Infiniti’s Discontinued Rear-Drive Coupe Has One Engine Worth Buying
Four hundred horsepower and rear-wheel drive for used-Camry money? This discontinued Infiniti coupe makes a sensible sedan seem about as thrilling as renewing your registration. It has two doors, serious muscle, and enough temptation to make you invent errands. Even among used luxury coupes, that much power for the money is hard to ignore.
Two different V6s live under this model’s name, and the wrong choice could turn your weekend toy into a five-figure repair bill.
A Cheap 400-HP Coupe Can Still Carry A Huge Repair Bill
A repair quote exceeding $25,000 is painful enough. In a July 2025 NHTSA complaint, an owner said that’s what a dealer wanted after a main-bearing failure around 80,000 miles. The owner reported regular oil changes, no advance engine warning, and a denied extended-warranty claim. The estimate roughly matched what they had paid for the coupe in 2019. By then, the car sat in a garage because fixing it was unaffordable.
Another owner reported a $36,000 estimate for an engine and turbos after finding metal in the oil pan and losing coolant. That can make the asking price look like little more than a down payment. These are owner reports, not audited invoices or evidence of failure frequency. But they show how a discounted performance car can become anything but cheap.
Before buying, get an independent inspection and ask what any warranty actually covers. Request itemized invoices: a replaced engine, new turbos, and an unresolved lubrication problem are three very different matters. A seller’s promise of regular service is nice, but it doesn’t settle any of them. Keep enough repair money aside after paying for the car. The mechanic is not going to accept horsepower as payment, either.
But The Q60 Name Hides Two Very Different V6 Choices
Here it is: the Infiniti Q60, discontinued in 2022. In rear-drive Red Sport 400 form, this sleek two-door packs a 400-hp twin-turbo V6 and 350 lb-ft of torque, delivering passing punch without chasing high revs. Its swooping bodywork, 20-inch wheels, and red sport brakes are hard to miss. Better yet, available adjustable suspension lets you choose a calmer cruise or firmer control when the road bends.
But don’t assume every Q60 drives alike. The 2014–2015 coupe has a naturally aspirated 330-hp 3.7-liter V6 that likes to rev, plus a six-speed manual on certain rear-drive trims. The redesigned 2017–2022 generation brings a 300-hp twin-turbo V6 or 400-hp Red Sport, both automatic-only. No 2016 model exists.
On October 27, 2026, a 2014 Journey listed at $8,695 with 130,079 miles and disclosed body repairs. That is a price with a warning label; check the title and repair history before buying.
That day, a rear-drive 2019 Red Sport listed at $25,985 with 82,480 miles. Both generations offered all-wheel drive, so verify the drivetrain. The Red Sport has stronger low-rpm shove; the older V6 has no turbos to replace.
The Unexpected Oil-Pressure Risk Behind The Turbo V6
Your twin-turbo Q60 can have plenty of oil and still starve its engine. The oil-pressure control solenoid opens a passage to ease pressure when demand is low. But SonicTuned has observed it stick open, letting pressure escape when the bearings need lubrication most. Damage can start before a dashboard warning appears.
Racebox has observed affected twin-turbo V6s struggling to reach roughly 30 psi. That’s a specialist finding, not a failure rate for every Q60. Have a qualified shop test oil pressure; a quiet dashboard isn’t reassurance. Some owners also reported internal coolant loss and suspected gasket or block problems, but these complaints don’t establish one confirmed cause.
Infiniti has acknowledged that some turbo bearings wear early and leak oil. Its February 2025 warranty extension helps eligible 2017–2018 Q60 owners, but only for qualifying turbo failures. Coverage runs up to 10 years or 120,000 miles and requires conditions such as visible smoke or oil leakage with the warning light on. 2018.5 models and certain modified cars are excluded. Have a dealer check the VIN. This isn’t free insurance against a ruined engine.
Beyond Horsepower, The 3.7 Is The Smarter Used-Car Buy
My Q60 pick is not the 400-hp Red Sport. The 2014–2015 naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 gives you 330 hp without turbos, and certain rear-drive trims offered a six-speed manual. Prefer an automatic? A seven-speed was available.
But simpler doesn’t mean bulletproof. Earlier VQ engines could lose oil pressure when oil-gallery gaskets failed behind the timing cover. Revised gaskets reportedly arrived around 2013, before these Q60s. Check service records and replacement-engine paperwork; test oil pressure with the engine fully warm.
Check The Rest Of The Car Before Buying
A Q60 can get expensive even when its engine is healthy. Scan for faults; check steering, brakes, and passenger-airbag operation. A 2017 owner reported an $8,200 seat-track repair quote after an occupant-sensor fault. On newer Q60s equipped with Direct Adaptive Steering, a fault can increase steering effort. A lawsuit also alleges sudden, unwanted automatic braking, though it doesn’t establish a defect in every car.
Price out tires, leaking dampers, and overdue fluids before paying. If a low-oil-pressure warning appears on the road, stop safely and shut off the engine. Walk away from unexplained warnings. Buy a sound 3.7 with records. Let somebody else gamble with five-figure repair bills.
Sources: Infiniti USA, Nissan Global Newsroom, NHTSA, Edmunds, SonicTuned, Racebox, G/Z Motorsport, Bailey Glasser.
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments