Why isn't the G35 compared with the 5 series?

jastevenson said:

Refusing to compare the two is like not comparing a Boxster to an S2000 b/c the S2k is cheaper.

Click to expand...

Each car is clearly targeted at a certain market segment. The pricing of the G35 is aimed squarely at the BMW 3-series, Audi A4, and the Lexus IS300. There are other cars in a similar position -- slightly larger than a 3-series, but based on their target market, are kept in that same category.

Also, having owned a E39 and a E46, I don't think the E39 market is in any way looking for a G35. The G35 lacks the upscale feel of the E39. The G35 outperforms the BMW 3 liter engine (330/530), but it's no competition in the power arena for the 540i.

Infiniti will have its hands full competing with the 3-series, which it does well, but without trouncing the E46. Compare a 540i and a G35 and someone is going to call foul.

--gary

Same deal with the Cadillac CTS and Lincoln LS. Both cars are in E39 size range, but priced right against the E46. The majority of the world shops based on price, so you have to use that as the yardstick.

BTW, contrary to popular belief, the E46's interior is larger than the E39 in every dimension other than width, where the 5er has a slight advantage. Efficiency is quite an art. :thumb:

jastevenson said:

I suspect the car mags are reluctant to do so b/c they know the G would trounce the 5er. Sure, the 5 has a good chassis, but it's an old design with old styling, poor packaging, poor interior (I think the 5er interior is incredibly dated, much as the E36 3er interior was), the world's worst base stereo, a weaker engine, and fewer safety features than the G. And the G handles better to boot (if the 3 outhandles the 5, so does the G35).

Click to expand...

I suspect you haven't driven an E39. My dad just traded-in his 1999 E39 540i-6 for a 2002 E39 540i-6. It has even more horsepower (290 vs. 282) and torque (324 vs. 310) than his last car could pull from the 4.4 liter V8.

The chassis is rock-solid, and the car car is amazingly quiet on the freeway. Safety-wise, it is an armored car (if you had to sit in the seat during a crash test - you'd really rather sit in the G35?). It is rocket-fast, with gobs of torque. I'd argue it is the best car in the world right now if you had to pick one car to do everything!

The G35 is light, cheap feeling, and the chassis isn't nearly as safe. Drive both, and you will understand why I'd take an E39 525i over the G35 (as would most on this Board).

Besides, Infiniti has another car coming in the 5er/EClass/LexusGS fight: The M45. Its a JDM Nissan Cedric/Gloria (The former Chevy Caprice of Japan; it was very popular with taxi fleets till Nissan made a specialized taxi model) with a Q45 V8 stuffed underhood, instead of the twinturbo V6 it gets in Japan.

Too bad the recent modelchange made it SO ugly. The previous model was a fantastic looking car.

Kaz said:

Besides, Infiniti has another car coming in the 5er/EClass/LexusGS fight: The M45. Its a JDM Nissan Cedric/Gloria (The former Chevy Caprice of Japan; it was very popular with taxi fleets till Nissan made a specialized taxi model) with a Q45 V8 stuffed underhood, instead of the twinturbo V6 it gets in Japan.

Too bad the recent modelchange made it SO ugly. The previous model was a fantastic looking car.

Click to expand...

That car is so promising on paper, but one of the blandest machines I have ever seen in reality. I can't believe Nissan decided to release such a conservative model after the dramaticly styled Q45 G35 G35 Coupe rollout. I can't see the car selling very well at all. I'm forcasting another J30 for the history books. :thumbdwn:

The G35 is light, cheap feeling, and the chassis isn't nearly as safe. Drive both, and you will understand why I'd take an E39 525i over the G35 (as would most on this Board).

Click to expand...

Speak for yourself, buddy! I think the 2.5 I-6 is not powerful enough. Yes it can pull my 325Ci 0-60 in 6.9 seconds, but with three people in the car its a different story. The 525 is even worse because its a heavier car. The G35 is light.....I hope so and not weighing over 3500 pounds with only 184 horses like the 525 and its a solid car...I drove it. Cheap feeling....did you drive the car? I drove it and it has great road feel, but I guess Car and Driver, Motorweek, Forbes, etc really don't know what they're talking about....even when they praised the E46. I think it suffers from what most Japanese auto suffer from...lack of a good wheel and tire package. Drive both....I own a 325Ci and drove the G35 Sedan...with 260 HP it makes highway driving very pleasurable even with a auto. Remember the VQ series engine is one of the best in the world along with BMW's I-6. Don't get me wrong, the 525 shares some the great handling that synonomous with the 3 series, but it lacks in the power department.

Re: Emission

I would prolly take a 540-6 over a G35. OTOH, for the same price, I could get 2 base G35s!

But a 525 over a G35? Please. Safetywise, what are you basing your opinion on? The G35 crash tests scores are impeccable (done by the Japanese equivalent of the NHTSA, which tests side, full frontal, and offset frontal--more comprehensive than the NHTSA).

The G has a newer chassis, and 5 years is a long time in safety years. Moreover, the G has active headrests, which the 5er lacks, as well as curtain airbags for front _and_ rear. Curtains are better than sausage bags.

The G35 is light, and that's a good thing. I like the way they used aluminum to keep the weight down. And it's not cheap feeling.

The 5er is a nice car, but it's outdated. The new 5er OTOH, assuming it has decent styling, will prolly be better than the G. But saying that the current 5er is better is a joke.

I suspect you haven't driven an E39. My dad just traded-in his 1999 E39 540i-6 for a 2002 E39 540i-6. It has even more horsepower (290 vs. 282) and torque (324 vs. 310) than his last car could pull from the 4.4 liter V8.

The chassis is rock-solid, and the car car is amazingly quiet on the freeway. Safety-wise, it is an armored car (if you had to sit in the seat during a crash test - you'd really rather sit in the G35?). It is rocket-fast, with gobs of torque. I'd argue it is the best car in the world right now if you had to pick one car to do everything!

The G35 is light, cheap feeling, and the chassis isn't nearly as safe. Drive both, and you will understand why I'd take an E39 525i over the G35 (as would most on this Board).

Click to expand...

Horsepower isn't everything - useable horsepower is.

German horses always tend to feel stronger than Japanese, whether you are comparing the Acura Type-S or the Lexus GS430, the Japanese with more horses lose the drag races. Sure, the G35 has 260 (or so), but I am confident a 330i feels faster with only 225 (I am also confident the 525i feels slower than both).

Yes, the 525i is underpowered. I would still take it over a G35 (and I have owned TWO Infiniti's so my decision is not from a BMW-bias). The E39 is a better chassis. Period. We will have to wait for insurance reports to check real-world injury claims.

Several years from now, the E39 5-series will be remembered as a car ahead of it's time - and the best car of it's time (like the 1986 Mercedes 300E is regarded). The G35, J30, I30, ES300, IS300, GS400, GS430, blah, blah, blah.... will all be regarded as used Japanese cars.

Re: Re: Why isn't the G35 compared with the 5 series?

Emission said:

I suspect you haven't driven an E39. My dad just traded-in his 1999 E39 540i-6 for a 2002 E39 540i-6. It has even more horsepower (290 vs. 282) and torque (324 vs. 310) than his last car could pull from the 4.4 liter V8.

The chassis is rock-solid, and the car car is amazingly quiet on the freeway. Safety-wise, it is an armored car (if you had to sit in the seat during a crash test - you'd really rather sit in the G35?). It is rocket-fast, with gobs of torque. I'd argue it is the best car in the world right now if you had to pick one car to do everything!

Click to expand...

Not the 540, but the M5

It is rocket fast. I did a top end run like you did in the 540 with an M5. No Governor = speedo pegged, 187 mph, 6500 in 6th :bigpimp:

Emission said:

Horsepower isn't everything - useable horsepower is.

German horses always tend to feel stronger than Japanese, whether you are comparing the Acura Type-S or the Lexus GS430, the Japanese with more horses lose the drag races. Sure, the G35 has 260 (or so), but I am confident a 330i feels faster with only 225 (I am also confident the 525i feels slower than both).

Click to expand...

I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that you haven't driven a G35 yet.

Every other consideration aside (lousy interior, crappy resale, etc.), a slushbox G35 tester with 20 some odd miles felt considerably faster and stopped much better than my 330 5-speed (with 7,0xx miles on it).

From all that I have read in magazines, I will indeed test drive a G35 to see what all of the hype is about. The car looks incredible to this beholder, and it's putting down phenominal numbers.

I do however hate slushies with a passion, and I feel that I will never get a true feel for the car unless there is the correct amount of pedals. Come fall when the 6-speed is here, I will go and drive the G35 and perhaps the coupe if they have one by then.

I reserve judgement until I get to take some writing of the sidewalls, dust from the brake pads, and lives from the salesman.

hts said:

I would be willing to bet dollars to donuts that you haven't driven a G35 yet.

Click to expand...

Actually, I've drive two different G35's. The first was a dealer demo with about 1000 miles on it. The other was brand-new (12 miles). Neither felt faster than my 330i 5-speed.

Production tolerances are all over the map. Maybe your 330i is a 'slow' one?

John Demetre said:

The G35 is having a heck of a time selling. Infiniti reports only 5,650 sold for the first 2 months. The interior has been a huge bomb. It is universally viewed as cheap and ugly. Compare it with the 5? How about comparing it with the Nissan Altima. They look very similar because they are.

Click to expand...

Infinity's first year goal for the G35 Sedan is 30,000. Looks like they're meeting that goal. 5,660 sold for a car that's two months old is not too bad. That's almost 45% of all Infinity's sold in April. How can you say they are not selling? I think alot folks are awaiting the six speed or the Coupe.

G35 Sales

When any new car comes out it sells its greatest numbers right off the bat. This is the time waiting lists receive their cars and those holding off a purchase buy. Infiniti put alot into advertising and hyping the G35. 30,000 in one year?, I think the 325i by itself sells 5 or 6 thousand in a month. The G35's troubles selling have been widely talked about in the automotive world. Our dealership, Summit BMW, which I have a stake in is affiliated with Baker Infiniti. The troubles the G35 is having is topic #1 over there.

John you have to remember Infinity is a relatively new car company that just exists in the US. BMW sells roughly 1200 330is a month in the US...the G35 clearly outsells the 330i. They sell only about 4000 325is a month in the US. BTW this is based on April sales figures. The G35 may not be selling in your area, but take a visit the the forum read customers testimony on how the dealer can't keep enough of them on the lot in some parts of the country.

G35 link

John Demetre said:

Compare it with the 5? How about comparing it with the Nissan Altima. They look very similar because they are.

Click to expand...

Exactly how are the Altima and G35 similiar? Aside from engines, there isn't one connection. It's like comparing a Mini to an E46. Same basic company, COMPLETELY different car.

How are they similar??? Take a look at both side by side and tell me they are not similar. They look very much alike. True, the G35 sells alot more than the 330i, but the 330i is about $10,000 more. It's just not in my area where their not selling, it is across the country. Infiniti had a goal to sell 8,000 the first 2 months when demand was going to be highest. They ended up a little over 5,600. Not pretty numbers. Again the troubles the car is having is well known in the auto community. It's got to be the interior!