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Comments
The Infiniti is out in front by a wide margin, according to CR. The next 5 cars (Caddy through VW) are more or less tied for 2nd place.
Just thought I'd toss this out for the benefit of the many CR fans here.
The CTS is a dead-cat bounce until the new owners get their Certificate of Occupancy in Detroit...new BoD, CEO and nameplate lineup coming soon...
No Caddy for me!....NEXT!
Regards,
OW
I would have no reservation about choosing an Infiniti M45 over a BMW 535i, however.
For those of you who recently brought home one of those incredible, spanking new Pontiac G8 GXP's...
you have my condolences. One of the great American muscle car divisions bites the dust.
Regards,
OW
CR loves the G and M. The G is rated their top overall "upscale" sedan, and the M is their second best luxury sedan, just below the Lexus LS. If I were shopping in the entry lux class, I would have to go with the S4, despite its considerable price tag.
I still really like the G, especially now that it has a 7-speed automatic, and if the S4 was out of my price range, it would definitely be my choice.
As good as the M currently is, I think the next one is going to be much better. Infiniti is promising a significantly improved and more luxurious interior, and the 7-speed automatic will be available across the board. The M37 may also have close to 350hp. There also might not be an M50, a hybrid version may take the place of the V8. I'm very curious to see how that turns out.
Okay, doesn't sound like comfortable.
The seat really was rock-hard. Not too great for sciatica sufferers. However, I imagine this is what one should expect in a serious driver's car. No falling asleep on that seat
Rock hard seats :surprise: For a luxurious car :confuse:
Also, the steering wheel is a bit low and far away for my most comfortable seating position adjustment. I have never driven any vehicle with the steering wheel that low. Yes, I tilted and telescoped, but that was the best I could do.
The rear window is very sloped and small. Backing up in a parking lot could be adventurous.
Yikes, sounds like a car for people who are 5'10 or less, too much sacrifice to get the so called fun to drive car.
Whats the use of good looks if you aren't comfortable in it :confuse:
I also agree that the rear visibility is compromised and you must be very careful, I actually tend to never back up in parking lots with my car, and rarely is it in parking lots. Other compromises are the price $$$, you can buy fun for less, but not as much fun. Porsche electronics are not cutting edge, and the car will attract as many stares from cops as it does from everyone else you drive by.
Life is full of compromises, we are each only given a short time to enjoy ourselves and leave behind an effort to make other's lives better. If you follow that theory, and have the financial means and lifestyle flexibility to have an expensive toy, the Cayman is pure joy. It is like a great rum cake, it will not be for all people and should be enjoyed in moderation, but when it is, nothing else compares.
The best brakes I have ever experienced were in a 2006 M45....of course I haven't driven a Cayman yet.
By the way while I have you here, LG, I told my friend about your head phone set up. He listened politely and told me he can't do it because he recently put around $15k into a special piano that plays some kind of CD's as if a real virtuoso pianist was actually playing that piano in his living room-I guess the next modern step forward from player piano rolls. I must go over and hear it.
His neighbors are going to love him for that!
It seems most folks who order Caymans are quite satisfied with the manual seats, a 9 speaker bose radio and rain-sensing washers-all yours for only $55,000 for the Base to around $65,000 for the Cayman S....pretty much for the basic colors of yellow, black, white and red. What Mr. bmlexus? Did I hear you say you have a fondness for cobalt blue? Why for only $3000, you can be cheerfully accommodated! :surprise:
So if you go nuts checking off options, the Base can easily hit $70k and the CS, $80k.
You want incentives and discounts on a new Cayman? I'll leave a light on for you!
By the way, you do make a lot of excellent points and if the Cayman fever that I have intensifies to almost being out of control, I will go back to your post and read it over many times!
Ahh...once you transpose the meaning of driving the Cayman in terms of rum cake, now I truly understand! The Cayman must be an absolute joy to drive!
Even if I take a pass on the Cayman, I can't complain. I have been "unemployed" and financially independent since 1996. I've had a good life-great wife; driving many wonderful cars; going where I want, when I want; learning a lot from you and so many others on Edmunds. It has indeed been a blast!
What's kept me from buying a G is my strong preference for sticks. According to everything that I've read about the car, its manual transmission is neither fun nor easy to drive smoothly. But I'm of a certain age now, & my knees are beginning to talk to me. If my next car must have (gasp!) a slushbox, then it will probably be an Infiniti.
The Cayman is a sports car - aimed at those who value speed & superb handling over luxury. There are better choices for those for whom luxury is more important.
As for the G taking top honors, I see no surprises there. In Japan Nissan receives the most respect among car companies, far ahead of Honda (the runner up) and Toyota (not even as respected as one might expect). Worse yet, there are rumors that Toyota brought the Lexus brand to Japan's market to regain public confidence it constantly lose over the years. Plus Japan's princes and princesses ride around in Nissan Fuga (Infiniti M in our speak), so I guess there's no reason to doubt Nissan now. :shades:
But still, sports car with rock hard seats :surprise:
If thats how speed and handing is the way to get, good luck to all those who wants it.
I'm not sure I agree about VW, the Passat 3.6 cost almost $40k when loaded, and the Touareg and Tiguan, while aren;t expensive, aren't cheap either.
How does it look?
I think the korean netizen’s design capability is incredible. Photoshop skill too.
*source: hyundaibuzz.com - All about Hyundai
I agree, I'm a big fan of Infiniti's cars. The trucks, not so much. They almost got the EX right, and then blew it on the rear seats. Too bad, otherwise its a pretty good value loaded to the gills at $46K, with the best interior of any current Infiniti. I think they're going to stick around, though their expansion into Europe is going to be tough.
$15K player piano huh? I think I'll let my Pearls handle that. They do a very convincing impersonation of a Steinway or Bösendorfer, or a cello, violin, sax, or any other instrument. They can put Miles or Coltrane in the room with me, or Keith and Mick, or the London symphony orchestra. You've got to love that. :shades:
Indeed, the 6MT version of the car has been pretty much universally described as awful. Why not try going to a dual-clutch sequential gearbox? No clutch pedal to deal with, but you still get more of the manual experience than with any automatic, paddles or no.
Well, VW is the least expensive way to buy German, but the cars are not great values when compared to Japanese rivals like Mazda or Nissan. When you combine that with VW's bottom of the barrel reliability...
Regards,
Jose
Still waiting for an invite to see it in action. Maybe his neighbors already threw him out. Houses too close together.
I don't see too many Infiniti vehicles down here, but when I do it's usually a "cool" young person driving a G. Seems like just as many Hyundai's on the road as Hondas. Astonishing growth in just the past five years or so. Quite a few Nissan Altima's too.
Not sure I'd ever like it, but at least Hyundai has finally caught my attention with the Genesis coupe. Great? No, but good enough, especially when you consider the price (barely pricier than the less interesting looking Civic coupe)
The Nissan GT-R is a good example of how good Nissan cars can be in term of performance. They show that their awd system beats Audi's and Porsche's, and GT-R overall high speed performance make the R8 and the 911 feel less than stable. For all that, at half of the competitor prices, it's still getting no respect from the traditional sports car crowds.
They do a wonderful job of securing the driver in place, but any long drive will require plenty of Advil and a chiropractor.
As a side note, yesterday, I drove my BMW 135i to LA from NorCal. It is equipped with the Sport seats option. After 5.5 hours of straight driving, I feel fine... and no back pain. That's not a test drive...it's not chit-chat... and it's not speculation... that's real proof.
TM
The sport seats in the 328i and 135i are probably the same.
From the April 2009 C&D comparo of sport coupes involving the 135i:
"The seats were the best of the group, supportive when the g-loads were coming at odd angles, comfortable for the long haul. Wouldn't it be great if BMW specified seats for the entire industry?"
The BMW sport seats are that good. Anybody who hasn't driven a BMW sport-packaged vehicle is really missing out on one terrific seat.
2001gs430, I have no idea what kind of service you get at your local Infiniti, but so far all Infiniti dealers I visited gave me top notch service. Well, not as good as Lexus or Audi, but way above other competitors'.
Because they are STILL in shock and awe and are reacting like hurt little children!
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
Yes, I've been meaning to get back to you on that, but I kept getting side tracked. Sorry about that. I'll have something for you ASAP.
Regards,
Jose
It is the best looking Porsche in the current line up.
I agree.
However, after sitting in a Cayman for the second time and experiencing some of the car's cockpit weaknesses, my enthusiasm has been curbed a bit. I would still like to drive one to see what the fuss is all about.
One positive: I found getting in and out of the Cayman to be easy, despite reading about "drop in" entry and "climb out" exit. Getting out of the 545i was tougher.
We get more red carpet treatment from our Acura dealer than Mercedes and Lexus combined.
BMW dealer here is also clearly better than Mercedes and Lexus.
TM
Hpowders, I didn't like the pre-refresh M either. The refresh fixed the oldness a bit, but the front end still needs improvement IMO. Personal taste varies, indeed.
Absolutely. There are two Audi/Porsche shops in my area, one is good, one not so much. The Lexus dealer is combined with Toyota and Scion. Lexus gets its own half of the building, but its not any nicer than the Toyota part. The BMW shop is decent, better than M-B and Acura. The Jag dealer looks the most upscale, but service there has been hit and miss.
When you sit inside the M, one can be a bit more forgiving of the outside.
I would take a pass on the 5 speed V8 325 HP M45 and go for the 7 speed A/T 303 HP V6 M35 which has plenty of power and is a better buy.
If and when I ever decide to move back to a larger sedan, the 7 speed Infiniti M35 will be the vehicle I test first.
If it's the same Lexus dealer I think it is, then I'm not surprised in the least. I found their service department experience a long second to the Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge dealer we used when we had the Town & Country. As for their sales staff, well, I don't forgive mis- or disinformation. For a salesperson to tell me that no sport package would be available because of all the "sporty improvements" made to the IS350 while handing me a brochure outlining the features/benefits of the sport package tells all the story needed. I can accept "I'm not sure, let me check" with relative confidence, but that kind of used-car lot antic sets me off.
I'm curious to see how the Audi stand works out for my services with the TTS. The sales experience was very good, even if the weather prolonged the wait for the delivery...
Regards,
OW
Regards,
OW
The G seeks the 20's-30's age group and hence, the vehicle is designed to be a touch more flamboyant-looking.
I drive up in a BMW, walk into both Porsche stores, am the only potential customer in each case, express interest in the Cayman.... yet neither guy offers me a test drive. Not very eager and aggressive.
Last October when I went BMW shopping, the sales guy showed me various 335i's, 328i's and 135i's, every which one he told me I could drive. It seemed like the guy was prepared to spend the entire day with me to find a BMW to make me happy. The guy was patient and aggressive and he made his sale.
If I ever go back to a Porsche store, it will be to a Porsche Premier dealer-one of the top 100 Porsche dealers in the country. Surprise... neither Porsche store I visited made the list!
I guess I might be stereotyping people in that geography as lazy or uninterested, we both know that the economy there is hit as hard or harder than most places in the US and they all may feel a bit down. But many of us who have succeeded in our ventures probably can attest to how much a positive, can do attitude combined with some intelligence and talent made much of the difference.
Companies like Porsche and BMW should be auditing their dealers now, not waiting for things to turn around. Make changes now and they will be better able to convince people like us on this board to part with a bunch of cash for their products. Apathy will not help them, not matter how fast it does 0-60.
Regards,
OW