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Infiniti G35 Sedan 2006 and earlier
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Comments
Slasher - hope you can drive all 3/4 and give us your impressions here!
I'll start with the BMW since I tend to think of them as the most aggressive of the lot and wouldn't have the patience to wait in line. Not saying this as a bad thing since I tend to be that way myself from time to time. I came into the dealership and was told I needed to schedule an appointment to take the 325i for a test drive. I had never heard of scheduling an appointment to spend $30,000 before. Despite being put off, I made the appointment. I arrived on time and was put off again by having to wait 45 minutes for the sale person who asked me to make the appointment in the first place to finish delivering a car to another customer. The sales woman drove us off the lot since that was store policy. She took me a couple of blocks and switched seats with me. I instantly noticed the seats and how they wrapped around me and made me feel like I was commanding the machine not just letting it drag me around the block. After ten to fifteen minutes of back roads and her pointing out minor features on the car, I asked to take it on the highway. She gave me some story of how that was not policy but since I waited so patiently she would allow it. All this policy was really getting in the way of my driving. I let her rip onto the entrance ramp and noticed the sales woman holding the "aw S&!T" handle. Thinking to myself "does no one else enter the freeway at 80 in a bimmer?" The engine was a bit louder at 87 then I would have expected or wanted. I know that's the character of the bimmer but it didn't suit me the way I thought it would. Did it handle well? Of course. Was it right for me? I am mature enough now to admit that I don't need THE name to make me a driver or a driving enthusiast.
The Passat was tested several times in various trims from the GLS V6 to the GLX V6 as well as the GLS 1.8T. Knowing that all V6's perform the same and that the only difference to me is the trim levels, we will bundle them together for this posting. All in all the VW's were solid cars with the exceptional interior that everyone is always raving about all over this site. The road was well felt and the car responsive to every move I made. I can say that it was much quieter than the BMW but at the same time, it was missing something. That something it was missing was the fun factor that the BMW had in spades. This was a great family car, no question in my mind. Unfortunately, I'm not a family. So despite all the great things I can say about this car, it wasn't right for me at this point in my life.
While taking my girlfriend to look at Nissans, I noticed the G for the first time. It was a beauty that I had not seen before. It was sporty and cool, kind of like a keg of dynamite waiting to be exploded. I took a liking to it almost instantly. I started my research as I always do when a new car enters my radar and then went for a test drive. The dealership was very nice but the salesmen put more pressure on me than I prefer. He drove us off the lot, as was their policy (a lot of that going around in this post). He tore out of there like a bat from way down south. It's been a long time since I wanted to grab the "aw S&!T" handle but this guy got me good. When I finally got the chance to let it rip, the car responded to my every move. Taking turns and curves one after the other and able to handle each and every one with precision and grip on the road rivaling the bimmer described above. I did have some doubts about the car's fit and finish. I can't put my finger on it but it reminds me of the Nissan Altima interior in some way. I have been reading more and more posts on the car and started to think more about the cost of ownership. I couldn't justify to myself the interior that didn't fit my style with a price tag greater than the bimmer (after the options I wanted). That realization plus low mpg's are keeping me out of a car depresses me a bit, but I know the right car had to be out there somewhere.
I was finally told to go look at the Audi 1.8T quattro. After doing my usual research, I made my way out for a drive. This dealership was combination of Audi, Porsche and Mercedes. They were renovating half of it and kept apologizing for the mess. Not a problem when you consider the Infiniti dealer had pipes hanging down from the ceiling. I asked him to find me one with tiptronic so my girlfriend could drive it as well. He took a few minutes and told us to hang out in the showroom until he found one. He took us around the car and pointed out all the features as well as explaining the fact that the model year ends in late May so I would probably have to take one from either his stock or he would locate one or I could order one but it would be a 2003. He gave me the keys and said "try to put more than 15 miles on it, see ya soon". From that point, we took off. Starting in Tiptronic, it was smooth, powerful and handled as well as the Infiniti. I have a usual course I take cars through which is a mix of city and highway with sharp turns and tight curves. The VWs, the Infiniti and the Audi all took this course. The Audi was the only one of the lot that earned a second spin around the course because we couldn't get enough of it. The second spin was purely automatic. The car handled almost at well as with the tiptronic. The Audi was the smoothest ride with the best handling and overall combination of style, substance and value for the dollar, in my opinion. So now with all this test driving under my belt, I think I have finally made up my mind. Now it's just a question of deciding now is the time to make a deal or wait until after the model year-ends and hope they can locate my car of choice. I hope this information helps anyone else out there looking at these cars.
Enjoy your new ride when you get it!
Stacey
Passat is a family sedan, so why bother? 1.8T Quattro is nice but the car is a little porky; 3.0l would be a better choice here but more expensive. Plus Audi has a poor reputation for reliability so I'm not sure about its cost of ownership if you intend to keep it beyond its warranty period.
Since you don't have a family, may I suggest a G35 coupe w/6spd,LSD & Brembo, or a 350Z? How about a RX-8, S2000, Boxster or Impreza WRX? If you really have patience, wait for the Lancer EVO VII. The cars you drove are all nice, but you can have much more fun with a G35 coupe or 350Z, IMHO. Enjoy it while you are still single and get a real sports car.
http://www.pbase.com/image/2037092
Paul
El Cajon, California
I hate to be the one to tell you but they also repainted your car for you!! At least they didn't charge you too much, huh? Or, maybe they're just giving you the manager's high milage demo back--who's to know, right?
There are 4 dealers within about a 15-20 mile radius and I called all of them plus a few others. I actually got a price quote $200 lower from one in Denville but Summit is only about 7-10 min from where I live and they have some nice perks at that particular dealership that fit my needs. Ray Catina Infiniti in Edison gave me a high internet quote but wouldn't do anything unless you came in which was annoying.
I pick mine up in a few weeks once I move to Jersey. Live in NYC right now and am so damn ancy to get the car!!
Give Gil a call and see what he can do. (Tell him you spoke with Todd- maybe I'll get something back down the road from him!) He goes on vacation for a week either Thu or Fri of this week. I know that because I have to go in and sign all my papers this weekend and I know he won't be around. Haven't actually seen my car yet in person cause I test drove at a different dealer!
You don't make any sense at all! Time for bed.
2 years ago it was the same for me. Now with a wife and baby...and 1 on the way (baby that is) I need the room...and power
It can happen faster than you think...heh
Sorry to break the news to you. I think you were ripped off by the dealer. You could have easily taken your car to a wheel specialist and have them chrome it for you for $100 a wheel.
cokane5227: They told me to bring it back with "more than 15 miles on it." All it took was a copy of my license and the gleam in my eye of wanting to drive their car. No hassle, no complaints.
Stacey: The car I drove was a black A4 1.8T Quattro with the 16 inch all season wheels and a sunroof. Nothing else in terms of options really jumped out at me. The MSRP was $28,985 and when I asked him what he said he was willing to let the car go for, he said "somewhere between invoice and sticker." I know that is a red flag that I'm about to have to negotiate seriously rather than casually when the time comes but I'm prepared for that. I hope you enjoy your car, it's a nice one.
greddygtr: You're right there was a real difference in power and when push came to shove, I would probably really want those extra ponies under the hood. The problem is that those extra horses come at the expense of mpg's. I started to look at my current driving habits and realized it wasn't worth an extra 3-5 trips to the gas station a month for the extra power. This car has enough to get me where I want to go at about 80-95 mph which is where I would end up pushing it to anyway. One of my friends is trying to push me toward adding a chip to the car to extend the power and torque curve on it. Not done reading up on the subject but if power does become an issue, then there is an adjustment that can be made.
neo_gtrw: I currently drive a honda civic and have been hit from behind in it twice. The whole reason my car search began was because I wanted something bigger that I could feel safer in. Well to find a bigger car that I would feel safer in with what I needed under the hood to meet my driving requirements was more of a challenge than you realize. I believe each of the cars on this list have merit and I don't intend to wait until I can add even more cars to the list and make the choice harder. I appreciate your thoughts but I plan on owning this car a long time and hopefully start a family in the future. With that in mind, four doors are a better choice for me.
blinker: Thanks for the advice. It will surely be heeded as I plan to keep the car for quite some time. As for the performance, are you mistaking it for sheer power? In terms of my driving style, yes, the G has much more power, but the grip of the street without whining tires and the overall ability to toss the car in and out of turns was a toss up to me. Since there were only marginal differences to me, I had to decide which car better suited my needs. Based on what I was willing to live with in a car, the G was $33K MSRP and the A4 was $29K MSRP. I currently don't have the extra $4K laying around to play with.
ivan_99: Firstly congrats on the new baby. Secondly, which car are you trying to steer me toward? I understand how quickly these things can happen (nine months at last check). I don't see why having a family should make me want to buy a faster car with rear wheel drive when I can have a not quite so fast so I will be safer with my impending family in the car all wheel drive car. This makes more sense to the responsible side of me.
Thank you all for the responses and I hope you each enjoy your chosen cars.
I plan on driving the G35 manual, the WRX, the Maxima, Altima 3.5SE, and the A4 1.8T Quattro in the same sort of comparison in the next year or so. It's a wide range of cars, but I want a fun 4-door that is sporty and comfortable, with a manual. That can't be too much to ask, can it?
Keep an open mind about each of them. As all cars have a reputation, you need to forget reputation and focus on the ride and how it suits your driving needs.
Try to take them all on the same course if you can as you will be familiar with it and know how one car compares to another.
Try to test them all as close together as you can. On the same day if possible, because, I don't know about you but I tend to forget a car's feel and my impressions if I drive them too far apart.
Lastly, have fun. This is supposed to be enjoyable right up to the point when you start talking about price.
#1 -- Price
You said the Audi had a sticker price around $29,000, but a similarly priced G35 would be around $30,500. This is for a G35 with (real) leather and a sunroof, a difference of only $1,500.
#2 -- Mileage
You seemed worried about having to fill up a lot more often with a G35, but this may not be the case. Edmunds lists the mileage of the Audi as 20/29 MPG and the G35 as 19/24 MPG. The G35 could end up with a better, or at least equal, average MPG. I base this on the fact that you stated you normally drive 70-95 MPH. Given that the cars are almost identical in weight (according to Edmunds 3369 lbs vs. 3362 lbs) and that the Audi has 90hp less, the Audi may have to work harder to maintain your average speed. Plus, if I'm not mistaken, when manufacturers calculate mileage, it's based on the legal limit. Going faster than that will decrease your average MPG. For example compare the mileage you get when averaging 55 MPH to that of 75 MPH. Just a little fuel for thought (please excuse the pun). :-)
bjbird2: The reliability of the cars seems to be equivalent based on the enthusiasts that I talk to. Since I am not looking for a true sports car, I feel that the Audi will provide me with better service than the G at this time. Also the Infiniti dealers in my area are very pushy even in the service department and made me feel like I was wasting their time by asking a lot of questions. I don't want to feel that way when I talk to my dealer. The Audi dealer was more laid back and took a good portion of his Saturday to sit with me and answer all my questions about the car and options. The service department was equally nice and took time as well. This is how I want to be treated when I take my car in for work. I don't think that is too much to ask for.
baylorbear99: The Audi was differently equipped than the Infiniti. The way I had to configure the Infiniti to get the premium package with the sunroof, I had to add Xenon lights and wood trim at a total of $800 more. This brought the car to $33K. Plus the dealers at Infiniti were less than willing to come down from MSRP whereas the Audi dealer for the car with sunroof and 16 inch all season wheels was $29K MSRP and the dealer was willing to actually deal. These were how I configured the cars to get what I wanted from each of them. As for the mileage, the difference between 24 and 29 on the highway is only five miles a gallon. While this might not seem like much I have been watching this board for a while now and noticing drivers on the highway getting anywhere from 16 to 25 mpg. If the mpg is going to vary that much from car to car I would rather increase my chances of getting better mileage by having higher numbers from the get go. I hope this makes as much sense to you as it does to me.
bjbird2: It appears that from the research on Edmunds and other sites around the net, either PS has the wrong data or Audi really did make the wagon that much heavier than the sedan. As for the comment about not getting comfortable due to the center stack, firstly I am only 5'10" so I am no giant. Second of all, I did find that my knee pressed against it for a time during the drive but what ended up happening was that the car forced me to sit straight rather than slouch and this ended up being better for my bad back (due to the second accident). So this "problem" they bring up is actually a solution to one of the problems with my current car.
I knew before long I would take some heat for the opinions I voiced but oddly enough it is not coming from the group of owners I expected... I welcome the comments and feedback though and hope to keep the dialog going.
If you simply like the car and can't live without it then ok but don't try to base your decision on the skewed facts you've given. Finally, if you can put reliability aside (which I obviously can't!) then the A4 and A6 are fine cars.
BTW, the variability in the MPG of the G is directly proportional to the variability in the driving habits of the owners. It's a hard car not to play with but I manage to get about 25 MPG with 70/30 driving. Sorry if I've sounded preachy but I'd hate to see someone who wants to make a good analytical decision not give proper weight to a most important variable. From my perspective the G allows me to have my cake and eat it too but I certainly realize that it may not be everyone's piece of cake!
Good luck.
It must have something to do with the sport suspension. This thing corners better than my 95 GS-R and my 99 Acura CL 3.0.
Better than my 1990 BMW M3? Not hardly! ;-)
Obi
I plan to purchase Infiniti G35 in the very near future, I just wondering whether Infiniti gives you a loaner car when you bring your car in for service? Your info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
bjbird2: The Audi dealership promises lifetime loaners with each service I bring my car in for. As for maxcat1's statement about my time, the dealerships, my work and my house are all within 4 minutes of each other so my time to get in and out is not a huge deal, but thanks for the dig. Don't worry, I can take it.
I plan to purchase Infiniti G35 in the very near future, I just wondering whether Infiniti gives you a loaner car when you bring your car in for service? Your info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Which dealership told you they wouldn't deal?
Or you can look at the picture, and clearly see that it is a I30, not I35, and reach the conclusion that they just have a typo.
Audi A4: NEW
Audi A6: much worse than average
Audi TT: worse than average
BMW 3-series: average
BMW 5-series: better than average
Infiniti G35: NEW
Infiniti I35: much better than average
Lexus ES300: much better than average
Lexus GS300: much better than average
Lexus IS300: average
Lexus LS430: much better than average
MB C-class: average
MB CLK: much worse than average
MB E-class: average
MB S-class: worse than average
So BMW is fairly good, MB is OK, Audi is really poor. Infiniti and Lexus are both excellent.
Good luck!
I am curious to hear comments about the Maxima vs G35. Its an interesting comparison: essentially the same engine, front drive with an older suspension vs rear drive an a more modern design, but with widely different prices. I am seeing Maximas at invoice plus the rebate; the G35, very little movement in price. I know everything is a tradeoff, but I wonder if the Maxima is really that inferior in terms of handling (it sure is in the styling department!)
First lesson in sales: to sell a product, you must first sell yourself first. Sounds like that guy you met doesn't have a clue.
Straight highway 26 MPG X 20 gal = 520 miles
I looked long and hard at the G35 – but I bought a different car.
Some of the deciding factors:
Availablility. I wanted a relatively loaded car. (The dealer has had 20+ cars with just a moonroof and one or 2 other options, but none with nearly what I wanted.) I gave my salesperson several exterior colors and a couple of configurations. He could not (or would not) tell me when such a vehicle might arrive.
Also – ‘the deal’. The salesperson was firm on price = MSRP. And the trade-in value offered was not high enough to suit me.
The car itself:
First, let me be clear. I think that the G35 is an excellent car in many respects. BUT in several specific ways, the auto. trans. capabilities and behavior in what Infiniti calls “Manual Mode” is just not what I was looking for. This was close to a deal breaker for me in itself. Certainly (combined with the above) it further postponed the decision.
Then again, the BMW 330i Steptronic that I drove a couple of times doesn’t behave as I’d prefer either. (So, I am willing to accept that quite possibly I am the weird one, but I did find another car with a ‘manumatic’ that behaves a lot more to my liking!) (And no, I cannot drive a true manual any more – but probably would not consider the 6-speed manual coming soon, even if I cound – at least not for my daily driver.)
Also, the outside rear view mirrors seemed rather too small to me. This may seem like a small thing to many, but it is absolutely critical for achieving a comfort level while driving daily in Metro Atlanta traffic!
Anyway – the G35 was on the (very) short list. And I think it is a very good choice for many.
Best of luck to all who chose to purchase.
Cheers,
- Ray
Who is now off to put some more ‘break-in’ miles on the new car!