Infiniti future may be even worse / QX60 impression

[Larz]

I just had the Q70L in for scheduled maintenance. I am forced to use a different dealership since the Holman Ft Lauderdale dealership closed the infiniti section to expand their Rolls / Bentley/ Aston Martin showroom (and they're selling like fries at a McDonalds ! I put nearly NO miles on my Q70 as I'm semi retired and usually work from an office in my home so I was surprised to find that prices for maintenance and even oil/filter changes have pretty much DOUBLED. The only pleasant part of the experience was the QX60 they loaned me. It was very very nice - unbelievably well equipped, and had but 103 miles on the clock. The fit / finish was simpressive, the front end was a bit lexus-like with an oversized grille and huge lighted Infiniti badge stuck on it's nose. It's the first model I've seen with the stop/start gizmo but they placed the kill switch in an easy to see place when you find out after that first stop and you give a growl of disappointment. Seems roomier than the earlier models and after you get used to the 9-speed gearbox, it's a very nice car. A bit noisy, but a comfy ride and tons of creature comforts.
As for Infiniti in America, seems Kommissar Pumpkin will add a tariff to all cars NOT built in America starting April 2nd. I may be wrong but Infiniti doesn't build cars here - at least my Q70L and the misses Q60 Red were not made here. If I'm right, Infiniti will be much more expensive than they already do. Rolls buyers won't even notice the foreign tariff but we will. Yet another reason I will probably not buy another Inifniti - Infiniti Q60, Q70, and other favs are gone and the bQ50 is gone after this year. in 2026 - Infiniti will be SUV-only.

[VStar650CL]

I don't know about the Q line which is all Japan-built, but the QX60 is already made in Smyrna (Tennessee) and the QX50/55 are made in Mexico and could easily be ported to Smyrna or Canton (Mississippi). The only QX made outside North America is the QX80 (Japan).

You can tell where your car was made from the first character of the VIN:
1, 4, or 5 - US (Nissan only uses 1 and 5)
2 - Canada
3 - Mexico
K - Korea
J - Japan

[VStar650CL]

PS - Every time the price of gas plunges (which it will again under Trump), the world predictably goes crazy for SUV's. Nissan/Infiniti has been hit in the butt by this pendulum numerous times, caught selling sedans when the world wants SUV's and SUV's when the world wants sedans. For once, this time it seems maybe they got the timing right, but it's also the principal reason Nissan's new CEO wants to radically shrink the company's product development time. That's been painfully slow compared to the rest of the industry. If he can succeed in that, it will immediately broaden the company's new-model horizons by lending it a flexibility of response which it never had. Wish him luck, because if you want more models, that's probably the only path which will get the company there. There's reason to hope, because this guy has a brain.

[Espious]

PS - Every time the price of gas plunges (which it will again under Trump), the world predictably goes crazy for SUV's. Nissan/Infiniti has been hit in the butt by this pendulum numerous times, caught selling sedans when the world wants SUV's and SUV's when the world wants sedans. For once, this time it seems maybe they got the timing right, but it's also the principal reason Nissan's new CEO wants to radically shrink the company's product development time. That's been painfully slow compared to the rest of the industry. If he can succeed in that, it will immediately broaden the company's new-model horizons by lending it a flexibility of response which it never had. Wish him luck, because if you want more models, that's probably the only path which will get the company there. There's reason to hope, because this guy has a brain.

Gas not looking too good here...

[VStar650CL]

Gas not looking too good here...

Where is "here"?

It's $2.65 and dropping here in central Arkansas. If you're in Cali or any big Blue city then you're probably SOL, gas there won't ever get cheaper until and unless more-rational state and local governments are elected.

[Espious]

Gas not looking too good here...

Where is "here"?

It's $2.65 and dropping here in central Arkansas. If you're in Cali or any big Blue city then you're probably SOL, gas there won't ever get cheaper until and unless more-rational state and local governments are elected.

I kid, I kid. I haven't been in the US for a while and have no clue what the prices are like!

[Ilya]

Up to $4.02 for 93 in Charlotte, NC. Ugh.

[Rogue One]

Here in SWFL Regular is around $2.87 with Premium at $2.97 per gallon.

We're headed into July 4th price gouging season, so prices will spike about 30¢.

[VStar650CL]

Hanging in here at $2.83 for regular, $3.64 for premium.
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