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Comments
Also, as for the dash (center part)...IMO Infiniti could have done better job, but...the more I look at it...the "less" I dislike it. I am actually starting to like it.
Also, wish you could get the power rear sunshade without having to get the premium package.
Also, is there really much difference in road noise and stiffness between an 18" and a 19" tire/wheel?
The cool thing about ordering is it is like getting a new car twice. One time, however, it did go to the ludicrous zone when we ordered our first 2000 TT in a metallic black color and from the date of the order to delivery it was 14 months. My one and only Audi A8 also took forever, but I was part of Audis test market. They brought a 1996 European spec A8 to Cincinnati and allowed "several" customers to take them for 24 hours and then order them with essentially a promise of a 36 month lease with a 0.01% money factor -- I bit.
The lead time was about 9 months, but Audi sent me a video tape of "an" A8 being built and the people in the factory thanking "me" for ordering the car -- when the car finally came in it was fantastic, so it truly was like getting two new A8's in a 9 month period of time.
My wife's X3 custom build is slated for 90 days, the Infiniti 100 to 110 days -- we'll see what really happens.
Of course I order all my books, CD's and DVD's from Amazon, so I guess I am kinda not into instant gratification. For years, my Audi dealer was also a Porsche dealer and only kept units to test drive in stock and all cars were ordered.
My entire home theater system, too, was ordered from an AV specialty store and the lead times for this equipment was weeks.
Different strokes.
I cannot imagine ever being able to FIND a car that I wanted on the lot. Infiniti does make it somewhat easier with its limited packages, but for a few weeks, I was convinced I wanted an M35x Liquid Platinum/Bourbon, Journey, Sat Radio and Sat Navigation with rear seat DVD player. No such thing exists and the dealer claimed that such a combo would have to be ordered.
I ended up with Journey and Technology w/Sirius in the colors I mentioned with the body color rear spoiler. No such unit is in our region at this time.
Ordering is 1/2 the fun.
I would suggest the M35x.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19052-2005Apr1.html/?nav%3Dlb&sub=AR
[Free registration required]
36 Months, 12K miles - 61% residual with a money factor of 2.17
39 Months, 12K miles - 60% residual with a money factor of 2.19
Have they changed and would also like to know:
48 Months, 12K miles
36 Months, 15K miles
39 Months, 15K miles
48 Months, 15K miles
Thank you
A long time ago I downloaded one for the G35 but I cannot find where to do so on the M35 site.
I sent an e-mail to the Infiniti web site a week ago, but I have not heard back from them.
Thanks.
...keith
Save for the USA Today review, I can't remember anything nearly as gushing coming from the main stream press in the last 10 years.
There was a car many years ago that had such journalists doing handstands. The first LS400.
I'm not completely sorry I ordered it this way though. I think I may purchase some Vizualogic headrest screens when they become available for the M (hopefully they will). It should be fairly easy to tie them into the system given the wiring is already there for video, and since I ordered the MES, the rear seat remote and headphones from that system will still be usable. If you don't order MES, I'm not sure if you can get a 2nd source audio feed out of the system so that the rear DVD can be listened to with headphones while you listen to music in the front.
http://www.vizualogic.com/
But I digress, I was wondering if you took the A6 4.2 out for a test drive and if the V8 leveled the playing field against the M35X. I still love Audi interiors and all wheel drive is a must for New England winters, though the Saab handled quite well with just front wheel drive. I checked back with that dealer recently and that internet manager is no longer with them, so I'm ready to give them another chance. Incidently, we generally buy our cars and hold on to them for 4-5 years, the Saab being an anomaly brought on by pressing family needs, so your problems with lease deals should not affect us. You seem quite knowledgable about all things Audi, and now the M35x also, so your opinion would be most appreciated.
BTW, if you posted about the A6 4.2 and I missed it my apologies for making you rehash them.
Thanks,
Randy
http://users.adelphia.net/~captnorm/m35/front-60.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~captnorm/m35/rear-61.jpg
~~~~_/)~~~~
Norm
Thanks for your help.
> to be going all that fast and they appear to have increased inventories over the
> past week... I'm planning to buy next weekend; just trying to figure out from
> whom. Let me know if you have any suggestions.
I guess you live in VA. You can try Jim Coleman Infiniti just north of the border or JBA in Ellicott City. Try the "Costco deal" -- $2,500 over invoice incl. the destination charge for a car already on their lot. Good luck this weekend and let us all know how it went!
06 M35x
Should be 340 foot-pounds.
I'm in NY and I'm looking at the M35x, Journey, Tech, Spoiler, Splashguards, and so far I have 2 dealers competing for the sale.
The one I visited tonight had an order form written up for $2,500 over invoice, pre-tax ($48,382) including all the options mentioned above and winter mats (which I'm not even sure they have for the M, I just BS-ed him that another dealer had put this same deal on the table for me.)
I told him to beat "the other guy's deal", (i.e.; the deal that I felt would be reasonable) and he said that he couldn't, that he could only match it. Judging by the bulging vein in his neck and his reddening face, I thought I was probably getting a pretty good deal, relatively speaking, but still not the best deal I can get.
I would say that $2,000 over invoice for the M35x as described above is attainable, and all that need be done to get it is a few visits to 2 or 3 dealers. Just pit them against each other and I guarantee, that for $2k over invoice (if not less) the car can be had.
Just to test the limits, I'm going to a third dealer in the area (there are about 6 within 25 miles of me) and bluffing that I was offered $1,500 over invoice by another Infiniti shop. Let's see if they will match it, or if I get laughed out the door. My guess is they will come damn close.
I'm not sure what sprint's policy is, but in general GSM carriers such as Cingular or T-mobile are much farther ahead than CDMA carriers when it comes to Bluetooth.
That's what I thought the response would be to requesting $2,500 over invoice, but both dealers, one for sure, are ready and willing to sell me the car for just that.
I don't know if this is their bare bones number for right now, but I doubt that it is. The way I look at it, and the way most smart salesmen would look at it, is "a sale is a sale". It's not like the salesman is getting 100% of the fee, every dollar he cuts probably means $0.50 less to his pocket BEFORE tax takes out another $0.15.
In any case, I'm betting that Infiniti is very eager to move these things fast to bolster future demand and to reinforce what a great product the car is (not to mention recoup the $ they are spending marketing it.) That said, they are not going to attempt, at least not now, to entice buyers by dropping the MSRP by any significant amount, because that would take away from the car's prestige and perceived value.
So, how can Infiniti boost early M sales figures without diminishing the cars image as a high cost for high value/content, prestigious product? Maybe offer some back-end incentive to their dealerships??? Just a hypothesis, but I'd bet that the salesmen are getting some nice back-end premium, which is why 2 dealerships, the only 2 that I've dealt with thus far, are gunning to sell me the car for $2,500 over invoice.
They can get skinny on these cars. Despite rave reviews, the boom has not hit yet. It could be this month that it does, and in that case, now is the time to get a good deal from eager salesmen. (Unless you want to wait til the middle of 2006 when the buzz dies down and the competition catches up.)
And I believe the Cool Hand Luke quote continues: "...So you git whut we had heeya...which is the way he WONTS it, well he GITS it!"
*Bold typeface indicates speculation*
The Lexus dealers are already coming off their MSRP stance for the GS but that's probably because the car isn't doing too well in the comparos and the M is.
Aceman
The Infiniti M35x is at a point in "feel" midway between the new A6 3.2 and 4.2. I believe the A6 4.2 is a bit quicker from 0 - 60mph or 0 - 100kph if you like. The M35x feels very strong, I would almost say V8 strong. It is certainly stronger than the A6 3.2. The A6 4.2 has the sweeetest sound -- the M35x is not quite as nice, but I think it sounds nicer than the 6 in the A6 3.2. But that is way subjective.
The fact of the matter is, tho, that an M35x which due to its STANDARD rubber being V rated UPH allseasons 245 x 45 x 18" the M35x seems to carve the road better than the A6 4.2 with standard suspension. The 3.2 with sport suspension is perhaps a bit firmer (and that is a good thing) than the M35x, but not much. The Inifiniti understeers less due to its better balance.
An Infiniti with Journey, Tech and a wing on its butt including dest charges is MSRP'd at $50,240. If you put everything on the A6 3.2 that is possible it will have heated rear seats and the Infiniti will not, it will have a power rear window shade and the Infiniti will not. The Infiniti will have a better sound system (DVD-Audio and more speakers), lane departure and automatic cruise control; lastly it will have a power actuated steering column which only the Audi V8 4.2 offers (other than the A8, of course). And, if you care, the Infiniti when parked will play a DVD on the Navi screen.
The Audi A6 3.2 will be over $54,100 (and comparably equipped the 4.2 will be about $59K) to the Infiniti's $50,240 -- the Inifiniti will have a 60,000 mile full warranty. The Audi 50,000. The Audi will be over $200 per month more on an apples to apples lease. The Audi will have free maintenance. The Infiniti needs maintenance every 7,500 miles. Yet the Infiniti needs a tune up at 105,000 miles, the Audi much sooner (but it is free).
I would love to have either car. If given a choice of a gift from the heavens, I would take a free Audi A6 4.2. If my choices were a free A6 3.2 or the Infiniti M35x it would be a somewhat tougher choice -- but if it were free, my long term loyalty to Audi might just nudge me that way despite the lesser content of the A6 and the lower performance of the A6, "just because." However, since I have not yet won the lottery or gotten a free car from Audi or Infiniti, I -- using my money -- choose the M35x with Journey, Tech and a wing on the butt for equal to or less than 39 months at 15,000 miles per year.
Did I mention that the Audi A6 4.2 engine sounds sweeeeeeeet!?!?!
Indeed it does, Mark. Indeed it does. You should hear it in the Touareg! Music to any V8 lover's ears. I was surprised at how much better the 4.2 sounds in the Touareg than it does in the A6. And that's saying something, considering how nice it sounds in the A6! :shades:
2 M35
6 M35 sports
1 M45
5 M45 sports
There were no AWD drive models here in NC.
My questions are: can anyone summerize the difference between the sport vs. non-sport with regard to standard equipment? It's hard to figure from the infiniti web site. Second, has anyone seen that the excess sport and 45 inventory is translating in deals for these models?
Thanks