G35 vs IS 350

[IS350]

Let me start off by asking you not to flame me. I am a car enthusiast and really respect the new and older body style G35. Last April I needed a new car (company car) and opted for the IS350, as the new G35's were not yet available. I was looking for a RWD high HP 4 door sedan and the Lexus really fit the bill. If the new body style G35's were available I beleive it would have been a tough decision. I recently drove a new G35 Journey and here is my opionions on both cars.

G35 is better because:

more rear leg room
better road feel/ handeling
exhaust, if you want it

IS 350 is better because :
transmission
very quite, if you want it
isolated feel, if you want it


Randonm thoughts:

Both are awsome cars, I would be happy with either one.

In a drag race from a stop, it would be close.

The paddle shifters on the IS are worthless.

Unless you do the "break dance" to dissable the VDIM, you do not have much control of IS. Some times this is a good thing.

I am partial to the looks of the IS, but would probable think different if I owned a G35

I paid $36,300 and the sticker was $38,500. It has no nav. I could have got a similar equipped G35 for 3k less.

The stock radio in the IS is better then the stock one in the G35

Gas mileage in the IS is 21.8 city (heavy foot) and 25-26 on the highway.

After a year adn 15k miles, the leather in the IS has little wear.


Ok, let me know your thoughts, and remember I am not the enemy.

[tracerit]

THe IS350's seats are very plush and suck you in, I felt like I was sitting on a park bench when I sat in the G35S.

[w0ady]

Originally Posted by tracerit

THe IS350's seats are very plush and suck you in, I felt like I was sitting on a park bench when I sat in the G35S.

ya the heated and cooled seats of the is are pretty nice. rear seat is pretty useless though. its a coupe interior with sedan exterior.

[IS350]

Yes I forgot to mention that the seats were better. I hear the seats on the G35 Sport are great though.

[IS350]

True, the rear seats are for kids or short drives only. I have had adults in the back with no complaints, but I did move the driver seat up as much as I could stand.

[Gorn]

I went to the Lexus dealer before I went to the Infiniti dealer. A guy who looked homeless (torn dirty pants, dirty windbreaker) was "assigned" to me. I say that because most of the car salespeople were out in front joking and smoking and ignoring the customers.

He took me to a car and had me get in. I saw a big dark panel so he had me turn on the power. Oops - the battery was out of juice! Rather than stick it on a charger or get me to a car with juice, he just said "It's out of power". I headed for the door, while he yelled after me how the "headlights turn when you turn the steering wheel!" Whoop de doo!

Lexus may be the Lexus of Lexus, but they can keep their bloody cars.

I walked into my Infiniti dealer and the quiet and helpful respect with which they treated me, and the clear value of their incredible cars sold me!.

[GforaG]

I had the exact opposite ...From lexus respect and great service...from Infiniti disrespect, bad service, and shaddy sales tactics. The fact that I bought the G over the IS is a testament to the G!

Originally Posted by Gorn

I went to the Lexus dealer before I went to the Infiniti dealer. A guy who looked homeless (torn dirty pants, dirty windbreaker) was "assigned" to me. I say that because most of the car salespeople were out in front joking and smoking and ignoring the customers.

He took me to a car and had me get in. I saw a big dark panel so he had me turn on the power. Oops - the battery was out of juice! Rather than stick it on a charger or get me to a car with juice, he just said "It's out of power". I headed for the door, while he yelled after me how the "headlights turn when you turn the steering wheel!" Whoop de doo!

Lexus may be the Lexus of Lexus, but they can keep their bloody cars.

I walked into my Infiniti dealer and the quiet and helpful respect with which they treated me, and the clear value of their incredible cars sold me!.

[IS350]

I would have done the same. Unlike you, my Lexus experience has been outstanding. This is another thing I failed to mention. I look forward to bringing my car in for service (oil changes) as I am treated like a millionare. My purchase experience was also flawless, very professional.

[G35Now!]

Curious as to the point of this thread...? You bought an IS, and having driven both you have perceived differences. Okay...?

Regardless, I bought the G because to me it was a better value, it handles better, and it's larger. As a side note, my wife finds the Lexus brand pretentious (note that if she found the Ferrari Modena pretentious, I would still drive one )

[IS350]

Originally Posted by GforaG

I had the exact opposite ...From lexus respect and great service...from Infiniti disrespect, bad service, and shaddy sales tactics. The fact that I bought the G over the IS is a testament to the G!

What sold you on the G? I am curious as they are both great cars, but different. One more sport, one more luxury. I like the combo of speed and luxury.

[IS350]

Originally Posted by G35Now!

Curious as to the point of this thread...? You bought an IS, and having driven both you have perceived differences. Okay...?

Regardless, I bought the G because to me it was a better value, it handles better, and it's larger. As a side note, my wife finds the Lexus brand pretentious (note that if she found the Ferrari Modena pretentious, I would still drive one )

No point other then your opionions on the IS. Sorry I wasted your time.

[hokiesean24]

I think they are both great cars. I think the OPs oservations are pretty accurate to my own feelings. It came down to the G being more 'sporty' and as everyone else has pointed out the better bang for the buck for me. I think the Lexus and the BMW for that matter are both great cars though. I think its sad that people think they will get flamed for saying that in these forums- although, I must say, for the most part people in this forum are much more accepting to praising other makes/models than in most other forums.

[Christian]

Originally Posted by Gorn

I went to the Lexus dealer before I went to the Infiniti dealer. A guy who looked homeless (torn dirty pants, dirty windbreaker) was "assigned" to me. I say that because most of the car salespeople were out in front joking and smoking and ignoring the customers.

He took me to a car and had me get in. I saw a big dark panel so he had me turn on the power. Oops - the battery was out of juice! Rather than stick it on a charger or get me to a car with juice, he just said "It's out of power". I headed for the door, while he yelled after me how the "headlights turn when you turn the steering wheel!" Whoop de doo!

Lexus may be the Lexus of Lexus, but they can keep their bloody cars.

I walked into my Infiniti dealer and the quiet and helpful respect with which they treated me, and the clear value of their incredible cars sold me!.

My friends parents own an advertising firm and they tend to be very trendy people, but they rarely dress in traditional business attire. When they visited the Lexus dealership there were 2 sales guys working (actually just standing around and talking) and upon entering the showroom one of the salesman looked at them and said "excuse me I don't think we have any cars you can afford here. I think you are looking for the Toyota dealer." Needless to say they didn't buy a Lexus.

[ksoto]

I am in the market for a Sport Sedan (I will probably buy the 2008 G35x)
and owned a 2002 IS300 couple years ago.

I chose the new G over IS because
1) IS is too small
2) IS Handling is not sporty at all and too isolated (the 2002 was much better)
3) no AWD 350
4) IS exterior does not look good to "Me"

Stuffs in IS I wish in the G
1) Soft Leather
2) Dash board and the needle sweep at startup

Just my 2 cents

[Sideshow7208]

I test drove a number of vehicles before settling on the 2007 G35S 6MT. The IS350 was above my price range and manual transmission was a critical requirement to me, so I drove an IS250 rather than the 350. My wife and I arrived on the Lexus lot about 30 minutes before closing on a Saturday afternoon, and our salesman clearly had other things on his mind. He did agree, with a pronounced lack of enthusiasm, to let us go for a test drive, but rode with us (only one that did that, and we must have driven five or six cars) and talked the whole time.

I thought the Lexus had a nice instrument panel, and liked the ability to set a subtle reminder light on the speedometer if I exceeded a target speed (any Infiniti marketing folks reading this?). My wife actually liked the Lexus' exterior styling, particularly the front end, more than the G. But inside the center console seemed too high and wide, like there was a wall between me and my wife on the other side, I didn't like the big buldge from the transmission cutting into my footroom, and the glossy wood seemed a bit "over the top". Then, there was the IS250's decided lack of b@lls, which was quite pronounced after having driven a G. I was actually commenting to the salesman in the back seat during our test drive about the lack of power compared to the G when, perfectly timed to emphasize my point, someone test driving a G (the Infiniti dealer is about a block away from the Lexus dealer here in Grand Rapids) blew by us at WOT as if we were standing still. No reason to drive the Lexus any further...