[AJ_72]

Just changed my much loved Ford Focus for a brand new Q30 which arrived today...

So... Hello to all

 

[AJ_72]

Cheers,
I was also looking at a BMW 118D M-Sport, Seat Leon 1.4 150 TSI, Mazda 3 or Ford Fiesta ST as the wildcard.

BMW and SEAT priced themselves out of the market with APR approaching nearly double figures for the models I was looking at - fixed by manufacturers apparently (according to the sales-people). Fiesta ST was a real hoot, but really needed a bit more space and I made my other half car sick within seconds of putting my foot down on the test drive!!! The Mazda 3's dashboard did my head in did my head in a bit - and the salesman looked and acted like Arnold Rimmer so ruled that out pretty quickly too.

I liked the Q30 from the moment I sat in it. Stunning looks inside and out, drives well - and I got it for a steal of a price which tipped the balance.

Having driven it for a couple of days now, I'm actually pretty chuffed with it. Parking brake is a bit awkward at first - other than that, love it.

-A-

 

[AJ_72]

 

[AJ_72]

Looks real nice. The parking brake thankfully is something that can be over looked I guess. Anything else starting to become a peeve ?

Apart from the 'ghost switches' that were there on my last car, but aren't there on this one which I keep trying to turn on...?

Well, being hyper critical now -
Infotainment system isn't nearly as clever as it should be. Don't get me wrong, it's far better than the Ford stereo on my last car, but it's not nearly as good as the one on BMW's for example - and if Infiniti want to steal more sales off the Germans they're gonna have to get that right.
Visibility when reversing and manouvering is a pest due to rear design, but something I'll get used to....
Oh, and the car doesn't really like fast tight corners. Still, if I'd have wanted a twisty-country-roads-race car I'd have bought an ST...

Being honest, I really like the car, and don't regret the purchase one bit. Looks impressive inside and out and I've made a few friends very jealous after they've had a look. Once inside you wouldn't know it was a diesel, and the ride quality down motorways and straighter A-Roads is just sublime. Still puts a smile on my face when I drive it, and that's what it's all about.

 

[AJ_72]

Got to love how that grey/silver looks since years ago we would be lucky to get anything like it and usually people got it as a default, easy to care for color, nothing to rave about, now it's a different ball game.

Colour really suits the car I think... So many manufacturers default to boring bog-standard white, flat blue or flat red for many of their cars.

 

[AJ_72]

Congrats on the new Q30! Most crossovers aren't meant for going at those twists with high speeds as it's more likely to roll over with a taller body. But the Q30 is still spirited and with plenty of cargo room to spare.

how much did you get the Q30 for?

Actually leased long-term rather than bought outright. I figured the way most PCP finance works there wans't much difference in any event - you're giving both cars back after 3-4 years...
Anyway, including VAT it cost me £600 downpayment (3 months initial rental), with little over £200 a month, 4 year contract and 15,000 miles a year. Via 'Nationwide Vehicle Contracts' (www.Nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk). They seemed to be one of the few lease companies to happily quote online for higher (15k+) mileages.
With 15k miles a year I figured I could barely get a mid-range Ford Focus for £200 a month, so it really was a no-brainer in my mind.

Car is the 'Q30 1.5d SE Business Pack' - think the cheapest 'purchase deal I could find at the time was via Infinit Newcastle which was a fair bit more than the deal I found... £2000 down and £250 a month thereafter (ish).

 

[AJ_72]

It all comes down to understanding what the Q30 is about and using it for that purpose, instead of trying to put it in scenarios it wasn't meant for. So if you want something to throw around in the twisties, maybe you should have went for a Q50?

Q50 is a bit out of my price range, and like Infiniteclass said, it is nice to have the option of having a bit of fun in the corners from time to time, but there we are..

 

[AJ_72]

Infiniti isn't that well known over here as a brand, and you hardly ever see them on the roads. I guess Infiniti are trying to promote themselves and get more of their cars on the road by offering special deals.... works for me