Post by
Larz »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/larz-u216291.html
Thu Jul 04, 2019 7:49 am
Well said, Bubba! This is a prime example of how a carmaker gets its name to mean more than a just a badge on the bonnet. When Infiniti released the Q45, then the M35 and 45, they were leaders of that time. They redefined the modern luxury sedan by offering a car with amenities, such as a Bose sound system, leather interior, power adjustable front passenger seats with two position memory feature that also electrically adjusted the steering wheel and exterior mirrors, one-touch power windows, digital climate control and keyless entry system. Then there were the btech features like VLSD (viscous limited-slip differential). Then in 2003 they added rain-detecting wipers and side curtain airbags - well before these were available on any other car in this range. Soon, though, other carmakers caught up whilst Infiniti stopped innovating, just producing the same flagship sedan with no new innovative creations for the next decade. In fact, that same Bose sound system was unchanged for 13 years and is still found in the 2019 Q70 sedan. After 2009, for Infiniti, it was follow the herd instead of leading.
Still, I love my 09 M35. It doesn't have the oil issues of the 4.5 or the timing chain issue of the 5.6 engines and at 10 years old it has never needed an expensive repair, minus a new dash I had to buy after the airbag fiasco that affected many other car brands as well. In fact, my M35 is the final year for the $9,000 'premium' option that includes temp controlled, reclining rear seats. an electric fold down movie screen with wireless headphones, and an armrest that contains the same controls as the center stack for the rear passengers plus an electric rear window shade. The 2019 Q70 flagship, with every available option has just cupholders and a heater for the rear passengers. And every bit of these features still works like new. No Jag, Benz, or Audi can match that.