TriCityPerf

What do you guys think about this comparisons? The G35 and new 350Z are virtual twins or very close cousins; both are based on the FM (front mid-ship) platform and will probably share all mechanical parts. But the styling is MUCH better than the 350Z.

Infiniti G3 Coupe Specs:

-Two door sports coupe w/ 2+2 seating
-Mid-ship front engine
-Rear wheel drive
-3.5L V-6 287 bhp
-Brembo brakes (F&R)
-6 Speed Manual
-18" Wheels
-3435 Curb weight (lbs.)
-MPG ???
-Est. $32,000

Quick_lude

G3 coupe is more of a luxury GT coupe. The RX-8 should feel more like a sports car due to lighter weight and better balance.

TriCityPerf

I just don't know what to do, I'm in the market for a new car, but I don't know what I want. Here is a list of some I've looked at:

Lexus IS300
BMW 323Ci
Acura RSX
Mustang GT Convertible

and now the RX-8 & G35 are coming out soon...

It just seems the longer I wait the more confused I get (of what I really want).

I want something Reliable, "Good" Performance, New, Good Aftermarket upgrades, etc....

Hercules

Let me just run down your options.

Lexus IS300: You will be like every other kid in the country that owns one. It's more of a teenager car, it handles well and it's got some pep... but there are too many on the road.

BMW 323Ci: Great handling, needs a lot more power. Aftermarket is good, but the car is more expensive in the long run.

RSX: FWD. If you're truly a driver I need not say more.

Mustang GT: for what it is... it does it well. Very quick car, looks good. However, no balance, no refinement. Just power. Cheap too, considering...

G35: Best competitor for the RX-8. Can be had in stick, good brakes and if you think it's good looking that's fine. Interior quality is cheap, but you can mate it with a nice 6 speed.

RX-8: Unless you're an enthusiast, don't get this car. Rotary engines are for those who know how to take care of them, and are willing to do so. It's no torque monster, so don't expect the 350Z to get blown away in pure speed. It's handling where this car will be king.

TriCityPerf

I was just saying the styling of the G35C is much better than that of the 350Z. The only thing I don't like about the RX-8 is that is has those Saturn rear doors. If I want a four door I would buy a four door.

Thanks for your input fellas.....

Is the "re-sale" value of an Infinity good?

Also, I'm located in Michigan, so I won't drive my new ride between December until Mid April.

Hercules

Those 'saturn' rear doors are what I find very fresh and new in the car. It looks like a coupe but has the convienience of four doors. Not to mention, there's quite a bit of passenger room back there.

Infinti has decent resale, yes. It's no Audi or BMW though.

Immi

I'll go with the RSX Type S as being the best competitor.

Infiniti's usually have high resale values.

DonG35Miata

I have a G35 sedan and it's really super. The only really cheap part of the interior is the center console, and when you are driving it, you won't be thinking about it, you will be appreciating the nice drive. Herc mentioned it isn't a BMW or Audi... thank God for that. My E36 BMW was the biggest POS imagineable, and I humbly direct you to www.myaudittsucks.com or the Edmunds message boards to see how Audi treats its customers.

I am sold on Japanese reliability. My BMW was constantly in the shop when it was both in and out of warranty. If you look at the G35 forum at freshalloy.com you will find a lot of guys driving G35s who were fed up with their BMWs nickel and diming them $500-$2000 at a time. Service is great at Infiniti, too... free loaner cars for service appointments, all Infinitis, and really royal treatment. You feel special going there.

That said, you are looking at some really dissimilar cars. Have you driven many of them? Obviously the G35C and the RX-8 aren't out yet, but when you drive the others, what turns you on about them?

PS I am in the same quandry as you re: the rear doors... see the thread I just posted.

jonnyspeed

I got an email from Infiniti with preorder prices in it.

Here are the prices:

N/A G35 Coupe, includes all standard equipment

G35 Coupe Leather
Premium Package ($33,650 MSRP)
Premium Package With Infiniti Navigation System ($35,650 MSRP)

G35 Coupe Leather with Performance Tire and Wheel Package
Premium Package ($34,250 MSRP)
Premium Package With Infiniti Navigation System ($36,250 MSRP)
Premium Package With Infiniti Navigation System and Aero Package ($36,800 MSRP)

G35 Coupe Leather 6MT (6-Speed Manual)
Premium Package ($34,300 MSRP)
Premium Package With Infiniti Navigation System ($36,300 MSRP)
Premium Package With Infiniti Navigation System and Aero Package ($36,850 MSRP)

So with delivery and tax you can expect a loaded G35 to run right about $40K. I was seriously considering the G35 until I saw 2 things...

1.The price.
2.The weight... 3400+ lbs !

No thanks. I'll take a loaded RX8 6sp for ~$30K and under 3000 lbs.

I can't wait to see it at the Detroit show in Jan!

Jon

Finprof

Infiniti has decent resale value, no.

For evidence, look at lease rates for a G35 sedan. They run $50-$100 a month higher than a BMW 530 or MB E320 even though the price of the latter two cars is $10,000 higher.

For more evidence, look at the price of a 3 year old Q45. You can buy their flagship car, 3 years old, with 30,000 miles for about $20,000.

I don't know why the depreciation is this bad, but it is. IMHO, a 3 year old Infiniti is best best used car value on the market A friend bought a 3 year old Q45 for his father. Impressive how much car you get for the money.

DonG35Miata

The Q45 is the worse case scenario for Infiniti resale values. The newer models should be much better, especially with the new market presence of the G35 sedan and coupe. The new FX45 should be help, too. I do have a bad feeling the M45 is going to languish. The styling just isn't there. They should have made a G45 and shoehorned the 340HP V8 into the G if they wanted to compete with the 540i. The G and the 5 are about the same size and it could compete if they upped the G's interior quality a bit. While I don't have a problem with my G's interior, I would have been willing to spend another $1,000 to get interior plastics to match Lexus and BMW's.

For leasing, a M-B or BMW is definitely a better bet than a G35. They have great incentives on leases, and you get free maintenance too. Being a new model that is selling well, they haven't had to come up with the lease deals for the G yet. You'd think they would to compete though.

PatrickB

If you're going front-wheel-drive 2-door, I'd say the CL type S might be a better comparison than the RSX-S, as its price is about the same as a loaded RX-8 will be...

pelucidor

You mention great lease deals on Mercedes. A few months ago I was looking at an MB C240 for my wife - about $36k vehicle. The lease cost was for 39months/15k miles was around $700 a month - way too high for a small and basic car. At that time an E320 was over $800 per month.

I then tried Infiniti for the G35 sedan - fully loaded a $36k car. The residuals on this car cannot be compared to any other Infiniti. At 36months/12k miles I believe it was 63% (this residual figure is being raised for the third time this year in November). More importantly at 39 months/18K MILES per year it was 58% and I would be paying $600 per month. Eventually we decided to get an Acura MDX for my wife instead.

I don't think I could get an E class Mercedes or BMW 5 series for under $600 per month on any kind of lease, let alone $100 less than the G35.

pelucidor

Yesterday I took the MDX in for service and got an RSX loaner. This was a base vehicle (not Type-S) with manumatic transmission. However I was shocked at how cheap the interior looked and felt and how cramped the vehicle was. I love the exterior styling but the interior quality was vastly worse than the Infiniti G35. It wasn't that much fun to drive either - noisy suspension, booming engine above 5k revs (redline at 7k)- not worth $22k IMO.

The CL-S (selling for invoice now - i.e. under $29k) is a more worthy competitor to the G35 (or RX-8) except it's FWD and boring (but good quality) both inside and out.

wakeech

all this talk of resale value, and no one yet is speculating on the 8?? :o

well, lemme be the first to then.

considering the coolness factor of the doors, styling, and it's a rotary, maintaining its exclusivity and image in the public eye will of course influence demand in secondary markets for it...

but, just thinking of the FD's, which even as a niche car are BLOODY EXPENSIVE for a car damn near 10 years old (and had the crap beaten out of it by someone who knows zero about rotaries)... ANY FD that RUNS (any amount of disrepair) will be ticketed for mid to high $20K's (Canadian) in the Buy&Sell...
i guess that's in the high teensK and low 20'sK for you US fellahs...

so, just going on that, i'd say the 8 would be alright in resale... NOT THAT MANY OF US WOULD DO SUCH A THING!! :D

PatrickB

I imagine the only time most of us would get rid of it is when we trade it in for a newer one, the mazdaspeed variant, or the new rx-7.

Donny Boy

Good comparo, except that the Infinity weighs as much as a large elephant.