AlphaSnake
...and that, kids, was the first time I sucked a dick for crack
I posted this over in a Nissan forum I frequent, so ignore the various 'local' comments I make about NY. Anyways, I figured I'd post it here, as well.
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So I came home from work at 3 o'clock today. My plan right after work was to go pick up the woman from school to bring her back down to Queens for the weekend. So I took the trip out to her campus, but this time in the FX. I've yet to drive it on the highway or at a nice cruising speed...I came away impressed; very impressed. Though despite this being one exceptional SUV, it's not quite me, and I'll likely want to drive my Maxima more often than the FX.
So anyways, I jump into the car, open the gate and slowly roll out of my narrow driveway and into the alley. First thing I noticed was the steering required more power to manuever than the Maxima. This is a personal preference issue, I personally prefer car with butter smooth steering, as opposed to harsher steering. Second thing I noticed, when in Reverse and idle (foot off the pedal)...the car doesn't roll back much at all. I don't like that. It required me tapping on the pedal to get the car to move back. Where as I have to hold the brake when I back up in the Maxima, as the car rolls back a lot quicker, allowing your foot to be on the brake at all times; that way you don't quickly jolt back and forth between the gas and brake when backing up.
Performance...since the car hasn't quite been broken in, I've yet to really juice the throttle, but from what I've experienced so far, the FX is no slouch. The car moves like a car and handles like a car should. It's baffling that an SUV as large as the FX has a frame that stays so evenly planted that you'll almost never experience any significant amount of body roll - it's surreal and very, very refreshing. I was on the Southern State here in NYC, and it's a highway that is known for its deceitful turns...but the FX shrugged them all of as if they didn't even exist.
And while crusing around the local streets, that exhaust note commanded attention of all who were around. The FX demands to have its presence known, as that exhaust note that the FX borrows from its cousin the G35, is absolutely beautiful. When I was on the highway I felt pretty in control...for the most part (I'll explain). What I have sort of a love/hate relationship with is how the car diminishes sense of speed. Normally, in the Maxima I can tell when I'm going 60 or 70 or 80. Where as in the FX35, it's a lot harder to make that judgement. The FX is just so refined, so quite, so well put together that it's almost too refined, to the point where the driver doesn't quite feel as much control as he should...
I was on the highway and I thought I was going around 40, when in reality I was doing 60. I was absolutely amazed. And this, again, is an issue of personal preference; I personally like to feel the sense of speed. And, well, generally sense of speed *is* supposed to be diminished in taller cars (because you are able to see what's ahead of you a lot earlier on than in a sedan), but in the FX I really felt like I was going almost half of the speed. Throttle response isn't quite like a Maxima, but the power is there when you need it and the brakes are nice.
Still, the FX35's luxuriously quiet interior deserves a proper mention. I could hear myself whisper at one point when traffic was going about 70 for a little bit. There's still some road noise coming from the tires, but it's *a lot* less pronounced than in most sedans out there, thanks to all of the sound deadening.
Now, I'll tell you one thing, the suspension definitely isn't your standard pancake suspension where you just feel like you're driving over a cloud. The suspension, coupled with the road, provide superb feedback to the driver, always giving you the sense that you're in control no matter what - this is a nice plus. But that is not to say that the suspension is harsh...yes, it's harsher than most SUVs, but it's still comfortable enough for you not to bicker about the suspension's performance.
Lastly, the car's transmission is something almost other-worldly. If you were to cover up the RPM gauge and then ask me if the tranny inside was a standard transmission or CVT...I'd have said CVT in a heartbeat. I don't think I felt shift shock once in the car, the shifts are so damn silky smooth it was insane.
The interior...feels like a car, looks like a car, but we all know it's not quite a car. Our FX35 is loaded with the touring package and the technology package, so we've got all the kick *** goodies. I don't care much for navigation sytems, so I haven't really used it...just had its functions demonstrated to me. It's nice that the navi can display landmark areas like restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, hotels and etc. with the press of a few buttons -- may be quite useful for certain folks. But what I love the most is the 6-disc Bose system. I've been happy with my Bose in the Maxima, and I'm definitely happier with the Bose in the FX. While I think the bass could resonate a little more throughout the car (like in the Max), the rest of the audio package is definitely sharper than the Maxima.
My few qualms with the interior is where the window/door lock buttons were placed. While driving, I'd have to reach beneath the level at which my knee is, in order to get to the buttons. So button placement is certainly a little uncomfortable and will take time to adjust to. In addition, the rear window of the FX is so small, that the rearview mirror is almost pointless -- not to mention that a lot of view space is also obscured by the rear head rests. So essentially, in the FX you're forced to primarily use the side-mirrors; thankfully the sides are actually quite nice and do a great job of showing what's immediately around you.
Driving the FX35, I wanted to do nothing but respect this car. Despite its sporty chassis, despite its power 280HP engine, despite its refinement - where I felt as safe as can be in a car - I was very laid back driving the car the entire time; and I think the FX subtly insires you to be that way. Or perhaps I was still a little jittery about driving such a completely different beast. But still, I never really got upset when I was going a little slow, but I wasn't hesitant to switch lanes and go around -- every motion I did with the wrong I did it calmly and confidently.
Overall, while I'll always be a sedan guy, the FX35 is certainly an SUV I enjoyed driving. It's got a few quirks that I'll get used to overtime; but that not withstanding, there's just so much to be had with this car. The FX is agile, it handles superbly well, it's got a demanding presence, a fantastic interior with tons of buttons everywhere, and a transmission that doesn't employ any shift-shock whatsoever. The FX35 should definitely be the first car for people to think of if they ever plan on picking up an SUV.
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I feel like I've left out a number of fairly important details, I'll edit them in if they come to me.
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So I came home from work at 3 o'clock today. My plan right after work was to go pick up the woman from school to bring her back down to Queens for the weekend. So I took the trip out to her campus, but this time in the FX. I've yet to drive it on the highway or at a nice cruising speed...I came away impressed; very impressed. Though despite this being one exceptional SUV, it's not quite me, and I'll likely want to drive my Maxima more often than the FX.
So anyways, I jump into the car, open the gate and slowly roll out of my narrow driveway and into the alley. First thing I noticed was the steering required more power to manuever than the Maxima. This is a personal preference issue, I personally prefer car with butter smooth steering, as opposed to harsher steering. Second thing I noticed, when in Reverse and idle (foot off the pedal)...the car doesn't roll back much at all. I don't like that. It required me tapping on the pedal to get the car to move back. Where as I have to hold the brake when I back up in the Maxima, as the car rolls back a lot quicker, allowing your foot to be on the brake at all times; that way you don't quickly jolt back and forth between the gas and brake when backing up.
Performance...since the car hasn't quite been broken in, I've yet to really juice the throttle, but from what I've experienced so far, the FX is no slouch. The car moves like a car and handles like a car should. It's baffling that an SUV as large as the FX has a frame that stays so evenly planted that you'll almost never experience any significant amount of body roll - it's surreal and very, very refreshing. I was on the Southern State here in NYC, and it's a highway that is known for its deceitful turns...but the FX shrugged them all of as if they didn't even exist.
And while crusing around the local streets, that exhaust note commanded attention of all who were around. The FX demands to have its presence known, as that exhaust note that the FX borrows from its cousin the G35, is absolutely beautiful. When I was on the highway I felt pretty in control...for the most part (I'll explain). What I have sort of a love/hate relationship with is how the car diminishes sense of speed. Normally, in the Maxima I can tell when I'm going 60 or 70 or 80. Where as in the FX35, it's a lot harder to make that judgement. The FX is just so refined, so quite, so well put together that it's almost too refined, to the point where the driver doesn't quite feel as much control as he should...
I was on the highway and I thought I was going around 40, when in reality I was doing 60. I was absolutely amazed. And this, again, is an issue of personal preference; I personally like to feel the sense of speed. And, well, generally sense of speed *is* supposed to be diminished in taller cars (because you are able to see what's ahead of you a lot earlier on than in a sedan), but in the FX I really felt like I was going almost half of the speed. Throttle response isn't quite like a Maxima, but the power is there when you need it and the brakes are nice.
Still, the FX35's luxuriously quiet interior deserves a proper mention. I could hear myself whisper at one point when traffic was going about 70 for a little bit. There's still some road noise coming from the tires, but it's *a lot* less pronounced than in most sedans out there, thanks to all of the sound deadening.
Now, I'll tell you one thing, the suspension definitely isn't your standard pancake suspension where you just feel like you're driving over a cloud. The suspension, coupled with the road, provide superb feedback to the driver, always giving you the sense that you're in control no matter what - this is a nice plus. But that is not to say that the suspension is harsh...yes, it's harsher than most SUVs, but it's still comfortable enough for you not to bicker about the suspension's performance.
Lastly, the car's transmission is something almost other-worldly. If you were to cover up the RPM gauge and then ask me if the tranny inside was a standard transmission or CVT...I'd have said CVT in a heartbeat. I don't think I felt shift shock once in the car, the shifts are so damn silky smooth it was insane.
The interior...feels like a car, looks like a car, but we all know it's not quite a car. Our FX35 is loaded with the touring package and the technology package, so we've got all the kick *** goodies. I don't care much for navigation sytems, so I haven't really used it...just had its functions demonstrated to me. It's nice that the navi can display landmark areas like restaurants, gas stations, ATMs, hotels and etc. with the press of a few buttons -- may be quite useful for certain folks. But what I love the most is the 6-disc Bose system. I've been happy with my Bose in the Maxima, and I'm definitely happier with the Bose in the FX. While I think the bass could resonate a little more throughout the car (like in the Max), the rest of the audio package is definitely sharper than the Maxima.
My few qualms with the interior is where the window/door lock buttons were placed. While driving, I'd have to reach beneath the level at which my knee is, in order to get to the buttons. So button placement is certainly a little uncomfortable and will take time to adjust to. In addition, the rear window of the FX is so small, that the rearview mirror is almost pointless -- not to mention that a lot of view space is also obscured by the rear head rests. So essentially, in the FX you're forced to primarily use the side-mirrors; thankfully the sides are actually quite nice and do a great job of showing what's immediately around you.
Driving the FX35, I wanted to do nothing but respect this car. Despite its sporty chassis, despite its power 280HP engine, despite its refinement - where I felt as safe as can be in a car - I was very laid back driving the car the entire time; and I think the FX subtly insires you to be that way. Or perhaps I was still a little jittery about driving such a completely different beast. But still, I never really got upset when I was going a little slow, but I wasn't hesitant to switch lanes and go around -- every motion I did with the wrong I did it calmly and confidently.
Overall, while I'll always be a sedan guy, the FX35 is certainly an SUV I enjoyed driving. It's got a few quirks that I'll get used to overtime; but that not withstanding, there's just so much to be had with this car. The FX is agile, it handles superbly well, it's got a demanding presence, a fantastic interior with tons of buttons everywhere, and a transmission that doesn't employ any shift-shock whatsoever. The FX35 should definitely be the first car for people to think of if they ever plan on picking up an SUV.
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I feel like I've left out a number of fairly important details, I'll edit them in if they come to me.