Need advice from EX owners

[hazozita]

Greetings all,

I’m considering an EX35, and this board has been very helpful in learning about what owners have to say about the vehicle. If possible, I would appreciate some owner feedback on the following issues:

1) Am I correct in understanding that the only way to get the Xenon headlights is to go with the package that includes 18" wheels?

2) How are the 18" stock tires when it comes to wet weather? How about snow?

3) Is there a measurable loss of handling “crispness” when you go for the AWD version versus the rear wheel drive?

4) How well does the AWD perform? (I currently have a Subaru, and have been very pleased with how its AWD performs. Similar characteristics with the EX?)

5) Any options you bought that you wish you did not? Any you wish you did buy?

6) Any reliability issues so far?

7) Any good lease deals for the EX on the horizon?

Sorry for so many questions, and very much appreciate any insight/advice that you’d like to share!

[Jon_]

Greetings all,

I’m considering an EX35, and this board has been very helpful in learning about what owners have to say about the vehicle. If possible, I would appreciate some owner feedback on the following issues:

1) Am I correct in understanding that the only way to get the Xenon headlights is to go with the package that includes 18" wheels?

YES. Just more evidence that xenons are fashion not safety. I was unwilling to pay the $1,078 invoice (much less the MSRP) for this.

2) How are the 18" stock tires when it comes to wet weather? How about snow?

Can't say yet.

3) Is there a measurable loss of handling “crispness” when you go for the AWD version versus the rear wheel drive?

I test drove both and didn't feel that way. I have been driving a rwd for past five years, albeit a rather large one, and, sure, there is some difference in handling, but the infiniti folks seem to have done such a remarkable job blending the FX and G suspension wise that I didn't even think of it as a compromise.

4) How well does the AWD perform? (I currently have a Subaru, and have been very pleased with how its AWD performs. Similar characteristics with the EX?)

Better in my limited experience but, again, I can't speak to snow with the EX. Had a 2006 subaru wagon at our vacation home up in Canada and was nonplussed with the winter grip at moderate speeds. Perhaps that's why I wrecked it. It was the CAR's fault!

5) Any options you bought that you wish you did not? Any you wish you did buy?

Yes, I wish I could have gotten the navi and tec packages without all that foo foo stuff in the premium package (which is a gateway to the others). But that's how it goes.

Having said that, I'm quite impressed with the audio control for the phone and navi and such, which is part of the tec package. Tried the comparable items from Acura and Audi and this is significantly better. Seems like a good safety thing to have voice activation actually work for a change.

6) Any reliability issues so far?

Yeah, my wife wants to reliably steal my car.

7) Any good lease deals for the EX on the horizon?

Is there such a thing as a good lease?

Sorry for so many questions, and very much appreciate any insight/advice that you’d like to share!

[hazozita]

Thanks Jon. Appreciate the feedback. So far I’ve liked the EX far better than everything else I’ve driven (X3, RDX, and a few others) and the only consistent negative I keep hearing is the back seat room, which for me is a non-issue. I’m just torn between buying one now and waiting a bit to see if the deals get better – the dealers seem to have a lot of EX’s on the lot, and they don’t appear to be moving all that well.

As an aside (and excuse the off-topic note), I was also unimpressed with the Subie AWD until I replaced the stock Geolanders with Michelins. Night and day difference in both wet and snow (and a lot more grip on dry as well).

[FLAMEX]

RWD is not available in Canada so we can't compare to AWD. However I find the handling of the AWD is rear end biased in a good way, ie the back end will twitch out a bit when you gas it around a corner. In the snow the traction is good and the tires are adequate for moderate winter driving.I have all the options but the Luxe Elite trim (which is just wood and extra leather here) Would definately recommend the tech package, everything is well integrated , easy to use. The Bluetooth and Ipod integration are seemless and work very well.I just passed 2000 km and really like this vehicle.

[hazozita]

Thanks for the info, Flamex. Anything you don't like about the EX? Any problems crop up so far?

Noticed you're from Calgary -- I was there a while back for business. Unbelievable scenery! Wish I could have stayed longer.

[FLAMEX]

Theres nothing I dont like about the car so far. I would not like the back seat space if it mattered to me but 90% of my use is driver only.

[Jon_]

As an aside (and excuse the off-topic note), I was also unimpressed with the Subie AWD until I replaced the stock Geolanders with Michelins. Night and day difference in both wet and snow (and a lot more grip on dry as well).

My brother just wrecked his 05 SuRu similarly in the snow. Gotta be the CAR. I hope my insurance company's reading this.

I got the EX for Inv+150.

[stubnib]

4) Picked up my EX35 yesterday and we had a snow/ice storm today. The EX handled quite well in the snow in both automatic AWD and with the "Snow" button pushed. We traded in a 2001 Subaru Forester and based on my one day drive in the snow, it was fine.

5) No, I just got the performance package. We got the NAV package on our G35x and didn't think it was necessary since we already have a Garmin. I figured if I want to play with the fancy stuff, I'll just borrow her car.

[Dodgeyaussie]

Intelligent AWD (ATTESA E-TS)

(Safety/Security, Performance, Economy, Durability)

Racing-inspired ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) optimizes power distribution for improved driving stability under various road conditions.

The system automatically directs power to the front axle for no-slip start-ups and varies power distribution for improved driving stability under various road conditions.

Under normal road conditions, the system provides 100% rear-wheel power delivery for improved fuel efficiency.