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Originally Posted by Baasinator
Hot on the heels of MaliciousBraham's post, I'm looking for any information about used G35 Sedans. My brother called me this morning and said he's looking for a used model, but he didn't know much about them yet. I haven't been following the car scene so much lately, and I don't know anything about these cars.
Most importantly, are there any obvious negative issues to look out for on the early models? Other than that, if anyone has experience I'd be interested in hearing about the pros/cons of owning this car.
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I think the sedans are an actual shortful by Infiniti's efforts. What i mean by this is that the interior in somewhat compact for a "family sedan". Not much room to for your shoulders and front passengers will constantly be fighting over the armrest. It is really difficult for large adults in the rear for anything more than around town. You can forget about 3 adults, and 3 small children will just be squeezed at best.
One would think that the Infiniti would be a nice comfy ride, but not quite. The interior noise is quite loud for a highline model. Some like it some don't, but don't expect it to be quite. The suspension is setup in the firm side for a family car, but does inspire spirited driveing with a surefootedness(is that a word?) that is akin to the 4th gen maxima's. Since the sedans didn't come with a manual you will not have to worry about the 03 6-speed issues.**BTW, there is a recall for (i believe) all the trannies from 03 that are in the Z and G. So the tranny issues should now be fixed..if not its a free swap from them.
The car is an all around decent car, but many think its money better spent on a maxima unless you are buying the name plate. The G is more of a sporty famliy car with little emphasis on the family part. This car would be better suited for a single person who likes to drive friends around. Or people like me who just like the idea of a sporty 4dr. Although, i'm not mush on the looks of the g sedan.
The best advise you can give your brother is to tell him to visit some websites dedicated to the car. Remember, that these enthusiast sites will have a high concetration of, well, enthusiast so one will find a concentration of much more picky people. They will find faults with the cars that most will either live with or never notice. Just take it all with a grain of salt and try to get the big picture. Usually if there is a major issue with the model the forums will have a "sticky" addressing the issue. Tell him to check them out to get an idea of what ownership "may" be like. I would also suggest he look at the Maxima, as well. These cars are very similar, but fill different needs for the same family market they were made for. There is much successful history behind these cars as well.
Another car to consider is the 02-03 Q45. They are very nice cars with rock solid reliability. With average milage they can be had for about the same, or just a tad higher, price as a G35.
And as always, the most important part about buying a car is to test drive them. The best time to get a in thorough drive without the usual pressure is around lunch time. This is a slow time for the dealership and the sales people aren't so hurried to get you through to the "hot box" so they can move on to another sale. Hell, chances are good that you can take it out by yourself. It the vry least one can spend more time fiddleing with the car and giving it a good walk through. Also, one needs to test drive the same model car more than once. My suggestion would be to do 3 series of drives for each model one is considering. Spread it out over 3 weeks. So he could drive the G35, Maxima, Q45 on different days of the first week. Week 2 repeat(doesn't neccessarily have to be at the same dealership. However, most lots expect to be shopped and coming back for a second and third drive can be acceptable). And take the third week to do the same. Even if he decides to eleminate a car i would still suggest to drive it just the same. Another good idea is to try to steer clear of a 2-3 year old car that has had more than one owner. There is a reason there have been numerous owners, and chances are good that it was because is car had issues the owners couldn't live with.
One last thing.....
If he is considering a G sedan, yet it doesn't quite live up to his expectations i would suggest looking into the new M35. I think Infiniti hit a homerun with this car. One should be able to find a dealer/demo car for a few thousand less. Dealer cars usually have 4K or less in milage and can be a real bargain(sp?) if they still have one when the incentives start being rolled out by the manufacturer. Its rare to find a dealer car still around when the incentives come out, but if you are sharp and on the ball they can be found. If your brother can wait till late summer of 06 Infiniti should start rolling out their incentives for the end of the year.
Oh, infiniti is also known for having good lease programs. Most of the time the buyout/residual is right in line with the actual value when the lease term is up. Its a good way to get into a car for smaller monthly payments, drive it a couple years to see if you would want to keep it for a while with no obligation, and a lease can give a better tax advantage. If you like something better at the end of the lease just turn it in for something new. However, one should always read the fine print and fully understand the terms before signing. If you just can't make sense of it, then its best to walk away.
Hope that helps somehow.
G35 Sedan Opinions
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