2009 Infiniti FX50 S: Tell Me Why I'm Wrong

You're not wrong.

A $60,000 sporty SUV (I hate the idea) should have a well rounded suspension regardless of the wheels attached. Especially when it was designed to accommodate such large rims from the start. And even more especially when the previous FX was lambasted for having a rough ride on the big rims.

I am sure this violates one of the many endorsement deals you guys have with foreign marks... At this price point, its inexcusable for this car to ride bad.

well... because you are american (lol jk!)

Do any of the Japanese mfgs know how to make a sporty car ride well?
The Lexus IS-F rides like it has no suspension.
The Nissan GTR rides extremely rough
This Infiniti truck rides rough.

It seems that their idea of sporty ride = rough ride.

This is actually an angle where I find the FX attractive...

My friend had a previous generation FX45, and after one ride in that car, I refused to ride in it ever again. Other than perhaps a third generation RX-7 R1 (which is excused for its ride because of its capabilities and short wheelbase), that FX45 had to have been the stiffest-riding vehicle that I have ever ridden in. Come to think of it, my coworker's first-gen G35 Coupe is pretty stiff as well.

desmolicious... The Miata and RX-8 have pretty comfy rides, especially considering their handling abilities and short wheelbases. But then again, Mazda is about as un-Japanese as you can get for a Japanese company. Even my 18-year old RX-7 Convertible has a surprisingly comfy ride.

This is setting the Suspension on Auto?
Is the difference between Auto and Sport noticeable?

These posts never mention what you set the suspension on...

I think the ride quality in our FX50 S is highly dependent on pavement composition/condition. On my February road trip, the ride was comfortable once I was out of LA and crusing on the interstate. However, I left it in "Auto" mode the whole time; "Sport" was too firm.
http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2009/03/2009-infiniti-fx50-its-like-taking-a-road-trip-in-a-big-g37.html

Spelling correction after the fact: "...once I was out of LA and CRUISING on the interstate..."

If I pick a smooth road to ride a hardtail bike, it's gonna feel pretty comfy too...

;p

The suspension setting is in Auto - and yes, there is a noticable difference when selecting Sport. Also, and I know no one will like this, I've actually resorted to selecting the "snow" setting as it seems to dull the jumpy throttle response to a level I find acceptable around town. I flip it off on the highway.

I totally agree, the SRX is the best kept secret in SUVs.

If it can outcorner sports coupes, thats enough for me.

Maybe you should consider a buick?

Oh the hypocrisy...

When the X5 didn't match the FX's handling numbers, you pointed to the X6 and the tires on the X5... When the FX doesn't ride as well as you want you fail to mention that the X6 is just as bad, and an FX with different tires/wheels does better.

From Motor Trend (X6 with 20 inch Vs. FX35 with 18 inch):

"On the street, Infiniti gains more ground. Says Kiino, "Both vehicles deliver a firm ride, but the FX's is much more supple. It rolls over undulations without upsetting passengers, whereas the X6 tends to toss people around"

But hey this is a BMW sponsored site...

israelgt

Are you serious? This FX has 21" wheels AND the sport package. Totally discredits whatever other nonsense you're talking about.

cx7lover
Doesn't discredit anything. I didn't say it rides like magic carpet, did I?
I just don't like Edmunds picking and choosing when it comes to BMW and its rivals.
With 21 inch and sports pack any car will ride badly, case in point the X6's ride with 20 inch. The trade off is better handling than the likes of the X5.
I just hate that when they described one of their beloved BMW's handling deficits, it was "well its OK because with different tires it would perform as good...go see X6", but when its about the FX50, no apologies of the like (it can ride better ...go see the FX35) just ranting. Hipocrisy.

The X6 is just as bad - happy? BTW, there isn't one monolithic overlord that all opinions go through - some editors are parents, others race-car drivers and still other like having the hell beat out of their backside because..., not sure why actually. It's not hipocrisy, just a variety of opinions. That is still allowed, right?

No I'm not happy, because I know if you guys had an X6 on your fleet, you :
1. wouldn't mention it or 2. would dismiss it to the wheels tires and reference to the X5, like you did with the X5.
Everything is allowed... its allowed to build a BMW fans website.
The fact you have more BMWs at any given time than any other brand (some brands have no cars!)
The fact you seem spin everything in favour of the BMWs (like showed above, or with the 135 backseat, or with the E46 M3's best engine etc. etc.)
It all smell...
We get it, BMW are perfect...now go buy a Z4 or X6 to your fleet cause there were no BMWs added lately...oh snap you have a new M3 on order.

israelgt

I am totally with you. Edmunds sounds like the marketing arm of BMW - any deficiencies in BMW vehicles are conveniently overlooked and forgotten. Any vehicle that may pose a semi-serious challenge to BMW is dismissed using the very same criteria. Its totally ridiculous.

And I like BMW. As in, my next car is probably going to be a slightly used 328 or a 135... whatever fits my budget (right - people in the real world have budget constraints - something that writers on this website just don't seem to get).

On the subject of BMWs, I would recognize that not all their product line is spot on - some of them are very flawed... in certain segments, they are indeed not the best choice. Case in point - the new Z4 - who in their right driver mind would get one over a Boxter, I fail to understand, except Edmunds raved about it to no end. Now I get it, that BMW has a grand plan to introduce the Z2 - and need to move the Z4 up - and it will take a few years for the model line to pan out. But I am going to judge the car by what it it today. And today, it is a big departure from customer expectations. But then again who cares about such things. Not edmunds. So - while the car has been relatively panned by the European press, you cannot find a single fault in the product, if you read Edmunds spin on it.

Back to subject of Infiniti... these are the guys who are TRYING to give the BMWs some serious run for their money - in some ways, the X6 is an answer to the FX. So - the marketing arm of BMW is obviously expected to dismiss this product. The strategy for doing so is quite simple... order a ridiculous combination - i.e. 21 in wheels and a sport package - and then adopt an extreme position to dismiss the whole vehicle based on this choice. On the other hand, they can be well relied upon to give a positive slant to a similarly atrocious ride with the sport package on BMWs... hey, the BMW would ride just fine without these big wheels. Atrocious journalism!

"It's a shame that the new SRX will simply be a jumped up Saturn. The old SRX was Cadillac's best kept secret."

Jumped up Saturn? Its on a new platform with two new engines, neither of which is found in the Vue. Isn't the RX350 a "jumped up" camry wagon with AWD?

No $60k crossover should have a rough ride. And that applies to BMWs too. The first X3 was blasted for a rough ride. I seriously doubt the X5 and X6 are comfortable on poorly maintained roads.

Infiniti blog hijacked by BMW haters? Wait, what car was this blog about again?

Fact is that of the Gen. I FX the 6 cylinder model outsold the 8 cylinder version by a factor of 4 to 1.

The simple truth is that the current FX sales will likely pan out in the same spread. Far and away most sold will be FX35s with the V-6. And the marketing department at Nissan-Infiniti full well realizes this.

Surprise, surprise: the FX35 comes shod with standard 18" wheels and All-Season tires. With lower unsprung weight and the cushion of a larger sidewall the FX35 has been claimed by most webazines to provide a far superior ride than the 21" wheel low profile tire-fitted FX50.

I am the biggest Japanese car's fanboy, and I am here to confirm the Japanese don't know how to firm up a suspension without making it harsh. All firm/stiff Japanese designed suspension have a very harsh ride: IS-F, IS350 with sport suspension, G35 coupe with sport suspension, R34 GTR, RX7 R1, NSX-R......etc, they all ride very unpleasant. The few Japanese cars with firm suspension that ride pleasant are on Bilstein shocks: R35 GTR, Legacy Spec B, EVO IX MR.....etc. The one thing that the Japanese simply can't do is, shock valving. I can't drive a G35 coupe sport for more then 30 minutes, the harsh suspension with the way too aggressive throttle calibration makes it very unpleasant to drive, even though it can feel very exciting for a short period of time.

The European is the king of this, very sporty suspension with an extremely pleasant ride. BMW is the best at doing this.

"Infiniti blog hijacked by BMW haters? Wait, what car was this blog about again?"

I think that people who dont drive or worship BMWs (not that there are many out there) get tired of double standards. I know you are one of those people who doesn't believe its possible for such things to exist. The fact that its posted on the internet is enough to convince you of objectivity.

desmolicious, I actually found the R35 GTR's ride to be acceptable. No doubt is due to the Bilstein shocks. I don't want to drive one everyday of course, but it doesn't make me sick like the IS-F or G35 coupe sport.

I agree on the SRX. I've driven an '07 SRX several times, and it has a damned near perfect balance between ride and handling. I hope the new one retains that great attribute.

"I think that people who dont drive or worship BMWs (not that there are many out there) get tired of double standards."

For the record, I neither drive nor worship BMWs.

"Infiniti blog hijacked by BMW haters? Wait, what car was this blog about again?"

Whats to hate? if edmunds would have been so unfair and biased towards another brand as they are with BMW, I would have the same problem.

This thread is about Inifniti, but if you look back at "February 10, 2009

2009 Infiniti FX50 vs. 2008 BMW X5 "

They said the following:

"Yet, the BMW nearly matches the Infiniti's dynamic performance...Oh, you want proof. Then check out our recent road test of a 2008 BMW X6. That truck wore the optional meats. Huge all-season Dunlops. SP Sport Max. 275/40R20 front and 315/30R20 rear." (which they fail to meantion is way wider than the FX's 265 rubber...)

On the same token when edmunds keep ranting about the FX50's ride, they should mention that not only does it outhandle the X5, but it can ride as well if not better, Oh you want proof check out the FX35.

But hey edmunds is clean, we are just a bunch of BMW haters, best way to dismiss any criticsm.

Yes, I'll tell you why you're wrong :P

You're wrong because it IS the S model. Price is irrelevant. You can spend a few hundred thousand on a Rolls that rides like a lazy boy or a few hundred on a Lambo LP560 that does not.

If you go for the sporty version of any vehicle, it's fair to accept the ride quality penalty. I'm sure the FX35 with 18" wheels rides much more to your liking.

On a slightly different topic, I had a G35 sedan for a rental and the throttle response was way too touchy at tip-in. One solution is to turn off the VDC, it makes the throttle much more manageable.