Hello, About to be a new driver here and I just wanted some opinions on the reasons I have for wanting this car. I've wanted a decent performing sport coupe with a backseat for a while and the only thing I can think in my price range is the g35. I decided the G against a bunch of other cars for specific reasons.

350z - I need a backseat, I like the G styling better. nothing worse then taking the focus because you have 3 people.
Evo - I think the evo looks like a taxi with a wing. The performance is amazing, but thats all it seems to be, + I hear the 4g63 gets limited in high hp range.
Sti - same thing
GTO - the only thing close to comparison to the G, but I hear they arent terribly reliable and have terrible gas mileage. + 6.0's are rare these days.
m3 - Im looking to stay a little under 20k, m3 jumps from 24-28k in TX. Plus the maintenance.
IS250 - Every girl in my office wants one. Thats kind of a put off.
IS350 - no MT. I need a manual
New Eclipse GT- I LOVE this car, but its still FF and I've just grown past torque steer now. But for 16k used, its a hard thing to turn down.
RX8 - slow
G35 X body AWD - I know its shallow, but I cant turn down the looks of the coupe, its just too streamline.

Issues I've heard with the G are low power gains with mod's unless F/I, but I think the 290hp can hold over for a while. Slight Maintenance, cant be worse then my 2g eclipse gsx. Over all appeal, I've been called a guido for even wanting one, but thats usually by Mustang drivers.

So overall I just need decent performance, looks, luxury manual transmission on a decent price range. It will be my first finance and besides a little less performance then the Evo, I think its a perfect fit.


Anything else I should know? Oh and I'm looking to get 05 model for rev up.

 

Don't let that fool you. All over the Mustang boards I am on, the G35 is praised...it's just some of their owners ruin the image at times (on both sides).

I find it funny you said the GTO gets terrible gas milegage. If you search around, you'll find one of the gripes of the G35 is it gets poor fuel economy for a v6 engine. If anything, the GTO might even get better highway fuel economy as long as you aren't romping on it at 140MPH (which is hard to do in a 400HP car). And you are correct in stating that the $$/HP ratio when talking about N/A mods in a G35 is quite high. There are proven mods for the engine in N/A trim, but there are other cars on your list which offer better bang for the buck in terms of mods.

BTW, i have an '07 IS250 AWD as well as my '06 G35x. You are right, it's a total chick car, but it has it's pros over Infiniti. I almost bought an '05 6MT coupe new, but in the end, i needed the AWD. I don't regret my choice.

 

SkyPirate, I was in the same situation a year ago that you are in now. I did have a few more cars on my list

Corvette- couldnt afford the newer body style and no back seat
Porsche Boxster- Really wanted a 911
Porsche 911- couldnt get one in my price range

I have to tell you I have had my 05 G for a year now and love it ... Every now and again I think about that GTO but it just doesnt have the looks of the G. I say go ahead and get the G but beware of the mod bug(it has a strong bite and doesnt like to let go) once you get it. There is so much you can do to these cars .........

 

chicks dig the g no matter if ur married or not u still enjoy the fact that every where you go girls are staring at you and the guys are jealous.. get it dont turn back cause u wont regret it

 

Well thats good to know there is some good talk going on about G's, I really have no idea how they got such bad reps. I hear so much trash talk from 350z owners with no inclination as to where they are coming from; its the same platform! Some of us just like a backseat, Jeeze.

Well I thank you all for the good information, Going through all the options I've just about narrowed it down to a 6.0 GTO or g35 coupe.

I like the idea of knowing I could turn at some time, plus the interior blows it away with the G, so im more headed that direction.

Hopefully I can pick up an 05 black 6mt coupe. Do the 350GT badging with JDM lighting. Thats my plan anyway.

Thanks everyone! glad to be here.

 

Even with I'm around cars IMO nicer or more powerful than me the girls go "omg is that a G35?! I love that car!!"


pure chick magnet

 

ok so i found two around my area, one is a silver (bleh) 05 coupe 6MT with 60k miles for 17.9 , The other is a laser red (win) 03 coupe 6MT with 44k miles . Now I know the 05's have rev up and about 10 horses more but lose 10 in torque, ...what do you guys think is the better deal? Were there any defects in the 03's? btw I hate silver, but im willing to do it.

 

I was a hair away from pulling the trigger on an 04 5.7 gto. The sales person at the pontiac dealer was young blond and oh so hot.

I hadn't really ever financed a car before and didn't know my credit score so didn't know what to expect. They ran my credit and i showed them a pay stub and they said pick anything on the lot you want.

After that I was like hmm, I really want a g35 just didn't think I could afford it.

I could, and I did. No regrets. Everytime a see a gto on the street I think I almost bought that and am so glad I made the choice I did.

 

More TORQUE FTW....

You dont' feel HP.. You feel torque. But I have an 06.

 

Hmm this is true, i read some of the other threads saying how much nicer the 05+ is over the 03-04, interior and what not as well as the rev up engine. But the 03 is red and has 44k miles, the 05 is silver and has 60. thats a good 15k miles difference, but they are the same price.

I like red though :X

So seriously, whats the better deal ^.^ Ive already decided im going with a G unless I find another EVO for 17k

 

If you like silver, go with that. I wouldn't get the 03 because ****ty interior and they have a little more problems then the 05. But then again, the 05 is more likely to have OC. If you look hard enough you'll find a good deal. I'm picking up my G this friday GL.

 

Well guys, i did find a evo VIII with low miles and cheaper...sooo..im not sure. :/ Hard decision

its really the cheaper that got me..but i do love the G still

 

With $17k you can get a good condition 8. Like the difference between the pre-HR and HR VQ engines, the 4g63t has MIVEC in their EVO9 (and some later EVO8) models. The evos can handle high power (more so than the STi), something you should know because you own a DSM??? If you are interested in buying a low mileage evo, send me a PM.

 

Yeah I would rather have the MIVEC engine, but that jumps the price up past 20. Same with getting the HR engine, would be nice, and I would at least prefer rev-up if I go with the G, but it all depends on price and miles.

The interior is completely DIY in an evo, but wow that car has some power. Test drove it last night.

Test driving the G tonight, ive already driven a G, but this is the one i'd be buying so you know how it is.

gf kept making fun of the fact evo rhymes with emo and the car was black. thought you guys would get a kick out of that.

 

Rev up vs non rev up???? I have a 2006 AT coupe, is that a rev up or non and what does that really mean... sry for the noob question?