Is It a Good Idea to Buy a 2019 INFINITI Q30 Sport Auto?

Looking at 2019 INFINITI Q30 Sport Auto, like it but a bit concerned that it is a glorified Nissan pretending to be a high yield investment. Or it is a rebadged A class Merc?
Used to be $58k, now is $36k for a new one due to Infinity leaving AU.
Talk me out of getting an Infinity! Or not?
And if yes, what kind of price can be negotiated?

Comments

  • Used to be $58k, now is $36k for a new one due to Infinity leaving AU.

    You might be paying what seems to be a low price now, but unless you intend to drive it until it falls into a million pieces, you're going to cop a corresponding loss when you try to get rid of it later. That's IF you can find someone to buy it. No-one is going to want it and it'll be worth next to nothing.

    And if you intend to drive it until it falls into a million pieces, are you going to be okay paying high prices to import parts from overseas each time?

  • It's basically a reskinned mercedes a class. The engine and transmission (likely the chasis as well) are the same as the Mercedes and for some reason, they didn't even bother to change the key and the dashboard.

    I think it's a decent buy if you aren't a brand snob. Though keep in mind, parts that aren't part of the engine and transmission will be very hard to find if you plan on keeping it long term.

    In terms of maintenance, I think they use Mercedes specific oil and filters. So it might be worth enquiring about it when you head to the nissan dealer when maintenance comes around.

    • Thanks. What about transmission, it's DSG, should it cause problems? I normally buy new cars and keep them for a while (8-10 years)

      • If you are buying and keeping for that long, you might want to watch this.

        Yep its

        1. A US review
        2. Its an older Infiniti review
        3. A lot of handwaving 👋

        But it highlights issues you may face as it gets to the timeframe you want to keep it.

        Whatever it does give you some more points to consider

      • No clue about the transmission, but the engine in the petrol variant should be pretty reliable

  • +1

    No. It has none of the redeeming of owning/driving an Infiniti. Pretty much the only reason to get one is because of the RWD set-up and the driving dynamics - the Q30 and QX30 have none of that, they're a cheap FWD hatchback not too dissimilar to the cheaply built Mercedes A-Class that its manufactured alongside. A Q50 or Q60 would be far better, but if it has to be a luxury hatchback, I'd get the last of the F21 generation BMW 1 Series instead.

    • I am quite sure Q30 is AWD (4X4 On Demand) but I will double check. Thanks.

      • +1

        Not in orstralia

      • QX30 has awd. Which is mostly just this car, but on stilts.

        If you are shopping for this car and cars of a similar class, whether its awd or fwd shouldn't matter… If anything, fwd cars are more fuel efficient

        • FWD vs RWD does matter a lot more though which is why the F21 BMW 1 Series drives far better than any of its competitors. Buying a luxury FWD hatch is pretty pointless since you're not getting offered a whole lot of advantage over say a Corolla ZR or Kia Cerato GT with the build quality and materials of these budget luxury vehicles being not much better than their mainstream counterparts.

          • @justaperson:

            FWD vs RWD does matter a lot more though which is why the F21 BMW 1 Series drives far better than any of its competitors.

            Yes, it does, for some people including yourself.

            C'mon, I'm not sure about you but I don't really consider this a luxury car, but I suppose that is subjective and doesn't really matter. To me, a cheap Merc is a cheap merc, a cheap Infiniti is a cheap Infiniti.

            Also, why are you assuming that people who look for luxury cars care that much about driving dynamics? Just look at all the expensive SUV's you see on the road today.

            • @Butt Scratcher:

              C'mon, I'm not sure about you but I don't really consider this a luxury car, but I suppose that is subjective and doesn't really matter. To me, a cheap Merc is a cheap merc, a cheap Infiniti is a cheap Infiniti.

              I mean I wouldn't consider those luxury vehicles either, you're essentially just paying for the badge that comes on its bigger brothers.

              Also, why are you assuming that people who look for luxury cars care that much about driving dynamics? Just look at all the expensive SUV's you see on the road today.

              Well surely luxury buyers must be looking for something more than what could be offered in the mainstream brands. Even with SUVs; for example the Mercedes GLC, BMW X3 and Infiniti QX70 are some of the best handling SUVs and that's because they're on RWD or RWD-bias platforms. Driving dynamics must've been at least some of what was lacking in the mainstream SUVs in order to push them into the more expensive ones.

              • @justaperson: The rising prevalence of SUV/CUV just shows how little most people care about driving dynamics. You are literally paying more money and getting worser handling

          • @justaperson: BMW 1 Series prices start from $40k+ for FWD, at least $10 more than Q30

            • @gguu: I was talking about the previous gen RWD F20 model which ended production in 2019 and can be had for 40k and under, not the current FWD F40 Series. Two entirely different cars, wouldn't recommend the latest FWD BMW 1 Series to anyone honestly.

    • Thanks, it looks interesting but I am a VIC prisoner and that car it in NSW :)

      • +2

        It'll probably still be for sale in 3 months. Get it then.

  • What do you like about the car? Have you driven it? My wife hated the side lane warning light on the mirror. This was enough to not buy it way back, before this run out.

    There is already a thread on the whole purchasing of this brand I recall. Now that it is closing.

    • Thanks, found the thread.

  • Why are you in 2 minds? Or you can’t hold yourself back from a deal? This is OzB afterall 😅

    • If I could answer it myself I wouldn't as it here :)

  • Yes. That’s a great discount. Buy it.

  • Interesting you compared it to an a class. More like i30

    • +1

      …that's because they're effectively the same car with a different badge and some other differences.

      • They look nothing a like lol?

        • +1

          They're built on the same platform, with the same motors and gearboxes with near identical interiors and switchgear. Of course they'd look nothing alike on the outside, that's the entire point of modern badge engineering. Unfortunately the near identical A Class and Q30 have interiors no better than a similar year i30 anyway.

          • @justaperson: The interiors are far from similar

            • +2

              @dylanando: They share 90% of parts with the previous generation A-Class. Door handles, interior door handles, door cards, window switches, accessory switches, gauge cluster, steering wheel, seats are all the same - they didn't even bother changing the key hole and key from the A-Class. Its not up for debate, its a fact - it doesn't matter what you think it looks like. I suppose you think the Nissan Navara and Mercedes X-Class look nothing alike either.

  • I am in the same boat. Been eyening the Q50 or the Q30. Both have great specs on paper but the brand has exited Australia.
    As a previous Lexus owner(in the states), I feel the marquee badges are pretty good. Infiniti has had its fair share of criticism in the lack of updates to their models.

    However, the steep discounts for these cars make them at-least worthy of consideration and yes I agree that we need to plan to keep them long term. But I still feel the 2nd hand market may hold well as the cars are still good and loaded with great features.

  • Save up and get something better.

  • What’s the verdict? Has anyone tried lowballing a dealer? Brighton have 80 cars left. Surely that’s a lot of money tied up. Q30 & q50

    I would consider the top of the range q50 but not sure if a cheeky offer in the mid 30’s will fall on deaf ears. It’s been a year since they announced their departure

    • I decided not to buy. I am sure lawballing will work if you are not in a rush to buy. Take time, make an offer. Good luck!

      • +2

        I went to offer today and was told they would only move ‘hundreds’ and not thousands. They could have got me at $40, but wouldn’t move from $46888.

        Cars are looking like crap in the yard, covered in spider webs and dirty as! good luck to them. 12 months on and still 80 cars

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