EX35 compared to Audi Q5
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ecosse
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:18 am
- Car: 2008 EX35 (Black Obsidian with Chestnut Leather)
EX35 compared to Audi Q5
I came to the EX35 from an Audi A4 (and I think others did too). This was 14 months ago before the Audi Q5 was available. Should I have waited? I'm wondering if any new EX35 owners looked at the Q5 as an alternative and what were the pros/cons vs the EX35?
Re: EX35 compared to Audi Q5 (ecosse)
My personal pros and cons of Q5. I test drive cars regularly and most of my opinions are from my personal test drive.
Q5 pros.
Good Rear passenger seats- at least more than an EX.Good MPG. Audi passenger cars seem to give more MPG than it gets reported.
Q5 cons.
Poor resale value. Residual Value set 3% less than an EX35.Pricy when options are loaded.Design - I personally find Q5 has boring design.Interior Durability - who has Audi with perfect interior? they get peeled off easily.
I would still be more interested in Infiniti.
Q5 pros.
Good Rear passenger seats- at least more than an EX.Good MPG. Audi passenger cars seem to give more MPG than it gets reported.
Q5 cons.
Poor resale value. Residual Value set 3% less than an EX35.Pricy when options are loaded.Design - I personally find Q5 has boring design.Interior Durability - who has Audi with perfect interior? they get peeled off easily.
I would still be more interested in Infiniti.
Re: EX35 compared to Audi Q5 (gloa2000)
I would've considered a Q5 and maybe drove one home but for 2 factors: 1) I think we can bank on the fact that a similarly equipped Q5 would cost about 10k more than the EX35 and 2) reliability and dealer service issues with Audi.
The same is true for an Audi A4 Avant. I couldn't afford one of those. I think I could've gotten a 2009 for $36k at a very minimum, and would have been missing some bells and whistles that my EX35 has. I bet the Q5 would be a grand or two more. I paid just under $32k for my EX35 (sans Tech Pkg and Luxe Pkgs but with Prem and Nav and other tidbits).
I considered an A3, which are being discounted bigtime, but that's because the model is stale and the new model is coming out soon. I would have been super sour when I saw the new model, which I think will look much better. Plus reliability issues.
Now, that said, I am really not happy that the EX35 has this "car grinds at slow speeds when taking right turns" issue. At first, I did not think I had this issue, but then it became clear I did. Apparently I don't usually take lots of right turns at slow paces! But after driving the car into the 3rd week I discovered aaaah there's what others are complaining about. That Infiniti did not discover and rectify what is a pretty big issue (tonight while driving a friend back to her car my car did this and I was pretty embarrassed to have a misbehaving brand new car) is really disappointing and irking. I know it's a 1st gen car, but come on, Infiniti has the FX and the G and can get this stuff right. Maybe it's more of a design issue than a reliability issue?? Anyway, super annoying and not good.
The same is true for an Audi A4 Avant. I couldn't afford one of those. I think I could've gotten a 2009 for $36k at a very minimum, and would have been missing some bells and whistles that my EX35 has. I bet the Q5 would be a grand or two more. I paid just under $32k for my EX35 (sans Tech Pkg and Luxe Pkgs but with Prem and Nav and other tidbits).
I considered an A3, which are being discounted bigtime, but that's because the model is stale and the new model is coming out soon. I would have been super sour when I saw the new model, which I think will look much better. Plus reliability issues.
Now, that said, I am really not happy that the EX35 has this "car grinds at slow speeds when taking right turns" issue. At first, I did not think I had this issue, but then it became clear I did. Apparently I don't usually take lots of right turns at slow paces! But after driving the car into the 3rd week I discovered aaaah there's what others are complaining about. That Infiniti did not discover and rectify what is a pretty big issue (tonight while driving a friend back to her car my car did this and I was pretty embarrassed to have a misbehaving brand new car) is really disappointing and irking. I know it's a 1st gen car, but come on, Infiniti has the FX and the G and can get this stuff right. Maybe it's more of a design issue than a reliability issue?? Anyway, super annoying and not good.
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ayap888
- Posts: 119
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:48 am
- Car: 2008 Black & Graphite, EX35, Premium, Xenon, 18 Wheels. My other car - 2006 Audi A6 Avant
Re: EX35 compared to Audi Q5 (ecosse)
I'm an Audi fan ... so let me say my piece ...
Pros of Q5 - The Audi Q5 has a more muscular look- Has the german/Audi solid ride - you get a good feel of the road- More rear leg room
Cons- Really expensive at this point. To lease the Premium ($4000 down & $535/mo) compared to my EX35 ($1700 down & $415/mo). Yep, you'll pay $10000 more and it does not even have a start/stop button and intelligent key for the Premium Plus. And believe it, if you want the S-Line version, lease is $4,000 down and $815/month ... $815/month ... $815/month .. yep it's that expensive for the S-Line version! Ask the dealer and you'll get shocked .. $815/month for the S-line.- Feels and is Heavier than the EX35. Do not like the heavy steering wheels. - Duh ! Did you see the BLACK PLASTIC console .. it looks sooo CHEAP! The Ex35 on the other hand has the nicest interiors. If Audi used wood (like my A6 Avant) or faux wood (at least) for the middle console .. would have been great.- Runs slower than the EX35 ... The EX35 really goes head to head with the Audi S4 Avant rather than the Q5. Actual test of the Q5 is 7.2 seconds 0-60 not 6.7 seconds as claimed. The EX35 is sportier and faster on the road for sure. If Audi brought the S4 Avant to the US, I would have waited. but Audi decided not to bring the S4 Avant here. They want the bulkier Q5 ... well ... not for me. I don't like the SUV feel. The EX35 is more a tall sports wagon (like my previous Audi Allroad) rather than an SUV.
- Ummm .. you've probably heard about the problems with the Q7 ... the Q5 might have the same problems .. battery dies down fast.
All I can say is ... if the rear seat space is not that important, the EX35 wins for what you pay for.
Now if you wait another 3 years, the price/financing deals of the Q5 will go down. During the first year Audi releases a car, you won't get any good deals .. that's for sure. But if Infiniti expands the rear seating space in the next version, Infiniti EX35 will give the Q5 a run for the money.
Modified by ayap888 at 5:52 PM 4/12/2009
Pros of Q5 - The Audi Q5 has a more muscular look- Has the german/Audi solid ride - you get a good feel of the road- More rear leg room
Cons- Really expensive at this point. To lease the Premium ($4000 down & $535/mo) compared to my EX35 ($1700 down & $415/mo). Yep, you'll pay $10000 more and it does not even have a start/stop button and intelligent key for the Premium Plus. And believe it, if you want the S-Line version, lease is $4,000 down and $815/month ... $815/month ... $815/month .. yep it's that expensive for the S-Line version! Ask the dealer and you'll get shocked .. $815/month for the S-line.- Feels and is Heavier than the EX35. Do not like the heavy steering wheels. - Duh ! Did you see the BLACK PLASTIC console .. it looks sooo CHEAP! The Ex35 on the other hand has the nicest interiors. If Audi used wood (like my A6 Avant) or faux wood (at least) for the middle console .. would have been great.- Runs slower than the EX35 ... The EX35 really goes head to head with the Audi S4 Avant rather than the Q5. Actual test of the Q5 is 7.2 seconds 0-60 not 6.7 seconds as claimed. The EX35 is sportier and faster on the road for sure. If Audi brought the S4 Avant to the US, I would have waited. but Audi decided not to bring the S4 Avant here. They want the bulkier Q5 ... well ... not for me. I don't like the SUV feel. The EX35 is more a tall sports wagon (like my previous Audi Allroad) rather than an SUV.
- Ummm .. you've probably heard about the problems with the Q7 ... the Q5 might have the same problems .. battery dies down fast.
All I can say is ... if the rear seat space is not that important, the EX35 wins for what you pay for.
Now if you wait another 3 years, the price/financing deals of the Q5 will go down. During the first year Audi releases a car, you won't get any good deals .. that's for sure. But if Infiniti expands the rear seating space in the next version, Infiniti EX35 will give the Q5 a run for the money.
Modified by ayap888 at 5:52 PM 4/12/2009