Down to the Wire Test Drives: Infiniti Q60RS vs CamaroSS

UNKNOWN_370

SSo, after a couple years test driving a car here & there. I am doing final test drives to directly compare cars in a very close proximity to each other so I can get a true comparison. So I'll be test driving several cars over the next week or two and comparing them.

Today I test drove,

Q60 red sport 400HP
Q50 sport sedan 300HP

Camaro SS 460HP

Q60 vs Q50

Handling wise, they're identical, neither car handled better than the other. Last time i test drove a Q50 with DAS and hated it. This time, I drove both cars with the electro-hydraulic steering.
Steering is quick and precise, both cars have a really numb top dead center out to about 6°.
Both steering feel gets better as you go faster. Both has minimal turbo lag, but have the same aggressive response at throttle tip in. But only one goes so fast you're being thrown in your seat The RS, obviously. 300HP is fast though and navigates with ample power on the highway. Seating position is much better in the 60 and feels like a proper sports car when you sit in it.
Q50 feels like a RWD Altima SR. The RS feels so responsive, it's like the car is moving faster than your inputs while driving at speed and that's without DAS.

My biggest driving complaint is exhaust note and numb steering.
My biggest feature complaint us, no Android auto/apple Carplay. It's a $60,000 car. If Hyundai accents have Carplay?? Why not the infiniti?
Not that I care. But from a value perspective. It bothers not to have it.

The Q60 wins for overall seating position and ride height.

Next I tested the Camaro SS making it a direct competitor to the Q60. Having driven both 30 minutes apart from each other. I discovered these cars handle VERY SIMILARLY.

Now the Camaro didn't have the magnetic ride. But the RS did. have it's DIGITAL dynamic suspension. And both these cars felt identical in road feel thru the suspension and steering. But in track mode, the Camaro gets an artificial heavy, while still communicating a Lil more thru the steering wheel. Both very isolated cars inside. The Camaro SS was surprisingly higher featured than the Q for much less money ($10k less)
Interior quality was similar with a slight edge to the infiniti. The carbon fiber was the biggest interior quality advantage in the Q. The Camaro does not translate well on the interior in pictures. Both interiors in black are definitely in the same ballpark.

Both cornered really well. In reality, Camaro is easier to see out of than last gen, but the Q really has little obstruction when looking out or around.
Both corner out very similarly. The Camaro adds more drama with the right sounds coming out of the exhaust. The Q is in desperate need of a straight pipe exhaust and possibly even downpipes to get it to sound like something?

Down below are some bullets of advantages and disadvantages.

Key Infiniti features over Camaro

GT-R like acceleration feel.
It feels like its getting ahead of you in a good way.

Optional 360° overhead camera.

More precise steering

Interior carbon fiber

Standard moonroof

Superior sound system.

Higher quality paint, exterior.

Feels faster

Mildly easier to corner

Easier entry.

15% more visibility

Will impress your friends

Is faster
1


Key Camaro features over infiniti.

Cooled seats

Better overall handling

Higher resolution touchscreen

Apple car play/Android auto

3D Head up Display.

Wi-Fi installed at no extra cost

Cell phone charging pad.

Multi choice speed tach.

Track mode

Multiple choice interior ambient lighting

460HP/455lbs of tq.

30mpg highway


Where they are equally good.

General handling

Going fast

Cornering

Road manners

Mods available

Will impress the ladies
Camaro interior is only 5% lower in overall quality, but costs $10,000 with more features. So I say they're equal.

Where they are equally flawed

Numb steering if driving normal.

Minimal feedback


Where the infiniti is stronger

Refinement

Outward view

Easier getting in and out.

Where Camaro is stronger

Exhaust note

Overall steering feel

Quicker manual mode shifts.


Conclusions

I was expecting the Q to walk off easily with better features and it didn't. They were closer.

I expected the Camaro torque to feel substantially stronger than the Camaro. That didn't happen either.

Both drove really well but you can tell the Camaro is DEFINITELY more track ready. Even in standard SS guise.

My next drives are the M2 (if possible) and the Alfa Giulia. Hoping one of these will be the outline to two very SIMILAR cars for the money.

Camaro 2SS RS pkg with 1LE suspension install.

$52,000

Infiniti Q60RS with the Bose package, splitter body kit & no DAS= $60,000. Add more tech $62,000. Add das and das tech pkg. $65,000

Camaro is a huge value.
Infiniti externally almost looks exotic.

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sunkist350z

Nice review.

UNKNOWN_370

Thanks.... getting in them back to back I would have never thought they could be so comparable. They're both great cars. But also are both "HANDLING" compromises when compared to driving a Z.

The Camaro feels less daily friendly than the Q. I guess overall, The Q is a better DD that has track potential IF you can swap into a coilover or koni/swift without ruining what is the dynamic digital suspension?

The Camaro SS is a better track toy that you can daily if you have to? I can see why people still prefer a mustang in terms of comfort & visibility. But I still find the Camaro 6 better than the 5 in terms of visibility.

The Q acceleration gets in your stomach more believe it or not!!

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6spd

Great review, my wife got a Q50S and I LOVE it, could imagine how much I'd love the Q60 Red. The Camaro is such a capable and valuable deal, but I just can't get past that interior. Just not up to par in my opinion.

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Magic Bus

Nice review and I'm looking forward to your M2 and Giulia review. If you were in Honolulu, I'd let you drive my M2.

UNKNOWN_370

I'm having a bit of an issue getting my hands on an M2. I want to drive it first before the Giulia as Bimmer is the benchmark brand. I wish you were here. I'd LOVE to drive your car.

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UNKNOWN_370

Considering an MRC equipped 2SS is $45,000 in manual and you get corvette Z51 type performance. I think the interior is pretty good. But it's all perspectives and what you value in your purchase. So I feel u.

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UNKNOWN_370

Infiniti Q60 red sport packages/pricing: A mish mash of lunacy, ridiculousness and lacking all forms of value.

Infiniti Red sport base price with the standard equipment:

$54,455

Nissan will DECEPTIVELY SHOW YOU A PRICE OF... $51,300,
the next page will add destination of $52,205
until you pick ANY STANDARD interior color. The price instantly inflates to $54,455

So Nissan has the first standard interior as an $2,245 option. Do we put out of sitting down in our cars?

What's standard:
-Outdated nav
-heated seats
-rear mirror/compass/combo
-memory seats
-sunroof
-BEAUTIFUL leather seats.
- basic power mirrors etc...

What's packaged that should also be standard:
-360 rear camera
-blind spot intervention
-intelligent cruise control
-Wi-Fi

What's missing on all Q60's for entry price:
-Cooled seats
-Bigger moonroof
-Updated Nav
-Standard paddle shifters on all models

What should be a unpackaged standalone option:
-Direct adaptive steer
-Adaptive headlights

What's missing in Red Sport:
-Red accents for one.
-Red sport tire package not -aggressive enough.
-BETTER WHEEL+TIRE
-DCT
-REAL LSD

What's a fail at in all sub-models.
-No paddle shift in all models
-taking out magnesium paddles
-7AT transmission
-Not using hydro-electric steering as an option throughout the range.

What's a fail in Red Sport:
To warrant $54,455 in the red sport? I give you these missing features;
-No Red accents for one.
-No Red sport tire package not -aggressive enough.
-No BETTER WHEEL+TIRE
-No DCT
-No REAL LSD


Why Nissan insists on fail packaging that leaves them behind in the feature list is beyond me. Hyundai has become more impressive.

This is why the Q has to be the most beautiful car on the road. Cuz inside, it has no substance.

This car in features has been outclassed by a $23,000 Hyundai. Granted the performance aspect is apples to oranges. But with an outdated transmission, Hyundai like paddle shifters, and a lack of 21at century features in a modern car leaves the Infiniti far behind once you're coughing up $60,000+.
There's at least a $6,000 déficit in value if you add the BSI, WI-FI & 360 camera. As configured:

The 2.0 shouldn't exist....
3.0 should start @ $40,000
3.0 sport should =$43,000
The Red Sport @ $46,000
Loaded with every option it should be $58,000

The Camaro out options this car in every way at its $63,000 price tag at a mere $50,000. There's not $13,000 more car inside the infiniti.

When you have cars like the M2, Audi TT-S in the same price range as the 400RS.

YOU'RE PAYING $8,000 FOR BEAUTIFUL SEATS.and the VANITY aspect of its design. I think this car May suffer, 2012, 370z syndrome at refresh time?

THE VERDICT:
Lease or buy one used.

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Favorite Quote.
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6spd

Pretty thoroughly agree, these are great cars once they're a couple/few years old and you get one from some rich lady who garaged it 6 months a year in her Florida home and only then took it out to go shopping at Saks 5th so it smells of expensive perfume.

Oh wait, that's how we got our Q lmao!

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UNKNOWN_370

Even if buying one now. Get that demo deal or that lease exchange with 4,000 miles on it.
You'll save $8,000 to $11,000 right there.

It's an amazing car. But there packaging and lack of features at base cost is laughable. I'm seriously interested in this car. But, I've had an issue with ALL performance cars I guess.

The pay to play marketing has gone to an extreme. N were suffering solely based on their focus on non selling e cars. It's ridiculous.

Every car in the performance segment is overpriced. I have much more respect for the Camaro + Corvette. There's an inherent dollar value to these cars once you're out their test driving.... which brings me to the Alfa Giulia. I guess I will be testing that car in a couple days, without getting that M2 test drive. Can't find one for testing in my area. I guess I'll just compare it to my experience in the Q50

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2011 Nismo#91

Very nice review. Both the Camaro and the Mustang have come a long way in the last two years from where they first started. Both have "respectable" suspensions now and the interiors have much improved going from a completely retro look to a modern interior with some retro accents.

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Driftomodachi

The new camaro ss is similar to the m4. Alpha chassis camaro ss is such a bad *** car

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JLarson

Unknown_370, I appreciated your review here quite a bit. I had a chance to test drive the Q50 RS with my wife a few months back, and I definitely enjoyed the drive, but agree with your analysis.

Also, you're the first person to post who would make me consider a camaro!

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UNKNOWN_370

Thanks brother. The Camaro is an outstanding value. It'll make a great secondary sports car. It can't replace a Z, but it gives you a different type of excitement just as thrilling. And at speeds over 100mph. It's more thrilling than a Z. The Z the the perfect low speed car. Meaning up to 100mph. The Camaro is a very comfortable car at 150mph.

Get ready for down to the wire 2. It's gonna be a great one. I will review the Alfa Ti Sport AWD and compare it to the infiniti Q50. This is truly gonna be an interesting write up. I've been in love with Alfa styling. But now I have experience behind the wheel. I took an extensive test drive. I'll try to get as in depth as possible.

It will be on a new thread

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Favorite Quote.
"I'm not gonna kill you... I'm just gonna Bash Your Face In" Jack Nicholson-"The Shining". 1980