I'm thinking of bailing out of my EX after a year for a Juke

[Wii60]

I lost my Acura RL in the tornadoes here in the south last year. I replaced it with the EX for a hair of utility and some sportiness.

I think the mistake I made was getting the RWD model without the roof rails. I really should have sprung for the AWD with preinstalled roof rails. I just assumed they could be put on later and that I could put a trailer hitch on for my bike rack. While I didn't do my research, I can't really say I'd ever see that coming. Now that my wife has a Honda fit, she has more interior cargo space than my EX and we'll never use the EX again to haul something big.

The Juke looks a lot like a small EX. Like an EX16. Just as a Nissan obviously and not an Infiniti, so less luxury. I'll get the gas mileage improved and get Vector torquing AWD in the mountains here. I'll really really miss the all around camera though.

[XIS]

Why???
Is it for the roof rails, the MPG (5-7 more) or the AWD? Or $$$ ?
I have a RWD alow and it came with the rails/bars. Why can't you get those installed?

I think after a few months in the juke, you will be kicking yourself in the pants due to what you gave up. (power, luxury, style, looks maturity)

OH - BTW, I think the Juke is a pretty cool ride...I just think it is for a younger crowd. Dont overlook that the transmission is a CVT, but it is still quick. BUT, you are going from 0-60 in 5.8 with your EX RWD to about 7.5 or so with the AWD juke. (still quick)

[Wii60]

Why???
Is it for the roof rails, the MPG (5-7 more) or the AWD? Or $$$ ?
I have a RWD alow and it came with the rails/bars. Why can't you get those installed?

I think after a few months in the juke, you will be kicking yourself in the pants due to what you gave up. (power, luxury, style, looks maturity)

OH - BTW, I think the Juke is a pretty cool ride...I just think it is for a younger crowd. Dont overlook that the transmission is a CVT, but it is still quick. BUT, you are going from 0-60 in 5.8 with your EX RWD to about 7.5 or so with the AWD juke. (still quick)

I'm thinking that 188hp in a small car could be a hell of a lot of fun. Probably even more so than an under 6 second 0-60 time.

If you don't get the rails from the factory when you first get the EX, they don't reinforce the roof for them to keep weight down. EXs without roof rails are a little lighter than those with.

I'd say its chiefly the vector-torquing all wheel drive. I really wish I had sprung for a better EX when I got it. Now it just seems like a poor investment to jump up into a fully loaded one when I can step down to the Nissan and save the money. If I was jumping into it fresh again, it'd be a different story.

I'm 25....I can still pull off a Juke....right?

[XIS]

I'm thinking that 188hp in a small car could be a hell of a lot of fun. Probably even more so than an under 6 second 0-60 time.
....

I'm 25....I can still pull off a Juke....right?

Not as much fun as 300hp in a small car!!!


25, hell - it was MADE FOR YOU !!!! Enjoy it! I am sure it will still be fun.

[Abear]

I don't think there is an age limit to owning a Juke. I'm 61 and love the way it handles. My wife owns an EX35 Journey AWD and yes it is a much different vehicle, however, as far a handling and response, they both offer a good deal of fun. If I had to give up one or the other I would have a hard time making a choice. For ride and comfort it's the EX hands down, for pure sport, spirited driving, and good economy the Juke has it all the way. I guess it comes down to what is important to you and of course what car meets both your needs and wants.

[Wii60]

I don't think there is an age limit to owning a Juke. I'm 61 and love the way it handles. My wife owns an EX35 Journey AWD and yes it is a much different vehicle, however, as far a handling and response, they both offer a good deal of fun. If I had to give up one or the other I would have a hard time making a choice. For ride and comfort it's the EX hands down, for pure sport, spirited driving, and good economy the Juke has it all the way. I guess it comes down to what is important to you and of course what car meets both your needs and wants.

Is yours AWD? Does anything about it seem similar to you?

I need to take one on an extended test drive soon.

[Abear]

Yes, my Juke is AWD. I would say that both the responsive steering and brakes feel very similar. The Juke feels quicker from the start and has a firmer ride. If you look at the dimensions of both vehicles you will see that they are very close in width and height with the Juke having 7" of ground clearance, 1" more then the EX. Of course the EX is about 20" longer then the Juke.

I do have a backup camera on the Juke but it pales in comparison to the surround view on the EX. The EX has tons of technology, however, the Jukes I-con offers choice in driving modes and provides good feedback and data to the driver. The Juke is also easy to mod.

The EX offers that riding in style feel with all the goodies. Great cruiser with the soul of sports sedan. Again, they are very different vehicles and it would be best if you did take some time to take a Juke or two out for a test drive.

[kamiguy]

Interesting.. I have an 08EX35AWD and the wife has a AWD Juke, but I hate the CVT in the Juke. The EX has a wonderful, sporty transmission. Since my warranty is almost up and I feel the need for a change, I have a Kia Optima SX turbo on order so I will lose the AWD and AVM but the Kia is loaded with bells and whistles too and it has a slightly better power to weight ratio, not to mention that it runs on regular.My wife has a deposit on a turbo Veloster when it becomes available... no more AWD for either of us but I guess we both feel the need for a change. I guess she likes cool and unique.. hopefully that's why she married me!

[minimo3]

EX35 roof rails are installed at the factory and drilled right into the roof (I believe the roof is different from the rail-less models too). I found this out when I tried to get the dealer to remove the rails from the one I bought. He said it would leave holes in the roof! So the only way to add aftermarket rails is to get cross-bars that clamp onto the rain gutters.

[Wii60]

Yes, my Juke is AWD. I would say that both the responsive steering and brakes feel very similar. The Juke feels quicker from the start and has a firmer ride. If you look at the dimensions of both vehicles you will see that they are very close in width and height with the Juke having 7" of ground clearance, 1" more then the EX. Of course the EX is about 20" longer then the Juke.

I do have a backup camera on the Juke but it pales in comparison to the surround view on the EX. The EX has tons of technology, however, the Jukes I-con offers choice in driving modes and provides good feedback and data to the driver. The Juke is also easy to mod.

The EX offers that riding in style feel with all the goodies. Great cruiser with the soul of sports sedan. Again, they are very different vehicles and it would be best if you did take some time to take a Juke or two out for a test drive.

Thanks!

Makes me feel like there is something I'm forgetting. I guess I could go all in and load out a Cooper Countryman All4, but damn that gets expensive!

[Wii60]

Interesting.. I have an 08EX35AWD and the wife has a AWD Juke, but I hate the CVT in the Juke. The EX has a wonderful, sporty transmission. Since my warranty is almost up and I feel the need for a change, I have a Kia Optima SX turbo on order so I will lose the AWD and AVM but the Kia is loaded with bells and whistles too and it has a slightly better power to weight ratio, not to mention that it runs on regular.My wife has a deposit on a turbo Veloster when it becomes available... no more AWD for either of us but I guess we both feel the need for a change. I guess she likes cool and unique.. hopefully that's why she married me!

I loathe my EX's transmission. So jerky around 3. Feels like its going to to drop every time.

[XIS]

What do you mean by 'jerky' and going to 'drop'?

Is this in D mode, DS mode or shifting manually in DS mode? Mine feels like a 'quick shift' when I am manually shifting in DS mode from 2nd to 3rd under HARD accelleration (which I was told is normal and also experienced in a G35 5 speed).

Otherwise, it is smooth as silk.

[XIS]

Makes me feel like there is something I'm forgetting. I guess I could go all in and load out a Cooper Countryman All4, but damn that gets expensive!

Uh, NO ! I would take a Juke over one of those any day !!!

[Wii60]

What do you mean by 'jerky' and going to 'drop'?

Is this in D mode, DS mode or shifting manually in DS mode? Mine feels like a 'quick shift' when I am manually shifting in DS mode from 2nd to 3rd under HARD accelleration (which I was told is normal and also experienced in a G35 5 speed).

Otherwise, it is smooth as silk.

What year are you? I'm the 08 5-speed. Big Lurches.

[Wii60]

Makes me feel like there is something I'm forgetting. I guess I could go all in and load out a Cooper Countryman All4, but damn that gets expensive!

Uh, NO ! I would take a Juke over one of those any day !!!

Oh man. I love the Minis, but my 6'3" frame doesn't get much of a wingspan. Headroom is great.

[XIS]

I am also in an 08 5speed. I would have that checked out if you are still in wty and plan on keeping it.
When do you feel it? D mode, DS mode or Manual in DS? Hard accelleration or always?


For the cost of a mini countryman, there are SO many other better choices out there. (my opionion only - but those don't appeal to me at all.)

[EX-KAT-35]

I loathe my EX's transmission. So jerky around 3. Feels like its going to to drop every time.

What ever it is that u loathe keep the Infiniti trasmission out of it and stay away from the customer focus clinics on sporty cars - you'll water down the products for the rest of us.

I talked to some guys in the know and if by jerky you mean RESPONSIVE then I'm ALL FOR IT.

Computer geeks use the term GIGO. In this case IF the driver is romping & stomping ON/OFF the gas pedal then of course its going to be jerky.

Other deeper discussion with some really nice gear-head guys revealed possibility of gear 3 being the "Sweet Spot" for our engine/transmission - hp/tq output.

Research yielded the fruits of knowledge which I share here... gear 3 a perfect "midway" ratio in our gearbox. That coupled with the weight of the car and available tq are responsible for the jerky/jumpy/jaunty whatever we want to call it behavior.

Assuming AWD:

Drivetrain All Wheel Drive
Trans Type 5
Trans Description Cont. Automatic w/OD
First Gear Ratio (:1) 3.84
Second Gear Ratio (:1) 2.35
Third Gear Ratio (:1) 1.53
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1) 1.00
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1) 0.84

1st gear is 3.84 and 5th is 0.84
the difference being 3.00 giving our ratio-spread
going half way and "splitting the baby" yields 1.50
3.84 - 1.50 = 2.34 (pretty close to 2nd gear)
Everyone see what is going on here?
1st gear instantly "shifts up" to half of the ratio-spread of the transmission in 2nd gear the other half of the ratio-spread is shared amongst 3 other gears.
3rd gear at 1.53 is approx half again (2.35 - 0.75 = 1.60) of the remaining ratio of 1.50.
The fact that it is a little lower than a perfect 1.60 shows that the Nissan/Infiniti engineers were trying to extend the range of 3rd gear to have a greater "acceleration spread" allowing the car to "hang on" to this gear longer.

Having not driven this car on a dyno and not knowing its precise engine torque characteristics we concluded with great assumption that 3rd gear is the "FUN" gear out of all of them - especially on the open road.

By the time we get into 4th gear (perfect 1:1 ratio) and 5th gear (0.84) our engine is most likely out of its power range and either spinning too fast or too slow to turn tq into speed as quickly as it did in the lower gears as wind resistance continues to build.

I prefer to call it "sporty & responsive". What do u guys think?
Pretty good amateur analysis?

Also I won't leave out the possible maintenance issues:
1) transmission / Engine mounts
2) Some mechanical fault with the transmission
3) Worn out transmission/differential fluid.
4) Previous abuse of the vehicle.

Now I have a headache...

Oh and I always thought of the Juke as a nice & different mini-suv. Thought about it as an on-the-side commuter car for myself last year. Decisions

[Wii60]

So, I dropped the EX into DS-Manual instead of DS and damnit if the thing didn't shift gorgeously into 3rd...

Maybe I'll keep it...anyone know of some good grippy tires? Mine always slip out from under me in the rain way too easily.

[EXceptional]

I can't see anything wrong with our EX35... it's a great little Car... and I wouldn't trade it for a Juke anyday.

[mik3025]

You know what I will trade in my 2008 Ex35 for a Juke "NIsmo" version (take a look on youtube) As soon as it gets available (end of 2012)
The look of this car in and out is just outrageous.
I can`t wait

[meanie]

You know what I will trade in my 2008 Ex35 for a Juke "NIsmo" version (take a look on youtube) As soon as it gets available (end of 2012)
The look of this car in and out is just outrageous.
I can`t wait

You want outrageous? I'd buy the Juke R (if they actually produced them and I could afford one). That's a Juke with a GTR powertrain. Check it out on Motortrend. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suv ... irst_test/
The Juke looks like a terrific and very unique crossover. I'd consider getting one for my daughter, or even for myself when they put a gutsier powerplant in. But for now I'm pretty pleased with the EX.

[XIS]

I would rather have an EX-R with the same powertrain.....