View Poll Results: Infiniti's launch of the M37/56
Infiniti marketing contiues to be just horrible
11
23.91%
Doesn't matter it wouldn't sell anyway
12
26.09%
Infiniti marketing is just fine and it works
6
13.04%
Wait, a new Infiniti came out?
10
21.74%
Pictures of these leprachauns holding the pixie dust please
6
13.04%
Doesn't matter how bad the advertising is with class leading lease deals
1
2.17%
Voters: 46. You may not vote on this poll
Infiniti still doesn't get it and has dropped the ball on the M37/56
06-26-10, 12:13 PM
#46
06-26-10, 12:24 PM
#47
Lexus Champion
06-26-10, 12:25 PM
#49
Lexus Champion
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I drove both the 5er and the M recently and I've got to say, besides the terrible advertising I just didn't think the M was as good a vehicle either. I felt that the basic M rode rougher than the sport package 5er and the M, as all Infiniti products recently, despite looking good just felt cheap on the inside. And speaking of the good looking inside, it's striking at first but after a 10 minute drive I started to grow tired of the never ending waves and curves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdQlQ3lke-U
It emphasizes beauty and says nothing about being an "ultimate driving machine". It's just that the 5 has such a reputation and a built-in expectation as a BMW that it really doesn't matter.
06-26-10, 12:55 PM
#50
Guest
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With all the talk about the M's advertising I have to say that the TV ads for the new 5 are not any better.
It emphasizes beauty and says nothing about being an "ultimate driving machine". It's just that the 5 has such a reputation and a built-in expectation as a BMW that it really doesn't matter.
It emphasizes beauty and says nothing about being an "ultimate driving machine". It's just that the 5 has such a reputation and a built-in expectation as a BMW that it really doesn't matter.
. However as you stated, consumers respond to BMW and will buy the product in droves. BMW's brand is one of the strongest around and people know it stands for sport/luxury. In the WSJ, Infiniti is advertsiting the new lease for the G/M and they chose a base M37 to advertise. Its a big ad, maybe 1/4 of the page or more but it just isn't flattering the M37 in the pic and the G37 in front looks way to similar. At least there they stated the G37 has the "most standard power in class" which is a great feature to mention.
(on a side note Porsche bought a huge 2 page ad in the center of the WSJ with a Black Turbo Cayenne explaining how its 400lbs lighter and its performance. It is stunning.
).
06-26-10, 01:49 PM
#51
Lexus Fanatic
Some of the Infinitis did OK in the marketplace (The G-series, for example, has been arguably their most succesful product); but, yes, several Infiniti models, no doubt, did poorly. This would obviously include the Q45, G20, and the original M30, with the J30 only slightly better. The big QX56 SUV, unlike the rival Lexus LX series, was also stuck with poor reliability.
06-26-10, 02:04 PM
#52
Lexus Fanatic
(I vaguely remember the Rocks and Trees ads, BTW...not very well).
But the main reason people chose the LS over the Q45 (and, perhaps, I should have been clearer in my last post...maybe I didn't phrase it very well), was the difference in sound isolation and road manners between the two. This was before the Great Age of Sport Sedans, with emphasis on handling, had set in, a number of the people looking at (and buying) the LS400 had previously driven cloud-like Cadillac De Villes and Lincoln Town Cars, but, after enduring Detroit's poor quality of the time, wanted something with better quality/engineering.
Back to the OP, though, have you had a chance to drive a new M56? If so, what was your reaction? I said before that I think a new Q-series flagship would be more appropriate, but I'll withold any more comments until I see the new M. I haven't gotten any specific CL review requests on it, but might look at it just out of curiosity.
Last edited by mmarshall; 06-26-10 at 02:07 PM.
06-26-10, 02:44 PM
#53
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Advertising in Georgia is pointless, people with some disposable income are more interested in buying slightly used Full Size SUV and Pickups, this is not a new car market, and it's not a Luxury Car market, you see nice cars, but the middle ground of cars costing 40-60k are absent here.
06-26-10, 02:45 PM
#54
Lexus Fanatic
(just helping you out there, in case it's needed)
06-26-10, 06:52 PM
#55
Someone mentioned the M being the Infiniti "flagship"... I'm not sure what Infiniti's flagship is. It was the Q45, but that flag got burned down a few years back, so I guess the M might be the flagship by virtue of the captain being killed off. I don't consider an SUV to be the "flagship" of any make, except say the LR Range Rover, which purely makes SUVs (and Hummer perhaps).
M being the flagship is like if Lexus were to discontinue the LS and GS taking over the ranks... just does not cut it.
M being the flagship is like if Lexus were to discontinue the LS and GS taking over the ranks... just does not cut it.
06-26-10, 09:42 PM
#57
Guest
Posts: n/a
Advertising in Georgia is pointless, people with some disposable income are more interested in buying slightly used Full Size SUV and Pickups, this is not a new car market, and it's not a Luxury Car market, you see nice cars, but the middle ground of cars costing 40-60k are absent here.
06-26-10, 10:15 PM
#58
Lexus Test Driver
It doesn't matter how they market or advertise their products. The simple fact remains their cars and SUV's look soft, strange, frumpy, or both. Until they change their styling direction, nothing is going to matter.
06-27-10, 11:03 AM
#60
Lexus Fanatic
Pretty much the same here in the luxury-car-rich D.C. area, Mike. Lexus has only 4 reasonably-close dealerships (2 in the VA suburbs, 2 in the MD suburbs)...about the same with Infiniti and Acura. For one thing, it's relatively hard to get an upmarket-Japanese-brand franchise because of the (usual) insistance that only that brand be sold, with no dual-brands. Saturn, when it was in operation, was the same way....Saturn only. Many dealer owners, today, don't want to operate like that....they want their hands in two or more cookie jars, not just one.