Advising my sis- Is the G35 a reliable car?
06-18-2007, 11:16 PM
#16
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i have a G35 coupe w/ 6-speed and track package. it's been great. dead reliable. someone mentioned the overly sensitive tire pressure monitor. this is true, but pretty much the only issue. the brembos are great, the sound system is excellent, the seats are comfortable. infiniti's service has been excellent. both services i've had the car in for have taken only a few hours and i have my car back. couldn't be happier with the car and the service. of course the porsche gets driven a lot more......
06-19-2007, 12:29 AM
#17
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CP,
I'll say neither.
If she must choose between the two evil, I'll lean toward german inspite of some issues...
However, if she was asking you for an elderly/wise advice, then why not suggest her to try a Boxster?!
Let's all keep it in the family...
I'll say neither.
If she must choose between the two evil, I'll lean toward german inspite of some issues...
However, if she was asking you for an elderly/wise advice, then why not suggest her to try a Boxster?!
Let's all keep it in the family...
06-19-2007, 01:05 AM
#18
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Stefan,
She is not a car person, and Boxster is a lot more than what she would like to spend. But thanks for the suggestion.
I guess from these 17 posts, I'll feel safe to tell her to get a G35, and not a BMW. I am VERY leary about newer BMWs. Their electronics and software issues scare me schwitless.
CP
She is not a car person, and Boxster is a lot more than what she would like to spend. But thanks for the suggestion.
I guess from these 17 posts, I'll feel safe to tell her to get a G35, and not a BMW. I am VERY leary about newer BMWs. Their electronics and software issues scare me schwitless.
CP
06-19-2007, 01:12 AM
#19
Originally Posted by Edward
I suppose everyone's experience differes greatly. Between my father and one of my brothers, we have had a variety of Nissans since the 80s. No, they are often not quite as mechanically polished or tactilly refined as its Honda or Toyota counterpart, but that's easy to explain: they come in *thousands* of dollars less, new and especially used!
But *never* in these almost three decades (I have always been the family doc, er, wrench) have any of the numerous nissans that have passed through family hands here ever broken down, left anyone stranded, done anything that was unexpected, or otherwise behaved in any way other than a rock-solid vehicle. Regular maintenance, that's it!
Moreover, *every* one of them was sold for upgrade reasons as none was ever ditched due to disappointment (how's that for brand loyalty), and *every* one of them had a minimum 100K miles (and two IIRC with over 150K miles) with no indication that there was anything less than another 100K left in it.
Fast forward to today: brother owns a Pathfindar and dad owns a maxima. Both have over 50K miles and currently running as if new ...I would know.
So while I have no hands-on experience with Infinity, I have no reason to expect anything less than the aforementioned. As always, it pays to do your homework as any maker can make a lemon. But lets face it, for all the super-duper performance stats BMW and MB are touting, they are falling short in reliability in a very big way. Not just me, personally, seeing this, but ask (and read) around ...that service-car loaner is pretty common among these german marques of late.
All IMHO (and modest experience), mind you
Edward
But *never* in these almost three decades (I have always been the family doc, er, wrench) have any of the numerous nissans that have passed through family hands here ever broken down, left anyone stranded, done anything that was unexpected, or otherwise behaved in any way other than a rock-solid vehicle. Regular maintenance, that's it!
Moreover, *every* one of them was sold for upgrade reasons as none was ever ditched due to disappointment (how's that for brand loyalty), and *every* one of them had a minimum 100K miles (and two IIRC with over 150K miles) with no indication that there was anything less than another 100K left in it.
Fast forward to today: brother owns a Pathfindar and dad owns a maxima. Both have over 50K miles and currently running as if new ...I would know
.So while I have no hands-on experience with Infinity, I have no reason to expect anything less than the aforementioned. As always, it pays to do your homework as any maker can make a lemon. But lets face it, for all the super-duper performance stats BMW and MB are touting, they are falling short in reliability in a very big way. Not just me, personally, seeing this, but ask (and read) around ...that service-car loaner is pretty common among these german marques of late.
All IMHO (and modest experience), mind you
Edward
06-19-2007, 01:37 AM
#20
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My 01 BMW is constantly needing little service things done to it,and yes, it is aggravating. But, I wouldn't drive anything else (in my price range) and even though it's a pain in the butt to get it serviced alot, it's worth it.... to me.
For your family member, of course it wouldn't be worth it. They'd be pi**ed off each time they had to bring it in for yet another problem, so get the Infinity. It's a great car, just not for me.
She'll love it!
Steve R
For your family member, of course it wouldn't be worth it. They'd be pi**ed off each time they had to bring it in for yet another problem, so get the Infinity. It's a great car, just not for me.
She'll love it!
Steve R
06-19-2007, 01:47 AM
#21
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Steve,
Funny thing I was moaning and groaning about fixing my M5. Then I got my Ruf and had to spend 10x the $$$$$ to make it 'right'. But I was happy as a clam doing it.
Something about Porsches that, even though they are darn expensive, it just felt like the right thing to do. I think the service experience may be part of the difference. With my M5, I always thought the dealers were ripping me off. With my Porsches, I always thought that ViperBob, Devek, and RMG were my best friends.
CP
Funny thing I was moaning and groaning about fixing my M5. Then I got my Ruf and had to spend 10x the $$$$$ to make it 'right'. But I was happy as a clam doing it.
Something about Porsches that, even though they are darn expensive, it just felt like the right thing to do. I think the service experience may be part of the difference. With my M5, I always thought the dealers were ripping me off. With my Porsches, I always thought that ViperBob, Devek, and RMG were my best friends.
CP
06-19-2007, 02:21 AM
#22
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Originally Posted by CP
Steve,
...Something about Porsches that, even though they are darn expensive, it just felt like the right thing to do. I think the service experience may be part of the difference. With my M5, I always thought the dealers were ripping me off....
...Something about Porsches that, even though they are darn expensive, it just felt like the right thing to do. I think the service experience may be part of the difference. With my M5, I always thought the dealers were ripping me off....
...With my Porsches, I always thought that ViperBob, Devek, and RMG were my best friends.
Hey Pong!
You know dealers ...just not the same "feel-goods" as a true-enthusiast indy. That adds to the experience. And you're most certainly correct that somehow, spending money on a 911 seems like a privilege; on anything else it's a burden.
Edward
06-19-2007, 06:37 PM
#24
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I've never owned a BMW (other than motorcycles, and that is altogether a different machine), but several of my friends have owned them, models ranging from the Z8, 7 series, M3, and M5. ALL of them have had trouble, and not minor issues, but serious problems that left them stranded on the freeway waiting for a tow truck. There was an article a year or so back in the WSJ stating that BMW has the highest per-unit warranty repair cost in the entire automotive industry. That fact coupled with the Chris Bangle styling disaster rampant in all new BMWs is enough for me.
The Japanese brands may lack soul, but their reliability is rock-solid, and their dealer service is often superb. When I take my Mercedes in for service, I go across the street to Lexus if I have to wait for it--they have a much nicer lounge with big plasma TV, great coffee/pastries, all the latest magazines and newspapers.
The Japanese brands may lack soul, but their reliability is rock-solid, and their dealer service is often superb. When I take my Mercedes in for service, I go across the street to Lexus if I have to wait for it--they have a much nicer lounge with big plasma TV, great coffee/pastries, all the latest magazines and newspapers.
06-19-2007, 08:01 PM
#25
[QUOTE=BobbyT]I've never owned a BMW (other than motorcycles, and that is altogether a different machine), but several of my friends have owned them, models ranging from the Z8, 7 series, M3, and M5. ALL of them have had trouble, and not minor issues, but serious problems that left them stranded on the freeway waiting for a tow truck. There was an article a year or so back in the WSJ stating that BMW has the highest per-unit warranty repair cost in the entire automotive industry. That fact coupled with the Chris Bangle styling disaster rampant in all new BMWs is enough for me.
QUOTE]
This is true. However, older BMWs like my old E30 325is are indestructable. It's a shame they've moved away from building lightweight, solid cars and moved toward cars which are overly complicated (for no good reason) which are really ugly.
Incidently, if you want a relatively recent BMW that's an exception to the rule try the E39 530i (preferably with the sport package). Not the most exciting car in the world, but solid and much more reliable than the 540i (which I really wanted before I learned how troublesome they are). Not bad looking either.
QUOTE]
This is true. However, older BMWs like my old E30 325is are indestructable. It's a shame they've moved away from building lightweight, solid cars and moved toward cars which are overly complicated (for no good reason) which are really ugly.
Incidently, if you want a relatively recent BMW that's an exception to the rule try the E39 530i (preferably with the sport package). Not the most exciting car in the world, but solid and much more reliable than the 540i (which I really wanted before I learned how troublesome they are). Not bad looking either.
06-20-2007, 04:13 AM
#27
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The way I explain it to people, of you buy a german car, sh** is going to break from time to time, expct one trip to the shop every 6 months. But outside of those 4 days a year, the driving and ownership experience will be far greater than any japanese car could deliver in 1000 years. If that weren't true I would have dumped my money into a corvette that costs 60% to insure and 50% to maintain what a Porsche does.
06-20-2007, 07:25 AM
#29
I'm Still Jenny
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I've leased both a G35 and an FX35, driven at least 13k miles/year. The build quality on our G seemed better than that of the FX. The G35 was truly a delight to drive. The car felt fast and planted, though the manual mode in the automatic took years to shift after you pushed the lever. I don't know about the coupe. The trunk in the G35 felt enormous. I only waited at the service department once, and that was when they were preparing and detailing the car for delivery. The waiting area was clean and nicely furnished, with internet access and a large TV. The BMW salespeople were snide and treated us poorly. It is also obnoxious how many things you have to pay for on the Bimmer (at least four years ago, or so). It may end up being the same price in the end, but its annoying to have those sort of things be options in a "luxury" car.
06-20-2007, 08:05 AM
#30
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The base BMW 4-door sedan -- the 328 -- will sticker at $42k once you add the things to make it equivalent to the base Infiniti G35 4-door -- basic things like automatic transmission, leather seats, heated seats, xenon lights, CD changer, premium sound, metallic paint, onboard computer, all of which BMW puts in expensive "packages" that balloon the price way over the base of $34k. Just try to find a 328 on a dealer's lot without the "premium package," for example.
The Infiniti stickers at less than $32k.
Factor in that the G35 has 306 horsepower compared to the 328's 230, and you are paying an awful lot for that little roundel and the spotty reliability.
Again, I recently owned an M3 and it was worse than the Z3 I leased new in 2000, and at that point I was sure the Z3 was going to be my last BMW after it landed in the shop no less than 8 times in the first six weeks I owned it.
I fact, I've owned no less than five BMWs, four of which were bought or leased brand new. The old ones were great cars. The two newer ones ... not so much.
The Infiniti stickers at less than $32k.
Factor in that the G35 has 306 horsepower compared to the 328's 230, and you are paying an awful lot for that little roundel and the spotty reliability.
Again, I recently owned an M3 and it was worse than the Z3 I leased new in 2000, and at that point I was sure the Z3 was going to be my last BMW after it landed in the shop no less than 8 times in the first six weeks I owned it.
I fact, I've owned no less than five BMWs, four of which were bought or leased brand new. The old ones were great cars. The two newer ones ... not so much.
