G37 or BMW 335i-someone please twist my arm

[SeismicGuy]

Hello to all from a newbie here. I will probably be in the market soon to replace by 1995 Vette. My wife sort of wants me to get a BMW again (she loved the 1986 325ES I had for 9 years) but she also likes the G35 and we actually drove and looked at one of these a couple of years ago.

After the Vette, the two leading candidates that "excite" me at all are the upcoming G37 and the BMW 335is. In terms of performance and looks, both cars seem about even, although I have heard that it is very easy to tweak more power out of the 335is since it is a turbo. However, the turbo worries me in that my past with BMW was dismal in terms of reliability and maintenance.

A slight pro for the BMW is that, hey, it's a BMW and no matter what, I guess there is some prestige to that. However, I expect that the G37 would be less out-of-pocket versus the BMW. I could easily be talked into either car.

So what I am looking for are folks that were/are in similar positions. I am especially interested in hearing opinions from anyone who wanted a BMW but ended up with the Infiniti, or vice versa.

Thanks,

Doug

[bostonmerlin]

you'll find many posts comparing the g35/g37/bmw335. i will only speak for myself when saying the bmw looks like a camry... very boring exterior.. very boring interior. the quality is great.. the engine is great.. the drive is great. the g37 offers sporty looks with an engine and driving experience as close as you can get to the 335. That statement is based on pre-production test drives from the mags.. so i cant back that up.. only to say that most will prob. agree you'll have fun driving both cars. For me.. the bmw looses out because it doesnt look as fun and it costs more. i was in the same boat.. which to buy, g37/335/is350. For me the G looks like a car thats more fun to drive.


bm

[Triji]

No arm twisting really needed. Just do what I did and get the "G" for you and the "Bimmer" for your wife

Best of both worlds.

[kevink]

Since you can hear horror stories about both brands, and other cases of where people never had problems, go with what you like.

If you only kept vehicles for 2-3 years, even a bad choice would be gone in a few years. But, if as it appears, you keep vehicles longer go with what gets your fancy. Otherwise, you may have second thoughts.

[muscarel]

I am in a similar position. I am considering the G37, BMW 335 Sedan and BMW 335 Coupe. I may also throw in the G35 Sedan as well.

They all have pros/cons. So far, I have driven a 335 6 speed, and although I thought it was a nice car with plenty of power I wouldn't make that the only decision to buy the car. The new 07 G35 is plenty fast as well. The G37 may be even more so. The only thing that keeps me looking at the 335 is that I feel that the coupe is "sporty" while not trying to look "young". Sounds silly if you're in in the market for a coupe - but I hope the G37 doesn't give off the "mid-life crisis" thing. I owned a G35 6mt, and loved it. Even the faults that are brought up often here - I never thought they were a big deal. It was a beautiful car, made great sounds, "quick", and very reliable. It was also not expensive.

From a purely bang for your buck - the G37 and 07/08 G35 sedan will be hard to beat. They have really improved the car (I've driven the 07 sedan) and made it much more refined. Here's my tally:

BMW

Pros - More name recognition (if you care about that), fast, nice shifter, "mature" looks (coupe), roomier back seat compared to the G (coupe), nice sport wheels, great steering, easy to get ridiculous power aftermarket.

Cons - More expensive (a similar lease on a coupe is about $100 more per month - I've priced them out every which way), boring interior, the worst NAV system in any car (more just so that it is slow and alot of simple funcitons are buried in menus), terrible non-sport wheels, having to pay for alot of options that you get with the standard G35/37, questionable reliability, clutch action (I hated it), the sedan exterior looks (yawn).


G35/G37

Pros - Sportier looking, much nicer interior, better reliability, lots of gadgets, less expensive, big meaty brakes, beautiful sounds.

Cons - Too sporty? (if your a bit older), won't be able to get a deal on one for awhile because it's new (if you need a car now), potential for balky shifter (if they haven't improved it for 08 - they say they have), potential for rattles (old G's had these issues).


Overall, a tough decision. Some people just gravitate toward BMW, so it seems like an easy decision to them. For me, it's a tough one. I have the feeling though that once I get to sit and feel the G37, I'm going to be sold, just like I was back when the 1st gen came out.

[allforthecash]

BMW 335i Hands down... ...2-3 years ago when I was shopping for a new car....it was between a 330ci or G35 6MT....we already owned a 2002 330ci PP/SP.....I had a 330ci silver/black ordered with the performance package....but Infiniti gave me a deal on the G35 I couldn't pass-up.....(I should have passed it up)...I love the G35 and its a great car!...but the bmw we own (now with 100K on the clock)...has been equal to or beats the G35 in everyway....especially in build quality (IMHO)..the G35 interior pieces look like and feel like they are made of recycled condoms .... driving them back to back shows the night and difference between the two....

no blind infiniti pride over here.....go with the 335...you won't be dissappointed....

IMHO

[allforthecash]

Originally Posted by Triji

Best of both worlds.

Same here!! Get both!

[SeismicGuy]

So far good responses from all--especially from those who say to get both (wish I could).

I have a feeling it will come down to what happens on the day I finally start serious shopping. Ideally, I would like to look at both within the same timeframe but the G37 is not even out quite yet. I guess there will be other things in the equation. For example, my wife works with someone whose husband works for a parts department at a local Nissan dealer so perhaps I will be able to get some kind of friend's discount through Nissan.

If not, and the Infiniti dealers start playing the game of having to pay $xxx above sticker, and, if on the same day I stumble into a BMW dealer that has a special on a 335i that has been sitting on the lot (unlikely), I would jump at the BMW.

Most purely objective thinking would end up as a no-brainer in favor of the G37. Similar performance to the BMW, fresh new model, basically looks good, likely less expensive to buy, much more reliable, a more civilized but still a fun replacement for the Vette. Unfortunately, there are those pesky subjective things with car buying like the "allure" and "prestige" of the BMW.

Doug

[paranormal]

ive made up my mind..

im keeping my Twin turbo g35 and im getting the 2008 M3.. i figure go hard or go home.. no debate between g37 or 335i..

its mmmmmMMMMMM time baby

[muscarel]

Originally Posted by allforthecash

BMW 335i Hands down... ...2-3 years ago when I was shopping for a new car....it was between a 330ci or G35 6MT....we already owned a 2002 330ci PP/SP.....I had a 330ci silver/black ordered with the performance package....but Infiniti gave me a deal on the G35 I couldn't pass-up.....(I should have passed it up)...I love the G35 and its a great car!...but the bmw we own (now with 100K on the clock)...has been equal to or beats the G35 in everyway....especially in build quality (IMHO)..the G35 interior pieces look like and feel like they are made of recycled condoms .... driving them back to back shows the night and difference between the two....

no blind infiniti pride over here.....go with the 335...you won't be dissappointed....

IMHO

The 1st gen interiors were pretty bad. The tables have turned now. The G's interior is much nicer (no more fake silver plastic), and the BMW's has gone a generation back. And this is not blind Infiniti pride - I am looking into both cars. But you can only make excuses for the car for so long.

[SilverII]

cant go wrong with either....

[ElixXxeR]

The interiors and prices make the choice a no brainer for me. The 335i is way too expensive for what it is and it's interior is pretty terrible. I think the 335i looks pretty good, but the G35 and especially G37 look better. If the 335i had the G35 interior and price, then the choice would be very difficult indeed.

[LudwigB]

Overall Performance: Draw

Engine: Same hp. NA is more drivable, more linear, more reliable. Advantage G
Shifter: Improve clutch/shifter on G: Draw
Fun to Drive: From what I heard, G is more fun.
Interior: G looks better but 335 has slightly luxurious feel. Draw
Exterior: I prefer 335 over G but some prefer G. Draw
Price: G by a large margin

[SeismicGuy]

Originally Posted by LudwigB

Overall Performance: Draw

Engine: Same hp. NA is more drivable, more linear, more reliable. Advantage G
Shifter: Improve clutch/shifter on G: Draw
Fun to Drive: From what I heard, G is more fun.
Interior: G looks better but 335 has slightly luxurious feel. Draw
Exterior: I prefer 335 over G but some prefer G. Draw
Price: G by a large margin

But for engine--torque (which is what you really feel) is greater for 335i. Also, looks like there are a few chip-type mods available that crank the hp and torque way up for the 335i.

Agree with all the rest but you left out the "allure/prestige" category which, I realize, is purely BS for many/most but, if it were not for that category, folks would always be buying loaded Camrys instead of Lexus ES300 so obviously this plays a part.

[LudwigB]

Originally Posted by SeismicGuy

But for engine--torque (which is what you really feel) is greater for 335i. Also, looks like there are a few chip-type mods available that crank the hp and torque way up for the 335i.

The 335 may have more low end torque but the G top end power is more viscerial and electrifying. It depends on which you prefer: low end torque or top end power. I personally prefer the latter.

Originally Posted by SeismicGuy

Agree with all the rest but you left out the "allure/prestige" category which, I realize, is purely BS for many/most but, if it were not for that category, folks would always be buying loaded Camrys instead of Lexus ES300 so obviously this plays a part.

Yup the 335i definitely commands more respect on the road. My friends at work and I both agree that German designs in general tend to be more classy and elegant than the Japanese and I think it is the case with the 335i vs. G37.