How come I can't have AWD and Sport?

[MattB]

I live in New England, which means snow, which means rear wheel drive can be hard to live with at times. I can get the Sport package on a Mercedes E350 4MATIC or a BMW 530xi, but not on the M35x. Does anyone know if there will ever be an M35x Sport or will I be stuck choosing between sport and winter drivability when I go to buy my next car?

Ideally I'd want an M35x with the Sport package and the premium package which doesn't seem to be available on sport models (I've really come to like the rear sunshade that my I30 and the premium package Ms have).

[AMassaro]

i don't know if Infiniti has plans or not - but they better consider it if they want to compete with the 3 German companies. I was told by the salesman that AWD doesn't go with sport performance, which is riduclous. i just got a M45 Sport and i really wanted AWD with it. If BMW's 08 530xi (due in ealry summer) was available now, i probably would have went with that car instead of the M because of the AWD issue. I got a 2 year lease on this car, so we'll see what they do in the next 2 years.

[scjconsulting]

I agree with you that Infiniti should put AWD and Sports together. The difference is that I had to have the M35X because of where I live and I have already had sports and AWD together in a 2004 S4 (the REAL V8 sports and AWD combo). BMW does not make all the sports options available in the XI series. Their XI cars come with all season tires.

I think you might be referring to the coming 535xi, which will have the turbo 6 now available on the 3 series. A 530xi sedan and sports wagon have been available since 2006. The 530xi was my 2nd choice, but about 6K more than the M35X equipped the same.

[szh]

I agree!

I also wish that they had an M45X with AWD (including Sport models too)! Now, that would be awesome combination!

Z

[MattB]

I agree!

I also wish that they had an M45X with AWD (including Sport models too)! Now, that would be awesome combination!

Z

That would be very nice too, as right now the only V8 AWD options in the segment are the Audi A6 4.2Q (look out once the warranty expires) and the Mercedes E550 4MATIC (overpriced and expensive to maintain).

[AMassaro]

i stand corrected. i was referring to the 535xi. i do not mind the all season tires. in my opinion, that is the trade off for having the AWD, and if you are driving in bad weather the AWD will only be as effective as the tires. the point i was trying to make is that although it is only a 6 cylinder, the 300+ twin turbo engine should perform pretty close to the M45. If Infiniti wants to keep up with the Jones's, than they have got to put an AWD with better performance on the street. so far, i am very happy with the car - but no AWD is an issue for me.

[SilverShadow]

After reviewing what the "Sports" packages are for the BMW & MB it looks like the M35x comes real close.

BMW 530xiSport Package

* Shadowline exterior trim * 20-way power multi-contour front seats (includes articulated upper backrest, 4-way lumbar support, passenger’s-seat memory, and active head restraints with adjustable side and thigh support)* * 3-spoke leather-wrapped multi-function sport steering wheel with controls for audio system, cruise control, and Bluetooth wireless communication for hands-free mobile phone**

MB350The Sport Package enhances your E-Class with sculpted side skirts, and sport rear bumper with dual exhaust for a more muscular "exhaust note" that really growls.

Head-turning 18 inch 10-twin-spoke wheels with all-season tires do more than just look great - they're staggered to help you take on the road, as the sport suspension provides more precise handling and greater road feel.

Perforated disc brakes boost stopping power and headlamp washers help make sure you can see what's up ahead.

The exterior of your E-Class with Sport Package is finished with blue tinted glass for added flair, and the interior is accentuated with Black Birdseye Maple wood trim and a matte chrome instrument cluster with white gauges.

It looks like BMW's sport package is mostly visual and MB's does list a "Sports" suspension and perforated disk brakes.

Neither one list "Rear active Steering" like Infiniti does on their sports model. It looks to me that both MB & BMW sports models are mostly appearance additions.

[AMassaro]

the only problem is the M35x can't keep up with the BMW and MB (and Audi for that matter). What good is a sport package without the muscle? In fact, the M45 is even slower than the aforementioned. That was my point. With regard to the BMW package versus the MB: I have driven both cars and hands down the BMW is a much better handling car than the MB.

[MattB]

The M35 can easily keep up with an A6 3.2 or a 530i. Those both have around 260hp.

[AMassaro]

sure it can, i never said it couldn't. what i said was that it couldn't keep up with the '08 535xi (310 hp 0-60 under 6 sec.) and the A6 4.2 (0-60 5.8 sec.) and the E550 (0-60 4.8 sec.). My point is that Infiniti does not make an AWD with the power of the 3 German automakers, regardless of price. i am not trying to knock infiniti, i just spent almost 60k on an M45. I am just saying that you ought to be able to get AWD in a M45 with the sport package except for maybe the summer tires - just like MB, BMW and Audi.