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Comments
The Passat seems like a more natural competitor to the Subaru Outback VDC and LL Bean.
-juice
I just went into Infiniti's web site and built a car equipped the same way as mine, once you add all the extra costs according to infiniti the price will be US $ 36425.00 and not US $33,000.00 as stated. I paid Cad$44,000.00, so therefore according to your premise, your US car @ US$ 36425.00 x exchange rate of 1.58 = CAD $ 57,551.50. Therefore according to your principle I paid cad $ 13,551.50 to little for my car. only problem is that no one in their right mind would pay CAD $57,551.50 for this car.
Working it backwards, the cad $ 44,000.00 which I paid works out to US $ 27,848.10 . Question for you , putting the G aside , what does US $27,848.10 buy you in the way of a car in the usa?
You may WANT them to, but if I were them, I probably wouldn't do it, either. Neither would you, most likely, unless you had a lot of them collecting dust on your lot.
I don't think Grand Prix's have ever been a 'hot' car, so that analogy isn't a real good one.
Anyway, the only thing that counts is how much room there is when you have the front seat adjusted to it's normal position. In my Maxima, if I put the seat all the way back, I can't even reach the pedals, and I'm 6' tall.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Basic theory is sound, but missing a few necessary items. All of the dollars, either Canadian or US, are not returned to Japan. Many of them stay in their home country to pay for the infrastructure of Infiniti of Canada, or Infiniti U.S.A. (or whatever the respective sales arms are called). Advertisements in Canada are paid for with Canadian dollars, while U.S. advertisements are paid for in U.S. dollars. Salaries to staff are paid in local dollars. Etc, etc.
Basically, it is cheaper to operate Infiniti of Canada than Infiniti U.S. because of the currency differences. The lower overhead, which is a substantial part of the price of the car, is reflected in the lower Canadian price.
Should Nissan/Infiniti stop U.S. customers from buying in Canada? That's another issue altogether. But is Nissan ripping off U.S. customers &/or subsidising Canadian customers? Not likely.
The sales guy took me to an abandoned parking lot and demoed the VDC. We did doughnuts in the parking lot. With VDC on, the spin was well controlled, when off it was like any rear wheel drive car. We spun in circles uncontrolled. Whoever suggested avoiding the demo model has a pretty good point. Handling on the curves is tight and I found myself letting off the gas too early. Not confident enough yet. We took a road dip at 50mph that my J30 can't handle at 30. Didn't bottom out and all four wheels held the road.
Tach hit 6500 rpm (red line) when shifting from 2nd to 3rd. About 6000 from 1st to 2nd. I like the cockpit like feel and the smallish steering wheel is very responsive. I'm with Gabman on the stereo controls. Well thought out and easy to use. After reading all the posts on the acceleration, I didn't think I could be pleasantly surprised, but I was. Sticks you to your seat.
I like the gauges and that the driving gauges are in one place and the others (compass, temp etc.) are somewhere else(center dashboard). By the way, that extra glove compartment is where the Nav system goes. The non-nav also has an extra storage compartment where the screen would come up. Trunk looked like it was designed to handle suit cases and a set of clubs, maybe two. It would certainly fit my needs.
Big surprise was the look of the Emerald Mist. So different (and better) than the brochures. Beautiful look with this car. I wasn't too sold on the Ivory or Silver. Waiting to see the Garnet and Platinum.
Reclining seat backs in the Premium were interesting. Certainly nice for the passengers on a long ride. Leg room in the back was fine. The front seat was set to my preference (I'm 6'2") and my knees came up to the seat but they were not jammed. With the seats reclined, they were fine. I did find the head room in back a little lacking.
I'm not a big fan of the wood trim. It looks real but almost seems like it doesn't fit in this car. I thought the leather was fine as was most of the interior. By the way, did anyone notice the manual lumbar support lever on the side of the drivers seat?
I'm trying to figure out whether to pay the extra money for the premium package. I definitely want the Bose so Premium only adds another $1200 and I've always found that once I've spent the money, I have not regretted it. It just seems like extra gadgetry that wouldn't be missed much if I didn't get it.
Noticed that the foglights only work with the low beam headlights. Not by themselves, and obviously not with the high beams.
They are not discounting yet and the demo car was getting a workout from a bunch of others who had come in to see the car.
I was so ready to work a deal out today but am disciplining myself to wait a few weeks. By the way, Gabman, I'd characterize the car more like an Audi TT in front and some sort of Star Trek vehicle in back.
By the way, I thought the Stereo was more than adequate for my needs and was very crisp and clear.
AS I have no NAV, i have TWO extra glove compartments, one where the screen comes out of above the stereo and a second above the main glovebox where I think someone mentioned the dvd player goes. Make sure whatever you get that you take the xenons, I think this finishes the car off so nicely. Also the self dimming rear view mirror, as you didnt drive it at night you didn't get to check it out, as a matter of fact no one has mentioned it. At first I thought it to be a little gimmicky, but truthfully after driving for 5 nights with it, I don't think I would ever buy a car without it. Sounds strange but it works incredibly and with so many xenons here it is a huge help. You have to use it to believe what I am saying.
Last Saturday i posted a message saying the BOSE was not loud enough, I stand to be corrected, I was listening to light rock and when I switched to regular rock I almost blew my brains out , hence, ample power in the BOSE.
Like your TT/Star trek comments. Do yourself a favour and check the car out at night with both the front and rear lights on, it is special.
****QUOTE****
Infiniti is not making the G35 available for VPP at this time. It has
nothing to do with us.
Danny Mayer
General Manager
dmayer@grubbs.com
****END QUOTE****
So, who I believe? The sales guy trying to make a buck, or the corporate office that runs the program, makes it available and says the quantity of cars available in quantities to go forward with the this vehicle in the program?
That was the whole point of dealing with the VPP program as to avoid the slimy dealers. I will not deal with anyone who so flat out lies.
As for hot cars, when I looked at the S2000 -- it was sold out for months. Last time I had my Z in the shop at the dealer, they "claimed" their entire first year allocation of the 350Z was already allocated to pre-orders. From what I hear of the G35, there are places where they are sitting on the lot today.
dafreak,
Could you please elaborate? Thanks
They add more to safety than almost any feature, imo. I'll never have another car without those two and, of course, ABS.
Take care.
Joe W.
BTW, do you have the 2.8V6 or the 1.8T Passat?
Good luck...
-juice
Regardless, it's not gonna happen right now so either buy something else or wait until they allow it. But quit crying about it.
It is heavier and more expensive, so nothing is free.
gabman: G35 or TL. That might be it. Millenia S might count, and Diamante too, after rebates. But they're not as sporty.
-juice
For 33k one can't get a brand new 260 HP Audi or Bimmer with a 4 year/60k bumper to bumper and exceptional reliability. I wish I could. I'd buy one!
I only wish the G came in nicer colors...something the Audi/Bimmer cars also win on.
Peachtree - Agree that my analysis doesn't take into account the cost of doing business in Canada vs. US., but I think you overstate the impact of that on overall cost of selling the vehicle in the two markets. First of all the local infrastructure costs, as you put it, have got to be a fairly small component of the overall cost, so even if this part of the overhead is 20% less in Canada, it can't account for the 1,000,000 yen gap. Secondly, in some respects the cost of doing business in Canada will be higher. Consider that the market is MUCH smaller in Canada so you lose some efficiencies of scale in Canada relative to the US. Plus Canadian corporate tax rates are still higher than in the US (at least as of now.
G36 WHIZ & Maybeg 35
Based on above info there does not seem to be anything comparable equipped on the market in the USA for $28,000.00 that comes close to the G35.
Except maybe The Acura 3.2 Type S (and I am stretching to include the Type S) The Acura is a nice car but it is yesterdays news, even Acura has admitted that this car will be completely revamped for 2004, which by the way they work will see it on the road in January 2003, less than 12 months from now. So of course they are reducing their prices , they have been doing so for the last 8 months. The 2003 TypeS is identical to the 2002 model. If they are re-tooling for a new car then they have to get inventory produced and out the door to get rid of all the parts they have in Inventory.
So why should Infiniti have introduced their brand new car at a lower price than they did?
It really has nothing to do with the price of the car in Canada .
I am sure that the G35 will eventually drop in price once they have achieved market saturation but for now anyone that gets it is getting something so very new and IMO exciting.
Look at cel phones, over here to get the latest phone you have to pay around $500.00, if you don't mind not having the latest then you can easily convince the cel phone companies to give you the phone for free providing you show some loyalty to their rip off rates for usage.
When the G drops in price I will have no regrets because it has been so much fun to be one of the first.
Ask me if I would ever be the first to have that new cel phone in my ear and I would tell you no way, am happy with my free phone.
She goes on to say, "It appears the vehicle you intend to purchase will not be operating in the US in either of these situations, therefore the candian new vehicle limited warranty will not apply in the situation you describe."
I think they are walking a fine line here...Would like to see someone challenge them...If I do not get the G35 and opt for something else I will not be a big fan of Infiniti...Coming into this I have always kind of liked them...Oh well...
Lets see, I pulled up an A4 Quattro Automatic and gave it the sunroof, premium package, 17in wheels, Xenon, Bose. The grand total MSRP was 32395. That's a 3500 lbs car that hits sixty in "8.5 seconds with the Tiptronic automatic" (http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/firstdrive/48112/article.html ). 4yr /50k warranty with a 4 yr/50k drivetrain warranty.
Slap together a 260 HP G35 with Bose, Premium, Xenons, Leather, Auto, Moonroof for an MSRP 33,245 and a curb weight of 3,336 lb (http://www.infiniti.com/discover/ModelSpecifications/0,9284,22756,00.html). The 0-60 times aren't official anywhere yet but putting the car at 7 seconds feels safe considering the Altima with less power and a pathetic 4 speed hits 0-60 in 7.2 seconds. Warranty: 4yr/60k, 6yr/70k drivetrain.
Sure, I see how that's comparable. A $500 savings nets someone 90 few HP, less interior volume, more problems with reliability. Good deal!
What Yen equivalents are of local prices is not a real relevant issue. The relationship of the CN$ to the US$ is even less relevant. Apparently, based on current pricing , a G35 (Nissan Skyline) sold at home in Japan translates to the most Yen, Canada the least, and the US somewhere in between.
Some history - going back some 20-25 years when the U.S. dollar was weak foreign cars in the US were expensive relative to domestic cars. Instead of increasing market share, the US auto industry took the opportunity to aggressively raise prices to maximize short-term profits and lost significant market share as a result. They were effectively allowing exchange rates to drive pricing. I don't think a Japanese company like Nissan would make the same mistake.
Actually, g35whiz, thank you, you have helped prove my point. However, I don't appreciate being called "just plain wrong" because its not as simple as translating prices to Yen (since you like to do that, why don't you tell us what the Japanese, European, and Australian Yen equivalents are. I was trying to simplify a complex subject.
Anyway, I am tired of trying to write about this stuff and would prefer to talk about the G35 which I think is a good value at its present US price. Equipped the way I want it, it's only about $2K more than a loaded Maxima SE.
Right now it is between an A4 3.0 and the G35 for me. I like the greater cabin room the G has (don't complain about the crampness of the foot well until you have driven an A4 for a while), I like the fold down seats and power rear shade of the A4. I like the reliability of the G and the performance. I prefer the transmissions of the A4 (CVT and 6spd). Hell I may just wait until fall and see what happens with the AWD and CVT for the G..
I could believe that we were being gouged if Infiniti had BMW's market position (to the victor goes the spoils), but given that the history of this division has been less than stellar with sales objectives, and that most of the buzz here is that the G35 is a huge bargain compared to the competition, I don't think that the U.S. consumer is being taken advantage of. Just my thoughts, but I also believe that there was only one gunman in the school book depository.
NISMO Body Kit from the factory
Any car in Emerald Mist or Twlight Blue would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
NISMO Body Kit from the factory
Paul
Curious about the road and wind noise comment. Anyone else have a comment on that?
My past experience with Nissan products - I30 and Maxima SE - was that they were tiring to drive longer distances even though quite quick. Acura and Lexus, on the other hand, seem to be more refined and easier to live with.