MAX-PRICED Q70-L AWD AT MY DEALERSHIP

[Larz]

I was at my local dealership today, having my oil/filter changed and getting a full-on inspection prior to my upcoming trek to Wash DC. After that was completed, I was in the office with my Brian, my service guy. In walks a salesman who looks at Brian and asks:" what did you think?" Brian told me that they got THE highest possible priced Q70-L AWD yesterday and everyone has been going crazy over the color combo. (Moonlight White Pearl / Java leather and suede). So my eyes lit up and Brian fetched the keys so I could have a squinz at it.
Mind you, after the bath I was given from my totaled Escalade, I swore off EVER buying a new car. The GAP insurance made sure I walked away without owing the bank, but it didn't cover the cost of another new one, nor did I recoup my huge deposit made at time of purchase. Still, I wanted to see it and maybe even drive it.

First impression: Absolutely Brilliant in every way! The gleaming pearl finish, the 20" wheels and large brakes, the longer body partially canceling out the wavy style. As I walked around it from the front end (positively sporty and mean looking at the same time), then along the passenger side, it was truly a beautiful thing. I opened the passenger door and the Java colored leather went so perfect with the ash wood and the exterior - just a small bit of black trim, but mostly deep deep brownish black. Then I continued around the boot and even though the rear lights could be better done, it wouldn't count as a negative in my mind. Then I went past the window sticker. $79,896.51 ... Ermm ... I did a quick calculation with the 6% sales tax and arrived at: $84,600 or there about. OK, so now whatever it was that had the tractor beam on my heat, suddenly got alot weaker.
Still, I wanted to try out the back seat. I'm 6'4" and weigh about 220 lbs, 36 waist and rugby-built, so it would need to be pretty roomy for me to fit. Headroom was adequate, but not much space above me (nearly the same as my M35) and the wannabe-suede headliner was a nice touch, but actual suede should be used at this price range. My legs could actually fold completely straight in front of me with no trouble at all and that was impressive indeed. Brian drove it off the lot and onto Sunrise Blvd. We pulled into Publix and switch places. This has the 5.6 V-8 and AWD. The interior is not all that different from the M56, so everything was familiar at once. I drove it a few miles to the motorway (with permission from Brian) and the acceleration on merge was very very good, but you don't get the 'pin you back in your seat' feeling I get from my M35 in DS mode. I chalked that up to AWD and the fact that this thing has got to be significantly heavier than my M35. Still, it took off like a stabbed rat and kept accelerating and in seconds we were well into the 80 and Brian's face told me this was NOT what he meant by testing it out, LOL
It handled every bit as good as my M35, though you can tell you are driving a heavier, longer car and the AWD does not allow as smooth a ride as RWD. All in all, I was very very impressed. It had the surround sound and every other possible option available (part of a $7,000+ package) that includes all the tech, blind spot, etc.
Still, I can't see how a base price of low 50's could reach well into the 80's and still be missing features my M35 has??
No rear entertainment system. How can you make a car with extra rear room, and NOT have any features like heated, reclining rear seats and a DVD screen? Its not even an option. The arm rest had NO controls (mine has two sets, DVD screen, two wireless headsets, and control of air con, music, seat temp, and fan speed). It DID have the rear window screen but no side screens. Even a Hyundai Sonata has that option! I think it's great to have the extra rear room, but the rear is still as bland and feature-less as the lowest price Q70.
So, for about 80k, you get the newly designed M56 but with slightly less acceleration feel and almost cumbersome steering around sharper turns. Mind you, this car is absolutely amazing ... until you think on other sedans (with lots more features) you can buy for this kind of money or just a smidge more.
I absolutely loved the color combo and if all you want is a longer car with no added features, then this is the car for you. If you want heated AND cooled rear seats, window screens, and more features than a regular size sedan, you should look at Jags, BMs, or Mercs. Slightly more more money, but if can easily part with 85k, why not go to 90-100k?

[Ilya]

Well...since I basically own the car you just described, I'll chime in lol.

I have a 2011 M56x AWD...so the only thing I'm missing from the one you drove is the longer wheelbase and new Q70L name badge (and also I think the slight redesign of the bumpers). I have the same exact color combo (white car, java leather, and gray suede roof liner) and motor. I feel like the M56x has PLENTY of 'pin you to your seat' power compared to my 2007 M35x (which had a catback exhaust, plenum spacer, UpRev tune, etc.). This car gets to 142mph without skipping a beat. It's insane actually. It doesn't stop pulling till about 139-140mph and that may be because of software anyway.

I do agree that this car (or any new Y51) is missing some features the older car had. Other than Navi/XM and intelligent cruise (which my older car could have had but didn't) here are the the things the new Y51 (sounds like you drove a car with the same package as me) has or doesn't:

Has:

• Folding side mirrors. Nifty little feature.
• Touch screen display. Much better than the dial sometimes.

Doesn't Have:

• Tilting headrests. This is by far my biggest gripe. They go up and don't but don't tilt forward like the 2007 ones did. HATE THIS lol. Sometimes I wish I had black leather so I could get some Y50 headrests and replace these.
• No voice control of the climate system. I can't say "Temperature 75" in this car like I could in the 2007.

That's all I can think of at the moment, I'll add more if anything comes to mind.

[Larz]

I could not agree more. One of my employees has a 2012 M56. I can't work out why the M56 accelerates so much faster than the Q70 I drove today. The acceleration in your car is near savage! Mybe it's not fair to say the Q70 'felt' less savage - after all it was just the ONE test drive. I wasn't able to actually give it the beans repeatedly. My 09 has touch screen and it's great for entering addresses for the NAV. I believe yours has more touch features than mine though. Love your color combo, mate! I also wish my car had electric folding mirrors as well. I wonder if they make Y51 headrest covers? If they do, get the covers in Java and cover the Y50 headrests. Still, I'd rather have an M56 than a Q70 and I would never pay over 80k dollars for the Q70L I drove today. I didn't mention it, but for the love of GOD ... STILL no panoramic roof ???? A one year old S-550 would be a better choice.

[Ilya]

I'd never pay new prices for a luxury car. Whether it's Infiniti, Lexus, BMW, Audi, Merc. etc. I paid, after trade-in, less than 30k for my 2011 M56x with 40kmi and the Elite warranty. The car retailed for like $68k or something like that.

Only time I'd buy new is like, a $40k Honda or something. Luxury cars TANK in value quickly before they level out.

[DoN_BLaZe34]

Lol why isn't this topic in the 37/56/Q70 section?

[Larz]

Lol why isn't this topic in the 37/56/Q70 section?

Good question, Don. I went back and forth before I posted here. The Q70 forum owners already know about this model and the members who actually own one are emjoying the living crap out of it, I'm sure. In the end, I decided to post here because we are owners of the oldest generation M's. If anyone was to look at getting a new Q70, I reckon it would be one of us.
Secondly, I didn't want to start drama between the Q70 peeps and myself. I was concerned that those peeps might misunderstand the point of my post. I was clearly NOT poo-ing on the Q70, I wanted to post my opinion as a fellow owner of the M's that barely hit 50k new - against the possible 80k for a new Q70L which is really not all that different (not 30k dollars different) than our older M's and wanted to share my sticker shock and the fact that even with the longer body and it's luxurious rear seat, you get little more than the same armrest we already have.

In fact, there is a video of what is called the Infiniti q70L Bespoke edition (in Britain it means sort of a one-off, or a very exclusive option). it was displayed at the Shanghai auto show as a concept car. In my opinion, Infiniti didn't go far enough when introducing a longer wheelbase, it shouldn't just be a regular Q70 + 5 inches. it didn't need it's own power plant, or a completely different body design, but it should have had an interior that set it completely apart form the regular Q70 so that in addition to being one of the first LWB models in it's class, it was also a complete step above the expected level of luxury.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0TJbhOVgIU

[Ilya]

I agree ^^. I was going back and forth with moving the thread but I came to the same conclusion...those guys already know the car, the guys' whose Y50's are getting up there in age might be looking to replace it and what better way than to stay within the M family as I did - I don't regret it even if I'm missing some basic features I had on the old car.

[DoN_BLaZe34]

Understood, thanks for the clarification guys.

While I like the 15 Q70's, I find that I'm slightly more partial to the M37/M56 body style..I went back and forth for a while between getting the the new one or sticking to the older body style...I think for me the styling of the Aero 37/56 was nicer/more aggressive looking than the Sport 15 Q70's..

Like Ilya, the only things I'm missing are the refreshed side mirrors and the additional 5 inches but considering I almost never have back seat passengers, I couldn't justify the money for the L's..