The G-spot

[GoCougs]

Check out the new M/T. They got the 2014 320 hp 330i xDrive to hit 0-60 in 4.4 s and run the 1/4 mile in 13.0 s @ 105 mph. That is some serious performance. Thing is do you want to own that car at 40k, 60k or 80k miles?

[Cookie Monster]

Check out the new M/T. They got the 2014 320 hp 330i xDrive to hit 0-60 in 4.4 s and run the 1/4 mile in 13.0 s @ 105 mph. That is some serious performance. Thing is do you want to own that car at 40k, 60k or 80k miles?

Meh, I don't really want either of them. I kind of agree with you that this segment kind of blows right now. My favorite interior right now has to be the IS, but god damn I can't get past that horrific front end.

[2o6]

Meh, I don't really want either of them. I kind of agree with you that this segment kind of blows right now. My favorite interior right now has to be the IS, but god damn I can't get past that horrific front end.

I think the front looks drastically better in non F-sport trim.

[SVT666]

Today I took my G in for an oil change, tire rotation and to fix yet another door lock actuator. While there I talked my way into a test drive - today was the first day the Q50 was available for sale and test drive. I ended up with a fully loaded ($57k!) Q50S AWD Hybrid. Thing is this was another sales guy's car so the sales weasel I was dealing had to ride along (none of the cars on the lot were ready to drive - in fact an army of Infiniti techs were there getting the cars prepped). Thus, I couldn't really flog it, but did get a fairly good initial impression:

The good:
1.) Even with the 19" wheels and sport suspension the Q50SH had vastly less road noise and far better ride vs. my non-sport 18" wheel'd G.
2.) The engine is far smoother and quieter (the hybrid uses the 3.5VQ) vs. my G; virtually silent until ~5,500 rpm and then it's only a muted but refined/pleasant growl.
3.) Interior is a bit nicer - softer leather, better plastics (the glove box in my G is now a distinctly different black than the rest of the dash :/), and nicer gauges.

The so-so:
1.) This car had the adjustable electronic steering - can be super tight or super loose. Interesting but not sure I see any real performance/feel advantage.
2.) Feels much more isolated and sanitary WRT the G sedan. Gone is the engine growl and view of the curvaceous fenders from the cockpit.
3.) Tons more tech - multiple parking cameras, lane departure warning, adaptive/reactive cruise control, lane correction, automatic emergency braking, etc.

The bad:
1.) Touch screen interface for radio/HVAC/settings is stupid. At least there are a few physical buttons for basic functions (fan speed).
2.) Each of the three interior interfaces (dash, nav, radio/HVAC/settings) had a different look (brightness, resolution, and shininess) giving an inconsistent visual aesthetic.
3.) Goofy joystick controller for the nav system.

The undecided/unknown:
1.) Overall road presence. The idiot sales weasel kept messing with the different driving modes, which adjust shifting, throttle response, steering feel, etc.
2.) Overall road feel. Hybrids suck with their penchant for regenerating (i.e., not coasting) and start/stopping at random.
3.) AT response. This is a HUGE issue in the G community. Thing is the Q50 hybrid does not use a torque converter. However it works, the AT was much more responsive.

The verdict:
1.) Looks much better in the flesh inside and out than pictures suggest.
2.) Brings much needed (and huge amounts of) refinement to the G but it changes the nature of the car into more of a Lexus GS competitor (softer, refined, toned down).
3.) The multi-screen interior is way overload.

Would I spend ~$50k on a Q50S AWD? At this moment, probably. Though the Q50 has some major detriments (tech overload, no advancement of power train) nothing else in the class is more attractive.

If I was replacing my G right now with another sedan, I would be looking at the ATS, CTS, or 3 series.  Infiniti has lost me with the Q50.

[GoCougs]

After reading the most recent M/T comparo (S4, 335iX, IS350 AWD, S60R, ATS4) my strong hunch is the Q50S AWD is gonna be better than at least the latter three.

[CALL_911]

I was kind of disappointed by the ATS. I've read great things about the IS, and I'm hoping it'll live up to its initial reviews. IMO, it's the best looking car in its class (maybe tied with the upper-spec versions of the F30).

[GoCougs]

They said the ATS had by far the best handling and ride but everything else sort sucked. The IS350 finished so-so; the liked the interior but everything else was middling plus it was fairly slow.

Finishing order, first to last:

335i X
S4
IS350 AWD
ATS4
S60-R

[SVT666]

What does it mean when I always forget about Audi? 

Looking at the cars available in the entry-lux class, I would most likely end up with a BMW 3er.  The IS sounds really good, but the front end is hideous, and even if the ATS was tops in all categories, CUE is bad enough to kybosh the whole thing for me.

[12,000 RPM]

Interesting that the 3 took back the crown with the AWD 3.0TT

Still though, if I had 50K to blow... I'd do something like a Z4M hatch and some kind of quasi-luxury wagon (prob Passat 2.0T). The newest cars are objectively phenomenal but between the designs, weights and mindless tech I'm good.

[Raza]

Check out the new M/T. They got the 2014 320 hp 330i xDrive to hit 0-60 in 4.4 s and run the 1/4 mile in 13.0 s @ 105 mph. That is some serious performance. Thing is do you want to own that car at 40k, 60k or 80k miles?

Yes. 

[hotrodalex]

Not too surprised by the ATS. GM's chassis engineers are excellent (have been for a while) and it seems like they've been given the green light to do what they need to do. Now the rest of the crew needs to catch up.

[hotrodalex]

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/05/infiniti-g37-to-live-through-my-2015-sell-alongside-q50/

[GoCougs]

Yes. 

No, and most don't given the sky turnover (i.e., lease rate) of the BMWs.

[GoCougs]

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/05/infiniti-g37-to-live-through-my-2015-sell-alongside-q50/

Wow, a $32k G37? Deal of the century. Perfect car for Infiniti IMO would be infusing the Q50's massive ride and NVH improvements into the G.

Infiniti has figured out that the Q50 is gonna flop, or in the least not sell nearly as well as the G.

[hotrodalex]

Apparently they were selling for about $32k anyway, although I wonder if the sticker price of $32k means you can buy it for $29-30k or if they'll be less likely to haggle.

[Cookie Monster]

That's just going to make the Q50 flop even harder.

[SVT666]

Nissan is making a huge fucking mistake.

[Tave]

No, and most don't given the sky turnover (i.e., lease rate) of the BMWs.

Who buys them off lease, Tinkerbell and Winnie the Pooh?

[GoCougs]

Who buys them off lease, Tinkerbell and Winnie the Pooh?

Yes, Raza.

[MX793]

Interesting that they're going to overlap sales of the older G and the new Q50.  I think the last time Nissan did that (in the Japanese and other RHD markets) was with the Silvia line.  When the S14 came out in the mid 90s, they continued selling the older, S13-based 180SX alongside.  Not just for one year, but for the entire production life of the S14 generation up until the S15 came out in '99.  I presume this was because the S14 was not as sporty as the previous couple of generations (particularly the hugely popular S13) and they were afraid they were going to lose sales from previous buyers who might be turned off by the S14's more sedate character.

[CJ]

Rags, you think this segment sucks right now? A 335i doing 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and the 1/4 in 13.0 is seriously fast. These cars are changing for market demands.

[MX793]

That's just going to make the Q50 flop even harder.

Not sure it will.  They're not offering the entire current G37 lineup.  They've reduced the trims and options to the lower trims of the current car (which also means no MT option since that was only available in the top-of-the-line Sport trim).  I had hoped that by still offering the G37, buyers who prefer to row their own gears would at least still find one vehicle at Infiniti with a good, old-fashioned MT.  Guess not.

EDIT:  It appears that the 6MT option will still be available on the coupe.  However, the "new" Q60 coupe looks to be just a name change to the current G37 coupe rather than a fully redesigned car like with the sedan.

[Cookie Monster]

Not sure it will.  They're not offering the entire current G37 lineup.  They've reduced the trims and options to the lower trims of the current car (which also means no MT option since that was only available in the top-of-the-line Sport trim).  I had hoped that by still offering the G37, buyers who prefer to row their own gears would at least still find one vehicle at Infiniti with a good, old-fashioned MT.  Guess not.

EDIT:  It appears that the 6MT option will still be available on the coupe.  However, the "new" Q60 coupe looks to be just a name change to the current G37 coupe rather than a fully redesigned car like with the sedan.

The only thing they're killing off is the 6MT sedan. Can't you still get a Journey with the Sport package? Seems like their big sellers will still be sold, and being able to get a G for $8-10k less than a Q would sway a lot of buyers, I'd think.

[MX793]

The only thing they're killing off is the 6MT sedan. Can't you still get a Journey with the Sport package? Seems like their big sellers will still be sold, and being able to get a G for $8-10k less than a Q would sway a lot of buyers, I'd think.

No.  The only options being offered on the carry-over G37 sedan will be Navi and the Premium package.

[Cookie Monster]

Rags, you think this segment sucks right now? A 335i doing 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and the 1/4 in 13.0 is seriously fast. These cars are changing for market demands.

I don't really care about 0-60 times. Stylistically (and dynamically, it seems), none of the cars do anything for me.

[GoCougs]

Rags, you think this segment sucks right now? A 335i doing 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and the 1/4 in 13.0 is seriously fast. These cars are changing for market demands.

The 335ix is only one of dozens of iterations of the class. The rest of the class doesn't come close to that level of performance...

[GoCougs]

No.  The only options being offered on the carry-over G37 sedan will be Navi and the Premium package.

And AWD too.

[MX793]

And AWD too.

AWD isn't so much an option as it is its own trim level.  Per the press release, Infiniti will offer only 2 of the current trim levels going forward:  G37 Journey and G37x AWD.  The Sport trim level is gone (as well as the Limited Edition and Sport Appearance Edition trims that were already discontinued for 2013).  On each, only 2 of the current options packages will be available:  Navigation and Premium package.  The Technology and Sport packages are gone.

[Raza]

No, and most don't given the sky turnover (i.e., lease rate) of the BMWs.

Did you "no" my answer to your yes or no question?  And then tell me what other people do as if that's applicable to me?  Also, I have a BMW with 75,000 miles on it right now. Do you think those cars that people turn in on lease just dissolve when they hand the keys back to the dealer?  There's something fucking wrong with you, dude.

[Raza]

Yes, Raza.

And I'm sure no one even leases Japanese cars to return them when the lease terms are over?  You're a joke.