Hello everyone, I'm currently in the market to get a G. I'm selling my 04 BMW & my 08 GLI and finally getting a G35. I have between 10-12k to spend.

From what I gathered on the interwebs, I'm aware the 04 came with the better brakes, the brembos. Also they lack the superior interior of the 05+ and the RPM/MPH are on opposites sides. The 05+ come with a better interior, more HP, but at the cost of no brembos and I hear lots of oil consumption. Am I missing anything major?

My current options(as I'll only settle for a manual) are a 04 G35 with around 131k miles for $6.5k and a 05 G35 with 171k miles for $7k. I commute around 80-90miles to work, I'm also looking to mod, not heavily though. Just a good exhaust, and mostly aesthetics. I want to keep it as my daily for a few years or so.

What would be the best option? Does anyone regret getting the 04 over the 05 given you had a choice? I understand lesser miles is always great, but I hear the VQ are very reliable and as long as they are cared for will last long. My BMW is at 230K miles are drives just as strong as she did at 90k. Still with a good resell value as well. I should mention the 05 is from a dealer and the 04 is from a private seller.

Thanks for any and all feedback.

 

I have an 03 and don't regret it at all, and if I'm not mistaken, while the 05-06 6MT have more horsepower, it's at the cost of less torque. I'd go for the 04 if it's between those two, the 05 has quite a bit of miles. and while these cars last forever, they aren't bulletproof, stuff needs to get replaced one time or another.

 

If you have 10-12k to spend, I would get an 06+.

Are you looking for a coupe or sedan? If you're willing to get a sedan and have plans for more hp (FI), get the 07 with the HR engine. if you want a coupe and want more hp (FI), then you might have to get an 08+ for the HR engine.

I would keep looking and find an 06+ with lower miles in your price range.

 

that would be called a 350z

 

weren't g35's discontinued in 07?

 

last coupe year
35 Coupes never got the HR (unfortunately)

 

Yeah I'm leaning towards the 04, I really like those brembos. Have you had any issues with suspension or the brakes?

Well, I've seen a few for 10k with around 100-120k miles, some less. However, I figured I'd buy a cheaper one and use the left over money and get it completely tuned up.

 

Hey Apostle, as a someone fairly new to the g35 world you definitely can't go wrong either way. I think I searched for close to 2'months before I finally found the one I wanted, I was only interested in in either an 03 or an 04 with the factory brembos and had to turn down 2 before I found my 03 diamond graphite with 96k miles in October of last year,I know that a slightly newer one with an upgraded interior would be most people's obvious choice but tbo I didn't mind, even now when I'm driving it's still super comfortable and such an enjoyable ride. though I will say take your time when you find one as some of the 05+ will have the unfortunate oil consumption issue as I'm sure pre 05s due as well but not to the extent of the revup motors.good luck with your search man these are such amazing and fun cars.

 

03-04 had issues with oil consumption both transmissions, 05-07 was just manuals really.

 

haven't had any issues really at all with the suspension, had to replace my lower control arms due to the PO not replacing some suspension items when installing my lowering springs but other than that I love the car and honestly it runs like a champ. and yes, I love the brembos. A lot. search for one you really like. I searched 5 months for mine, mileage isn't everything. condition is

 

First, lets clear this up: no years had more power; the way horsepower was rated changed in 05. No 1/4 mile or 0-60 changes for any year coupe. Ok, so that being said, yes there are pros and cons to both and I'll just list them simply:

03/4 - pros: brembo option, better spoiler, much less oil burning issues compared to 05+ 6mt, don't have to purchase an mrev2 when upgrading with plenum spacer.

05 - pros: interior upgrade, still had better 1st gen spoiler, rays wheels available.

06/7 - pros: much much better projector headlights, sport bumper and sides available (look much better), rays wheels available, upgraded interior (same as 05)

Cons:

03/4 - less appealing (slightly) interior, no rays available (most people change wheels anyway tho so kind of a non-issue), reflector headlights, no sport package available, but aero package is, if its pre 03.5 you can't tune it without getting wideband O2 sensors

05: no brembos, no sport body parts, still had reflectors, oil burning issues (6mt revup), gotta buy mrev2 for spacer upgrade (6mt)..this is the step child of these cars.

06/7: oil burning issues (6mt), no brembos, ugly spoiler, gotta buy an mrev2 ($500 - 6mt) when you purchase a plenum spacer if you wanna see gains.

All body parts are interchangeable however, so if you had an 04 you could easily buy the headlights, a sport bumper and other stuff for cheaper than buying brembos.

 

*disclaimer
"Ugly spoiler" is purely subjective.

 

It's really not tho. The 06/7 spoiler is known world wide as the ugliest of the two.

"Far better it is to have no spoiler on your G35, than to have a second gen spoiler that makes the whole car look gay" - Mark Twain

 

Wut.. I like my 06 sedan spoiler. Show me what is considered "better 1st gen" spoiler?

 

The 1st gen spoilers seem to fit the car better imo... The 2nd gen seem to small for the car