Infiniti FX45: Eight months later

Last winter, we went car shopping. Our 2003 Pontiac Vibe was on it's seemingly last legs, and it was pretty beat to hell exteriorwise. In true GM fashion, the exterior fell apart first, while the interior remained a bit tattered, but overall the same since new. Since the Vibe was absolutely horrendous in snow, an SUV (or least an AWD car) was in order. Apparently, gas mileage was thrown out the window completely; that alone opened up a vast array of choices. Mercedes E-Class 4Matics were far and few between, and most premium SUVs were too big to fit into our garage. So, we finally settled on one of the pioneers in the "Sport" utility segment-- an Infiniti FX45.
I have loved these since new, and I was smitten with this one from the first drive/ride. Through the snow, and across the ice it glided-- with absolute poise. Incredible, really. Coming from a puny little four cylinder hatchwagon, the FX felt thunderous. And it is. With 320 horses on tap, this brute never seems to run out of energy. Couple the power figures with a performance-oriented AWD system, and you have a vehicle that's almost at home in the snow as it is on the highway. But, unlike serious offroaders like a Range Rover or Toyota Land Cruiser, don't attempt any true offroading in it; the minimal suspension travel and wide Z-rated 20 inchers can't take the beating.
What's it like to live with? Well, for starters, the ride is what you'd expect from a "sport" ute; firm, but never choppy. You can feel exactly what the tires are doing, and the steering is very, very precise. I would compare it strongly to what a four door 350Z would feel like (essentially a G35/37 on stilts.) Inside, cargo room is.. well it is what it is. Obviously, we're one of the only family who uses this sexy ute as a hauler rather than a style accessory. Does it have more room than our Vibe? For passengers, yes; for cargo, probably not. But, it can haul bikes and skis which are little Pontoyota couldn't very well.
Since we're coming from a little car, how does gas mileage compare with the Vibe? Honestly, real world mileage in stop and go traffic is probably more or less the same. Granted, the Vibe is lighter by a huge margin, but with its peaky as hell powerband, you have to rev it to the sky to go over. Harder working engines result in lack of gas mileage. I would say both cars averaged about 15 MPG in city driving, not too terrible considering the size (and weight) difference.
Are there any apparently problems I can see forthcoming? Absolutely not. It's a wonderful vehicle, and quite rare, too, with than 7,000 FX45s sold from 2003 to 2008, compared to 35,000 FX35s. It doesn't draw constant stares like it did when it was new, but I guarantee you, this beast of a truck makes me happy every time I hear it start up in the morning; it's one of the sounds that makes you go "Damn. Is this really emanating from my garage?" Apparently, it is, and I am as smitten with it as I was on day one.