Lease Recap (21 month lease about to end)

[dernawe]

Good Evening everyone,

I have a 2007 M45 that is about to go back to infiniti. To be honest, all in all, the car has been very reliable, and has performed well. I, like everyone else on this board I think, have a few issues with the car, but probably nothing that would have kept me from getting it in the first place. The navigation controls while driving are a little silly, and there are a few other things, but certainly nothing major. Having owned a BMW, Mercedes and Audi, I can say that this car trumps them all in terms of reliability. However in terms of quality, I think infiniti still has a little way to go. It is hard to put your finger on it, but there is an intangible "thing" that separates quality products from others. I had an Audi S8 previous to the M45, and it certainly felt like a much higher quality product. Much less road noise, seats were more comfortable, the interior was better, and just drove better. I know originally the S8 was a $80,000 car, but it was also a 02, so you would think that newer cars would have caught up. Anyway, for anyone looking to get a new M, I would say go for it, after you have researched and determined that there is no used car that would suit your needs a little better. Thanks everyone for this great forum, and if I ever get another infiniti product, I will be sure to be back.

[scjconsulting]

I agree with you about the Infiniti to Audi comparison. As you can see, I have owned a few Audis before, including 2 Ss. I would also add "more sporty" to the Audis. All of my Audis had MT and were just more fun to drive.

The Infiniti is solid, full featured, and certaingly had better reliability.

I might suggest you try out the Audi A5/S5, if it is big enough for you. A lot of fun to drive and comes with all the bells and whistles of the Infiniti.

Good luck on your next car.

[IlAClI]

I'm sorry but I love the body styling on the A5, but it's just a A4 couple. FWD is so lame.. especially with that 3.2 v6. Talk about a downgrade from a RWD M or S8.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I don't think the S8/M45 comparison is quite fair. The S8 is Audis top-tier flagship (or was, before the R8). The M45 is Infiniti's midelevel model (the disappearance of the Q notwithstanding). The M is smaller, has less motor.

The S8 is one of my VERY favorite cars, though. I wish the new ones had the V12 rather than the stupid Lamborghini-derived buzzy, torque-deprived V10, though. It makes no sense for the A8 to have a better motor than the S8.

[scjconsulting]

I'm sorry but I love the body styling on the A5, but it's just a A4 couple. FWD is so lame.. especially with that 3.2 v6. Talk about a downgrade from a RWD M or S8.

I hope your "FWD" does not mean front wheel drive when it should mean four wheel drive. The A5 comes only with Quattro, like the S8. The A5 body is what the 2009 A4 is going to be based on. The MT A5 is rated at 0-60 times of 5.8. Not exactly an A4. A fully loaded A5 is about 60K.

[dernawe]

Just to respond to DOOM, your right, the M45 has less motor, but it shouldn't! The S8 is a 4.2, has more HP, and better fuel economy. Makes no sense that a car made 5 years later has more capacity, less HP, and worse economy. Regarding the S8/M45 comparison, I know its not fair, but since I came out of a S8 and into a M45, it is the comparison I had to draw. And to answer questions about what I should get next, I also have a E350 4matic that has about a year left on the lease. I will probably drive that till the lease is up, and pick up a nice second hand new bodied S8:-)

[IlAClI]

Err.. yes I was thinking of the Euro spec for silly reasons. The one in USA comes standard with quattro, but remember quattro isn't like 4WD, and actually isn't activated until it is required, therefore the A5 still has a front axle bias which has a much different drive than the M or the S.

Also, the ability to spend 60k on a coupe A4 sounds a little more like marketing than actuality but you are most likely talking about the S5, which is a much better car.

[scjconsulting]

Err.. yes I was thinking of the Euro spec for silly reasons. The one in USA comes standard with quattro, but remember quattro isn't like 4WD, and actually isn't activated until it is required, therefore the A5 still has a front axle bias which has a much different drive than the M or the S.

Also, the ability to spend 60k on a coupe A4 sounds a little more like marketing than actuality but you are most likely talking about the S5, which is a much better car.

Actually, you are completely wrong again. Quattro is full-time AWD. The A5 has a rear-wheel bias. 60% rear - 40% front! Before it was 50-50.

Yes, I would rather have the S5, but I have stopped buying V8s with current gas prices. It is one of the reason I moved to the M35X from my V8 S4! Actually, Audis have never been know for good fuel economy on any of their cars. Go drive a A5. You will see how much better it is than the M35X.

[IlAClI]

I hate you. Gotta love wikipedia.

Touche.

[scjconsulting]

I hate you. Gotta love wikipedia.

Touche.

Sorry, wrong again. I just know a lot about Audis!