Greetings, first time poster here...and I will try not to be overly redundant. I know a lot of people come on these boards and ask for comparisons and advice, when in actuality a lot of the answers can only be found within a persons own preferences.

Anyways...here I go...

I am in the market for a new car. I have pushed my current car, 1995 Ford Thunderbird V8, for 160,000 miles and I feel as though the car might be telling me that it is time to put it down for good. I am very accustomed to snow driving with rear wheel posi. I am not overly concerned with that aspect, even though I do reside in West Michigan, home of the lake effect snow storm.

Right now I am torn between pursuing a 2005 Pontiac GTO with an automatic tranny and a 2004 G35 with auto and navi. I like the styling of both cars, but I find the g35 a lot more sexy (so does the wife). However, the GTO's pure brute force (400hp 6.0 LS2 V8) is quite gratifying as well.

This car will have to be an all season, daily driver. How is the dependability of the g35 over the long run. I know the GTO has had a few hiccups along the way (struts, etc). I want a car that I can take good care of, and in return be taken good care of by that car. Which translates to 100,000 miles of problem free, with general maintenance, driving.

I do all my own maintenance...is the g35 shade tree mechanic friendly?

Thanks in advance for the pointers!

 

I'm not sure how many months out of the year it snows there but it would be a pain to get around in a 400hp rwd car even with snow tires. It's hard enough in the G35 but add on another 100+hp and it gets real fun. Also, 4 doors comes in real handy especially if you plan to carry people and things as oppose to the GTO coupe.

 

since your looking at a 4dr g35 auto... any reason why its not the g35x version... up there the awd really shines !


ppp

 

Clarification --- I DO NOT WANT A 4 DOOR G35, I want a coupe. I like the 2+2 seating arrangements of the G35 and the GTO.

Snow does not scare me...thats what traction control is for

 

^^Well the choice should be a no-brainer. Go with the G35c. It's almost as fast as the GTO and will get you there with less gas. Also, with your snowy conditions, you're going slow anyways so might as well look good getting to where ever you are going.

 

the GTO has the same engine as the CTS-V and Vette (not Z)
I would spend the money to get the CTS before I bought a GTO. really dont like the look. guy here at work has one, can't help but laugh when i see his goofy a$ $ pulling up in that burnt orange thing.

 

Thanks for all of the advice. I apologize for posting in the wrong forum.

The research continues.

What is the safety ratings on the G35 Coupe? I have not been able to get any real ratings, like how many stars...etc.

If I do in fact go with the G, it will be the smallest car I will have ever owned, and that scares me, for whatever reason...lol, I guess it will have greater accident avoidance...based on size! I just worry about survivability. This is not saying that the Goat is any safer...since it lacks a lot of safety equipment due to being built in Australia.

Thanks again!

 

My wife drove 350z/maxima/gto/cobra/330i/baby benz/altimaECT ECT ECT...she settled on an 05 5at g35coupe after driving a cobra mustang for 10years and a mach-1 mustang for a while
she said " going fast with class "