Infiniti M35: A Rite of Passage
Two years ago, my husband Thomas decided to splurge and buy his first new, luxury, sporty car. Previously, he'd owned SUVs and one 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300 Series D-Class, which he kept in mint condition. He scoured the car buff reviews online, looked up information on independent and manufacturers' Web sites and glanced at press releases with results from J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality and APEAL Studies to find his special car.
Thomas came up with five 2006 models to consider: two compact premium conventional sedans—the Cadillac CTS and Lexus IS Series—and three midsize premium sedans—the Lexus ES Series, Acura RL and the Infiniti M. He wouldn't consider the BMW 5 Series because he had heard it was a "maintenance nightmare." My husband, a songwriter/rock musician and an information systems expert, was seeking a stylish, performance car that a tech geek and an audiophile could love.
After visiting dealerships and test driving four of the five models in his consideration set, he made a decision—and it wasn't just based on price. His choice—which has given him nearly as much pleasure as the red convertible mistress written about by social critic Vance Packard in "The Hidden Persuaders"—was and still is the redesigned 2006 Infiniti M in Crimson Roulette Pearl: a sexy, dark red.
Thomas opted for the Nissan-made V-6-powered M35 with the technology package, which included emerging features such as adaptive transmission logic, voice activated controls, backup assist, lane departure warning system (which can be turned off if it irritates you), in addition to sports suspension, since the M is built on a more rigid version of the G35 platform.
Luxury interior features included brushed aluminum trim, gray and charcoal leather. Elegant. Wheels and tires were an extra enticement for him. The Sport model came with 19-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels and low-profile tires, which are more costly but offer better handing and performance as well as a racier look. Realizing the cost of replacing one of these babies could be high, he insured the tires, which has already paid for itself.
Since the M-35 was redesigned for '06, there were a few new-model problems: early visits to the dealership to find out what was causing underbody clunking and a tear in the head liner that needed to be repaired. Both problems were taken care of. And, despite the inconvenience of bringing the car back to the dealership, my husband remains more than pleased with his sport sedan.
The dealership provided a G35 loaner each time the car required service and or maintenance and both problems were fixed. Our firm's CSI Studies find that problems resolved the first time create very satisfied customers, and those customers who receive personal communication about how the problems were repaired often return to the dealership for service—even after the initial warranty period ends. My husband will most likely return because he has been satisfied with the dealer's service.
In addition, my husband's 2006 M-Series scored well in overall initial quality and owner delight in its first year on the market. In 2006, the M Series ranked as the most appealing model in its segment, on our firm's APEAL Study and that same year, the M tied for the number-two spot in initial quality at the segment level.
For Thomas, driving the 2006 Infiniti M35 sports sedan is more than mere transportation. He can use the manual-shift mode for downshifting to accelerate in and out of traffic ahead of BMWs and Mercedes-Benz models on California's Pacific Coast Highway. There's also the joy of driving a sports sedan with tight handling and maneuverability. Out on the town for an evening, he can be a stylish bon vivant and enjoy compliments about his car from valet service attendants and owners of BMW 5- and 7-Series models when his car is parked. And, when he has shades on and is driving in Hollywood or Burbank, Thomas can look like a movie producer and appreciate glances from other motorists.
