As they share a basic platform, today’s Nice Price or No Dice Infiniti Q60S is a kissin’ cousin of Nissan’s 370Z. Let’s see if this fancier edition comes with a price tag we might all consider a chef’s kiss.
I sometimes postulate on what sort of automotive landscape would have been realized if General Motors had chosen to kill off Cadillac and Buick instead of Oldsmobile and Pontiac. After a little thought, it becomes obvious that that scenario would mean more internal competition for the already struggling Camaro from the Firebird and no one giving a deuce about Olds in the same manner they don’t over Buick. The only real lament is over GM killing Pontiac’s boldest car, the Fiero, which happened all the way back in the 1980s. Thankfully, we have cars like yesterday’s 1986 Pontiac Fiero GT at our avail, and at $4,000, that tidy edition wouldn’t break the bank to experience either, a fact recognized in the 80 percent Nice Price win the car enjoyed in our voting.
I noted that few people give much consideration to Buick, and it’s arguable that the same can be said about Nissan’s upscale brand, Infiniti. I mean, seriously, when was the last time you thought, “Ooh, I gotta get me one of those?” Maybe today’s 2015 Infiniti Q60S Sport coupe will change our minds about the marque.
To provide a little context, the Q60S is a renamed G37. Regardless of name, that model rides on Nissan’s FM platform, which also serves as a base for several Nissan models, most notably the 370Z and Skyline. The Q60 was available in two- and four-door form and had the choice of rear or all-wheel drive. One rare option on the two-door was a six-speed manual transmission, which makes this stick-equipped coupe all the more intriguing.
That row-yer-own gearbox is joined at the hip on one side by a 3.7-liter all-alloy V6, making 328 horsepower and 269 lb-ft of twist. On the other side sits a limited-slip differential between independently-sprung rear wheels. According to the ad, that driveline has pushed the car to a modest 108,048 miles, and as this is dealer-offered, it comes with a mechanical inspection to ensure all consumables are up to snuff.
As far as the looks go, well, one of the dumber things Nissan ever did was to make the G37/Q60S and Nissan Altima two-door look annoyingly similar. We can ignore that since the Infiniti is the better-looking of the pair. In fact, the Infiniti is a damn-good-looking car, far better in detail than the awkward neo-retro looks and weird-ass door handles of the Nissan 370Z.
Based on the pictures in the ad, this one is in great shape, too. The black paint still pops and matches well with the nickel-finish factory alloys. In the cabin, it’s just as well kept, albeit a bit flamboyant, as Infiniti likes to fit its cars with a deep-dish nav unit fronted by odd, horizontally mounted control buttons and an analog clock.
At least it’s all factory in here, save for the discomforting micro-penis shift knob. On the plus side, the car is loaded, featuring heated seats and mirrors, the aforementioned navigation screen, power tilt/telescope steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
Another feather in this Infiniti’s cap is the clean title it carries. The dealer has set a price of $17,998 for the transfer of that title.
What do you say? Does that seem like a bargain for a rare six-speed-equipped slinky coupe you won’t see on every corner? Or is that too much for a car you probably would never consider in the first place?
You decide!
Los Angeles, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
Help me out with NPOND. Hit me up via email and send me a fixed-price tip. Remember to include your Kinja handle.
