What Recession? Nissan Sales Up 3.6% Infiniti Sales Jump 7.3%

Wow!

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 4:52:33 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

This "daily sales rate average" is deceptive. For the record, in terms of actual units Infiniti was down 0.4% from March 2007.

As for the G37 sales being good bargaining chips for folks walking into BMW dealers, I'm 100% certain BMW is HOPING folks come into their showrooms with G's fresh on their minds. Here's how this can now play out:

"ah, excellent, I'm glad you checked out the G37 sir, now let me show you this 135i that's the same size and price but obliterates the G37's performance and comes with free maintenance. If you liked the G this should really knock your socks off..."

In the past the conversation would have been "yes our much larger and more upscale 335i Coupe is $7000 more than the G37, but here's why it's better..." Now they not only have a better car, they actually have a comparably priced and sized one too.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 5:06:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -10   

JRobUSC your an idiot. I walked into a BMW dealership with a G on my mind and I chose the G. The 1 series is for chic's.

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 5:12:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 10   

"0to60", that's fine, congrats on your G, it is indeed a fine automobile. BUT for someone whose moniker (0to60) is supposed to indicate a performance enthusiast, you picked the wrong car. If calling me an idiot makes you feel better about what you probably know deep down was a poor decision, that's ok, but it won't change the fact that you bought the inferior performance car.

Tell you what, though. I'll go borrow a 135i, you bring your G, and we'll see which one lives up to the poser moniker you've given yourself. Oto60 indeed...

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 5:25:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -11   

haha jrob, youre just like those evo and sti kids trying to justify that even though their car is ugly inside and out, their ish the fastest on the street. seriously, if you want the best bang for the buck performance, step up to a corvette and be done with it.

— gsh23 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 6:28:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

"I'll go borrow a 135i, you bring your G" borrow? whats wrong, JRobUSC? you cant afford a baby bimmer? lol

— KZ258 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 7:38:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Thanks all, you saved me from having to reply to his nonsense

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 8:44:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Nice. But unfortunately I've got a 535xi and an X5 4.4i. And I'd take a 135i (or a 335i/xi Coupe or S5, which aren't G competitors to anyone but people trying to justify their purchase of the Infiniti) over a G37 every day and twice on Sunday.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 11:02:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -9   

I KNEW IT!!!

JRobUSC, you are a BMW badge whore. I've always thought of you as an objective, knowledgable guy, but you've screwed it up on this one. You've dedicated yourself on bashing the G like it's a Yugo, and then you mention your garage stock. That's when it hit me.

I admit it, I'm a Nissan/Infiniti badge whore, but I believe I'm objective when it comes to other brands (including your beloved BMW, except maybe for the "free maintenance" gimmick, which I still think is a ripoff). I don't think you've ever seen me here talking bad about the M3 or any other BMW. I still think they make superb automobiles. But they are not God. I can also recognize when another carmaker has a winner, too.

You keep enjoying your BMW cool-aid, alright.

— 07G35J (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 11:59:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

dugit, explain to me why a 135i and a G37 are in a different class? Seriously. They're two door performance coupes that are the same size and same price. That is pretty much by definition would make them competitors. Help me understand your point of view, because other than "they're not competitors because Infiniti said for years before the 1-Series came out that the G competes with the 3-Series" I don't see any justifiable reason (and that isn't a justifiable one) why the most natural competitors in the class wouldn't be the 135i and G37. I just can't understand putting the G37 up against larger, $50k vehicles like the 335i Coupe and Audi A5/S5 when there's a similarly sized and priced car available. That just makes no sense. I'm sure Infiniti and their fans want us to continue comparing them like we did when there was no 1-Series available, but now that there's a more logical car to compare I think that's what you have to use.

And 07G35 just because I happen to believe, very firmly, that the G and the 135i are competitors instead of the larger and more expensive 335i, that doesn't make me less than objective. I appreciate the G (and basically every Infiniti model) for what they are -- a sporty, technologically advanced, value priced alternative to a BMW. My point is the 1-Series eliminates the value aspect that Infiniti has relied on to move the G Coupe. They still have it with the G sedan, which is larger than a 3-Series and offers great performance for less money. But not the G coupe. No, the G Coupe is smaller and more expensive than the sedan, and bingo, now the 1-Series matches up perfectly. It's more car than the G37 for the same money.

Oh, and I've owned Audis and Mercedes in the past, by the way. Never had a Lexus because, well, there's never been one I'd want. Came close to getting an FX once but the wife hated the looks, we ended up with a Touareg and then the X5. I don't get BMW's because I'm a badge whore. I get them because at the end of the day they appeal to me more than the other brands do. If there's something else out there I like more than a BMW model when I'm ready to buy, I'll get it. It so happens I was torn between the S5 and 335xi Coupe recently. In the end it came down to a $300 difference in payments, and that made the choice for me. Aside from that, it just so happens that recently there just hasn't been anything that would have dissuaded me from getting a BMW. And such is the case with the 135i. If I was looking for a $40k sport coupe, which I am not (hence having to "borrow one" to show 0to60 what he missed out on), a 135i is where I'd be looking.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 7:55:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Well said, Vendetta!

— 07G35J (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 2:08:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

I was referring to interior volume, i.e. passenger space. The 335i has much more of it than either the 135i or G37. The 135i and G37 are almost identical inside. And since the price is the same as well, and they're both performance coupes, that's where I come up with my "they're competitors" theory. Plus I don't think many people consider the G37 a competitor to the S5 or CLK, which the 335i/xi Coupe is generally considered. It's much more of a stretch for the G to compete with the 3 than it is for it to compete with the 1, period.

And if I'm a BMW troll in an Infiniti thread then fine, I'll accept it. Conversely since no one can give any reason whatsoever why the G37 is more a competitor to the larger, more expensive 335i Coupe than the similarly sized and priced 135i (other than "because we love Infiniti and we say so because it makes us feel better about the Infiniti we bought") that just makes you Infiniti trolls refusing to believe the very obvious facts. Because I expect the 135i Coupe is going to absolutely affect G37 sales, like it or not.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 3:27:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

"And if I'm a BMW troll in an Infiniti thread then fine, I'll accept it"

It's OK, JRobUSC, no one is perfect. I'm an Infiniti troll, like you said, but damn it, I'm proud of it. But, like I said before, I also know when a carmaker other than Nissan/Infiniti produces a great car, like BMW's new M3, or Cadillac's CTS.

— 07G35J (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 4:22:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

dugit, you can't "guarantee the average person on the street will never peg [the 135i and G37] as competitors". That's the problem -- I think you're wrong. Diehard Infiniti fans might not, but to someone thinking "gee, I'd like a $35k luxury coupe, let's see what's out there" they can look at the G37 and the 1-Series and... that's about it. Now, maybe in your opinion those people are stupid and uninformed and should know better like you do, since you're obviously a smart guy and a trendsetter for the masses whose ideas everyone should share, but I believe most people consider "price" and "utility" the primary factor in what cars compete with each other. And they're the same price. And have the same passenger space. And I think there's going to be a lot of people looking at a BMW coupe now who would have previously bought the G37 just because it was so much less expensive than a 3-Series coupe. After all, that's why the G37 has won the one or two comparison tests it has won against the 335i -- because the magazines said it was a good value. Take that away, and we'll see. Maybe the G will soldier on unaffected, but I think it's pretty ignorant of you to assume people won't take a look at both.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 7:29:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Job well done!

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 5:08:10 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 8   

Their products are officially garbage

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 8:46:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Their products are officially garbage

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 8:46:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

THEY ARE RELIABLE BUT BORING LOOKING CARS....THEY NEED TO GET A NEW DESIGN TEAM...AND QUICK!!!(FORMER 2003 TL OWNER)

— NISSANINFINITI (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 1:15:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

If anyone has cross shopped the TL and the G35 they would be an idiot to buy the TL. I owned a 2005 TL and found it to be a seriously flawed automobile. Technologically it was no farther advanced than the 2001 CL that I owned previously, except for the ELS stereo and the NAV. The interior was a disaster: the dash faded, the leather on the seats wore prematurely and a new rattle cropped up every week. Having quickly tired of the TL I recently purchased a new G35X. Oh my God, the stark difference between the 2 cars is like night and day. The G35 is an amazing piece of machinery that is a true enthusiasts car whereas the TL is a poseur. Acura (Honda) has taken the low road by concentrating on giving you the latest bells and whistles when they should put their efforts into making the TL a competitor vs the G35 and the 335 by taking a lesson from Infiniti and BMW on rear wheel drive performance and driving dynamics. You may ask "But what about the RL?".......oh yea, they are just flying off the shelf, so much so the gave it the gaudy MDX grill hoping to revive it's dismal sales. I haven't driven an M45 but I imagine it would soundly trounce the RL as much as the G35 kicks the TL's a$$.

— dano100 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/4/2008 1:03:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Are the actual numbers somewhere? I'm interested in how many EX35s they sold in March.

— finishline (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 5:49:39 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Wow, good job Nissan/Infiniti, they are still managing to rock it out with these cars. I would consider the G37 and G35, the most awesome coupe and sedan in their classes, both look drop dead hot!

— PerformanceGuy (View Profile)

Posted on 4/1/2008 7:05:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Good job Nissan/Infiniti.

btw I was trying to post an article about Infiniti for some days now and for whatever reasons it's not posted yet.

Anyway it was about new Infiniti G37 Coupe launched here in Middle East recentley. And guys do u know the Power. 350BHP. Yes 350BHP. Infiniti launched the G37 in middle East with the latest version of 3.7 V6 making 350BHP which makes it the most powerful in it's class. That's just stunning effort.

http://www.infiniti-me.com

http://www.infiniti-me.com/gcoupe/performance.htm

350BHP 3.7 V6. That's as much power as some of today's modern V8s.

Infniti is really serious about performance and i am will contineou to be better and fight for the best luxury performance title. Good luck.

all in all makers of GT-R can do anything.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 6:30:32 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

This per selling days adjustment crap is bullshit. You sold less car than you did last year for the same month. Period.

— Mercedes (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 7:59:58 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

What Infiniti could use in my opinion is to put the VQ25HR (which is a 2.5L version of the Nissan/Infiniti V6 and makes ~225-230hp) in the G and EX. It would allow Infiniti to offer a more fuel efficient and potentially less expensive model.

— MattB (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 12:40:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

yes u are right. Infiniti should definately consider lesser power and more fuel efficient varinats of G now especially when their V6's are making that big powers(330-350BHP). But i think it's the same case as Lexus. For reasons such as brand image they r not going below 6 cylinders.

anyway both strategies are nice.

Especially this new 350BHP G Coupe is awesome.

JUGNU

— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 4/2/2008 1:58:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2