I think I was one of the first in neighborhood to buy an EX 35 shortly after it came out. I was fortunate to get the 6yr/zero interest rate and paid $36K for an MSRP of $42K. I decided to sell only if I could get high bluebook of $25K for it and buy a used RX 450. The EX sold in 3 weeks for asking price, leaving me rather surprised. But I was also surprised that a 3 year old RX 450 (hybrid) was going to cost me about $40K. Instead I ended up with a Camry Hybrid XLE with every option available. Its taking some getting used to The Camry had an msrp of $36k and I paid $30.2 after a lot of internet negotiations. The end result is a brand new car for $5200 plus my 08 EX-$5k for 5 years newer.
Pros:
5 Years newer
Nav/internet radio is state of the art-So was the EX in 2008 (such as HDD hard drive)
It has several features my EX did not have, particularly the blind spot mirrors
Camry has much more room in the back seat
New warranty with extended warranty(for $680) is good until 2021
17 mpg city driving (80% of our city driving)with the EX -Camry get 40mpg!!!!
New Interiors of Camrys have improved greatly
Had my choice of colors-The EX was less choice with a loaded EX
The small financial difference allowed us to pay cash
It always nice having brand new with the latest technology has to offer
We like the Camry in Red more than the EX in White
Cons:
More than anything!!! We miss the memory seats-I'm 6'3"-wife is 5'6"
I miss the sportiness of the interior
The wife misses the small turning radius of the front wheels
With the ex, rear seats folded down the cargo area was more usable.
I dislike having only the drivers window as i-touch
No more buying premium gas (except my SC 430)
The EX is more comfortable,although the Camry is NOT uncomfortable.
In summary, I have mixed feelings about the Camry, but not with selling the EX at high retail. If I have mixed feelings in 2 years, I will be car shopping again. I don't know if I would lose much money if the price of gas keeps going up.
From Infiniti to Toyota
Re: From Infiniti to Toyota
I am a long time Toyota owner beginning with a string of cars in the 70's (Mark II Corona, 74 Celica), and my daughter is still driving my 01 Highlander with over 200k miles. My current ride is a 2011 EX AWD with everything but the tech package. My wife recently totalled HER Highlander so we just bought a 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE with most of the goodies. As a leftover we brought the $32.4k tag down to $26.8 and got 0% financing, 2 year free maitenance, etc.. So to continue the pros and cons...
The Camry is peppy for a hybrid, light with 200hp, and definitely quicker than the Kia/Hundai models (didn't try the Focus hybrid), but can't hope to compare with the EX. However, she literally get's twice the mileage I do with the EX running 19-21 on most tanks and her 39 mpg rated Camry actually doing BETTER than expected at 39-43 (hand calculated). As a light, fairly low, streamlined sedan the Camry actually handles pretty well on winding roads but there is no real road feel; you might as well be using a joystick vs a steering wheel. The EX of course has marvelous road feel and in DS mode or when rowing your own, is a hoot on snakey asphalt, whereas the Camry's CVT is all about economy. Also the Camry is front vs the rear drive of the EX and AWD is not available. The Camry has a powerband indicator for staying in the sweet zone of using the electric vs gas sources that can make hypermiling a lot of fun and surprisingly involving activity. The EX has a high revving tach that can unleash your LeMans fantasies in an adrenaline fueled blast edged with concern about local gendarmes. While I think the Kia Optima actually has a classier interior, that Camry has upped its game with nicer materials, but it lacks cohesion: the stitched dash has an odd wing shape, details like the junction of the center stack and the floor or the prominent seat rails (when the seats are slid back) are unfortunate in a 30k plus car. The leather-like seats are not as plush and comfortable and the entire interior lacks the artistry and refinement of the EX, but it does have better cup holders. The Entune suite of apps on the infotainment system offers more than the EX, but is not intuitive to use and many functions use up your phone data plans at a time when most providers have trashed the unlimited plans we use to enjoy. I find the voice command structure is a bit simpler and requires fewer steps on the Toyota, but is more prone to errors. While the Camry has a pretty large trunk for a hybrid with a rear pass through for skis, you can't fold down the rear seats to get the open space of the EX. Nor does it have the height for dirt roads, big puddles, or snow. I am not sure you could mount a trailer hitch since the battery is in the trunk, and while you could put racks on the roof, there are no factory options for that.
In short, these are two very different types of cars, small, sporty, luxury SUV vs mid sized, mid market, hybrid. Now, porting the new G50 hybrid system over to a revised EX (GX50?) would be an entertaining and compelling package, but I have to admit that I would be tempted by a RAV 4 with the Camry Hybrid set up if they offered it in AWD and it could get close to 40 mpg.
The Camry is peppy for a hybrid, light with 200hp, and definitely quicker than the Kia/Hundai models (didn't try the Focus hybrid), but can't hope to compare with the EX. However, she literally get's twice the mileage I do with the EX running 19-21 on most tanks and her 39 mpg rated Camry actually doing BETTER than expected at 39-43 (hand calculated). As a light, fairly low, streamlined sedan the Camry actually handles pretty well on winding roads but there is no real road feel; you might as well be using a joystick vs a steering wheel. The EX of course has marvelous road feel and in DS mode or when rowing your own, is a hoot on snakey asphalt, whereas the Camry's CVT is all about economy. Also the Camry is front vs the rear drive of the EX and AWD is not available. The Camry has a powerband indicator for staying in the sweet zone of using the electric vs gas sources that can make hypermiling a lot of fun and surprisingly involving activity. The EX has a high revving tach that can unleash your LeMans fantasies in an adrenaline fueled blast edged with concern about local gendarmes. While I think the Kia Optima actually has a classier interior, that Camry has upped its game with nicer materials, but it lacks cohesion: the stitched dash has an odd wing shape, details like the junction of the center stack and the floor or the prominent seat rails (when the seats are slid back) are unfortunate in a 30k plus car. The leather-like seats are not as plush and comfortable and the entire interior lacks the artistry and refinement of the EX, but it does have better cup holders. The Entune suite of apps on the infotainment system offers more than the EX, but is not intuitive to use and many functions use up your phone data plans at a time when most providers have trashed the unlimited plans we use to enjoy. I find the voice command structure is a bit simpler and requires fewer steps on the Toyota, but is more prone to errors. While the Camry has a pretty large trunk for a hybrid with a rear pass through for skis, you can't fold down the rear seats to get the open space of the EX. Nor does it have the height for dirt roads, big puddles, or snow. I am not sure you could mount a trailer hitch since the battery is in the trunk, and while you could put racks on the roof, there are no factory options for that.
In short, these are two very different types of cars, small, sporty, luxury SUV vs mid sized, mid market, hybrid. Now, porting the new G50 hybrid system over to a revised EX (GX50?) would be an entertaining and compelling package, but I have to admit that I would be tempted by a RAV 4 with the Camry Hybrid set up if they offered it in AWD and it could get close to 40 mpg.
Re: From Infiniti to Toyota
Congrats on your new ride!
I actually did the opposite. I traded in a 6 month old 2008 Rav4 V6 AWD Sports to a brand new 2008 EX35 AWD Journey.
The RAV 4 has better initial acceleration from dead stop due to a very light body compare to the EX35. The EX35 gains it speed in the midrange to top end. The RAV has very thin underbody insulation. I could really hear every tiny sand or gravel hitting the wheel wheel. The body panels are thin. I also hate the crappy water based paint they use nowadays. I had at least more than 10 chipped paint on the front hood after driving it for a week in the city of Milwaukee.
The transmission also could not find the right gear.
When our local Infinity dealer offered a 0% financing (year 2008) I traded it in and never looked back...
After five years, I had driven my moms Subaru forrester, sisters Toyota RAv4 , dad's Mazda CX5 and the EX35 is way up on the craftmanship and solid feel when driving. Once in a while, I could hear rattles or creeks (windshield) when season changes, but it is not there all time. The engine performance is the same after driving it for almost five years now.
I actually did the opposite. I traded in a 6 month old 2008 Rav4 V6 AWD Sports to a brand new 2008 EX35 AWD Journey.
The RAV 4 has better initial acceleration from dead stop due to a very light body compare to the EX35. The EX35 gains it speed in the midrange to top end. The RAV has very thin underbody insulation. I could really hear every tiny sand or gravel hitting the wheel wheel. The body panels are thin. I also hate the crappy water based paint they use nowadays. I had at least more than 10 chipped paint on the front hood after driving it for a week in the city of Milwaukee.
The transmission also could not find the right gear.
When our local Infinity dealer offered a 0% financing (year 2008) I traded it in and never looked back...
After five years, I had driven my moms Subaru forrester, sisters Toyota RAv4 , dad's Mazda CX5 and the EX35 is way up on the craftmanship and solid feel when driving. Once in a while, I could hear rattles or creeks (windshield) when season changes, but it is not there all time. The engine performance is the same after driving it for almost five years now.
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XIS
- Posts: 865
- Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2011 11:00 am
- Car: 08 Infiniti EX35 RWD
17 Infiniti QX30 Sport - Location: The Desert
Re: From Infiniti to Toyota
no disrespect but unless your ultimate goal was just higher miles per gallon I think you are nuts to even try to compare the two. just be happy that you get more miles per gallon but you'll never have as much fun driving that as you did your EX nor will you look as or feel as good driving it. 