Topic: Test Drive: 2011 Infiniti G25x

[Mitlov]

Infiniti didn't really think this through.  This car has been missing in their lineup for a long time, and now that it's here, we are not impressed.  All of it's competitors offer a manual transmission, as any sport sedan should, especially one with a smaller displacement.  To make matters even worse, they don't even offer a coupe entry, I can forgive the lack of convertible, but a coupe is need to compete properly with BMW.  The price isn't great either, it is not cheaper but any means than the competitors it faces in the article.

And it's not much cheaper than the G37x, which gives you more.

G25x Sedan Automatic 7 Speed $40,450
G37x Sedan Automatic 7 Speed $43,450

Lets hope Cadillac doesn't make the same mistake when it brings it's car slotted below the current CTS, it should have a manual option, and coupe as well, and make sure it's at least $4,000 cheaper than the car (CTS) above it.

Agreed, the G25x makes little sense, compared to the G37x. But the base G25 (non-X) is well-priced and makes a lot of sense. It compares very favourably to the BMW 323i, and I'm guessing it comes with more features as standard than does the Bimmer.

Infiniti will always come with more features than Lexus/BMW/Mercedes as they are not in the same segment.  IMO they are in the same category as Acura/Cadillac/Audi.

Has anyone told Audi that they're not in the same segment as Lexus and BMW and Mercedes?  This is news to me.  Match-ups between the 3-Series, C-Class, and A4 are as common as...I dunno, something really really common.

[greengs]

Infiniti didn't really think this through.  This car has been missing in their lineup for a long time, and now that it's here, we are not impressed.  All of it's competitors offer a manual transmission, as any sport sedan should, especially one with a smaller displacement.  To make matters even worse, they don't even offer a coupe entry, I can forgive the lack of convertible, but a coupe is need to compete properly with BMW.  The price isn't great either, it is not cheaper but any means than the competitors it faces in the article.

And it's not much cheaper than the G37x, which gives you more.

G25x Sedan Automatic 7 Speed $40,450
G37x Sedan Automatic 7 Speed $43,450

Lets hope Cadillac doesn't make the same mistake when it brings it's car slotted below the current CTS, it should have a manual option, and coupe as well, and make sure it's at least $4,000 cheaper than the car (CTS) above it.

Agreed, the G25x makes little sense, compared to the G37x. But the base G25 (non-X) is well-priced and makes a lot of sense. It compares very favourably to the BMW 323i, and I'm guessing it comes with more features as standard than does the Bimmer.

Infiniti will always come with more features than Lexus/BMW/Mercedes as they are not in the same segment.  IMO they are in the same category as Acura/Cadillac/Audi.

Has anyone told Audi that they're not in the same segment as Lexus and BMW and Mercedes?  This is news to me.  Match-ups between the 3-Series, C-Class, and A4 are as common as...I dunno, something really really common.

Segment was maybe not the right word.  IMO tier 1 luxury makes are BMW, Mercedes and Lexus.  Tier 2 luxury are Infiniti Acura Cadillac Audi etc.  All I was trying to convey is that brands like BMW can price their cars higher, with less equipment and still outsell brands like Infiniti and Audi in the luxury segment.  IMO that's because they are in a higher tier, ie customers are willing to pay more for what seems like less on paper to get into those cars.

[JSCC]

Here are November sales numbers from http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/.

The BMW 3 series is still way up there.
Free Automatic transmission and a $2000 rebate does wonders!

[Bubba]

Hmmm..... $6,000 for the privilege of buying here. Is Infiniti Canada really that much more inefficient than the US arm?

No, they just like to rip off Canadians.

G37 M6 Sport
US: $39,450 + $875 "Destination and Handling" = $40,325
Canada: $46,540 + $1,920 "Freight and PDE" = $48,460

Also, Vibrant Red is NOT a colour choice in Canada.

[Jaeger]

I do wish  new car threads wouldn't get so frequently de-railed by the endlessly repetitive bleating about US / Canadian pricing.

You all know there's a whole dedicated subforum for that particular rant, right?

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/board,19585.0.html

Jaeger

[Ex-airbalancer]

I do wish  new car threads wouldn't get so frequently de-railed by the endlessly repetitive bleating about US / Canadian pricing.

You all know there's a whole dedicated subforum for that particular rant, right?

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/board,19585.0.html

Jaeger

[aquadorhj]

I do wish  new car threads wouldn't get so frequently de-railed by the endlessly repetitive bleating about US / Canadian pricing.

You all know there's a whole dedicated subforum for that particular rant, right?

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/board,19585.0.html

Jaeger

but it makes life so much the easier to stream line complaints for each and all individual cars that offends canadians with preferential pricing toward US market.   

[Bubba]

Oops. 

[Loudpedal]

Anybody know what the 2.5 redlines at?

[sailor723]

I do wish  new car threads wouldn't get so frequently de-railed by the endlessly repetitive bleating about US / Canadian pricing.

You all know there's a whole dedicated subforum for that particular rant, right?

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/board,19585.0.html

Jaeger

Where's the little smiley holding the sign that says "I disagree"? 

Different companies have vastly different approaches to CDN vs US pricing. I don't think it's inappropriate to touch on this subject when discussing a new car and the manufacturers pricing strategy for that car.

[guest]

Anybody know what the 2.5 redlines at?

According to a CarandDriver.com review of the G25, and I quote: "The engine, which was installed in the Chinese-market EX35 and Japanese M25, is delightfully smooth compared with the occasionally coarse 3.7-liter in the G37 and is happy revving to its 7500-rpm redline."

[Loudpedal]

I do wish  new car threads wouldn't get so frequently de-railed by the endlessly repetitive bleating about US / Canadian pricing.

You all know there's a whole dedicated subforum for that particular rant, right?

http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/board,19585.0.html

Jaeger

Where's the little smiley holding the sign that says "I disagree"? 

Different companies have vastly different approaches to CDN vs US pricing. I don't think it's inappropriate to touch on this subject when discussing a new car and the manufacturers pricing strategy for that car.

[Loudpedal]

Anybody know what the 2.5 redlines at?

According to a CarandDriver.com review of the G25, and I quote: "The engine, which was installed in the Chinese-market EX35 and Japanese M25, is delightfully smooth compared with the occasionally coarse 3.7-liter in the G37 and is happy revving to its 7500-rpm redline."

Tks guest!

[JSCC]

So what is the reasonable price for the G25 and G25X?

With the high Japanese Yen and dropping Euro.
It is getting harder for the "imported" Japanese vehicles to be price competitive against the Euro competition.

Don't even think of undercutting, they may have difficultly in matching them.

[guest]

So what is the reasonable price for the G25 and G25X?

This is a hard question to answer.  The major difference between a G25 and G37 lies in the engines.  But, the basic architecture of both V6's are essentially identical; they may differ in bore and stroke and other minor valve train details, but most, if not all the hardware is fundamentally the same.  It isn't as if one has a supercharger/turbo and added complexity.

So, from a manufacturing point of view, a comparably equipped G37 and G25 would probably cost about the same to make....probably within a couple $100 of each other.

So, Nissan can not undercut the price too much for the G25 otherwise it won't be profitable.  This is a different scenario compared to lets say the TSX; the V6 version probably costs more to manufacture so a increase in price makes a bit more sense for the V6 version compared to the I4 TSX.

[Mitlov]

So, Nissan can not undercut the price too much for the G25 otherwise it won't be profitable.  This is a different scenario compared to lets say the TSX; the V6 version probably costs more to manufacture so a increase in price makes a bit more sense for the V6 version compared to the I4 TSX.

But it's very similar to what Lexus faces with the IS250/IS350.  And Mercedes with the C300/C350.  And BMW before the advent of the N54 engine, when it was 325i/330i.  In all of these cases, it doesn't make sense to have the cheaper one far cheaper simply from a manufacturing perspective, but I think they made some standard equipment optional on the lower trims in order to have a reasonable price gap.

[JSCC]

So, Nissan can not undercut the price too much for the G25 otherwise it won't be profitable.  This is a different scenario compared to lets say the TSX; the V6 version probably costs more to manufacture so a increase in price makes a bit more sense for the V6 version compared to the I4 TSX.

But it's very similar to what Lexus faces with the IS250/IS350.  And Mercedes with the C300/C350.  And BMW before the advent of the N54 engine, when it was 325i/330i.  In all of these cases, it doesn't make sense to have the cheaper one far cheaper simply from a manufacturing perspective, but I think they made some standard equipment optional on the lower trims in order to have a reasonable price gap.

The situation is different in Canada:
BMW has the 323i Luxury Edition (2.5L I6 with 200HP) which is similarly priced as the base Infiniti G25.
MB has the C250/C250 4Matic (2.5L V6 with 200HP) which are also similarly priced as the base Infiniti G25/G25X.

And these 2 models are the major reasons why the 3 series and C-Class are at the top of this segment in Canada.
(Have a look at the chart from GoodCarBadCar)

Imagine how sales numbers would change in US if these 2 models were offered at at price point around US$32,000~$34,000 fully loaded (= base prices of 328 and C300)!

[JSCC]

I believe the G25 is well positioned and priced against the IS250/328i/C300 in the USA.

But not making that much of a splash due to the fact the 323i and C250 exists in Canada.

[vaff3]

I think it's a good comparison to the Acura TSX.  They are both about the same size, price range and brand niche.  Front wheel drive vs rear wheel.

[JSCC]

I think it's a good comparison to the Acura TSX.  They are both about the same size, price range and brand niche.  Front wheel drive vs rear wheel.

That is like comparing the Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrac vs the BMW 328i RWD.
But the difference is the 2010 TSX actually has a higher MSRP than the G25 RWD.
Shouldn't FWD be technically cheaper to build than RWD?

Still haven't seen the pricing on the 2011 TSX yet.
Is Acura planning to skip 2011 all together and go straight to 2012?