Another Danoff Car Purchase Thread - FX35 Purchased

[homeforsummer]

He was saying "interior is quite nice" and "its like a 350Z" don't belong in the same sentence.

Ah, gotcha. Reading fail. Still, the Murano is supposed to be nice in general inside, it just looks like the 350/370Z, ish.

As long as it's ergonomic, nicely styled and nicely built does it really matter if the plastics are a bit nasty to touch? Who actually goes around fondling their dashboard anyway?...

 

[Omnis]

Have you tried showing her an Audi Allroad?

Please god, no. Just no.


Wait for Mercedes to bring over the E-class estate.

Aww yeah.

 

[///M-Spec]

We had an '05 Murano SL, which is different from the SE in it that it got slightly softer suspension tuning, smaller wheels and no 'gear simulation' for the CVT.

It might be a little on the larger side if you're look at compact CUVs. It's built on the Altima platform. Definitely a mid-sizer. Lots of room in the back seats. Luggage space was less than I expected, but we managed to fit plenty of stuff in there.

If you want a CUV that makes you think you're driving a car, then you should check it out. But if you want a CUV that makes you think you're driving a SPORTS car, then get a wagon It is a very competent handling machine, but a high center of gravity is a high center of gravity.

One thing I liked about it was that you got a lot of goodies for the money. Our FWD SL had every thing except for nav and it came in around 34k, IIRC. Xenons, headed seats, keyless entry and start, power everything, upgraded stereo.. the thing was decked out.

The interior was definately nicer than a Z. The design of it was really well done. But there were some material choices that clearly said "cost cutting". The important things; the parts you touch and use everyday had a nice quality feel. But tucked out of sight was some really cheap looking plastic.

The Murano had a nice quality feel to it, but it was NOT "premium". The difference is in the details. There was road noise. The doors felt thin and light. A good example: the seat heater switches were parts bin Nissan. They felt reasonably solid and clicked into position with positive action. But they didn't have the rubber coated, ultra dampened, precision finished feel that you'd get in say, a Lexus or an Audi.

In '06 the 1st gen car got a slight facelift and mild interior upgrade, so keep in mind the plastic issues definately got looked at in later models. The 2nd gen car is much nicer inside.

And personally, I think it is one of the best looking CUVs out there.

I haven't driven a CX-7, so I couldn't comment on it.

Drove a CX-9 though, and that was an excellent vehicle 👍. Huge though. Much larger than what you're looking for.

Going to be hard to get those for ~$25k.


M

 

[niky]

CX9, wonderful car. Drives well, goes well. Incredible refinement.

Almost nearly as big as an Explorer, though. And just as thirsty. Unless you like listening to gurgly V6s suck money out of your wallet, look elsewhere.

 

[Omnis]

Going to be hard to get those for ~$25k.


M

I know, but since we were talking wagons...

 

[YSSMAN]

I'd have one of these over the CX7/9 anyway...

 

[Omnis]

I'd have one of these over the CX7/9 anyway...

The Ford Hearse?

 

[YSSMAN]

Funkmaster Flex.

 

[homeforsummer]

I've heard it's quite large though, the Flex. I like them but it sounds like Danoff is wanting something smaller.

 

[FoolKiller]

I've heard it's quite large though, the Flex. I like them but it sounds like Danoff is wanting something smaller.

He did say luxury.

 

[Omnis]

The Flex is a POS anyway. Can you believe they had one at the Int'l Auto Show with the side skirt broken off? There was a big chunk missing.

 

[homeforsummer]

He did say luxury.

True. It isn't that, either.

 

[Tornado]

The Flex is awesome. It is the Edge that is crap.

 

[homeforsummer]

Oh yeah, but it's not a luxury car. It's just a nicely trimmed Ford. It's no more a luxury car than a Mondeo Ghia.

 

[Tornado]

Well, no, of course not. But Danoff already test drove and all but bought the best car in the segment he is looking at, so this is kinda moot anyways.

 

[YSSMAN]

He did say luxury.

???



Anyway, yeah. The Flex is no luxury vehicle, but a well-trimmed SES model isn't exactly a bad place to be either. Granted, having grown up with the "luxury" versions of Chevrolets and GMCs all my life, my bar is set pretty low.

 

[Tornado]

^ With that in mind, it must be said that the Flex is very much not a compact crossover SUV.

 

[McLaren]

Please god, no. Just no.


Wait for Mercedes to bring over the E-class estate.

Aww yeah.

Offer it to me in a 63 AMG and get the hell of out of my way.

 

[YSSMAN]

^ With that in mind, it must be said that the Flex is very much not a compact crossover SUV.

Its pretty much a low-riding SUV by most measurements. But, it gets the job done. Even Clarkson seemed to like it. He never likes anything.

Just a shot in the dark, since everyone forgets this thing exists:

2008 Subaru Tribeca

Its not totally luxurious, but it isn't bad. The significant refreshes made it much nicer than the original B9 Tribeca, and I would dare to say that I like the current crossover.


I'd mention the Toyota Venza, but no one seems to like that either. For an overgrown Camry, I thought it was pretty nice. But, again, my bar is pretty low.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Subie Outback perhaps then? Technically a tall wagon but hey.

 

[Keef]

I'd mention the Toyota Venza, but no one seems to like that either. For an overgrown Camry, I thought it was pretty nice. But, again, my bar is pretty low.

The Venza is amazing for people who know it exists, but for people who don't it doesn't get a mention.

But Danoff, now that you know the Venza exists you should know that it won some sort of comparison in one of these magazines I've got laying around here. I think.

Comes standard with what Toyota calls a "throttle of death".

 

[Pupik]

Also, the Venza is hard to get into for < $25K, and there's probably very few used ones, since it's only been out very-late 2008.

$26,275
starting [1]

...Although the base model doesn't use wood trim.

 

[Danoff]

The budget is probably about $30k btw. Up to 30k miles too. Here's how things stand.

The List
- XC90
- XC70
- X3
- X5
- CX-7 (styling)
- CX-9
- Murano
- MDX
- FX (styling)
- RX (test-drove - handling)
- RDX (test-drove, awesome)
- Venza (styling)
- Tribeca
- Rav-4
- Grand Cherokee (bailout)
- Flex (Ford)
- SRX (bailout)
- Tiguan (styling)
- CR-V (styling)
- Touareg (styling)
- Q5

Eliminated Categories
- Any company that received bailout money.
- Wagons
- Non-AWD Vehicles
- Ford
- Anything with wood in it.

 

[FoolKiller]

Eliminated Categories
- Any company that received bailout money.
- Wagons
- Non-AWD Vehicles
- Ford
- Anything with wood in it.

You could have just said American.

 

[Tornado]

Give the CX-7 and Murano a test drive. Those are the ones listed that are the closest to the RDX in premise.

 

[Danoff]

You could have just said American.

Just wanted to highlight that I have different reasons for eliminating different American companies.

 

[FoolKiller]

Just wanted to highlight that I have different reasons for eliminating different American companies.

Blue ovals do look stupid. Or is that just the car design behind them? I can never tell what's causing the problem.

 

[Danoff]

Blue ovals do look stupid. Or is that just the car design behind them? I can never tell what's causing the problem.

Owned a ford SUV a while back. Had nothing but problems. Not inclined to go back to that well.

 

[///M-Spec]

If you're look at X5s, the one you want is a 2004-2006 4.8is (E53).

They're uncommon, but you should be able to find one that fits your mileage/price requirements if you hunt around a little.

I don't think the E70 is going to be in your price range.

I'd much rather have a 545i Touring, but if you must have the ride height and butch looks....


M

 

[niky]

X5 >>> X3. Again, cross off the X3, please... probably the best handling vehicle on your list. Drives like a go-kart. Rides like a go-kart. Has similar seating capacity.