I can vouch for that. I'm 6'2" and I couldn't sit in the GS without my head rubbing against the ceiling. Admittedly, my 6'2" frame is long in the torso, but still, it was a no can do. No headroom problems in the M45.
Synthetic is the only way to go, 7500 is no problem with synthetic.
I like Mobil 1 for cars because I've read a lot of research and independent evaluations and tests on it, and have not seen as much on the less well known brands. I'm not saying other brands aren't great (I use $12/qt synthetic oil in my race bikes because in a bike the oil lubricates the clutch/tranny as well as the engine), but there seems to be a lot less available car research on them. Probably because Mobil 1 came out before synthetics were accepted as superior so all the "gearheads" used it in most of the analyses and comparisons to dino oil.
I could not disagree with the intent of this post more. Improve the Q to be a living room on wheels all you want, leave the M as the Sport-Luxury with an emphasis on Sport!
Here in NJ the price differential between regular & premium has been stable at ~ 20 cents. As the price of fuel rises, and this differential remains constant, the benefits for using premium become more cost effective.........
Here in NJ the price differential between regular & premium has been stable at ~ 20 cents. As the price of fuel rises, and this differential remains constant, the benefits for using premium become more cost effective.........
I would agree IF there are any benefits for 93 vs. 87 :confuse:
Running at WOT would mean more power from Premium than Regular. At less than WOT (where I drive) any grade of gasoline offers sufficient power. My '04 FX35 has about 13K miles on it now. The first 4K I ran Shell 93 V-Power almost exclusively. The next ~4K miles I ran Shell 89 mid-grade almost exclusively. I could not tell a difference at all in power or mpg. For those ~8000+ miles or so I averaged about 17-17.5 mpg. Lately (most recent ~4K mile) I have been pumping Kroger 87 for the most part. I can not tell any diffeence in power and my gas mileage has gone up; now averaging 18.5.
Therefore in MY FX35 under MY driving conditions I can find no justification (i.e. benefits) in paying the extra for higher octane.
There isn't another that I know of - what are you thinking about? There are a couple of larger comparos that contain these two vehicles, but I don't see another dedicated to just these two. If I'm mistaken, please drop me an email. Thanks!
I have never said "none of us should expect true 'High Fidelity' sound systems for the option price." All my posts have done is illustrate the possibility that the current cost structure of OEM audio systems poses limitations that all but preclude using the same components you find in $5000/pair home audio speakers (and so forth).
What does "true High Fidelity" mean to you? I personally think the M sounds wonderful. Understand that somethings about the M will necessarily be different than a typical 2-channel home system. My best 2-channel home system does not and cannot provide the sense of front/rear spaciousness that I get in a good concert hall. In this regard, some people might find the M system better than any 2-channel home system.
I'm curious. What is it about the M-technology system that does not meet your threshold for high fidelity?
I bought my current ride (540i sport) because I found the GS430 boring and characterless. It also was missing some technology and convenience features I had to have (like a folding trunk so my bike and skis fit inside).
The new GS300 strikes me the same way. Nice, flawless in what it is designed to do, but very much an impersonal and boring experience.
No thats what I was referring to; I guess I am a freak for a streamlined forum. I also own an MDX and follow those discussions; we now have 3 pages of threads over there :surprise: No big deal, I just thought M35 vs GS300 discussions could take place in the RL-A6-5-M35-GS-JagS thread. I apologize for playing HOST
I just bought a new M45 Sport and wondered if anyone had experimented with tire pressures. I'm running the factory recommended 33 psi all around. Are there advantages in going higher?
I like to buy new cars, garage them, change the oil and wax them every quarter and make them last 10 years or so. Picking the right car and features makes the difference between feeling good about it in a decade and hiding it in the back of the parking lot.
Could anyone who has purchased (not leased) an M give some feedback on the following features and their long term prospects?
Cooled seats (Must have or gimmick? - can't picture them being in good working order in ten years) Rear wheel steering (is this for real?) v8 (engine compartment looks right sized for v6 - was v8 just Infiniti's attempt to pander to Americans? - don't want hassles maintaining an engine that has two cylinders too many for the engine compartment) Navigation system (should look dated in five years at the rate of development of portable systems)
Thanks, and congratulations to you early movers who have shown an eye for quality and wisdom in buying before prices went up :shades:
My opinion is that synthetic would be the preferred type to use. Going every 7500 miles between changes should be ok. My only concern is not the oil but the oil filter. If you are planning on keeping the car for a while, change the filter between 5k - 7500 miles.
Mobil 1 is a good choice. Are there other brands that are equal and/or better? Yes. But the cost of the oil per quart does not justify the expense for this type of car.
If you are planning on keeping the car for greater than 4 years I would also recommend changing so of the other fluids (coolant, brake, trans & diff) at a regular interval.
I bought a Treo 650 1 month before i bought my Infiniti, so believe me, I have tried everything to make the phone compatible with the car, and you just can't. Incoming works fine, but when you try to make an outgoing call from the car, the bluetooth disconnects. I feel guilty, but my solution-2 phones. I didn't want to give up my Treo, so I got a true car phone. Motorola V710, adds $10/month to my Verizon plan, and stays in the car. Phone was $70 after rebate.
Best solution I could come up with. I imagine they will be making the Treo compatible-they must be hearing it from a lot of us.
Cooled seats, must have or gimmick? I have them in my M and have found it useful when the weather gets above 80F or if the humidity is high. There are fans under the seat moving the cool air around. Fans are mechanical and would be prone to failure. I'm not sure if there is any test data showing the average amount of hours before failure but I would expect to replace and fan (or two) within a 10-year span. I would suggest test driving an M with the cooled seats and determine if this is a must have or to pass.
Rear Wheel Steering You only get this with the Sport model. Yes, it is for real. This would depend on if you want the Sport pkg or not. Again a test drive will provide you with the answer.
V8 vs. V6 Both engines appear to be reliable. The maintenance interval is the same. Slightly higher cost with the V8. The V6 is very good but the torque and overall power output of the V8 can be addicting. I opted for the V8 and have no regrets. Test drive them both and then decide. Opinions will vary
Nav Technology does change at a rapid pace. The Nav system in my wife's 04 MDX is very good but is now losing some ground against the newer offerings from Lexus, Infiniti & Acura (RL). How often would you use it? If you travel a lot and don't want to refer to a map, get it. Otherwise you can save yourself $2k (being the cost of the system).
I spoke today with tech support on Samsung on keeping bluetooth active full time on the i730 phone using the patch. He said I will experience a big drop in battery life. The phone is not great on battery life in normal operation, so expect less with the patch. I will turn it on each time I get in the car. Since I do not need keys to start the car, after pressing the start button, I have 2 hands free to turn on bluetooth. There is an icon at the bottom of the home page to start it. In addition, I added a bluetooth dongle to my desktop, and using activesync by bluetooth works easily with Win XP, SP2. This way I can leave the phone clipped to my belt when I update Outlook on my PC, and it updates. As a dentist, I found confuguring blue"tooth" easy, in spite of never using it before!!
I think the Samsung rep forgot that when inactive Bluetooth goes into a low power mode and consumes very little power. I haven't noticed any battery life shortage after using the BT patch for several weeks. What drains the battery is #1 using the phone and #2 using a bright or very bright backlight. I used my phone a few times a day, with BT on all the time, and the small battery lasts 3-5 days before it falls under 40% and I start to get the 'low battery' popup. As for my M, it happily connects to the phone every time I sit in and I don't need to think about it.
All I want to my M to dial 'Home' instead of 'Zero'. :P
I have had my M45 for a month now, and need to respond to some of these endless threads, with my own humble opinon....
Premium Sound
Have owned 2 Mercedes and the GS430. Each one was better than the last for stereo output and concert sound, but nothing, NOTHING, has equaled the feat of Infiniti with their latest in-seat speakers, and optional settings. Truly a great system for the optional price tag, even at full list. Cant vouch for BMW, but this stereo system is serious, and I cannot understand the threads upon threads of people who cannot sit back and listen to the sound these units are putting out. Furthermore, these are cars, not Home Theatre systems, you have to deal with road noise and vibration and so much more, an Infiniti has done a superb job. Get in a GS or an E series, drive it, and listen to the crap you get.
BMW 540
Sorry you were bored with the GS series, I was too. My 2002 was a piece of crap. Noisy, the engine pinged (dealers were unsure what was causing this, but after 5 trips into the shop and 4 weeks of me paying for a car I did not have) they pointed out to me a section in the owners manual that said "Your Lexus will ping, even with premium gas, this is normal". Excuse me, a $50,000 car should not ping! Anyway, back to the BMW's, I am confused how you would call this car anything but boring. The interior trim is like something out of a 1960's sitcom, it is cheap cheap cheap, and looks nasty. Maybe the engine is a work of art, but I would be hard pressed to force my in-laws to look at the wood grain that looks like contact paper for a 1970's kitchen. And the body, you either love it, or hate it. I hate it, as do most people who realize the car resembles a Sherman tank with it's nasty lines.
Pink Slip Fever
Excuse me, the V8 engine in this compartment is a work of art. The V6 is a waste of time. Look at the MPG and you will see why. The V8 delivers 55 more HP and takes only 1 more MPG to run. The V6 was off my list in seconds.
Phone Compatibility
I use a Motorola phone, and the first few days it gave me trouble as well. I have found the system has integrated the phone the more I use it. A friend who has the M35 turned his bluetooth off after a week, because his receipients were complaining of a poor connection. I had this issue for the first week, but like I said, over the last 2 weeks the phone reception and call clarity has improved to the point where it is flawless. Also, if you want a comparison, try the E350 or BMW integrated phone system, it has a suck factor of 10 compared to the Infiniti's suck factor of 3.
Peace.
A Happy And Content, Loving My M45 over the Other Crap on the Road, Owner Gary
All I want to my M to dial 'Home' instead of 'Zero'.
Really, try what I do. Enunciate LESS and speak in a normal, even somewhat quieter voice. It's counerintuitive, but after a week of "Dial 0' instaed of "Dial Home" I tried it and it is working for me.
My Sprint Treo 650 with the latest patch works well. So, apparently, does others on the Fresh Alloy M45 forum who applied the patch. The only 2 "bugs" that are irritating to me have to do with navigating through automated call systems ("Press 1 for customer service") or making the initial bluetooth pairing if the Treo screen is locked. You have to have the phone active (screen unlocked) when the car is started, or make it active to connect. Once paired, though, the screen can lock again but it still maintains its bluetooth connection, so this is a 1 time thing to wake up the phone when you get in.
Some people also have problems with transferring the contents of the entire contacts list in 1 fell swoop...I don't feel the need to have my M remember the hundreds of contact in my phone, I have about 10 of them available from voice.
I will say battery life goes from 3 days for me to 2, but that just mean I put it on the recharger a little more often.
. . .I ended up with the Audi A6 with the Premium sound system -- it is second only to the M's Premium system which is the best I have ever heard in any car (see qualifier below.) I have heard the Lexus system, and it too was very nice (and perhaps "more expensive" looking) -- the M's is superior. The Acura system, due mostly to its ability to play DVD-A discs is also very nice.
The in - seat speakers of the M, its convincing (because you can get lost in it) surround field and its overall ability to image and have very tight (not boomy) bass all rolled up make this "factory sound system" probably the best I have ever heard (I say probably because I cannot remember any that are any better, but perhaps I just can't remember.)
The Audi system is 9/10's of the Infiniti system and perhaps I would make it .95 if it too could play DVD-A's -- the issue there, however, is the paucity of DVD-A content.
Just my $.02.
P.S., the ability to play a DVD while parked would be rarely used by me, but, that too, was a "nice touch" to know was there.
I love my A6, but I am still mightily impressed with the M's.
I've got a Sprint Treo 650 as well and I was able to hook it to my M35 via bluetooth effortlessly. Every time I now get into the car, it automatically picks up the phone and connects. I have not been able to move over my phonebook, but from what I understand, I think that is more of a design issue with the M's software than that of the Treo's. The answer was simply to program the top 10 numbers I use the most into the car itself, that way either I or my wife and her phone can use them both.
As for the locking screen, I've found that you don't even have to unlock the phone. Just turn it on, hit the middle button (the accidental activation prevention feature) and the car should pick it up. Since I usually carry my phone in my left pants pocket, it doesn't always pair automatically so I have to take it out and bring it closer to the center console. That usually does the trick.
My advice to you is to download and install the latest patch from Sprint PCS.
Yes, exactly, the accidental activation prevention feature is what I mean by "unlock". You have to hit the red than middle button each time you want it to pair up.
Well said. Well mostly. I agree V8 over the V6 since the MPG is only 1 lower, but some consideration should be made for AWD vs V8. If you live in a northern climate, you might want the extra traction. I live in Chicago where its a toss up. We don't have that many snow days and I might be inclinded to get the V8 and just drive carefully when it snows.
I like to buy new cars, garage them, change the oil and wax them every quarter and make them last 10 years or so. Picking the right car and features makes the difference between feeling good about it in a decade and hiding it in the back of the parking lot.
This the same ownership philosophy that I have. I expect to keep my Infiniti M35X for at last the next 8 years. A good long term reliability record is important to me and Inifiniti has an excellent track record across all of its models.
Could anyone who has purchased (not leased) an M give some feedback on the following features and their long term prospects?
Cooled seats? Essential feature - no. Nice to have - maybe. If keeping your tush cool is a real comfort concern - go for a lighter colored interior. That's what I did. After about 5 minutes of operation, I find the seat cooling to be effective. Long term reliability - I suspect it uses a small fan motor, probably similar to the motor used for the side view mirrors. I have never had a side view mirror motor go bad on any of the cars that I have kept for 8 or more years (4 Toyotas). Don't anticipate a problem with this fan motor. The only issue is changing the seat filter. Don't know what these cost (yet) or what is involved to change it yourself, but it is something that I need to investigate.
Rear wheel steering? Not an issue for me - I needed AWD, and the sport version was mutually exclusive.
Again AWD precluded me from having to worry about this. Even if I hadn't needed the AWD, I would probably have still gone for the V6. It has sufficient low-end torque and smoothness to satisfy me. From a mileage & fuel efficiency perspective the two engines are close enough that other factors should really drive the choice.
i>Navigation system? I opted for this rather than the whole Journey package. It was the only option in that package that I could reasonably justify. It has the best user interface of any factory installed navigation system available today. I expect it will be copied or adopted by other manufacturers in the near future. The only question is how to get updated navigation DVDs down the road. The voice interface is easy to use and very effective, although I would like an option for an abbreviated prompt where I can enter my voice command immediately after pressing the voice entry button. So far, the system has delivered the most value for me under the following two scenarios; 1) providing end-game directions when I jump onto local roads near my final destination and 2) getting me to a major road/highway when I leave from a location that I am not familiar with. As for improvements down the road, I expect to see future models factor in traffic condition information when defining a route, announcing/showing speed limits on the road that you are traveling, showing where traffic lights are located and perhaps ultimately, telling me when police radar is in use on the road that I am traveling! I believe once an HD DVD format is standardized, there will be more storage capacity available on the DVD. This will be the enabler for including more information to interact with the navigation system.
Good point. Another option is to buy winter wheels/tires for about $1500 from TireRack, which is what I plan to do with my Sport in another couple of months, living in St. Louis. I have it on good authority (relatives with Lexii and MB) that Blizzaks + traction control handle even Wisconsin winters with no problem.
The only remaining issue I have with the optional features is regarding the larger engine. Don’t get me wrong – I love v8s and have the largest one available in my SUV but my SUV has the size and beam to make it work.
If you look at a G35 it has a fairly narrow profile and it does not look like a car that should have a v8 option (and it doesn’t). The M is only an inch or so wider and still does not look like it needs a v8. I’ve seen people put v8s on motorcycles just to prove a point but it still is not such a great idea.
I know the test data from the leading magazines show that the M45 does just fine but did they test the car full of passengers and with a full trunk? This is not the time to find out that the narrow profile, extra weight, and excess power has led to high speed instability.
I’ve gone through this exercise with cars, boats, and planes and there is always an optimal combination of weight, balance, and power.
This is not the time to find out that the narrow profile, extra weight, and excess power [of the M45] has led to high speed instability.
Your comment tells me that you must have missed these reviews: Car And Driver (8 Car V8 Luxury Sport Sedan Comparo): M45 Wins “The M45 Rocks, Game Over” Road and Track (M45 vs BMW 545I vs Lexus GS400): M45 wins “Its distinctive mix of luxury and performance won out in the end” Motor Trend (M45 vs Lexus GS 430): M45 wins “It's clear the M is crisper, more entertaining and more satisfying”
If you don’t believe them, believe me. This car handles like an absolute dream.
I jsut thought of this and i need some advice... Should I go with Package A: m35x journey/tech/nav msrp on website $50,700.00 -2700 ______ their offer to me <$48,000.00>
ORRR should I go with Package A: m45 nav $49,560.00 -2700 46860
now adding journey to this would go over my bargained price... My mom is definitly not paying anymore then 48 so im thinking go with the v8 speed. Im 21 so i like speed is it really worth it though to give up the surround sound. is there a way to get sirius after the fact
If you must have a good iPod or MP3 connection (ie, an AUX input), in addition to the MP3 CD's, (MP3 CD's are available on the base model, I believe) you only get that AUX input with the DVD surround sound system. The DVD surround system is ONLY available with the Tech or Journey package, (I don't remember which).
i dont care much for the ipod i only would like to have sirius installed into it after they give me the m45 with nav... if i get it prepackaged it will come wiht the journey too.. i figure if i buy it can i install it later on... I rather have more horsees then a little more clarity in the sound hehe
I've had the phone for a few days now and it seems to work well for sending and receiving calls. It never fails to connect and the audio quality is good although I don't have another Bluetooth phone with which to compare.
The phone does have a built in voice dial feature that seems to work reasonably well. It is not a "voice tag" system but one that tries to interpret the phonebook entries. The manual says it works with Bluetooth but I have been unable to get it to work with the M. If this did work it would eliminate the need to program numbers in the car's phonebook and would also eliminate the 40 number limit.
Here's what happens - If you press the voice button on the phone the voice command menu displays on the outside display of the phone and it waits for a command but there is no audio either on the phone itself or through the car. There doesn't seem to be a way to get the car to communicate with the phone without dialing a number or receiving an incoming call. Th phone "thinks" it is connected because the phone's mike and speaker are disabled.
According to the VX8100 manual, " You may (also) start Voice commands with the designated button on your Bluetooth device. Please check the manual of the Bluetooth device for further instructions."
It's unfortunate that the M doesn't have a button for this or at least a way to force audio to the phone without dialing a number.
My mom is definitly not paying anymore then 48 so im thinking go with the v8 speed. Im 21 so i like speed is it really worth it though to give up the surround sound. is there a way to get sirius after the fact ... I rather have more horsees then a little more clarity in the sound hehe
Uh, forgive my old geezer sounding response, but the M35 is plenty fast enough. "Im 21 so I like speed" Whats up with that :confuse:
Since you are looking at the M45 non-sport you clearly do not need AWD, so why not consider the M35 and save mom some money :shades:
Just got our M45 last week. Still learning a lot about the car and lurking around this forum has been very helpful. I was surprised when we were able to pair our Treo 650 (Cingular) with our M45.
I went to Palm and updated the software to version 1.03. I thought this might give me more bluetooth functionality with the car. I am still unable to initiate a call from the car. I read on here the update for a Sprint phone gave it more functionality. Anyone know if the update does anything for the verizon phone?
Comments
As I recall, as I was part of those posts, the "anemic A/C" referred only to the seat chillers, not the overall A/C.
I like Mobil 1 for cars because I've read a lot of research and independent evaluations and tests on it, and have not seen as much on the less well known brands. I'm not saying other brands aren't great (I use $12/qt synthetic oil in my race bikes because in a bike the oil lubricates the clutch/tranny as well as the engine), but there seems to be a lot less available car research on them. Probably because Mobil 1 came out before synthetics were accepted as superior so all the "gearheads" used it in most of the analyses and comparisons to dino oil.
I would agree IF there are any benefits for 93 vs. 87 :confuse:
Running at WOT would mean more power from Premium than Regular. At less than WOT (where I drive) any grade of gasoline offers sufficient power. My '04 FX35 has about 13K miles on it now. The first 4K I ran Shell 93 V-Power almost exclusively. The next ~4K miles I ran Shell 89 mid-grade almost exclusively. I could not tell a difference at all in power or mpg. For those ~8000+ miles or so I averaged about 17-17.5 mpg. Lately (most recent ~4K mile) I have been pumping Kroger 87 for the most part. I can not tell any diffeence in power and my gas mileage has gone up; now averaging 18.5.
Therefore in MY FX35 under MY driving conditions I can find no justification (i.e. benefits) in paying the extra for higher octane.
I have never said "none of us should expect true 'High Fidelity' sound systems for the option price." All my posts have done is illustrate the possibility that the current cost structure of OEM audio systems poses limitations that all but preclude using the same components you find in $5000/pair home audio speakers (and so forth).
What does "true High Fidelity" mean to you? I personally think the M sounds wonderful. Understand that somethings about the M will necessarily be different than a typical 2-channel home system. My best 2-channel home system does not and cannot provide the sense of front/rear spaciousness that I get in a good concert hall. In this regard, some people might find the M system better than any 2-channel home system.
I'm curious. What is it about the M-technology system that does not meet your threshold for high fidelity?
B
The new GS300 strikes me the same way. Nice, flawless in what it is designed to do, but very much an impersonal and boring experience.
B
Could anyone who has purchased (not leased) an M give some feedback on the following features and their long term prospects?
Cooled seats (Must have or gimmick? - can't picture them being in good working order in ten years)
Rear wheel steering (is this for real?)
v8 (engine compartment looks right sized for v6 - was v8 just Infiniti's attempt to pander to Americans? - don't want hassles maintaining an engine that has two cylinders too many for the engine compartment)
Navigation system (should look dated in five years at the rate of development of portable systems)
Thanks, and congratulations to you early movers who have shown an eye for quality and wisdom in buying before prices went up :shades:
Mobil 1 is a good choice. Are there other brands that are equal and/or better? Yes. But the cost of the oil per quart does not justify the expense for this type of car.
If you are planning on keeping the car for greater than 4 years I would also recommend changing so of the other fluids (coolant, brake, trans & diff) at a regular interval.
Regards,
Chris
Best solution I could come up with. I imagine they will be making the Treo compatible-they must be hearing it from a lot of us.
Rich
Cooled seats, must have or gimmick?
I have them in my M and have found it useful when the weather gets above 80F or if the humidity is high. There are fans under the seat moving the cool air around. Fans are mechanical and would be prone to failure. I'm not sure if there is any test data showing the average amount of hours before failure but I would expect to replace and fan (or two) within a 10-year span. I would suggest test driving an M with the cooled seats and determine if this is a must have or to pass.
Rear Wheel Steering
You only get this with the Sport model. Yes, it is for real. This would depend on if you want the Sport pkg or not. Again a test drive will provide you with the answer.
V8 vs. V6
Both engines appear to be reliable. The maintenance interval is the same. Slightly higher cost with the V8. The V6 is very good but the torque and overall power output of the V8 can be addicting. I opted for the V8 and have no regrets. Test drive them both and then decide. Opinions will vary
Nav
Technology does change at a rapid pace. The Nav system in my wife's 04 MDX is very good but is now losing some ground against the newer offerings from Lexus, Infiniti & Acura (RL). How often would you use it? If you travel a lot and don't want to refer to a map, get it. Otherwise you can save yourself $2k (being the cost of the system).
Regards,
Chris
All I want to my M to dial 'Home' instead of 'Zero'. :P
Premium Sound
Have owned 2 Mercedes and the GS430. Each one was better than the last for stereo output and concert sound, but nothing, NOTHING, has equaled the feat of Infiniti with their latest in-seat speakers, and optional settings. Truly a great system for the optional price tag, even at full list. Cant vouch for BMW, but this stereo system is serious, and I cannot understand the threads upon threads of people who cannot sit back and listen to the sound these units are putting out. Furthermore, these are cars, not Home Theatre systems, you have to deal with road noise and vibration and so much more, an Infiniti has done a superb job. Get in a GS or an E series, drive it, and listen to the crap you get.
BMW 540
Sorry you were bored with the GS series, I was too. My 2002 was a piece of crap. Noisy, the engine pinged (dealers were unsure what was causing this, but after 5 trips into the shop and 4 weeks of me paying for a car I did not have) they pointed out to me a section in the owners manual that said "Your Lexus will ping, even with premium gas, this is normal". Excuse me, a $50,000 car should not ping! Anyway, back to the BMW's, I am confused how you would call this car anything but boring. The interior trim is like something out of a 1960's sitcom, it is cheap cheap cheap, and looks nasty. Maybe the engine is a work of art, but I would be hard pressed to force my in-laws to look at the wood grain that looks like contact paper for a 1970's kitchen. And the body, you either love it, or hate it. I hate it, as do most people who realize the car resembles a Sherman tank with it's nasty lines.
Pink Slip Fever
Excuse me, the V8 engine in this compartment is a work of art. The V6 is a waste of time. Look at the MPG and you will see why. The V8 delivers 55 more HP and takes only 1 more MPG to run. The V6 was off my list in seconds.
Phone Compatibility
I use a Motorola phone, and the first few days it gave me trouble as well. I have found the system has integrated the phone the more I use it. A friend who has the M35 turned his bluetooth off after a week, because his receipients were complaining of a poor connection. I had this issue for the first week, but like I said, over the last 2 weeks the phone reception and call clarity has improved to the point where it is flawless. Also, if you want a comparison, try the E350 or BMW integrated phone system, it has a suck factor of 10 compared to the Infiniti's suck factor of 3.
Peace.
A Happy And Content, Loving My M45 over the Other Crap on the Road, Owner
Gary
Right on the money.
Pete
Really, try what I do. Enunciate LESS and speak in a normal, even somewhat quieter voice. It's counerintuitive, but after a week of "Dial 0' instaed of "Dial Home" I tried it and it is working for me.
Some people also have problems with transferring the contents of the entire contacts list in 1 fell swoop...I don't feel the need to have my M remember the hundreds of contact in my phone, I have about 10 of them available from voice.
I will say battery life goes from 3 days for me to 2, but that just mean I put it on the recharger a little more often.
The in - seat speakers of the M, its convincing (because you can get lost in it) surround field and its overall ability to image and have very tight (not boomy) bass all rolled up make this "factory sound system" probably the best I have ever heard (I say probably because I cannot remember any that are any better, but perhaps I just can't remember.)
The Audi system is 9/10's of the Infiniti system and perhaps I would make it .95 if it too could play DVD-A's -- the issue there, however, is the paucity of DVD-A content.
Just my $.02.
P.S., the ability to play a DVD while parked would be rarely used by me, but, that too, was a "nice touch" to know was there.
I love my A6, but I am still mightily impressed with the M's.
As for the locking screen, I've found that you don't even have to unlock the phone. Just turn it on, hit the middle button (the accidental activation prevention feature) and the car should pick it up. Since I usually carry my phone in my left pants pocket, it doesn't always pair automatically so I have to take it out and bring it closer to the center console. That usually does the trick.
My advice to you is to download and install the latest patch from Sprint PCS.
I like to buy new cars, garage them, change the oil and wax them every quarter and make them last 10 years or so. Picking the right car and features makes the difference between feeling good about it in a decade and hiding it in the back of the parking lot.
This the same ownership philosophy that I have. I expect to keep my Infiniti M35X for at last the next 8 years. A good long term reliability record is important to me and Inifiniti has an excellent track record across all of its models.
Could anyone who has purchased (not leased) an M give some feedback on the following features and their long term prospects?
Cooled seats? Essential feature - no. Nice to have - maybe. If keeping your tush cool is a real comfort concern - go for a lighter colored interior. That's what I did. After about 5 minutes of operation, I find the seat cooling to be effective. Long term reliability - I suspect it uses a small fan motor, probably similar to the motor used for the side view mirrors. I have never had a side view mirror motor go bad on any of the cars that I have kept for 8 or more years (4 Toyotas). Don't anticipate a problem with this fan motor. The only issue is changing the seat filter. Don't know what these cost (yet) or what is involved to change it yourself, but it is something that I need to investigate.
Rear wheel steering? Not an issue for me - I needed AWD, and the sport version was mutually exclusive.
Again AWD precluded me from having to worry about this. Even if I hadn't needed the AWD, I would probably have still gone for the V6. It has sufficient low-end torque and smoothness to satisfy me. From a mileage & fuel efficiency perspective the two engines are close enough that other factors should really drive the choice.
i>Navigation system? I opted for this rather than the whole Journey package. It was the only option in that package that I could reasonably justify. It has the best user interface of any factory installed navigation system available today. I expect it will be copied or adopted by other manufacturers in the near future. The only question is how to get updated navigation DVDs down the road. The voice interface is easy to use and very effective, although I would like an option for an abbreviated prompt where I can enter my voice command immediately after pressing the voice entry button. So far, the system has delivered the most value for me under the following two scenarios; 1) providing end-game directions when I jump onto local roads near my final destination and 2) getting me to a major road/highway when I leave from a location that I am not familiar with. As for improvements down the road, I expect to see future models factor in traffic condition information when defining a route, announcing/showing speed limits on the road that you are traveling, showing where traffic lights are located and perhaps ultimately, telling me when police radar is in use on the road that I am traveling! I believe once an HD DVD format is standardized, there will be more storage capacity available on the DVD. This will be the enabler for including more information to interact with the navigation system.
I guess I'll find out in about 6 years. :P
The only remaining issue I have with the optional features is regarding the larger engine. Don’t get me wrong – I love v8s and have the largest one available in my SUV but my SUV has the size and beam to make it work.
If you look at a G35 it has a fairly narrow profile and it does not look like a car that should have a v8 option (and it doesn’t). The M is only an inch or so wider and still does not look like it needs a v8. I’ve seen people put v8s on motorcycles just to prove a point but it still is not such a great idea.
I know the test data from the leading magazines show that the M45 does just fine but did they test the car full of passengers and with a full trunk? This is not the time to find out that the narrow profile, extra weight, and excess power has led to high speed instability.
I’ve gone through this exercise with cars, boats, and planes and there is always an optimal combination of weight, balance, and power.
For my money the M35 is an unbeatable value
Pete
Your comment tells me that you must have missed these reviews:
Car And Driver (8 Car V8 Luxury Sport Sedan Comparo): M45 Wins
“The M45 Rocks, Game Over”
Road and Track (M45 vs BMW 545I vs Lexus GS400): M45 wins
“Its distinctive mix of luxury and performance won out in the end”
Motor Trend (M45 vs Lexus GS 430): M45 wins
“It's clear the M is crisper, more entertaining and more satisfying”
If you don’t believe them, believe me. This car handles like an absolute dream.
Pete
Should I go with Package A:
m35x journey/tech/nav
msrp on website
$50,700.00
-2700
______
their offer to me <$48,000.00>
ORRR should I go with Package A: m45 nav
$49,560.00
-2700
46860
now adding journey to this would go over my bargained price... My mom is definitly not paying anymore then 48 so im thinking go with the v8 speed. Im 21 so i like speed is it really worth it though to give up the surround sound. is there a way to get sirius after the fact
One thing to add to them mix:
If you must have a good iPod or MP3 connection (ie, an AUX input), in addition to the MP3 CD's, (MP3 CD's are available on the base model, I believe) you only get that AUX input with the DVD surround sound system. The DVD surround system is ONLY available with the Tech or Journey package, (I don't remember which).
Pete
I'm interested in leasing a M45. Could you provide me with the numbers mentioned in the top post?
Thanks!
The phone does have a built in voice dial feature that seems to work reasonably well. It is not a "voice tag" system but one that tries to interpret the phonebook entries. The manual says it works with Bluetooth but I have been unable to get it to work with the M. If this did work it would eliminate the need to program numbers in the car's phonebook and would also eliminate the 40 number limit.
Here's what happens - If you press the voice button on the phone the voice command menu displays on the outside display of the phone and it waits for a command but there is no audio either on the phone itself or through the car. There doesn't seem to be a way to get the car to communicate with the phone without dialing a number or receiving an incoming call. Th phone "thinks" it is connected because the phone's mike and speaker are disabled.
According to the VX8100 manual, " You may (also) start Voice commands with the designated button on your Bluetooth device. Please check the manual of the Bluetooth device for further instructions."
It's unfortunate that the M doesn't have a button for this or at least a way to force audio to the phone without dialing a number.
Uh, forgive my old geezer sounding response, but the M35 is plenty fast enough.
"Im 21 so I like speed"
Since you are looking at the M45 non-sport you clearly do not need AWD, so why not consider the M35 and save mom some money :shades:
Pete.