So, readers, let me start off by saying I presently own a 2011 G37X-S sedan which I bought new after the wife informed me we were going to be "+1". Being as the 350Z I had when she told me ('05 Daytona Blue, 6M with lots of tuning) has room for only two butts, and I didn't imagine the missus (or anyone else) being too keen on strapping the car seat to a Thule roof rack, I made the trade. I will note that the transition from Z to G was made far more bearable by the change from the 3.5 to the 3.7 engine, as well as the ride comfort and keister-warmer.
I chose the G after comparing it to the Audi A4 and the BMW 335i Xdrive. The Bimmer had better handling, the glorified VW had a more style. But in the "bang for buck" department, the G was banging away. The horror stories of Ze Germans' reliability issues also gave me caution. What if my 3 Series was hastly slapped together by Hans and Franz on a Friday during Oktoberfest? I'd be doomed to a 5 year span of trips to the dealer... constantly readjusting my seat and mirrors in the loaner, and again when my own car was eventually returned to me. Not being a retiree like my Father, and therefore lacking in free time to traipse all over the country side every time a sprocket went out of line, I decided that the people that gave us two world wars, sauer kraut, and liederhosen could keep their offerings.
Which brings me back to the G. As excited as I was for my first flappy paddle gear box, I was soon let down a bit by the handling, and the comfortable yet slightly boring interior. Make no mistake, I like the G. I've gotten compliments on its looks, and on its ride comfort... which I heartily accepted (as if I had ever had anything to do with automotive manufacturing outside of being from a steel town which helped make cars in the 70's. ) Yes, the ride was pleasant. You know what else is pleasant? A still mountain lake. Banana bread is "pleasant". Coming off the Z, I felt like the man who dated a stripper, and married a school marm. Sensible, grown up... boring.
Enter a man named Johan de Nysschen. A defector from Audi with inspiration and a Germanic understanding of engineering working for a premium Japanese (read "reliability") car company... the best of both worlds. Two years later the Q50 debuts. Technologically advanced, Luftwaffe inspired, and dressed like a samurai at a wedding. Me likee. Me likee very much.
Fast forward to 3 months ago, and an acquaintance of mine (who happens to be quite an important person at Infiniti, as I would find out) happens to mention he will be testing the one of five hand built Q50s for several weeks. If you've seen the silver one in the Boston reveal pics, that's it. Well, good sir was kind enough (and knowledgeable, generous, and very excited too) to provide me with a detailed tour. Inside... outside... head light to tail light. Under the hood and in the boot. And I was enraptured. And depressed. Out of my price range. It had to be. Infiniti was going to go toe-to-toe with Hans and Franz, and I would be a bystander.
Then the pricing was revealed. And a VPP offer. And the fact that I only owed $14,000 on a soon to be three year old G37 with only 17,000 miles on the odometer. But then... what about the wife? She would probably struggle to hit me with my favorite cast-iron fry pan, but she would do it. A ray of hope blossomed in my mind. "She knows absolutely nothing about cars. She wouldn't know a Q50 from a Pagani Huayra!" So, cleverly, I decided to just get the same color... black. To her, I have a "black Infiniti", and that's all it is. And so, months turned in to weeks, weeks turned in to days, and I took my first test drive in an AWD Sport just 4 days ago.
There is little to be said about it. I'm buying one. If you had the patience to read this article, you'll know exactly why. About the only thing I'd care to mention about the drive isn't about the drive at all. It's about the brakes. Those giant steel discs behind those 19" wheels. And what I have to say about them is this: wear your seatbelt, or under a firm brake you will find out exactly what your new leather steering wheel tastes like. And that would be the pleasant taste of school marm... who put her self through school with a very thorough pole dancing skill set.
I chose the G after comparing it to the Audi A4 and the BMW 335i Xdrive. The Bimmer had better handling, the glorified VW had a more style. But in the "bang for buck" department, the G was banging away. The horror stories of Ze Germans' reliability issues also gave me caution. What if my 3 Series was hastly slapped together by Hans and Franz on a Friday during Oktoberfest? I'd be doomed to a 5 year span of trips to the dealer... constantly readjusting my seat and mirrors in the loaner, and again when my own car was eventually returned to me. Not being a retiree like my Father, and therefore lacking in free time to traipse all over the country side every time a sprocket went out of line, I decided that the people that gave us two world wars, sauer kraut, and liederhosen could keep their offerings.
Which brings me back to the G. As excited as I was for my first flappy paddle gear box, I was soon let down a bit by the handling, and the comfortable yet slightly boring interior. Make no mistake, I like the G. I've gotten compliments on its looks, and on its ride comfort... which I heartily accepted (as if I had ever had anything to do with automotive manufacturing outside of being from a steel town which helped make cars in the 70's. ) Yes, the ride was pleasant. You know what else is pleasant? A still mountain lake. Banana bread is "pleasant". Coming off the Z, I felt like the man who dated a stripper, and married a school marm. Sensible, grown up... boring.
Enter a man named Johan de Nysschen. A defector from Audi with inspiration and a Germanic understanding of engineering working for a premium Japanese (read "reliability") car company... the best of both worlds. Two years later the Q50 debuts. Technologically advanced, Luftwaffe inspired, and dressed like a samurai at a wedding. Me likee. Me likee very much.
Fast forward to 3 months ago, and an acquaintance of mine (who happens to be quite an important person at Infiniti, as I would find out) happens to mention he will be testing the one of five hand built Q50s for several weeks. If you've seen the silver one in the Boston reveal pics, that's it. Well, good sir was kind enough (and knowledgeable, generous, and very excited too) to provide me with a detailed tour. Inside... outside... head light to tail light. Under the hood and in the boot. And I was enraptured. And depressed. Out of my price range. It had to be. Infiniti was going to go toe-to-toe with Hans and Franz, and I would be a bystander.
Then the pricing was revealed. And a VPP offer. And the fact that I only owed $14,000 on a soon to be three year old G37 with only 17,000 miles on the odometer. But then... what about the wife? She would probably struggle to hit me with my favorite cast-iron fry pan, but she would do it. A ray of hope blossomed in my mind. "She knows absolutely nothing about cars. She wouldn't know a Q50 from a Pagani Huayra!" So, cleverly, I decided to just get the same color... black. To her, I have a "black Infiniti", and that's all it is. And so, months turned in to weeks, weeks turned in to days, and I took my first test drive in an AWD Sport just 4 days ago.
There is little to be said about it. I'm buying one. If you had the patience to read this article, you'll know exactly why. About the only thing I'd care to mention about the drive isn't about the drive at all. It's about the brakes. Those giant steel discs behind those 19" wheels. And what I have to say about them is this: wear your seatbelt, or under a firm brake you will find out exactly what your new leather steering wheel tastes like. And that would be the pleasant taste of school marm... who put her self through school with a very thorough pole dancing skill set.
