I was afraid of that
Infiniti started changing the names of their cars to Q something. They then changed the G37 to the Q50. And instead of going more toward the fun and speedy side, they went more whiz bang gadgets and luxury. Now it’s just another pretty, comfortable, and tech-laden 50-grand car. You can still get the G37, which most people say you should.
November 5th, 2013 at 11:33 pm
I liked the G’s from the first 30 I saw, but by then we were well embarked on our German bahn, and I never got a chance to try one. Now this Q like all the other ones, is over-designed, over-teched, and definitely over-priced (there’s a lot of cool competition for under 50K), so now I guess I never will.
November 6th, 2013 at 9:46 am
There used to be a bitter, clinging joke about how once the US makers were shamed and busted out of large RWD sedans, those would be the exclusive province of the Japanese (who in in those ancient times were sort of the anti-Big Car). And how many Only Lived Twice, seeing Bond dive into that Toyo, giggling “Imagine that…a Japanese sports car.” In a country with a 45 MPH limit.
Ask not for whom the bell tolls. Snell-approved, tinfoil -lined.
November 6th, 2013 at 10:58 am
That’s a shame. The G37 was at the top of my short list of possible replacements for my 6-speed Acura TL in a few years, since Acura has turned the newer TL’s into pudgy bloatmobiles wearing the Schnozz of Death.
November 6th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Truth is, it seems all the Jap makers have had their day in the (rising) sun and are now trying to jump the shark. Now the SoKo’s have eagerly taken their place; son rented a Hyundai Genesis for his trip home last week, and it was a classy, understated, and solid as a rock semi-luxury vehicle on a par with wife’s C300 Benz. And they make the upscale Equus version that competes toe to toe (and dollar for dollar) with the big Benz.
As f’d up as our own economy now is, the rise of both of those countries’ industrial complexes are a paean to our capitalist example and support.
November 7th, 2013 at 1:26 pm
E39 M5, that is all
November 7th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
They all seem to be going towards the “driving a computer” feel now. The loaner BMW I’ve driven lately seem totally detached from the road – and all about the gadgets.
I’m hoping the new Miata and/or Fiat that Mazda is producing won’t fall into that category.