Performance in the middle
I’m digging the new Infiniti commercials that make fun of Lexus. But, come on guys, you need something that hangs with the beamers. Their non-performance cars can hang with you, much less their performance line.
Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.
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July 21st, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Lexus IS-F. (And LFA.)
But Lexus has never really been about high-performance, anyway.
From the very start back in the late ’80s, the Q45 was faster and harder-edged, while the original LS400 was focused on providing a silent cabin and Toyota-like solidity and reliability. Those commercials are like teasing Rolls Royce because they don’t compete in NASCAR…
July 21st, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Ok, that had me laughing.
July 21st, 2011 at 4:11 pm
What regular BMW competes with the G37 sedans and coupes, or with the M56 and MHybrid?
I’ve never been in any BMW 3 series which touches the G37 or G37x in performance, except for the M series.
Likewise, with the 5 series verses the M56.
BMW’s are great cars, but I think that for the money, the Infiniti’s trump them.
NOW….if Infiniti would take those platforms and design a true “M” class of their own, well, that would be seriously kick butt!!!
July 21st, 2011 at 4:29 pm
A few of the 3 series can hang with the G, both doing 0-60 in about 5.
Indeed. If they’d drop the GTR turbochargers in a G . . .
July 21st, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Well, nevermind.
ETA: Update for 2011.
July 21st, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Jap vs. Kraut? In those Price ranges, I’ll take a Jag.
July 21st, 2011 at 4:44 pm
Check out the Lexus IS F… Reasonable price lots shits and giggles.
July 21st, 2011 at 5:10 pm
Bill,
“I’ve never been in any BMW 3 series which touches the G37 or G37x in performance, except for the M series.”
Answered your own question there, didn’t ya?
Incidentally, there’s more to driving than raw numbers, else Acura’s NS-X wouldn’t have the reputation amongst the cognoscenti that it does…
July 21st, 2011 at 5:13 pm
(And, seriously, beyond a certain point of “Yer-Guar-On-Teed-To-Get-A-Ticket,-Boy” it’s all hypothetical. Ask the cracker with the Infiniti G who was playing highway games with the Zed Drei in Tennessee back around Memorial Day. 😉 )
July 21st, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Bubblehead Les,
A fan of car-shaped garage-art, then, are we? 😉
July 21st, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Hey, we prefer the term ‘cracka’ 🙂
And what game? I was just driving expeditiously.
July 21st, 2011 at 8:53 pm
Oh, hey, totally!
I’m just glad you weren’t driving really expeditiously, because if my car got too much sand kicked in its face, it’d clog the air filter. 🙂
July 22nd, 2011 at 8:52 am
>> Jap vs. Kraut? In those Price ranges, I’ll take a Jag.
Ah, yes! The finest example of automotive engineering made in India….
July 22nd, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Tam, SayUncle pointed out that BMW’s “non-performance” line had a couple that could hang with the Infinitis.
The “M” BMW’s are the “performance” line, though BMW considers ALL their cars performance vehicles, and the “M” line their “high performance” line.
And I’ll grant that the 335’s can hang with the G37’s numbers wise, but the G’s have substantially more standard equipment and creature comforts, and I personally enjoy driving them much more, they seem to actually have some personality. My wife was very “Meh” about the 3 series BMW’s when shopping, but sat down in what became her G35S and said, “this is much nicer!”.
Top that off by a friend who bought his wife an M series Infiniti. When I asked, he said, “best value for the money in the class”, and went on to point out all the standard equipment that the M had that was an upgrade on a 5 series, or wasn’t even available.
As for the NSX, its a cult classic, but…..sort of like a Lotus. Works great, but…..
And yes, I’ve driven them, BMW’s through NSX’s, Corvettes, too. Even a 700 BHP street Camaro built specifically to beat on the Ferraris. (It did, but it still looked like a Camaro! I like Camaros, BTW.) Well, I like cars, period.
Just think that in todays market, Infiniti is doing a lot of things right!
In my mind, BMW = Glock, Infiniti = Nighthawk or Wilson Combat 1911. The BMW works, but has minimal soul and panache. The Infiniti works, and has both.
BUT…..YMMV! And ain’t America a wonderful place because we have all these choices!
July 22nd, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Hey, I have a G and love it. For the record.
July 22nd, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I remember! Great cars!