[footie]

Originally Posted by SG Spiff

I've heard good things about the Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60. I'm not sure if your friend is looking beyond Japanese makes, but, if he is, he should check those out. Along with the M-B GLK350 I would think. Between the FX and RX, I think I would choose the FX. But I have driven neither and really have no use for any of the practicality an SUV is supposed to provide.

I have never driven the FX35 but have driven the XC60 and RX350 as well as the GLK350 and the Q5. I find it hard to understand how any awd SUV would suck in the rain or snow but if JerzeySux says so then I must bow to his better judgement. As for the others I would reckon each will cope with ease but only only will fully engage the driver and that is the Q5. Though knowing now how expensive Audi cars are in the US it's a big ask to justify the price difference.

[1001]

Originally Posted by JerzeySux

You have NO IDEA what a FX does in the winter. Go drive one yourself and youll shit on your pants and get a RX right away.

SHIT SUCKS PERIOD. If you didnt drive one in the snow YOU dont make sense making comments like that.

i have a 06 fx35 rwd and drove it in snow and it was fine. i have the sport package with the 20s and it was on all season goodyear tire. I had to put chains on cuz its not an awd but it was fine.

[1001]

Originally Posted by tukukito

My sister was looking at both the 09 fx35 and the 2010 Rx. We test drove both. The Rx is more comfortable and rides more like a car. The fx is more muscular and sounds louder then my 335 lol, also has cameras sides, fron and rear, Rx only has a back up camera. She ended up going with the fx. only thing she doens't like is that the fx has no room in the trunk, you might be able to fit 4 full paper bags from shoprite, that's about as much as it can hold.

I have alot of cargo space in the 06 fx, i folded the back seat down and put a 52 inch lcd tv in the car with the box..no problem..hahhaha

[503Alex]

Thanks for all of the advice!

Originally Posted by footie

I have never driven the FX35 but have driven the XC60 and RX350 as well as the GLK350 and the Q5. I find it hard to understand how any awd SUV would suck in the rain or snow but if JerzeySux says so then I must bow to his better judgement. As for the others I would reckon each will cope with ease but only only will fully engage the driver and that is the Q5. Though knowing now how expensive Audi cars are in the US it's a big ask to justify the price difference.

I forgot to mention the Q5 to him, I definitely will. Thanks for the video and the insight.

[503Alex]

Originally Posted by footie

Though knowing now how expensive Audi cars are in the US it's a big ask to justify the price difference.

I just checked out the Q5 on the Audi USA website (built one, etc.) and the pricing seems pretty reasonable for what you get starting at $37,350.

[bonwit904]

I had an FX in 2004, the car handled really well for an SUV, although it was useless as an SUV. Skiing - sucks, the sloped roof doesnt allow for easy mounting of a ski rack, the interior is too small to accommodate skis and luggage.

The AWD system is typical infiniti - what that means is its kinda a great idea for a car like a nissan GTR but stupid on anything like an SUV or even a sporty luxury car. It defaults a RWD only setup after hitting about 15mph (75/25 to there) so you dont really get the handling benefits of AWD in foul weather - leaving the stability control to just correct the car as in any RWD car until it transfers power up front. The audi / bmw / mercedes approach of AWD (in some proportion) all the time lends itself better for a vehicle that sees active duty in foul weather.

Get the Q5....unless your friend wants to pony up for the FX50 of course...

[footie]

Originally Posted by 503Alex

I just checked out the Q5 on the Audi USA website (built one, etc.) and the pricing seems pretty reasonable for what you get starting at $37,350.

Well if that is how cheap it's starting and if you keep the option to a moderate amount then I can't think of a better mid-sized SUV that actually feels not only sporty but also feels a lot small and more compact than it actually is.

Though I would stick with the 2.0TFSI verison and give it a modest chip tune.

[bonwit904]

Originally Posted by footie

Well if that is how cheap it's starting and if you keep the option to a moderate amount then I can't think of a better mid-sized SUV that actually feels not only sporty but also feels a lot small and more compact than it actually is.

Though I would stick with the 2.0TFSI verison and give it a modest chip tune.

me too...except that we cant get that 2.0T engine in the US....just the 3.2

[footie]

Originally Posted by bonwit904

me too...except that we cant get that 2.0T engine in the US....just the 3.2

That's a shame, it's lighter engine gives the Q5 a hothatch's very chuckable feel to it that might be missing with the 3.2. In any case, even with the 3.2 it's still one of the finest handling SUVs on the Market.

I can't wait to see what the rumoured RS version will be like.

[Nawaaz]

Get the RX350.

Nothing beats the reliability, combined with the positive experience of owning a Lexus.

I know that because my family and I have an RX, alongside my M3.

[graider]

Originally Posted by bonwit904

I had an FX in 2004, the car handled really well for an SUV, although it was useless as an SUV. Skiing - sucks, the sloped roof doesnt allow for easy mounting of a ski rack, the interior is too small to accommodate skis and luggage.

The AWD system is typical infiniti - what that means is its kinda a great idea for a car like a nissan GTR but stupid on anything like an SUV or even a sporty luxury car. It defaults a RWD only setup after hitting about 15mph (75/25 to there) so you dont really get the handling benefits of AWD in foul weather - leaving the stability control to just correct the car as in any RWD car until it transfers power up front. The audi / bmw / mercedes approach of AWD (in some proportion) all the time lends itself better for a vehicle that sees active duty in foul weather.

Get the Q5....unless your friend wants to pony up for the FX50 of course...

actually no, the nissan AWD system does detect wheel spin on the rear and send power to the front immediately. So in the case of snow, it should immediately send the power to all 4 wheels as soon as a slight spin is detected on the rear wheels. alot of sporty SUV such as X6, etc do this to give you a feel of RWD bias.

But you can't expect the FX or any sporty SUV to behave like an all time AWD system in car such as the crv, lex, etc.

either case, i bet those who think it suck drive it in snow with summer or all season tires which is not recommended anyway.

[Bimmer007]

US news ranked all these suvs, this article is good for comparing the vehicles

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...-Midsize-SUVs/

Best Luxury Midsize SUVs

1. 2010 Acura MDX
2. 2010 Lexus RX350
3t. 2010 Cadillac SRX
3t. 2010 Lexus RX450h
5t. 2010 Infiniti FX
5t. 2009 Lexus GX
7. 2010 Mercedes M Class
8t. 2010 Audi Q7
8t. 2010 Porsche Cayenne
8t. 2010 VW Touareg
11. 2010 Acura ZDX
12. 2010 Mercedes R Class
13. 2010 LandRover LR4
14t. 2010 BMW x6
14t. 2010 Volvo XC90
16. BMW X5