Infiniti winning in this decision!

[szh]

Hi, all.

Some of you may remember from old posts of mine about my boss and his 1993 Q45a. He has been very happy with it over the years - even doing the shock refills and fixes some time back, etc. Well, he decided to get a new car some months back. So, he has been test driving luxury cars.

The first one that caught his eye was the Lexus LS430 and he got hooked on all the gee-whiz gadgets. Some of which are pretty cool, I have to admit. But, after a few test drives, he decided that he did not like the seats, price is way high for what it offers - some of the gadgets were also sub par in his estimation. Although, he loved the quietness - engine, starter and highway feel.

While he was at the Lexus dealer, his checked out the SC430. That became the next possibility. Afer a number of test drives, that lost out because of a soft suspension (for a sports car!) and ridiculously minimal rear seating.

So, he went to an Infiniti dealer and went for a test drive in a Q45 - non-premium version. The salesman did some driving on back roads (marked for 25mph that he took at 60mph)! That went very well, indeed! So, my boss is back in our Infiniti camp!!!

Now, he is debating whether to get a loaded premium one now or wait for the revamped models next year! A tough decision!

Z

[elwesso]

Wow what a tough decision... new Q now or NEWER Q later... Thats rough!!!

Like I say, go big or go home, and if that means waiting, so be it...

But glad to have another Q-ee who has been a long time Q owner...

[PalmerWMD]

I like the current generation of Q's.

Fred..

[elwesso]

I agree... the new F50 Q are very nice..... They look a lot better in person i think. A lot of things we think are ugly on the car you wouldnt think that in person..

Surprisingly enough, it sits VERY similar to the G50, its a touch taller but its a very sexy car and looks VERY expensive. I showed my dad and he was like "how much does this car cost, like 70 grand"

[maxnix]

But, after a few test drives, he decided that he did not like the seats.....Now, he is debating whether to get a loaded premium one now or wait for the revamped models next year! A tough decision!

Z

The LS seats are a real deal killer for me too. Simply the worst seat pan made.

I say wait for the last Q to ever be produced...the 2005 will be available very soon. Get the Premium.

[BadQ45t]

I'm still trying to get my Dad to drive a Q, I think you must be able to steal one right now, the sticker on the Q and LS are pretty close to one another, FYI.

[maxnix]

Definitely deals on 2003 and 2004 with 2005 scheduled for release in September.

[louiegz]

He should wait for the new ones as Infiniti seems to be heading in a very good direction, design wise now. If the M is any indicator of which way the new Q is going to look, then he wont be disappointed.

[VA99Q45]

The interior of the current Q is extremerly nice, but the exterior look too much like a 2004 taurus. I would wait for next year model.

[szh]

I think the pressure to wait for next years model is more because Infiniti is going to add gee-whiz gadgets to match Lexus!

Of course, handling is important, which is why he drives a Q45a now!

Back in 1991, he got a ride in my 1991 Q45 and was very impressed. So, a few years later, he sold his MB 400 and got a 1993 Q45a - the adaptive suspension was exactly what he wanted!

Z

[szh]

Wow what a tough decision... new Q now or NEWER Q later... Thats rough!!!

Very rough!! ROFL!

Z

[maxnix]

If the M is any indicator of which way the new Q is going to look, then he wont be disappointed.

Read my post above. There will be no more Q after the 2005.

There will eventually be another flagship sedan (pick a letter), but the Q is dead after the 2005 model.

[szh]

Definitely deals on 2003 and 2004 with 2005 scheduled for release in September.

Hmmm ... that is sooner than the dealer said. He figured it would be nearer to December before he got the new models in.

Z

[szh]

Read my post above. There will be no more Q after the 2005.

There will eventually be another flagship sedan (pick a letter), but the Q is dead after the 2005 model.

Interesting! Will it look the same as this years model, with added accessories, or is it revamped like the M?

Z

[maxnix]

The 2005 has been posted in a previous thread and is visible through a link form this page http://www.nissannews.com/ .

As to its sucessor, who knows where they are with that? I assume it means the current JDM President and Cima will also be replaced, but do not know when. Hopefully there will be some fallout in components from the GTR scheduled to appear in 2006, but maybe everything will be going hybrid by then, so who knows?

I have been having vigorous debate with Danny of Grubbs Infiniti on another Far Away board about the wisdom of Infiniti abandoning their flagship line, then suddenly coming back with a new model designation and expecting to find the sales success they could not achieve since the G50, whose sales volume they would be glad to have now.

It is to Infiniiti's discredit that they have ignored their legacy flagship and leave its excellence unrecognized to this day.

[elwesso]

Ive said time and time again that I wont buy a new infiniti if they drop the Q... Not ruling that out at all....

[Jesda]

Read my post above. There will be no more Q after the 2005.

There will eventually be another flagship sedan (pick a letter), but the Q is dead after the 2005 model.

That completely ruined my day. At least when Cadillac dropped the Seville, they retained the STS trim level and used it as a model name. However, "Seville" was frumpy and old and screamed "Florida retiree".

"Q45" is a part of the American car culture, and it conveys an image of power. *sigh*

[elwesso]

:Werd

[szh]

Maybe they will implement my long-term recommendation of the "Infiniti Z60". Now, that would be entirely cool!

(For those who do not remember my old posts - may have been on the old forum - the Z60 is supposed to be a 6.0 liter V-12 version of the engine we all love!)

Z

[maxnix]

Hmmm ... that is sooner than the dealer said. He figured it would be nearer to December before he got the new models in.

Z

Introduction depends on when they sell down stocks of 2004. I hear some dealers still have 2002 new on the lot!

At the current sales rate (less than 1 per dealer per month), it may be 2007 before the 2005 Q45 debuts.

[szh]

I hear some dealers still have 2002 new on the lot!

Amazing! I wonder if they deal heavily on them! :thinker

Z

[Q451990]

Read my post above. There will be no more Q after the 2005.

Where did you get this information? Maybe I missed something... I was under the impression that they were planning on using the new M45 as a sporty luxocruiser, and then bring a much higher end Q out in the coming years with a price point in the mid $60K range. Larger, more luxurious, and more differentiated from the M.

It would definately be sad to see the Q name disappear.

Heath

[maxnix]

Where did you get this information? Maybe I missed something... I was under the impression that they were planning on using the new M45 as a sporty luxocruiser, and then bring a much higher end Q out in the coming years with a price point in the mid $60K range. Larger, more luxurious, and more differentiated from the M.

It would definately be sad to see the Q name disappear.

Heath

Danny from Grubbs Infinti. You are exactly right (don't know about price, but bet you are very close), but there will be no more Q after 2005 model.

Corporate blames bad karma. I blame poor corporate sales effort and poor product comprehension. Also, I have to question Infiniti's credibility with future prospective buyers in that market segment. I mean, how do you sell a new high end luxury sedan when you just canceled your previouos model because it was unsuccessful? Infiniti has essentially written off its satisfied Q45 buyer owners as being insignificant and whose loss of loyalty and enthusiasm does not matter.

All I know is that Toyota would have persisted until it got it right. The ES250 was a real dog, a thinly disguised Camry. The later ES300/330 progressed to increasing refinements that distanced them further from their platform roots and spun-off the trend setting RX-300.

Infiniti corporate unfortunately lacks the vision and intestinal fortitude for such a course of action. Blame the model, everyone keeps their jobs and their perquisites for a few more years, and history repeats itself.

[szh]

Okay!!! The deed is done!

My boss picked up his 2004 Infiniti Q45 Premium a few days ago. Fully decked out with all the available bells and whistles. Desert Platinum with the light maple interior. Got a great deal from Infiniti of Serramonte up the valley here!

Wow! The car looks gorgeous.

Z

[Jesda]

Infiniti retains another customer.

[SEBZX79]

Hell yes they do, anywhere from 10-12k of MSRP

http://www.quirkcars.com/specials/infiniti/ad.htm

[SFBayQ45]

szhosain - So...let us know the hot details.

Did your boss buy or lease the car? Did he get a good deal? If so, how much off MSRP? Does the premium package come with DVD nav & rear camera display? Got pictures to share?

[maxnix]

szhosain - So...let us know the hot details.

Did your boss buy or lease the car? Did he get a good deal? If so, how much off MSRP? Does the premium package come with DVD nav & rear camera display? Got pictures to share?

And what happened to the 1993 Q45a?

[szh]

Did your boss buy or lease the car? Did he get a good deal? If so, how much off MSRP? Does the premium package come with DVD nav & rear camera display? Got pictures to share?

1. He bought it ... outright, as I understand. No lease.

2. Yes, he got a good deal! He was pretty sold on the car, so decided that he better not be the one doing the negotiation. So, our Director of Finance did all the interaction with the dealer. When my boss went to pick it up, he spoke a lot about how much he liked the car over the LS430 and SC430, etc., and the sales guys face fell as he realized that he could have held his ground on a higher price and my boss would probably have bought it anyway!

3. Somewhere near $10k off the MSRP, I believe.

4. It is a LOADED Premium model. With all possible techie options (NAV, rear camera, XM satellite radio, etc.)

5. No pictures handy, unfortunately! The car looks absolutely stunning. The Desert Platinum is definitely the new color of choice , IMHO, and so is the light leather with "blonde maple" wood. (FWIW, the Ivory Pearl on these new models is not as nice as the old G50 series ... too much like a "white" car i.e., the new IPQ is not as nice a color as Quella's or my boss's 1993 Q45a. The Desert Platinum is a "silver with a tinge of gold" kind of look.

Z

[szh]

And what happened to the 1993 Q45a?

Uh ... dummy me! I have not asked yet! I think he will be selling it, but am not sure of this.

Z