The Volvo S60 Polestar has a problem

"LJ909" (lj909)
04/09/2016 at 16:39 • Filed to: None

And its called the Infinit Q50 Red Sport. Pricing was released today for it and it starts at $48,855. add on $2,000 if you want AWD.

So for 10 grand less than the Volvo I can have a twin turbo 400 horse AWD V6 Japanese sedan that doesn’t look like it was designed 10 years ago. This makes the case for the Polestar make even less sense.

DISCUSSION (37)

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 16:44

talking bad about volvo’s on oppo means you should run and hide

Klaus Schmoll > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 16:44

Well, but the Infini-thing is ugly. The Volvo isn’t.

duurtlang > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 16:45

I can have a twin turbo 400 horse AWD V6 Japanese sedan that doesn’t look like it was designed 10 years ago.

You might be able to. The nearest Volvo dealer is within walking distance to me. The nearest Infiniti dealer? I might have to resort to a grey market import to get one. As a result the resale value of the Infiniti will be shitty as well I presume.

LJ909 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
04/09/2016 at 16:46

Theres a reason that the comment edit tools have a dismiss option.

LJ909 > duurtlang
04/09/2016 at 16:47

Damn where do you live? Montana?

LJ909 > Klaus Schmoll
04/09/2016 at 16:48

It may be, but the price difference makes up for it. And the Infiniti might hold its value better. That bright blue Polestar specific paint might keep it on the lot awhile or turn people off.

pjhusa > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 16:49

Hmm. I've always liked the Q50...

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 16:50

If I remember correctly he’s in Germany.

duurtlang > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 16:50

Nope. Europe.

LJ909 > Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero
04/09/2016 at 16:52

No wonder.

LJ909 > duurtlang
04/09/2016 at 16:53

That explains it. Yea it wouldn’t be worth it to me. Infinit’s are good cars, but not worth the hassle for you to get one.

Leon711 > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 16:57

They’ve been in the UK for 3 or 4 years now. I’ve seen maybe 20 in that time. I’d still have the volvo.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 16:59

1. The Volvo is available as a wagon.

2. The Volvo comes in Rebel Blue.

3. The Volvo has only 1500 models produced and is more exclusive and rarer.

4. The Volvo has more standard features, so you’d need to option up the Infiniti to closer to the Volvo’s price to get close to as many options.

5. The Volvo doesn’t have Infiniti’s crap Direct Adaptive Steering system.

In other words, I'll take the Polestar.

Steve in Manhattan > Klaus Schmoll
04/09/2016 at 17:01

I agree - Volvo has nothing to worry about. Infiniti, somehow, manages to hang on despite spotty product planning and what I perceive to be low market penetration. Buy the equivalent Lexus - better resale value and, I believe, higher on reliability indexes.

LJ909 > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
04/09/2016 at 17:05

I was just comparing the S60 to the Q50

That Rebel Blue is nice, but like I said to the other guy, it might keep people away that aren’t in the know.

It may have more standard features, but those standard features aren’t worth the 10-11k price difference.

The 400 horses make up for that DAS system.

Klaus Schmoll > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 17:07

They have like 5 stores in major German cities and will jump through hoops for business. Like picking your car up on a flatbed and bringing you a loaner when it needs a service. Still I rarely see one on the road. After all, they are a brand nobody has ever heard of, selling cars at premium prices that are fugly.

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 17:08

Well I wouldn’t buy an S60 since the V60 is a thing.

I wasn’t saying they would be equal, but optioning up the Q50 to the price of the Volvo brings the difference to about $5k.

If all you care about is having 400 horsepower, the Lincoln MKZ has that and is $5k cheaper still than the Infiniti.

Kanaric > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
04/09/2016 at 17:10

none of that is worth $10,000+

Klaus Schmoll > Steve in Manhattan
04/09/2016 at 17:12

Even more true in Europe. I don’t know why they even bother. They have like 5 stores in major German cities but that’s it. Caddilac and even more so Lexus are mass market compared to “that weird brand nobody has ever heard of with the ugly cars”.

Kanaric > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 17:12

The problem I have with that, and probably with the Infiniti, is they all use the same slushbox 8 speed that every car has these days.

If I buy a performance car I want a manual.

And you are right, there is no reason to buy the polestar other than if you are a volvo fanboy.

LJ909 > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
04/09/2016 at 17:12

The Lincoln is FWD and isn't a sport sedan.

LJ909 > Kanaric
04/09/2016 at 17:14

True but we all know manuals aren't really a good business case anymore sadly. But yea your right like I said before, I don't dislike the Polestar I just don't see its worth the price. I don't even think Volvo fans would get it since they typically are conservative buyers. Unless your a Jalop.

MultiplaOrgasms > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 17:15

The 400HP MKZ is most definetely AWD. Otherwise I salute FoMoCo’s bravery.

Kanaric > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 17:15

I agree, it doesn’t seem worth the price at all.

I mean if I want a car like this I could get so many other cars before it that has the performance options I want. Like a BMW or even a Focus RS if I want something more on the flashy side this is trying to attract.

I like the IDEA of this car, and the twin charged engine, but not the execution.

MultiplaOrgasms > duurtlang
04/09/2016 at 17:18

Oh yeah Infiniti actually sells cars in europe. My former neighbor used to run a Nissan dealership that also imported Infiniti and used to roll around in a few FX45. As a result I have seen more Infinitis that weren’t officially sold in europe than Infinitis that are.

GE90man > LJ909
04/09/2016 at 17:29

but but but....

wagon!

smurf blue!

Swedish-ness!

Steve in Manhattan > Klaus Schmoll
04/09/2016 at 17:35

Exhibit A:

Kinja'd!!!

Klaus Schmoll > Steve in Manhattan
04/09/2016 at 17:42

I would have liked to be a fly on the wall in that meeting where they decided that this thing should go into production.

Steve in Manhattan > Klaus Schmoll
04/09/2016 at 18:27

I normally say I have to see something in the metal before I judge. For instance - when I saw photos of the new Jaguar XJ I thought, oh shit, the fastback rear ruins it. But when I saw one parked on the Upper East Side, I did a 180 - love the looks. But when I saw that Infiniti monstrosity for the first time, parked not a block from here, I doubled down. It. Is. Awful.

tacogx > Steve in Manhattan
04/09/2016 at 19:13

I want to see what that thing looks like bagged and cambered. ;)

Steve in Manhattan > tacogx
04/09/2016 at 19:26

To the crusher ...

tacogx > Steve in Manhattan
04/09/2016 at 20:43

Oh, it probably looks terrible, but it could save the look of the car. I think the Aztek looks better stanced.

Kinja'd!!!

Crash McGee > Van Man, rocks the Man Van
04/09/2016 at 21:42

You left out the Ohlins. You can’t leave out the Ohlins!

Van Man, rocks the Man Van > Crash McGee
04/09/2016 at 21:50

OHLINS ALL THE THINGS

certified cool guy > Klaus Schmoll
04/09/2016 at 22:48

Really? I think the Q50 is rather attractive, though definitely not as good looking as the S60.

boxrocket > LJ909
04/10/2016 at 09:00

Having driven lesser versions of both, I would take the Volvo. It has better seats, will last longer, has a better AWD system, looks handsome, and is safer. Sure, the Infiniti is more up-to-date, but the G37 was more user-friendly and more striking in appearance. A GT-R-drivetrain-swapped G37XS sedan (IPL, if you must) would be more interesting and appealing.

IanZ - limited-slip indifferential > LJ909
04/10/2016 at 13:42

The S60 looks like it was designed 10 years ago? It’s gorgeous! The Infiniti just doesn’t do it for me.