I'll move this to Car Talk in a bit, but I wanted to catch opinions here first... Since it's a weekend.

Looking for a SUV for teh wife. Drove a 2004 Nissan Murano with Touring package last week. She liked it.

I have found a couple of 2004 Infiniti FX35s that have come off from Enterprise. They have 22,000-25,000 miles on them.


So here's the dilema... I don't want to spend more than 30K on a SUV. The Murano I know I can get for under 30K new. The FXs are right at $29,750 or so and the price is firm.

So what would you get? Both SUVs have the same options; xenons, moonroof, heated seats, etc.

The Nissan is new, the dealer is less than 1 mile from our house with 10 miles on the odometer. 36 month warranty. She likes the Blue color.

The FX, while used, has 38 months of warranty, is pretty clean. The dealer is 20 miles from home. Color is limited to Golden Sand.


My wife will be driving this all the time. Is it worth just getting the Murano since service is so close. Or should I go with the FX, deal with the minor travel to the dealer and the more than likely increased cost for service, etc???

Colors? *Not the exact cars I'm looking at*

FX:





Murano:







Looking for thoughts? Both cost the same. Mileage is up there on the FX, but I'll run out of months before I cross the mileage mark for the warranty end. Service is much easier to do on the Murano due to location of my Infiniti dealer.

Thanks!

 

Toureg > *

 

More beans than I wanna spend.

 

Same as FX

 

Going on looks alone, I like the FX better. Seems like a hard decision. Both are excellent choices. The Murano would be tempting just because it is new and the service is so convienent.

 

I like them both but I'd go with the Murano - From my point of view, for the same price you are getting a new car that you know hasnt been abused and the dealer is closer which could prove to be very convienent ever for minor warrenty work

But they are both cool, so no matter what you pick your wife will end up with a nice SUV

 

i dunno man, i thought of getting a car from enterprise but i know you know how those cars have been treated

 

 

http://www.carmax.com/dyn/searchengi...0&SearchType=0

 

-7840DR
2004
Toyota
4RUNNER SRS 4DR 4X4
Automatic
25 K
Blue
$22999
See
Details

1-7740DR
2004
Toyota
4RUNNER SR5 4DR 4X4
Automatic
23 K
White
$23999
See
Details

1-7842DR
2004
Toyota
4RUNNER 4DR 4X4
Automatic
18 K
Blue
$23999

http://www.simmons-rockwell.com/inve...stocktype=USED

 

Porsche tastes on a vw budget...

I like the Murano. I just like the styling better... The FX's styling is similar to the G35, which I've never really gotten used to. While very similiar in styling to the FX, the murano is just more subdued. I like the Murano in darker colors i.e. black, whick is a bitch to keep clean, but I'm tired of seeing silver/grey on every other bmw/volvo/minivan/suv...

I'd say the Murano, but that's because of the cheaper/easier service. The Murano is new, and you get the pick of colors.

Out of these 2, The blue Murano gets the GM seal of approval...

 

i def like the fx better than the murano styling

 

my buddy has an fx. its a great vehicle... but not much of an SUV. its not all that roomy or anything.

 

These are what we're limited to in terms of choices? What about a Highlander or a Pilot? Those would get my vote. But whatever the case, I would never buy a car from a rental company. My dad got a car from Enterprise when he totalled his Celica a few years back, it had 13,000 miles on it and was absoultely falling apart. Was a Toyota too so it shouldn't have been acting like that.......was obviously abused.

 

the fx has a warranty of 38 mos. do you think you will keep it longer than that? if you know you won't, then get the fx. otherwise stayaway from rentals.

 

DJ Scribble I would have to agree with the others in saying that I don't trust a vehicle that comes from a rental agency. You have been around long enough to read about everyones 'loaner/rental' car experiences . Don't get me wrong if I had to choose and I had the cash, I like the FX45 (I know your choosing between the 35)
Murano SE or SL, FWD or AWD ?

I would have to go with Murano here. I like them as stated to you in another thread. Of course I said I like the white ones .

 

 

I'd definitely be keeping for 5+ years...

One thing I'm thinking about is having to maintain two Infiniti cars... Not sure how my wallet would feel about that.

 

what about the v8 4runner?

 

I do not want to spend over 30K for a new car.

I saw your used listings, but I might as well get the FX then.

 

If you do get the murana/FX, make sure you get some additional mirrors for the driver side, I have heard of a horrible blind spot due to the design of the cars behind the driver. I mean, more than normal.

I'd go with either, but the Toureg has my vote if you upped the budget, or found a good used one somewhere. Although I know VW has had some issues with their reliabilty more recently.

 

i dont understand the need to go BALLS OUT and spend 30k...there are SOOOOO many options in the small SUV segment (BTW, the murano and FX are more like raised station wagons...not really an SUV by nature) but there are SOOO many options out there for a small SUV around 20k...brand new. whats the need for the fancy shmancy shit? the wife got your balls in a noose and convinced you that she NEEEDS to roll in some upscale vehicle? like anything less than 30k is crap...sounds kinda snobbish...why not look at something in the 20k range and save that extra money for something more meaningful and useful?

whats wrong with say something in the 2001-2003 model years of a Pathfinder? Toyota Highlander?

 

FX drives 100x better than the Toureg. We looked at both and ended up with the FX. Toureg interior hands down was better but the FX is just an awesome driving experience.

 

I don't like the Pathfinder. And I haven't looked at the Highlander.

She knows jack shit about cars, so if she saw a Porsche that was debaged, she wouldn't know what the fuck it is... We want to get a SUV for kids. She wants heated seats as really the only requirement. She doesn't like the size of the RAV4/CR-V.

So where does that leave me? A decent SUV costs 27-32K. Bottom line. I want something reliable. Therefore it's a Pilot/Murano or something used like a FX35.

 

You said it, not me. Not sure where you're getting these words from.

BTW... Why buy a used A6 then? Couldn't find anything for 20K in a sedan?

 

and im sure you wouldnt dream of exploring something american. is that safe to assume? because there are a boatload of american SUV's for well under 30k new

 

theyde be worth 1/3 the price as soon as you drive em off the lot, and a lot less reliable

 

Why an SUV in the first place?

I know this will make sound like an old fart (which I am) but the current generation mini-van (Odyssey, etc) will haul as much, have as nice an interior and eat a lot less gas.

 

as far as value goes, who cares, he said hed keep it for 5+ years anyway...and as far as reliability, thats up for debate, depending on which vehicle in particular is in question..but there is always the magic word...warranty...so everything is free.

 

I got absolutely torched when I bought my '01 Old. Alero. It's been a nightmare for the past four years. I'd love to buy a domestic if there was something to buy?

I'd never buy a Ford. Chevy... Maybe the Equinox... But for a 28K car, you don't even get 4-wheel disc brakes?

Chrysler? yeah right...

 

No minivans. I'm only 27 for cryin' out loud.

 

same here, i hope to never have a minivan

 

you like this?? its under 30,000... you can have it shipped... or some get it yourself... you are close.

http://www.diamondlotusa.com/erhardf...on/default.htm

 

poor reliability

 

My sister just picked up a new '04 Pilot with Navi for a great deal, since the '05's are coming out...it may be a good chance to pick one of these up. Not as stylish, but practical for kids (can fit up to 7 people). MDX was also an option, but the polot seemed more roomy in the inside and of course there is a big price discrepency between the two.

 

The soobie forester/outback are a decent compromise between SUV/sedan... Station wagons rule

Under 30K too...

 

Pilot Before you look at the Equinox, check out the Saturn Vue Redline with the Honda Pilot engine in. 250hp in a smaller SUV cant be all bad

 

Scrib, I am pretty sure through Nov 1st. Lexus is offering 3.9% financing up to 66 months on all Certified cars.....

 

Still waiting for your "help"...

 

Thanks.