Originally Posted by sfinaki2000

Bought a used G35 myself. Things to look at:

Accident: Check to see if it's been in an accident. Look at the hood. Does it align correctly in front and on the sides? Look at EVERY body panel to see if everything lines up. Also, look at gaps between panels and hinges, are they properly spaced? Open the doors, do they open correctly? Once open, rock them up and down, they should be solid. Also, look in the cracks for uneven or differently colored paint or overspray. Open the door and look at the hinges, open the hood and look at the lip of the hood. Also, if you can have someone drive behind you during the test drive to look at the car while it's on the road, that'd be helpful to check that the frame is straight while driving.

Wheels & Tires: Look at the tires.. are they original? Do they have tread? Are they all the same brand? Are the back ones 245mm and front 225? Back tires should be bigger. Look at the rims, are they scratched?

Interior: How's the interior? Leather cracked? Dash cracked? Loose panels? Go over everything with a fine-toothed comb.

Engine: Don't be fooled by a clean engine. It's easy to get a detailer to clean your engine. Do a visual inspection. Look at EVERY part. When you drive it, listen closely. Tell the salesperson to shut up while you drive. Turn off the radio. Listen to ANYTHING that might not sound right. Be overly cautious. How does it shift?

Lighting: Check all the lights, they are expensive in our cars. For the headlights, pop open the hood and look at the headlights. Our headlights are really weak when it comes to accidents. Look at the bolts that hold the headlight in place... any cracks where the bolt holds down the light? Check high beams, low beams, fog lights, reverse lights, brake lights.

Keys: Do you have all the keys? You should. Get multiple keys and multiple keyless remote fobs, or you'll spend hundreds on new keys/transmitters.

MODS: Stay away from modded G35s. IMHO, a modded G usually means a G that's been driven pretty hard. You'd be hard pressed to find a G that hasn't been driven hard, since it's fun to drive that way, but from my experience, a modded G is a G that's been redlined more than once.

VIN Number: Get the VIN number, and if you have time (and you SHOULD have time, remember, dont' rush) call up an Infiniti dealer and talk to a service rep. Have em look up the VIN number. Tell them you're buying an Infiniti and wanted to make sure the car has been serviced regularly. Even if they can't tell you any details, they'll most likely tell you if they see something odd.

Lastly, TAKE YOUR TIME!!! Do not rush inspection of your car. People get an adrenaline rush buying a new G and MANY times, overlook a lot of obvious points. Carfax doesn't tell the whole truth, especially is someone got into an accident and repaired it at some random garage without ever reporting it. If you can, get a certified pre-owned or get it from a dealership. MUCH less risky than buying from a private party.

I bought mine and i'm completely happy with it. If you get a good one, it'll last you a very long time. FYI, I bought mine 3 months ago: 2004 G35 Coupe, 18's", Twilight Blue, 19,500 miles, 27K out the door, taxes included. Had some scratches on it, but got em buffed. Runs like a charm.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!