Anyone here in a Q50?
 

I personally think the Infiniti Q50 is a gorgeous car.

They just started putting out the option of Z wheels for it:
http://max.leftlanenews.com/photos/c...ort-ri_653.jpg

Look familiar?

Anyway, the biggest criticism I have found for the vehicle is that there is no goddamn manual transmission the steering is garbage. Infiniti has heard that loud and clear, as they're preparing to bring back the hydraulic steering rack from the G37/370Z specifically for the S model trim.

With the performance wheels and tires equipped as pictured, the car is said to outperform a 335i M-Sport on the track.

This very well could be my next car, especially if a manual transmission makes a comeback with the car. I would likely trade the Z for it rather than my original plan of getting a truck and keeping the Z. For some reason, a sedan like that really excites me at this point in my life. I'm also attracted to it because Stillen has jumped in the Q50 arena with a supercharger and catback, and Tanabe just debuted their new exhaust for it, as well as lowering springs. It seems the aftermarket is latching on a bit with this car.

I don't like German "reliability" so before you say Audi S4 (which really is the perfect car for me, but I have heard horror stories about things that happen when the warranty expires - same with BMW).

If you don't have a Q50, feel free to post pictures of hot modded ones, you know... a bit of RICE :happydance: like this (not so ricey, but you get it)
http://i1289.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7fdc2892.jpg

CarbonFZ traded is Z for one.

I'm sure he has plans for it but has yet to update the forum.

http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...thread-18.html

A lot of my friends in Japan hate this car and think it's ugly for some reason. I personally think it looks great. Is the Z wheels option a real thing? They actually look good on the car.

My buddy picked up the Q50S Hybrid last spring. He loves it. I think it's a great car to drive but a very mediocre driver's car. As mentioned the steering sucks balls. Handling in general feels a bit worse than a G37S, probably because it's a bit more of a pig with the electric motor and batteries (maybe? idk...). But the power is ok, it is feature-rich, very comfortable cruising, and it looks pretty damn sexy. I don't think I'd ever buy one for the price.

I would wait for the new 2016 Maxima that is said to release Fall 2015 or early 2016.

Fully loaded it will be about only $42,000 and there is rumors of a Nismo package release that will be about $46,000 and house either a six speed transmission or the dual clutch transmission found in the GTR.

Nissan wants to make the Maxima more sportier, it will also said to have about 320 horsepower, and may include limited slip differential or rear wheel drive option.

Did I mention it will look way sexier than the Q50?

Was going to get this, but got the 14 Sport instead! haha
The Q50 is nice but too luxury for me, not sporty enough. Plus the rear end kind of reminds me of a hyundai

Have already seen the Maxima. Can already tell you that, while most of you posted would be cool, it's not happening.

When Infiniti was talking about the Eau Rouge, they were talking $100k WITHOUT the GT-R's rear mounted transaxle setup (A Q50 with the GT-R motor mated to a beefed up version of the 7AT from the Z/Q/G). Absolutely no way the GT-R tranny is happening in a Maxima. If they put the Z powertrain in the Maxima with a 7AT I'd be absolutely thrilled, but that's probably not happening either because the new Max isn't being built on a RWD platform.

IF Nissan were to do anything against the grain with the new Maxima, it'd be an AWD CVT setup akin to that found in the new Murano. That's as far out in left field as it gets.

This is precisely what I was wondering.

His car likely has the Direct Active Steering (steer-by-wire), which numbs it.

I need to dig up the review that talked about driving the Q50 with the Z wheels that wasn't equipped with DAS.

I can imagine an S model with the wheels with hydraulic steering would feel far more like the G37S with respect to driving dynamic.

Yep! Go build a 2015 Q50 and at the end, there is a performance wheel and tire option in "packages" on an S model only.

IMO, the Q50s looks great, especially with those wheels!

Numb is exactly the right description.

If i'm not mistaken? The non-hybrid/non tech pkg Q50 sport is hydraulic steering. It's every other Q model Thats elec-steer.

I love the Q50 and plan on replacing my wife's aging G35S sedan with one. Personally I think the older Rays (09-12) would look better and may end up going that route.

i think the is350 f-sport looks better. performance and everything else, the q50s is better per my buddy who owns and test drove both before getting his q50s.

but these kinda cars you look like a dumbarse driving fast anyway so the is350's performance is ample imo.

Yep I lurk here often and this forum has a lot paved performance threads with the Z that can carry over to the Q. No other forum members has pushed the VQ37 like you guys have.
After reading your autocross thread I'm thinking go big upfront and stock rear with stiffer springs.

Tanabe Test Fit - Page 2 - 2014 Infiniti Q50 Forum

Yep, the car is great!

I've been a lurker here for a while since I got mine as I've not found a more informed group of people pushing the VQ37 platform at the levels you guys are on this forum. :tiphat:

In fact you've paved quite a performance path in numerous threads that will cross over from the Z to the Q.

After reading the Autocross thread I'm nearly convinced all you need is a big bar on the front and slightly stiffer rear bar and or stiffer springs in the rear. Then squeeze the widest and stickiest tire you can on the fronts, 255 to possibly 265 to combat the understeer.

I believe the Q50/370/G37 front sway bars are all the same and Tanabe has a slightly stiffer rear sway bar.

And Stillen has released the Q50 Supercharger Kit very similar to the 370z.

Looks like Stillen is working on upgrades.

Looks like Stillen is working on upgrades to the Q50.

Mark at Stillen confirmed the front sway bars on the Q50 are the same as the G37/370z.

Interesting...

STILLEN Q50 Supercharger Kit - Official Release - Page 17 - 2014 Infiniti Q50 Forum

Right now, to determine my future with the car, I'm scavenging the internet to figure out an answer to the open diff that is in the Q50S. If the Quaife offered for the G/Z will fit, problem solved, and I'll make a monster out of this thing. I really love the car and the only thing I absolutely dislike about it is the open diff.

Wheels and tires are next for me, but before I remove my run-flats, I want to add the spare-tire kit. I love the idea of having two sets of wheels right now.

I thought the Q came with the viscous oil diff? or is dat not enough for your application? :D

I think Nissan didn't put the viscous in the Q50 sport sedan like they did in the G's.

:ugh2: dat makes no sense..

:iagree:

Yup - it's true. No viscous LSD in any RWD Q50, regardless of trim. Active Trace Control is the "solution" which just uses the brakes to mimic what an LSD does. Not very well I might add.

I'm glad the Q50 has the new 3.0TT. Can't wait to see what these engines are capable of over the next couple years.

i see... hummm.. maybe okay for daily driver but yah, for us car guys u'd probably want more realistic LSD action (or the real LSD).

yah, as long as it does not have issues like the DAS i am sure it could be a big hit.

They revamped both the standard steering (rack electronic) and the Direct Adaptive Steering very heavily for the 2016 models.

I'm afraid to drive one. Between the new twin turbo V6, the dynamic digital suspension, and the upgraded steering, I'm afraid I will feel like I pulled the trigger too early on mine. About 6-8 months. Ha

THE Q60 has the new tt engine in the q50 the one to get is the hybrid. its faster than the ipl.

Hey Ricer, what are your thoughts on the 2015 sport vs the 2016? I'm leaning towards consolidating cars and the q50 is high on the list. There's also some deep discounts on 2015 right now. Pros of the 15 would be a proven drivetrain as I don't like being the guinea pig. We all know the pros of the 2016 so wondering your thoughts? I'm looking at an AWD sport with our without DAS

I was gonna get the Q50 if I didn't get the Z, but then my gf said it looked like a older guys car haha glad I went with her advice because the Z turns head and the Q...(theres too many) and driven by older dudes haha

BE PREPARED - I'm about to get wordy.

I've been weighing this a lot myself actually. There are a few factors that haven't been made available to help me make a decision (one being price... how much is this thing going to be?!), the other being equipment changes.

I have a couple buyer's remorse things in my 2015. Luckily, you can still track down many 2015s that have these options that I didn't get, and I advise you to do so on the 2015 -

1) Rays wheels (Performance wheel and tire package). These also come with a physical spare. If you're not concerned about having a ton of trunk space, get the spare.

2) Navigation package. My car didn't have it, and I didn't think I would care for it... but almost a year into it and being acquainted with the InTouch system, staring at that clock on the top screen... meh. I would rather make use of the extra capability by having the Nav.

Other stuff I didn't get, but I didn't care about because this is my first luxury car -

1) Remote start. Would have been neat to have, but I can't figure out how it's packaged. I test drove several Q50s, but on purchase day, I drove two 2015 sports. One had the Rays wheels, one did not. I thought that was the only difference, but apparently there was something else on the car that carried the remote start feature. The only thing I do know is that neither car had navigation.

2) Seat memory (and it pairs with the intelligent key). This wasn't a priority for me - I rarely don't drive my car, so once it's dialed in, it usually stays there. Would be neat, but not worth getting the Deluxe Touring Package for.

As for the 2016 - I don't know if the Rays wheel package will still be available. It doesn't look like it, as the 2016 Red Sport models the press have been getting have staggered tire sizes on the new sport wheels (265 rear, 245 front). Many don't realize this, but the optional Rays wheels on the Q50 are four front 370Z rays wheels - square wheels, staggered tires. The rears would poke past the rear fenders. My 2015 Sport has the regular sport wheels with runflats, square 245 setup. They suck. Great DD tire, but the first time you try and have any fun with it, it's easy to overwhelm the tires. Plus, runflats are SUPER stiff and don't lend themselves well to the ride quality. I expect this to be exacerbated by the gobs of torque available in the 2016 Red Sport.

Another thing I have touched on in this thread is the lack of a limited slip differential. I don't know if that changes in the 2016 - there's nothing in any of the press releases that points one way or the other. I really wish they would, and that would be a tipping point toward the 2016. Otherwise, powertrain aside, the cars are identical. So I'll break down my final thoughts now.

I prefer naturally aspirated power. It's always on, always there, and there are less components to worry about failure points with. That said, stock turbo power, well executed, is also attractive to me. However, at the end of the day, I need to be able to trust my car - when I hit the start button, it needs to start, and it needs to safely take me from where I am to where I am going. A more tried and true powertrain brings me that peace of mind. People have hammered on the VQ37 on this forum with many different power adders, and I have read through it vigorously - I know where its failure points are. I also know that I can get to the 400hp mark with this car at the crank with bolt ons - so I can take this car to where the 2016 is (minus the torque) and still be n/a and have a VERY reliable daily driver with a good tune (I live within 2 hours of Z1 Motorsports). I would prefer to have that setup with the Rays wheels and a good LSD. Now, with the extra discounts, I would have absolutely sourced a properly equipped 2015 and taken advantage (and I would still be working on finding a true LSD solution).

If you want to mod and you want bang for the buck for your mod dollar, the 2016 is a no brainer. The aftermarket support for factory boosted cars is monstrous, and the new Q50 will be no exception. I have already talked to Fast Intentions, and they have already told me they will have a full lineup of parts available for the VR30 in the Q50/60. I imagine it's possible for the catback exhausts to carry over to the 14-15 Q50s, because I would think that since the turbo engine is dropping into the car otherwise built for the 3.7 that they'd be able to keep the mounting points for the catback the same, but I have been wrong there before. The other big change is the transmission, though - it's the M56 transmission, basically. It can handle the extra power of the VR30 (and probably a bit more). Now, you can source the 7AT upgrades available from Fast Intentions with their twin turbo setup for the 370Z and be in a good spot with the 3.7L Q50, but you won't have a transmission warranty.

(I also forgot about the dynamic suspension on the 2016 - you can adjust dampening via InTouch, which is neat, but not a priority for me - I like sport suspension all the time.)

TL;DR -

If you're happy with some simple bolt ons on a tried and true platform, the changes going to the twin turbo Q50 aren't quite enough to pay the premium on an as yet unproven powertrain. Take the money saved and rock a 2015.

If you want extra factory power now, and you want it under warranty, and you like the idea of having some cutting edge performance tech, the 2016 is the way to go. The Q50 red sport is more tweakable than a GT-R from the factory - with the performance packages, you can tune transmission shift logic, throttle tip in (and boost management -Sport+ Mode allows "overboost"), suspension dampening, and steering up to 150+ different combinations. Kinda neat, but lots to mess with. To each his own there. I wouldn't pay extra to get all that, but I would have fun with it if I had it (all things equal)

Let us know what you decide! If you end up considering a 2015 and shelve the idea of a 2016, go drive a Lexus IS350 F Sport before you drive a Q50 and let me know what you think. If you decide on a 2016, don't even bother with the Lexus - you'll be torque-drunk after driving the Q50 Red Sport.

Also - since I'm a dummy and apparently glossed over the AWD preference in your post, the LSD thing is not at all a problem for you - the AWD sport Q50s make use of actual LSDs... the RWD versions are open diff.

A final point - DAS is COMPLETELY BETTER in the 2016. An AWD Red Sport 2016 with DAS should be a sweet freakin car. You might have to drive both. (Can you tell I have recently had my caffeine for the day?)

Will the RWD G pumpkin fit in the Q?

Regarding seat memory, I'm single and the only other people that drive my car are the Infiniti dealer guys. Every time the car has been returned it's like a 5-foot woman adjusted the seats. The memory, though not often used, is very nice to have.

Nissan does better with first year turbos than first year N/A vehicles. I have no idea why Nissan strayed from turbo tech in the first place?

Wow I don't know how I missed this until now but thanks for the input Ricer. I looked at the IS, but the it's just too small. Throw an infant seat in the back and the front seat is useless. The Q has a roomier back seat and is more similar in size to my current TL which I find to be adequate. Instead I've been looking at the GS350 F sport. It's pricier but prefer it's styling and the larger wheelbase over the IS. This won't be the dedicated family car anyhow but it still needs to be roomy enough to accommodate three comfortably with the car seat.

The majority of these cars in the Chicago area are AWD so I don't think I can get the Rays. But I like the sport wheels and they are equipped with the same akebonos as the Z. I've also read that the 2014 had many issue with the infotainment system which was drastically improved in 2015 with revised hardware and software. I'm wondering if the 2016 will be even better. The dynamic suspension and DAS tweaks seem nice as well.

At this point I think I'm just going to wait and see the 2016. I don't want buyers remorse and am not in a rush to consolidate cars either. If it's quirky I may just wait it out or snatch up a pre-owned 2015 or GS350 instead. I change my mind on this topic about twice a day

Don't know the answer to that yet, but I'm working on getting to Z1 and having them look the car over. I just haven't had the time to take a road trip, and I just wrote a fat check for my damn income taxes, so my spending is on hold until I finish drinking that off.