Hey guys. I've been car shopping for a while and am coming pretty close to pulling the trigger on either a 2010 Fusion Sport or 2010 Altima 3.5SR, new and loaded except for nav. I think I can get either one for $25-$26k.

But my thoughts keep coming back to the option of a used G35 if in this price range, or a little lower to account for higher fuel/maintenance costs. So what kind of price do you think I could get a 07 or 08 G35 Journey w/ Premium? Like 20-30k miles, one owner, from an Infiniti dealer. Is KBB/Edmunds pretty close on what these cars go for?

 

I'm not sure on the Fusion Sport as I haven't driven it before, but I have a 2008 altima 3.5sl. Car is great, runs smooth, lots of options and looks good imo.

A used g35/37 is also a good choice, maybe you should look at the all wheel drive models to make it the better "everyday" driver. You can definitely get a 07 for your price range, and looking at autotrader.com the 2008's are pretty damn close too.

Have you looked at the new Ford Taurus? My coworker just got one and I have to admit that it is pretty nice!

 

You should be able to get an 08 journey for at or around $25K . I just recently got an 08 CPO g35x with 23k miles with premium package and wood trim for a little under $26K.

In my opinion buying used makes much more sense when you're looking for the type of car you're looking for. I'm sure both of those other cars are nice, but the g35 is definitely a step up and with 20k miles or so it is like new.

 

Yeah I haven't driven a Fusion Sport either, but I did drive an SEL 4cyl and was highly impressed, the Fusion wasn't really even on our list at that point. I have driven the 3.5SR Altima and it was sweet. Is the back seat in a G similar to an Altima? The Taurus is pretty sharp, although it is big! We're upgrading from a 1995 Corolla so anything feels big compared.

Whatever we get will be the daily driver and being in WA State, AWD might be a wise consideration (although I do have a 4x4 Frontier). Manns45 - looks like you got a great deal on a 08 CPO x... if I could score one like that for that price I think I'd be happy with that! Only way I can justify new is because we keep our cars a long time and you get a fresh warranty, though Infinity has pretty good warranties so an 08 should have a good bit of it left.

 

I haven't been in a newer Altima so I can't say for sure about the back seat. I've found it to be big enough in the G except that it doesn't really fit 3 back there comfortably because the middle seat area is raised.

As far as warranties go, if you get a CPO you get a 4 year 100K mile warranty. It also comes with roadside assistance, trip interruption reimbursement and you get a free loaner car when your car is in for service. Ok that's my pitch, I swear I'm not an Infiniti salesman!

 

If you don't mind me asking, do you remember their asking price on the car you bought for around 26k? I look at the asking price for some of these used cars on autotrader and just go... yikes.

 

Well originally they had it listed online somewhere around $27,400. Then the day I went to look at it they had dropped it down to $26.8K. They wouldn't come off that price too much but I got them to give me an extra grand for my trade and they also honored a $400 coupon I got from their website so I was happy with the deal.

The place I got it from (Herb Chambers Infiniti, Westborough MA) was pretty cool. They don't seem to inflate their prices, they generally change their asking prices every week based on what they think the market for that car is, or so the dealer was telling me.

Now that being said I obviously have no idea what the market for a G35 is like on the opposite side of the country. I know that around Boston it's a popular car and right now there are so many 08's coming off lease so the pricing seems to be very competitive.

 

Hey Manns45,

I'm in the same vicinity as you. I'm looking at trading my '05 35x (61.5k miles) for an '08. I'm curious about your trade in that you got $1k more for it with your negotiations. How did that compare to the nada and blue book values? What was its condition like? My '05 has suffered a little at the hands of the idiots around here who have no idea how to park - many minor scrapes on the rear bumper and one along the passenger side, so it will need a bit more than a polish up to be re-sold. It's currently "worth" $13-14k according to the books.

I want a prem package at a minimum, but would love to add nav and sport as well. Chambers Westborough have 2 Graphites with all above packages. One is at 23k miles, the other at 38k, but they're the same price $28,400 +/-. They say they're not negotiable, but to me this is too much for a 2 year old car, given that new ones can be had for $~5000+ off msrp and we're heading into a new model year so the discounts on new should get even better.

cheers
SunnyGL

 

Blue book for my trade in is $3050, I just looked it up. Now that is the "trade in value," not just used car value which would be higher. It sounds like it was in pretty much the same shape as your car, a bunch of scratches/scuffs and some rust on the inside of one of the doors.

They initially said they would give me $2500 for it and ended up giving me $3500. With Herb Chambers they do this thing called "smart pricing" where they analyze the market for the car and price it accordingly. They don't really seem willing to come down off of that price or at least that's the impression I got. However with me they threw an extra grand into the trade in offer so I think that is where the wiggle room is with them considering my car was not worth the full $3050 due to the scratches and whatnot.

Also, something to look out for is that their "smart" prices change. On the day I bought my car it was listed like $800 less than it had been the day before. So it might not be a bad idea to wait a little bit and see if the prices drop.

If you're not dead set on getting one with NAV you'll probably be able to get a much better deal. From what I've seen the NAV really bumps up the asking price on the pre-owned Gs.

Best of luck.

 

hi manns45, thanks for your quick reply
and sorry to thepieguy for somewhat hijacking your thread

Of the 2 '08xS' listed at HerbC website the lower mileage one seems to have gone. I find it strange they priced the 2 cars the same with 15k miles difference. I ran them through NADA and the 38k mile car should be about $1200 less - well perhaps some room to negotiate. It's odd that they can put quite a premium price for the Nav and sport packages, but if I'm gonna drop another big chunk of money on one should get what I want. Also the 38k mile car is relatively new on the lot so they won't be too keen to discount it.

Used car pricing seems so capricious - I'd really love to know what the dealers markups actually are. The NADA retail came it at around $32k for the 08xS' whereas all the HerbC 08's seem to be priced nearer the upper end of the trade value so NADA/kbb etc don't seem too realistic.

I'll go to a newer car if I can score myself a really good deal, but otherwise I can live with my '05.

cheers
SunnyGL

 

Not a thread-jack at all, no problem.

I don't know if I'll be able to do a G anyways, I would want an 08 and decided that AWD would be the best choice. Dealers in my area (Western Oregon/Washington) are asking well over 30k for 08 G35x's w/ premium package only... I doubt I would be able to score one for 25 or 26k.

 

come to cali, i got my 08 for 24,xxx with prem before taxes. Lots of competition out here!

 

Hey thepieguy,

Yeah, asking over $30k for '08's is nuts. I hesitated on a '10 G37xS with prem/nav with 2700miles on it and 2 months old - managerial car, which was being offered for about $34k - hesitated too long and someone else snapped it up.

Here's the way I see it. All the NE dealers are offering new '10 G37x with premium for about $34.5 (msrp >$39k) and looking around you'll see many on the forums saying they got $4.5-5.5k off msrp. We're nearing the end of the model year so if you wait the discounts may get better still. Factor in that you can get 0% for 3 years too, if you can handle a fairly high payment.

So how much is realistic for a 2+ year old car? When you drive a new car of the lot how much has it lost in value - it's now used, I'd say a minimum of 15% of what you paid - not msrp and by the time it's 2 years old it should have lost at least another 15% - maybe more. So take that $34.5k above and 30% depreciation takes it to about $24k. Samsizzle says he got his for around that, which includes the dealer's margin.

Do as Samsizzle suggests get a CPO one from Cali and get to know the car on the drive home!

Good luck
SunnyGL

 

I tried selling my 08 g35 journey with sport wheels and 34k miles, clear bra, flawless exterior/interior for $23k and couldn't find a buyer. Got alot of calls but no takers.
I owe $21k on the loan and decided just to keep the car as I won't be able to upgrade for the same money.

 

well i appraise my 07' g35S fully loaded,to an infiniti dealearship, there willing to payoff my balance on my loan which is 26k, and get me into a lease 2010 G37S fully loaded too for 600 month 48m/15k with 1500 down. i turn it down, but now i want to keep grindin them down on the monthly payments.