Considering an FX35/45/50.

M

Motivated

Member
So I am new to SUV type vehicles. This would be my first BIG vehicle if you will. I have been doing some research on the platform and have some gray areas. Here are my questions:

1) It appears you could get the FX35 in manual at some point, but I can not confirm this solidly. If so, what year?

2) I really want a red body, with the baseball glove colored interior. Was this option package ever available together and if so could you get it with a manual trans?

3) If the manual trans is available, could you get it in AWD? I would prefer an AWD drivetrain.

4) I like the idea of an FX50, but not the price lol. I have found a few turbo kits and blowers. My last vehicle made nearly 600whp, I would like this one to do the same which I know the engine is perfectly capable of in the FX35, but what about options for the 45...or even the 50 if I pull the trigger?

5) If I could produce 600awhp, would the AWD system, axles, and rear end hold up or are there known issues? If I HAVE to go with an automatic, how strong are they and are there valve upgrades/torque coverters available to accomodate that kind of power? Are the manuals even strong enough, if they do exist?

I don't care about the audio system/naviagtion/bluetooth packages as that is what I do for a living. Are there certain parts that were released for say an 07 model that were a better design than the say 05 model that are interchangable? Such as a lifter in the head or fuel pump pick up or anything? Thanks for all the answers you may have!

-Chris
Motivated Motorsports
 
Welcome to iS! To answer some of your questions, never was there a manual, but one person, Rookie, has had it put in. Red was available in '03 and maybe '04 and is a rare color. If you want to go FI, the 35 is the best because G/Z kits can be adapted much easier than a one-off kit for the V8's.
 
Agree with everything Stulax said. Also - no manual option for the FX. If you want it, you'll have to swap one in. Swapping in a manual is the ONLY way you'll get close to 600whp on a RWD FX. The VQ35DE can definitely get there if you go for a serious build, but for that kind of money (engine build, boost kit, engine management, fuel management) you really should just go for the FX50. I've been planning a turbo build on my 04 Laser Red FX (black interior :wink:) and have spent about half as much as I purchased the car for new in 04. And I still haven't touched the motor or bought the turbo kit. By the time I finish, I could have bought the FX50 but it wasn't offered in 04.

I love this car and it's a good compromise when you need a family car, but still want that tuner aftermarket itch to scratch. Take it for what it is - a sporty cross-over SUV. It's never going to be a hardcore drag/track car. But you can mod it out for the street fo sho and it's a fun car. Plus I gotta tell you, half the good experience of owning an FX has come from THIS site.

Good luck with your choice - if you do get any of the FX line, I think you'll be happy.
 
What about enging management software? I am familiar with programs like HP Tuners for GM or Open Source stuff for Evos/Subies. Is there anything other than hand held programming or "black boxes" from JWT for these vehicles?
 
Talking more along the lines of a Haltech or ProEFI - standalone engine mgt. With a Stillen S/C you can get by with a piggyback module, but with the turbo kits you really need the standalone to give you the ability to tune it correctly. The tune itself would be the most important part of the boost installation, in my opinion.
 
Scratch the 45 off your list. The 45 is more for people that like power out of the box and don't want to mod like crazy. Why you might ask, it's basically because the 45 has almost no aftermarket support. Most of everything would be custom (but it's no different that building any import for true power). With the 45 you are relegated to an intake, exhaust, and reflashed ECU. If there is much more for power then I don't know about it personally.

The 35 is where it's at. However you would want to build the bottom end at least for a reliable 600WHP FX. Look into the 350Z/G35 world ofr a ton of information on building the ultimate VQ.

Now in all honesty if you want fast and SUV/Crossover there are much better chioces to begin with out of the box. On the low end we have the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8, on the high end you would have the ML63 AMG. In between you could probably pick up a used Cayenne Turbo. Any of those would hold their own and have some decent aftermarket support.

I am not that familiar with the VQ (had friends with TT 350Zs and SC G's, but I am a speed junkie with a turbo eclipse, turbo prelude on a 60-1 on the first setup and was doing a T70 for 600WHP before I moved unto an M coupe. Now I get my fix in the form of a ZX-10R. Based on that background I can say that the FX is a great daily...and have something truly fast in the garage for the weekends. At least that is my opinion. Doesn't mean I don't like high HP FXs...it just means I would never do one myself. And I am saving up to purchase another high HP toy in a year or so and my FX will still be my daily.
 
So there is nothing to modify the stock ECU with correct? We are talking about a $1500+ option instead of other platforms that have the ability to modify the stock programming. I understand building the motor and have considered an SRT8. You aren't talking to the average buyer who wants to know how many cupholders the vehicle comes with. I build/modify for a living. Right now I'm mostly tied into GM. But these vehicles keep catching my eye. It sounds like I wouldn't be happy with one from a reliability vs performance stand point.
 
Stock ECU can be modified to a point - Technosquare out in CA can do a cookie cutter tune (removes rev/speed limits, timing, fuel maps, etc). And they can also dyno tune. Once you start modding seriously, the ECU hits it's limit and you just run out of adjustability.

You definitely can use less expensive ECU piggyback options, just like the 350Z & G35 guys do - but the FX has more drivetrain loss because of the weight and automatic transmission and you'll never reach the same whp as the smaller sports cars using the same set-ups they do. I think in general, making the FX into a beast is more expensive than the other VQ platforms, but can certainly be done. Just depends on how far you really want to go.
 
Motivated said:
So there is nothing to modify the stock ECU with correct? We are talking about a $1500+ option instead of other platforms that have the ability to modify the stock programming. I understand building the motor and have considered an SRT8. You aren't talking to the average buyer who wants to know how many cupholders the vehicle comes with. I build/modify for a living. Right now I'm mostly tied into GM. But these vehicles keep catching my eye. It sounds like I wouldn't be happy with one from a reliability vs performance stand point.
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Then the Trailblazer SS is another possibilty. I would say if you really want the FX then go for it, but make sure its not a daily driver while going this route. Again this is my opinion. Others may or may not agree, but when a car is down for months at a time waiting on this and that because of everything is one off/custom made then it becomes quite a hassle IMO. I waited for a couple months because ITS sent the wrong stuff out, waited even longer on JE, and my Regamaster wheels were stuck at the port for some reason. It became a hassle, but at least I had a few other vehicles to drive in the meantime.

Oh and believe me I would love to biuld my FX. FX45TT sounds great to me. BUT I hate to say it as much as I love this vehicle there are better platforms to go fast in.

Here is a local company (Houston) Fastlane with a Trailblazer SS. This was when it was inthe 10s, it is now in the mod 9s on a soft tune. A friend who built my prelude works there as their head tuner.
YouTube- Turbo Trailblazer SS Goes 10.76 @ 130 (Sound edited by YouTube)

Here is one of the SRTT
YouTube- Fastlane SRTT Twin Turbo Dodge Charger
 
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