Infiniti Sales and some wisecracks

[PtM03m45]

The figures were released for June and they are as follows:Sold a total of 9,204 units compared to 6971 last June a whopping 43% increase!I35 / I30 1117 units - Amazing these glorified maximas sell at all and for 3 grand more you're in a G. Huh? I know its discounted but why is the sticker so close to the G isn't that the point of purchase? G35 Sedan - 2745 - Still holding sales after over a yearG35 Coupe - 2345 - Amazing a coupe holds close sales to a 4 door.M45 - 316 - Incredible marketing makes this fly out the door...yeah rightFX35/45 - 2109 - Doing well, but I think corporate thought 3000 a month.Q45 - 156 - What the hell is wrong? This car rules! QX4 - 387 - WHY WOULD THIS DO BETTER THAN A Q? and besides for a few thousand more you could get a FX! What are people thinking? Yeah discount I know but still?

Some of these numbers just make no sense, like the Q and M which have more to offer than a Mercedes except the nameplate.

Look for the FX series to start offering discounts by the end of summer. I heard they have suspended new production.

Even though the service is bad <that infiniti service link is huge>, the cars are usually so good you never have to take them there!!

[nlzmo400r]

actually those numbers seem about rite to me, the Q is just so darn expensive, that the people that can afford them figure they can just buy a less luxurious mercedes, and say they drive a benz, and the m45 is just wierd all around, never actually seen teh interior, but the exterior isnt great lookin IMO, and i believe they are overpriced as ewll

[PalmerWMD]

Witrh discounts the I35's are an amazing value and even w/o just plain great cars.I prefer the RWD G as well but the I356's are a bit less edgy have real comfy interiors that might even look a trifle better than the G's.

I can see how someone could reasonably pick an I over a G, even tho I wouldnt.

Yes the Coupe sales are amazing as much as the sedan, wow.Actaully I dont think the M45 numbers are as bad as folks make them out to be we consider the G35Coupe a huge hit right?Over one tenth sales of a huge hit is not so bad, especially since a spendier V8 luxo sport sedancar always sells less.

THe FX is doing well among real positive magazine reviews.

You are right the sales number for the Q's are just a shame..

The QX4 is nothing to sneeze at, ye its not as tredny as a FX but many love the traditional truck chassis and its one of very few luxo SUV's that actaully <can> be taken offroad.

Fred...

[PalmerWMD]

i believe they are overpriced as ewll

Nizmo ,I respectfully disagree:

for mid 40's a largish V8 luxo sport sedan?Thats even cheaper than a caddy!

Its an incredible value!It's Less money than many BMW sixes!!With less equipment , less warranty and less quality!!

Fred...

[nlzmo400r]

Nizmo ,I respectfully disagree:

for mid 40's a largish V8 luxo sport sedan?Thats even cheaper than a caddy!

Its an incredible value!It's Less money than many BMW sixes!!With less equipment , less warranty and less quality!!

Fred...

actually that was a question, but thanks for the answer, i forgot to put the question mark on the end of that sentence, i didnt know the price of them and just heard they were overpriced for what they are, but i dont really understand why infiniti has two of everything, they have the i35 and g35 (both v6's) and the m45 and q45 (both 8s) and of course the lil g2o, which i dont even think is even being made anymore, even tho it sells well, i dont really see the point in hte i35, other than its fwd if u have to have taht, ohther than that, the g35 IMO is just a cooler car, ok, enough of my pointless ranting, im done

[PtM03m45]

yes fred you are wayyyy correctI got my m for 45000 with heated and cooled seats, navigation, 18 chrome wheels with a full chrome spare, tire pressure monitor, intelli cruise, xenon, oh yeah btw 340hp V8...Not bad I sayA similar equipped caddy <oh yeah caddys don't offer all that>A similar equipped bmw, no cooled seats over 55 grandLexus just plain slow and no cooled seatsMercedes need a AMG and about 75 grand

But for some the M could be too pimpy.

Going to get my green hat and purple featha's

Lata

[Jesda]

I35 - This is a very practical car that bears a luxury nameplate. Some would say the styling of the new Maxima is too loud (Im one of them). I find the interior of the new Max downright cheap too. Good mileage, front-drive for harsh climates, fantastic reliability, AWESOME engine, unoffending but high-class styling. Good deal!

G35 - Hot car. Some people dont want a hot car, just a comfy one. Notice the droves and droves of Buicks and Toyotas out there!!!!

M45 - Gorgeous in person, especially when its rolling down the road. Give it a chance. I once thought it was ugly.

FX vs. QX4 - Some people like their trucks looking like trucks. The FX looks awesome, but would seem a bit out of place at the country club or pulling up to the elementary school. Mom and Dad might feel weird and outlandish driving it around. Notice the sales of the boring Buick Rendezvous!

Q45 - The flagship isnt supposed to be the top seller. The I35 and G35 are the bread and butter models, while the Q45 carries the brand and image. The flagship is also supposed to be the showcase for technology and performance.

-Jesda

[elwesso]

yes fred you are wayyyy correctI got my m for 45000 with heated and cooled seats, navigation, 18 chrome wheels with a full chrome spare, tire pressure monitor, intelli cruise, xenon, oh yeah btw 340hp V8...Not bad I sayA similar equipped caddy <oh yeah caddys don't offer all that>A similar equipped bmw, no cooled seats over 55 grandLexus just plain slow and no cooled seatsMercedes need a AMG and about 75 grand

But for some the M could be too pimpy.

Going to get my green hat and purple featha's

Lata

The XLR has all that (minus the 340hp V8)..... Except its 70 grand......

Infinitis are a tremendous value...... You drive one for its value, not for its name badge (although it is becoming more well known)

[Q451990]

I have to say I'm warming up to the M45... saw one in black once that looked really good!

Heath

[SmithSR]

Where do the new Audi cars fit in amongst the rankings. Today I saw a beautiful white new body style Q outside the local Audi/Porsche dealership. The owner got out of his luxo-land-yacht and walked over to the flagship Audi...the new A8. If I'm not mistaken, price difference between the new A8 and the new Q is close to that of the AMG Mercedes/Q45 ratio. What about quality? I've read many a post where people bash Audi build quality/longevity. Is this really a deciding factor for the wealthy guy who can buy any car he wants?

[szh]

Yeah!

Longevity and reliability aside, Audi is definitely making some very interesting cars recently. Check out the new 2004 S4 with the 340HP V8 and all-wheel drive. It can do 0-60 in 4.99 seconds, lateral acceleration of 0.90, slalom speed of 68mph, and quarter mile in 13.44 at 105mph. (see test in August 2003 Motor Trend)

The base price is $45k MSRP. All in a four door sedan style (admittedly "blander" looks) and with a six speed manual available!

That gives the Infiniti M45 a serious run for the money.

Z

[PalmerWMD]

tru the Audi is real interesting+ real fast.

All in kinda in a smallish package light on the standard equipent too.And Probably not a car u wanna own outta warranty.

Fred...

[PalmerWMD]

Is this really a deciding factor for the wealthy guy who can buy any car he wants?

Maybe not for the real wealthy guy.. For all practical purposes the $80,000 AMG's etc, may not even exist for me in the real world for all parctical purposes.But the price of the M45 makes it affordable enough for someone like me, even new if I stretch just a tad.

Fred..

[szh]

tru the Audi is real interesting+ real fast.

All in kinda in a smallish package light on the standard equipent too.And Probably not a car u wanna own outta warranty.

Fred...

Agreed. I probably would not get one. I like Infiniti - been driving a Q longer than any other car I have had - and if I was in the market for another V8, I would go for the M45 most likely!

But the S4 is still very interesting!

Z

[elwesso]

If I dont get one of the new cadillacs sometime (like the sixteen, if they produce it :drooling: ), ill be a Q man forever!!

[szh]

If I dont get one of the new cadillacs sometime (like the sixteen, if they produce it :drooling: ), ill be a Q man forever!!

The August 2003 issue of Motor Trend has a drive test (of sorts) in it. GM allowed some journalists to drive it on their test grounds.

Z

[nlzmo400r]

The August 2003 issue of Motor Trend has a drive test (of sorts) in it. GM allowed some journalists to drive it on their test grounds.

Z

wel dont leave us hangin, whatd they say about it!!!??

[szh]

wel dont leave us hangin, whatd they say about it!!!??

Oh, er ... I just assumed that everyone had a subscription to the magazine!

It is too long to post the whole thing (and I should call it more of a "first drive" than a "first test"), but here are some of the things I noted that were "different" from other cars:

- 19 feet long (!)- 1000 horsepower, 1000 ft-lbs torque, 16 cylinder engine.- No door keys - only key fob.- 16 inch brake rotors- Six piston calipers- 24 inch wheels- Gull-wing engine compartment hood. Opens from both sides.- Four wheel steering (so that the turning radius is "approximately that of a midsize sedan".)- not yet tuned engine mounts (concept car) so it was a bit more bumpy idle- Titanium valves

Some of the phrases used:- "Ease into the throttle, and the car moves with a quickness that belies its mass and size."- "This huge sedan glides precisely, with a catlike balance that puts us at ease."- "The ride is a bit jiggly, which doesn't say anything about the suspension, since the pavement is billiard-table smooth."

Z

[dougs98Q45]

I'm liking the looks of the M better every time I see one (not too often) but only in black so far. I think if they took just a little 'edgyness' out in the next redesign sales would blow up. The G35 is a great car, great value and will remain popular for a long time. With slower sales (and the according deals you'd get) I think the new Q is probably the best luxury value out there. Hope they stick with it....

[elwesso]

Ill take the 16!!!! Having twice as many cylinders as my Q........ :drooling: :drooling: :drooling: :drooling: :drooling:

[szh]

Ill take the 16!!!! Having twice as many cylinders as my Q........ :drooling: :drooling: :drooling: :drooling: :drooling:

Yeah? But aren't you the person on another thread who hated changing the sparkplugs on a Q?

Imagine what it would be like on a Sixteen!

Z

[elwesso]

If I had a cadillac 16, I could afford to have someone do it for me...... But oh man, if I did it, it would take 2 days, and would probably cost about 100 for the parts (assuing their the same price as the Q sparkplugs, which their probably more expensive)

The spark plug job was a good introductory job, not too hard, but gives you a taste of what its like to DIY on a Q...... The only thing that made it hard was the lack of space...... IF the engine was out of the car and those stupid brake lines werent in the way, it wouldnt take me more than an hour to do all 8.........

[MattB]

I'm liking the looks of the M better every time I see one (not too often) but only in black so far. I think if they took just a little 'edgyness' out in the next redesign sales would blow up. The G35 is a great car, great value and will remain popular for a long time. With slower sales (and the according deals you'd get) I think the new Q is probably the best luxury value out there. Hope they stick with it....

I'm actually liking the M45 in any color but white or gold. I especially like it in black, silver, or red. If I was going to get one now (and hopefully I'll be able to get one used in a few years to trade up from my G20) I'd get red/black with every option including chrome wheels and the spoiler.

[reggiegsd]

I would like to see what the residual is for the M45 lease. It would give an idea of what Infiniti expects the depreciation to be. I suspect this criter will sink like the first generation Q45. If the replacement (Next year I think) looks as good as the teaser photos, the first generation M45 will be worth nothing.

$20K for a three year old just coming off lease? Maybe.

[Jeff Williams]

Awesome thread!

Been out of town for 12 days, and missed the Forum.

First of all, I just put 1700 miles on my wife's I30t. For a highway car, or around town car, it was great. I can see why someone would pick it over the Maxima (I did). For the $32,000 I paid ($34,800.00 sticker), I got a lot more car than what Acura, Cadillac, or GM had to offer. Lexus didn't even rank with the puky ES series.

Today, I would pick up the G35, for the same money, but the G35 is not nearly as pretty.

I dirve my '94 Q approximately 150 to 300 miles, every day. Nothing can touch it, except maybe a new M45. There is a Black/Black with the spoiler at my local dealership, just waiting for me to plunk down the large.

Living 30 miles from the Mercedes plant, give me the opportunity to see anywhere from 10 to 100 Mercedes, each day. Lexus is #2, and Caddy is a close runner up.

My main avenue for a new car, will be the used car market. That makes Infiniti the #1 choice, for me. The M45, will be my first pick, with a Q a close runner up.

Part of me wants Infiniti at the top of the list on every car magazine, but then the used car prices would be like BMW, or Lexus, and I can't afford that.

[elwesso]

I agree...... I wont be able to get a new infiniti for a long time (maybe when my Q dies)..... So as long as its not on top, I can afford them as a used car!!! And by the time I have that much money, I wont care about depreciation.......