I have an 08 G35 Sedan. I see far more women driving sedans than men, but it never bothers me. It just gives me another reason to smile at them and wave. So I guess if you really want to conside it, the G is Infiniti's woman's car.

[MyteeDave]

I'm a dude and I just bought an EX a few weeks back. Never once crossed my mind that it might be a chick car- until I read this forum. (Yeah, thanks for that...) And believe me, I was sensitive to it as I test drove the X3 and LR3. Both of those lean towards being chick cars, based on my own independent research- checking out other drivers and asking friends their opinion.

Also, the EX is definitely ruled out as being a soccer Mom car, largely because of the lack of a significant back seat. (Although I DO sometimes haul my kids- 6 and 9-around in it and they are just fine.) But even if you do have kids in it, try making a grocery store run with both kids in car. Without being able to put down one of both of the back seats, you're going to be pressed for space.

But quite frankly, I think that's also a part of why I liked it- it was something that I knew this heavily soccer-mom-populated area wouldn't take to very well. Yet with the seats down, I can easily haul my bike around, the dogs- whatever I need. Just not everything at once. But for that, we have my wife's much larger SUV.

So all things considered, by knocking out a large percentage of the population of Mom drivers, I suspect it IS more of a man's care.

Just my two cents.

[500dolla]

Its a close call, id say it has the Gender Identification Disorder (GID) It can go either way.

[Gesemail]

Yeah I understand the dilemna. I recently got my EX on Saturday and went through a similar mental battle, but I came up with the solution.

Granted the EX does look like a "mini" SUV, but not without the roof racks. Without roof racks it looks like a beefy sedan.

I got a black on black EX journey without roof racks (was only like one in all of my area) and it looks bad ***.

White w/Roof Racks - Chick Car

Black w/o Roof Racks - Mans Car

[EXceptional]

I own a Black GMC Sierra Denali with QuadraSteer and I can certainly appreciate how much you like your EX35... in Black.

My Wife's Car has the Aspen Pearl color on it... so I can concur that it's a Chick Machine... only because it hers and she drives it.

However, I like to drive it too (once in a while) and when I'm inside, I don't even notice the color as I'm flying down the road.

They are nice Machines, aren't they ?

[M45Caliber]

I vote "Womans Car" I have an '03 M45, and in Feb. we went to trade our Honda Pilot that my wife had put 90K on, and we drove EVERYTHING out there that wasn't a car.

SHE selected the EX - white (like every other car she's ever driven -- we live in AZ) I was in the showroom and sitting in the FX and enjoying the larger size of that SUV. The EX is "right-sized" for a woman driver, and she loves the overall package. I like driving it, but all of the controls are much easier to operate than on my M, and it's a smaller, tighter fit both front and back.

I may end up driving it (having said all of the above) as she wants something "bigger" with all-wheel drive (no, I don't know why, other than she wants to go skiing once every 3 years). So maybe my low-mileage M is sacrificed as the next trade-in.

[mkaresh]

If she wants AWD once every three years, how about a rental?

[M45Caliber]

my good man -- do NOT confuse this matter with logic. I have tried that approach already. She's convinced she needs all-wheel-drive or she will die in a flaming crash as she spins wildly off the freeway (remember, we live in Phoenix, where the average winter temps are around 70 degrees) .

But I will continue to pursue this avenue of thinking with her. I convinced her to NOT get the AWD this time around as we'd save the up-front costs ($1,500) PLUS the difference in the gas mileage over time. This all made sense when we purchased this car, but suddenly, with a daughter living in Utah and now expecting her first child, the significant other thinks she'll be commuting up there in blizzard conditions on a monthly basis (not).

I keep telling her that with skid and traction control, she's golden as long as the tires are decent. Oh well. it's only money.

[mkaresh]

Been there, done that.

Yep, logic fails.

You will be in a tight spot, though. Winter tires would be a good idea for Utah--they're the only solution for top notch braking in snow--but worse than useless in Phoenix. The heat would chew them up. So it'll have to be all-seasons.

What are they putting on the EX? Michelin HX MXMs?

[mike995134]

Ditto

[Kenike]

Very interesting thread.

I am a petite 5' woman. I have owned 4 Maximas SE in a row with every bell and whistle (except NAV on my last one.) I love the power and responsiveness of my Maxima's but needed more room.

I am the Home Depot/Garden Center/Costco shopper in the family. I needed more room. Swore I was going to get an FX, went to test drive it and felt semi lost in it. Felt like my Hubby's SUV. Would be great to have solely for shopping but too big for back n forth to work.

The EX was perfect. I felt like Goldilocks. Was super fun to drive and with the back seats down I would have the room I needed.

I think this is a perfect combo of form and function. I think that if more women test drove it, they would feel more at ease in it than those huge SUVs. My Hubby has had 6 of the really large ones Navigator, Expeditions, Yukons. I hated driving them. Too much truck for little me.

Took Hubby to see it, yes I wanted to make sure he fit in it. He is a big Guy that had problems feeling comfortable driving in my Maximas. Well low and behold her was comfy. I was like shxx, now he is going to want to drive it.

I will not let him see this thread, and realize that men like it just as much as women.

It is a practical vehicle that will appeal to both. And we can find a parking spot that those big elephants cannot fir in.

[dividedhighw]

Thanks for your detailed and interesting post, Kenike, and welcome to our group!!

Do you have the Tech package? If so, I wondered how you're finding the AVM - do you like it or not?

Cheers,David

[Kenike]

Thanks for your detailed and interesting post, Kenike, and welcome to our group!!

Do you have the Tech package? If so, I wondered how you're finding the AVM - do you like it or not?

Cheers,David

We tried to find the colors I wanted with both Tech and Lux, we searched in his inventory and near by. No luck. Only Tidewater was found. So I thought about what was more important to me.

My Maxima has Xenon headlights and I am semi night blind. So lights won out.

Yes, I will always be envious of those that have the camera. But since 80% of my parking is not parallel and I only used cruise like twice in 5 years. I could not justify him having to do a long distance swap to get Tech in the color that I wanted. Also my commute is not on parkways, so lane departure would only be used on weekends, if that.

So, Whaaaaa! I do not have the cameras.

[EXceptional]

My Wife never used to drive anytime the both of us went out together.

Now, she insists on driving... and I'm always a Passenger in the EX35

She absolutly loves this Car... and says it's so much fun to drive.

Welcome to the site... and happy driving.

[mike995134]

Gender neutral ... that's exactly what Infiniti was shooting for.

Can't remember where I saw it, but there was a pre-release video online with the Infiniti design team talking about the EX ... and that's the one characteristic that they emphasized ... gender neutral.

And like a few others have said ... be comfortable in your own skin and don't worry about what other's think. If you like it, and it fits your needs, then buy it.

[Happy2Drive]

To illustrate the range of opinions, man's vs. woman's vehicle, read Cheryl Jensen's review of the car in the Sunday, 24 August '08 edition of the NY Times. I just finished reading it, and she thinks--as does a marketing guru from Infiniti--it's designed for a woman. I can't say that I would agree.

[EXceptional]

So it was designed as a Chick Car. Now, the truth is out.

Here's the article, so you don't have to go hunting for it...

2 Tons of Empowerment



MEN and women have very different needs, John Gray contended in “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus,” and Nissan agrees. Its luxury division, Infiniti, concluded that what women need is a smaller, softer-edged crossover utility vehicle. The EX35 rides on the same rear-drive car architecture as the Infiniti FX crossover. Thus, Infiniti brought out a new 2008-model crossover, the EX35, which it has positioned as a “reward” vehicle. By extension, then, the company seems to presume that men need the larger, sportier, revamped 2009 FX models.

If you accept this bit of sex segregation, it means women have to get along with the EX’s five-speed automatic transmission, while men get the company’s first seven-speed in the FX.

EX-empowered women are limited to a bit less than 300 horsepower, while men can flaunt their testosterone in FX models that top out at 390 horses.

And women get considerably less interior room and petite storage spaces.

Well, fine, I say, especially since the EX got all of Infiniti’s new technology last December, well before the revised FX reached market this summer. And the EX has a lot of features in its favor.

The crossover comes in four versions: the rear-drive EX35 ($32,765) and fancier EX35 Journey ($36,315), the EX35 AWD ($33,565) with power delivered to all four wheels and the EX35 Journey AWD ($37,115). You won’t find the plain cloth-seat versions in showrooms; they must be specially ordered.

Journey models have additional standard equipment including a power sunroof, leather seats and a power folding second-row seat.

My Journey AWD test vehicle, equipped with virtually every option, came to $45,065. Now that really is quite a reward — both for the buyer and for the dealer who makes the sale. Only you know whether you’re worth it.

My husband and I planned to drive to Cleveland to entertain nephews who were on vacation, then return to our New Hampshire home by way of New York City, where we’d pick up my mother-in-law. But after we looked inside the EX35, we pared our wardrobes and warned our passenger to re-think how much she planned to pack.

The EX was plenty comfortable in front; the 44.3 inches of legroom exceeded that of two competitors, the Acura RDX and BMW X3. But the EX’s 28.5 inches of rear legroom falls far short of those vehicles: the RDX has 9 inches more and X3 has 7 inches more. Concave seatbacks help, but it is tight back there, akin to the cramped rear quarters of a 2-plus-2 coupe.

•

At 18.6 cubic feet, the cargo area doesn’t hold much more than the trunk of a Nissan Altima. The RDX has 9.2 additional cubic feet and the X3 has 11.4.

But Kathy Gleason, senior manager for Infiniti marketing, said the company believed the cargo area was sufficient for its target customers — that is, women who are “pre- and post-family” with no children at home and no need for a minivan. Besides, she said, it will hold three sets of golf clubs with the rear seat up.

The EX35 rides on the same Infiniti rear-drive “FM” architecture as the FX crossover, the M sedans and the G sedan and coupe. The all-wheel-drive system normally operates by sending 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels. When the system senses a loss of traction, it automatically adjusts and divides the torque, with up to half going to the front wheels.

But the EX is no sports car. There is no hiding the fact that it weighs 4,000 pounds, and two tons does not change direction in a heartbeat. The EX can seem a bit nose-heavy in tight turns at lower speeds, but it feels better balanced when moving faster. The steering is nicely weighted, and the EX makes a solid, engaging Interstate cruiser.

The suspension, while a little stiff, is tolerable even on really bad roads. The optional 18-inch tires tend to follow ruts and other imperfections in the pavement.

The EX35 uses a fourth-generation version of Nissan’s venerated 3.5-liter V-6. In the EX, the engine is rated at 297 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of peak torque.

The automatic transmission has a manual-shift mode. But there’s no need for women to sulk over the fact that the EX comes up two gears short of the FX. The EX powertrain is refined and responsive. The transmission downshifts quickly and smoothly.

Rear-drive models are rated at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 24 on the highway; all-wheel-drive models are rated 16/23. I averaged 22 m.p.g. over 1,500 miles, much of it on the highway.

The upscale leather interior is attractive, but it falls short on personal storage, with a dinky console and small door pockets. The rear seatbacks can be folded down to form a flat cargo floor.

The EX35 has safety features galore: six air bags, including roof-mounted curtains; active head restraints to help protect against whiplash; antilock brakes; and electronic stability control. In testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the EX35 earned four out of five possible stars in the front crash test; it got the highest (five star) rating for side impacts.

The EX35 carries a lot of technology for a rather small vehicle. Indeed, there’s too much to list here. It was the first Infiniti to offer the Around View Monitor, providing a bird’s-eye image of the car when backing up, and the second to offer Lane Departure Warning and Prevention. It also has an intelligent cruise control, which maintains a gap between you and the vehicle ahead.

These features are part of a $1,950 Technology Package. That may seem reasonable, but to get the Technology Package you must also buy the Navigation Package ($2,150), and that requires the Premium Package ($2,150). So the out-of-pocket expense is a whopping $6,250.

The Around View Monitor uses small cameras in the front, sides and rear of the car to project on the navigation screen a view of every side of the car, helping to reduce blind spots. My nephews were fascinated by it, and tried to position a box so that I couldn’t see it on the screen. (They failed.) Although the feature is not exactly a “must have” at those prices, it works far better than a mere back-up camera.

The lane-departure warning sounds a chime if the driver drifts out of lane; going beyond this, the lane-departure-prevention feature nudges the vehicle back in between the lines. In my experience, the system worked very well. The small camera it uses does a good job of picking up lane markings even on wet roads, and the system can differentiate these from other marks on the road.

So for those of us in the target demographic (i.e., women) the EX indeed offers plenty of rewards.

First, you can’t carry many passengers, so there are fewer people you have to take care of. You can’t bring along a lot of luggage, so there’s less stuff you’ll have to maintain. The lane-departure system helps to keep you between the lines without the verbal criticism you could expect from certain passengers. And the Around View Monitor means you don’t have to worry so much when backing up.

If only everything else in a woman’s life were so helpful.

•

INSIDE TRACK: The EX35 is from Venus.

--> ACTUAL ARTICLE HERE <--

[EXceptional]

By the way...

After seeing the naked EX35 in the pictures that accompanied the above article... I'm glad ours came with the Roof Rails.

I think it adds something.

To some people, they don't like them... and for others, they wish they could remove them, or NOT get them at all with their Factory Order.

Each is own...

OK, back to regular programming, already in progress.

[Happy2Drive]

Thanks for posting the article, EXceptional! I was too lazy to cut & paste so late on a Saturday night!

Yes, I wholeheartedly agree about the roof rails; in fact, my EX has the crossbars as well, which are easily detachable.

[Georgie]

NY Times Article Sets Men Back 3000 Years

(Or, Makes male EX35 owners look wimpy)

It's kind of stupid really.

"...while men can flaunt their testosterone in FX models that top out at 390 horses."

A comparably-equipped FX35 (305hp) runs almost 50k, and to get better performance you have to step up to the FX50 and spend around 60k.

What, Danica Patrick can't drive? I've seen plenty of super-fast ladies; they pass me all the time (usually on the New Jersy turnpike, and usually tailgaiting). But I can do 80 very comfortably in this car. And on the backcountry roads of CT, it probably out-handles an FX35, which I've read on this forum is more *truck-like*

The FX 35 doesn't even come with V-rated tires. I like the light feel of this car; I like that it's a little smaller, for parking and milage, yet has plenty of front seat room, and a cooler interior than the FX, IMHO. I like everything about it. My male friends think it's a rocket ship and looks great with the chrome roof racks.

The last line, "The EX35 is from Venus" is lame. Articles like this may spur sales to the fairer sex, but it won't help with men. No matter. As someone above said,

"Be comfortable in your own skin and don't worry about what other's think. If you like it, and it fits your needs, then buy it."




Modified by Georgie at 3:43 PM 8/25/2008

[sailorman]

I bought my fully loaded EX35 about a month ago...can't get enough of it...driving it....learning about all the technology and toys....and reading about it online and in print. When I opened the NYTimes this past weekend and saw the article in the auto section...just knew it would heap deserved praise on this great car. After just the first paragraph I knew that this was just another fluff...phony... magazine/tabloid style...intellectual lifestyle...wasted use of space written by someone who was in over her head. Car reviews in the Auto section are supposed to give as much info about it's strengths and weaknesses - usually in an unbiased format. That the NYTimes lent it's space to someone who wrote a piece more suitable to USA Today or People Magazine is a sad statement on the times we live in and the NYTimes. And it is views like hers that actually make both men and women look pathetically lame and predictable. Figuring out who they are/their style and what they should wear/own based upon the self appointed gurus. You won't be happy for long if you listen to someone else to find out and know who you are and what you should be. I am a 57 year old male who has owned a variety of cars - Z's - Supras - Z3's - and a few sports sedans...something that always has style, speed/handling and cutting edge technology. When the lease on my Acura RL was up...I started looking around...wanted something more than just another sport sedan...something more like the sport wagons that I used to own years ago...and I think I found it in the EX35...and I knew it as soon as I took a test ride. But in defense of the author...when I was still trying to make my decision...I went to Acurazine...the Acura site...and posted my situation. One guy who must be who she is writing about...went ballistic....that any guy would consider a girly EX35....BE A REAL MAN AND GET THE FX35. After a few posts and many expletives and insults....the moderator had to cut off the post...no more replies. This was not about what I wanted in a car...it was about his macho beliefs. Go figure.... I would tell anyone who is considering this car to go to an Infiniti dealer...take a test drive (they actually let me have the car for a whole day)...and decide for yourself. It is a lot of car for the $$$$$.

[EX55]

Good post Sailorman. 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds is not too shabby for a luxury hatchback. The EX can move and it has every luxury feature except for cooled seats (Lexus IS250), a heated steering wheel (Cadillac), and auto-tucking side mirrors (Mercedes C300). It also will not serve you coffee. But that's being picky.

It does have a lot of other features that the others lack. The IS250 seats don't fold and it has no seat position memory. Even the passenger seat has power lumbar support but if you switch drivers, you have better odds to win the lottery than you will having the exact same seat position twice.

For Mercedes and BMW, you have to spend $50K+ to sit on good leather. Leather for both the C300 and 328/335 are single item options, and the leather is terrible!

[dividedhighw]

The EX ... has every luxury feature except for cooled seats (Lexus IS250), a heated steering wheel (Cadillac), and auto-tucking side mirrors (Mercedes C300). It also will not serve you coffee. But that's being picky.

Well, I love my EX and not to start an argument, but a few of us think it's missing more than that. If interested, check out this thread or this one.

Cheers,David

[EX55]

Okay, okay... the car's not perfect so I will save my negative comments for the other threads.

I will say that the car had the most features and was the best test drive compared to all of the other cars in its price range.

We love the EX35. It's such a pleasure to drive!

[specialist23]

from what i recall, even infiniti states that it's a women's car.

[gloa2000]

I would answer this as -Its Female mostly driven car which likes to be abused/raced by a man as well. I Agree Infiniti Targeted Female customers on our EX(they described the Seats as Gimono? seats, gimono is Japanese Traditional Female Clothing) There was a pole regarding Honda S2000, if it is male or female car? i answered it -Its, Hot Female's car.
Modified by gloa2000 at 4:20 PM 12/12/2008

[AWGD8]

I`m always thinking of " I could have gotten a G37X " bec. it has more

torque or better 0-60 than the EX35 AWD. But, almost everyday I see a

G35, G35X, G37 etc... on the road when I go to work. I have my EX35

since Sept. 08 and only saw one on the road close to my work. I haven`t

seen one on my way home... I think EX35 is a Female car in stock form.

Just change the wheels to a more aggressive style and VIOLA! It`s a

Man`s Machine. I have a set of this ready for Spring....(It`s not my rims

bec it`s 4 holes)







It only weighs 17.5 IBS each for the 17"