2009 Infiniti FX50: Solutions for a Compromised Vehicle

DUDE. I love the G. Every time I see one, I get a kind of warm, moist, happy feeling within me and a stupid grin seems to plant itself on my face.

The 2 car notion isn't a bad idea, but since most people don't have $144,000 to spend on a car, i'd go with the cheaper side of the equation. I'd buy a used Subaru Outback for utility and a used Mazda Miata for a fun car on a twisty bit of road. Haggle it just right and you could have as much fun for under $30,000.

Actually, I'd get a BMW 335i coupe instead of the G37. If I had the money, sure a 335i and the G550 would be great. However, if I was looking at spending $62k for a vehicle, I would never consider the FX50.

Oh, and doesn't a Porsche Cayenne accomplish most of the things that the FX50 does, in addition to having much more utility and being fantastic off road?

Gah. Where's the edit button when you need it?

The G550 is certainly capable, but it's very excessive, especially in price. For the same $62k FX50 price, I would get a new CTS or G37 Coupe, and either a new Jeep Grand Cherokee, or a used Escalade (you can get incredible deals on either right now).

If only there was another SUV that everyone seemed to love, and was good enough in the snow that it could be driven all the way to Detroit in the middle of winter.

Ill take a lightly equipped ( no nav, no adaptive steering ) 335i sedan manual w/ sport package and for the winter, a 2009 Grand Cherkoee Laredo 4 x 4 for about $18000k out the door after all discounts. That'll work.

G55 AMG: 117 grand and more fun than the G37.

And if any G37 owner says different, I'll just push their Nissan into a river.
-mike

Seal, Id have to agree with the Cayenne argument as it serves as a better all around vehicle vs the FX. At least the Cayenne is oddly attractive unlike the decorated catfish appearance of the FX. Other than its performance numbers I dont find the FX appealing at all.

With $144,000 I'd rather have an Audi R8 instead... Who needs a utility vehicle? I can rent a pick-up for that.

And Cayenne is available with a manual gearbox.

Mr. Riswick you are crazy. Thanks for proposing a ridiculous $144,000 solution.

For the $62,000, I would buy a Jeep Wrangler, an Odyssey and a nice used Miata.

The perfect selection for whatever task I come up with (right now, subject to change if I get a new hobby).

Thats good, now do the same thing but make the two cars cost the same amount of money as the FX50.

Its a solid proposal, but I'd go with a slightly-less-capable SUV at a MUCH lower price point.

What the hell are you talking about? I require front, rear and center locking differentials at least eight times per week. And at $100,000, the G550 is screaming bargain*

*For Latin-American dictators.

I disagree.
If you have two cars, you still can drive one at a time.
So if you choose to drive the G550 to go ski in the mountains, the way there you'll give up any sporty intentions, if you choose the G37, it will get scary once you hit the snow & ice, plus you lose the commanding view, the practicality of the hatch and scrap every curb.
In the FX you enjoy the sportiness on the way there, and (with all seasons tires) you have plenty of traction and ground clearance to drive through snow or get off to some dirt roads.
This is not to say its perfect, but it's still very fast, handles well, has AWD (so with all seasons it will do well in foul weather), has 4 doors and a hatch.

israelgt-

Saying the hatch is practical is the same as saying the hatch in the smart is practical. That was a huge point of the post is that it's not just in "sport" that the FX falls short, but also in "utility."

Jaguar36: I was thinking the exact same thing when I read this. :P

How about we replace the G550 with Jeep Grand Wagoneer?

www.wagonmasters.com

Range Rover Sport and 370Z.

"How about we replace the G550 with Jeep Grand Wagoneer?"

No. That's a toy compared to the G-wagen

"Range Rover Sport and 370Z."

Again. Toy. 370's pretty rad, though.

-mike

"How about we replace the G550 with Jeep Grand Wagoneer?

www.wagonmasters.com"

I love those old Jeeps too but it's hard to believe anyone would pay $20K to $30K for one, no matter how good a shape it's in.

For that price, I'd at least want a modern drivetrain swapped in. The old AMC 360 only had about 140 hp.

Hmm, the FX50 seems to get knocked by quite a bit regarding it's utility as compared the X5. For the record, I have a 09 FX35 and the X5 3.0 was my second choice.

With regards to cargo space, the X5 has 21.9 max cargo capacity versus the FX's 24.8. Sure, the X5 has a 3rd row, which is why it has reduced capacity, but that 3rd row is useless except for small children. And once that third row is used, there goes your cargo capacity. I would call this a tie.

Both the X5 and FX are not good off roaders. Another tie.

The X5 has all seasons, which give it more utility in terms of poor road conditions. But, if X5 can have virtual summer tires, as written a few days ago, and therefore perform better than the FX50, then the FX50 can have virtual all seasons to perform as well the X5. And since a loaded X5 is much more than a loaded FX, there would be money left over for the FX buyers to buy those virtual all seasons and have money left over. This sounds like another tie to me.

Yes, the X5 has a much higher towing capacity (6000 vs 3500), but I have never seen either a FX or X5 towing anything. But, advantage X5

I would call the X5 and FX very similar in performance and utility unless towing over 3500 is really an issue.

If you want to call the FX as having limited utility, that is fine. But to give the X5 with very similar utility is quite biased.

edit: But to give the X5 with very similar utility a pass is quite biased.

I'm with you and it's exactly what I did. A classy Benz for luxury and a Miata for top down sports car fun. I have the best of both worlds and I'm never left wanting. I bought them used so someone else sucked up the depreciation and I get to drive exactly what I want without compromise. SUV's and Crossovers are the dumbest things possible, okay at everything good at nothing.

The G55 Benz is horrible. It has terrible rear vision, rides like it has no suspension, steers like a yacht (input steering, wait a bit, then it steers), creaks like a yacht in a storm (especially from the rear hatch), has uncomfortable front seats, keeps busting it's front steering stabilizer (they all do that Sir..), and the power windows like to break.
Ah yes, a wonderful time...
Sure it has an amazing triple locker system, but the rest of the stuff is so bad it makes you think it was designed 30 years ago and mildly updated.....
;p

"The G55 Benz is horrible. It has terrible rear vision, rides like it has no suspension, steers like a yacht (input steering, wait a bit, then it steers), creaks like a yacht in a storm (especially from the rear hatch), has uncomfortable front seats, keeps busting it's front steering stabilizer (they all do that Sir..), and the power windows like to break.
Ah yes, a wonderful time..."

Exactly! It makes me want it even more!
(I have a problem.)
-mike

k2rm -

You are so right, but don't confuse all the BMW lovers with facts...

The fact that BMW gave Edmunds the X5 for free to test may explain the lack of objectivity. Probably something in the fine print.

Seems like this thread should read "2009 Infiniti FX50 and 2008 BMW X5: Solutions for Compromised Vehicles."

Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with a HEMI swap and a Harley.