Monday 24th January 2011

Infiniti Special Includes VIP Hotel Treatment

EX30d Black Premium offers 'money can't buy' deal for - er - £45k

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If there's been one thing holding us back from buying an Infiniti EX30d diesel SUV crossover, it's the fact that it hasn't come with membership of an exclusive club that marks you out for special VIP treatment at 500 hotels and restaurants.*

Well that barrier has now been removed, as Infiniti has teamed up with Relais & Châteaux's Club 5C to create the EX30d Black Premium - as far as we're aware the first special edition ever to come complete with VIP hotel and restaurant access.

Since a PH hack's salary tends to lean us more towards Prestatyn than Park Lane, we're not exactly au fait with these things, but apparently Club 5C was created in 2004 as a way of "sharing more of the Relais & Châteaux experience with its most loyal clients."

It seems that this is one of those 'money can't buy' things, too, as 5C is an invitation-only affair, where Relais & Châteaux "ambassadors" are "looked after more like house guests than hotel customers".

All sounds very nice - and now it is a 'money can buy' thing, as a two-year membership to Club 5C is being chucked in with the £45,671 EX30d Black Premium. Ordinarily you'll still have to pay for your time away, but one night with dinner and breakfast for two in a Relais & Châteaux hotel is included as a first taste when you buy one.

Infiniti is selling 150 EX30d Black Premiums across Europe, so book now to avoid disappointment, as we believe they say in the leisure industry...

 

*This may not be true; there may other things holding us back

[Lord Flathead]

What recession?

[nouze]

recession is soooo 2008

[sicasey]

What a joke.

[jake15919]

Wow a club sooooo exclusive you get membership free with a car. You really will be rubbing shoulders with the cream of European society.

[Deva Link]

sicasey said:

What a joke.

Especially the price - $35K in the US.

Saw quite a lot of the bigger FX in Florida recently - looks striking in white and just seems to work there. Think they look weird in the UK.

[ArranAshman]

Ugly ugly ugly and has no class what so ever.

[wildcat45]

I like it. And I want one. Sorry, but there is something about them. Got up close to a German one in Scotland in the Summer.

Make a great used buy.

[Deva Link]

wildcat45 said:

And I want one.

Make a great used buy.

Wonder if they'll collect and deliver it from you when it needs servicing, otherwise you're in for quite a trek.

[soxboy]

Neighbour had one on loan/ test the other week. First of all I wondered why he had got a new Hyundai or Kia, then when I realised it was an Infiniti, it realy sank in how fugly it was.

It almost made an X6 look tasteful. Almost.

[PaulMoor]

"looked after more like house guests than hotel customers"

What?

[edinph]

As the owner of an Infinti which has been riddled with problems I have driven an EX as a loan car (often!) and I can tell you, it's DULL! Nothing to distinguish it at all! The FX however is pretty awesome! But lots of issues about quality control, dealer service etc. Infiniti may have launched here too soon!

[ellisd82]

I don't think the car looks too bad, if you want something practical. But £45k - Are they having a laugh!

[Sicob]

Does it have a gym? (the venue as oppose to the car, but would be a nice touch if the car had one too).

You can't buy exclusivity; unless you have a lot of money that is, and that is more than 50k.

[Chicane-UK]

I guess they've got to think of SOMETHING to make the owners of these boring as sin, carbon copy "crossovers" feel a little bit special, and more important than everyone else.

Tragic really.

Edited by Chicane-UK on Monday 24th January 17:01

[bobberz]

Somewhere in Japan, roaring laughter can be heard. Would people in the UK really pay that much for a diesel Nissan?

45k UK Pounds is roughly $90k US Dollars, yet that same car sells here (albeit in petrol V8 powered guise) for about $45k USD. That means you'd have to pay TWICE as much for a slower version, and you'd still have to pay for your hotel stay?!!!

[mainaman]

bobberz said:

Somewhere in Japan, roaring laughter can be heard. Would people in the UK really pay that much for a diesel Nissan?

45k UK Pounds is roughly $90k US Dollars, yet that same car sells here (albeit in petrol V8 powered guise) for about $45k USD. That means you'd have to pay TWICE as much for a slower version, and you'd still have to pay for your hotel stay?!!!

Unfortunately that's true for most Jap cars sold in UK,even when the pound was strong.Maybe that's why Lexus is not such a big seller here.

A Nissan 370Z starts from 19000 pounds in USA

[PaulMoor]

bobberz said:

Somewhere in Japan, roaring laughter can be heard. Would people in the UK really pay that much for a diesel Nissan?

45k UK Pounds is roughly $90k US Dollars, yet that same car sells here (albeit in petrol V8 powered guise) for about $45k USD. That means you'd have to pay TWICE as much for a slower version, and you'd still have to pay for your hotel stay?!!!

£45k is closer to $60. Still a major diffrence, but its been a long time since it was $2 to £1.

[Deva Link]

PaulMoor said:

bobberz said:

Somewhere in Japan, roaring laughter can be heard. Would people in the UK really pay that much for a diesel Nissan?

45k UK Pounds is roughly $90k US Dollars, yet that same car sells here (albeit in petrol V8 powered guise) for about $45k USD. That means you'd have to pay TWICE as much for a slower version, and you'd still have to pay for your hotel stay?!!!

£45k is closer to $60. Still a major diffrence, but its been a long time since it was $2 to £1.

Well, it's $72K at current rates. However there's no tax or on the road charges in the US prices - you'd have to pay sales tax and registration etc. Take VAT out the £45K and it converts to just under $60K.

It's the personal leasing deals which are mental in the US - you can lease an EX with AWD and premium pack for $399(£250)/mth.

[Varsity]

I reckon an MG Metro and a stay at the local B&B would suffice for me.

You can keep the Infinity thank you.

[Motorrad]

Infinitis are crap- I've driven quite a few of them (petrol engine only) and the only positive comment I can think of is that the Nissan 3.7ltr six cylinder is really a rather nice engine with a fruity engine note when given some stick. My Mustang has better steering feedback and brake feel and considering it has almost zero levels of both that's saying something.

Some of the lease deals available are attractive though which is why most of our fleet over here is provided by the posh datsun brand.