Need a push - Buy G35X or BMW!
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Registered User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 116
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From: Toronto, Ontario
Great comments guys - thanks.
Wanted to respond to queries, and give you the ending to the movie!!
Actually my lease is only up on Apr 1/07.....but I wanted to get into an 06 for affordability reasons - the current lower lease rates (2.9%, 3.9%) make a huge diff.
Have an Acura now (reliability has been superb – near zero maintenance in 4 years- I’m a lo km driver)- and have driven the new ones – but not going there for my next one..or to Audi. And Lexus doesn’t do anything for me. So I've at least narrowed it to Infiniti and BMW!
After balancing all the factors here, I’ve concluded that for a given budget, it all comes back to what is the car the excites me..and that excitement should be on many levels – ie appearance, performance, features, reliability, cost, value, etc. If the choice ends up correct, there should be no others car out there that should have me second guessing that ‘damn – same price - I should have got that car’.
I also don’t want to be pressured, especially as I do have some time on my current Acura lease. I was looking now as the 06 lease rates are enticing.
But the 06’s don’t do it for me. The G35X excites me, but it’s the same excitement I had in 2003 – and, not really studying the G35 all these years, the car basically looks like it did 2003..I actually like the style, but I feel I'm buying a resale! So the end-of-production factor is tempering my excitement big time.. While many of the earlier problems have indeed been fixed, and while the discount is great, it just feels like an older car and some of the technology feels dated – eg. not over impressed with the pop-up nav system – much prefer the BMW on that point..But as great as a 330xi is, the 06 selection to actually buy one was thin - only one are left with the options I wanted – same colours as I have now – which I am tired of. So I’ve concluded this was my first problem ...I was trying to choose between two compromises. So I'm done with the 06 models and its a relief!
So that leaves the 2007 G35X, and the 2007 338xi, or better still the 335xi. And available in any colour I want. Okay now we’re talking.
These are both fine cars. And again, equipped as I want, one is $52k and one is $64k. Both are just or recently tweaked/redesigned.
I drove the proxies for both cars, ie 06 G35X and 06 330Xi.
G35 it is.
Add to that the new 2nd generation version in an 07 model, the continued price differential, the family factors (size, and wife-acceptance), etc, and I conclude Infiniti is indeed the car that excites me, so that’s the one! Also, Infiniti will work with me re getting out of the current lease.
If ordered now, the new O7's arrive in early November, just in time for winter where the all wheel drive will come in handy. Am going for Diamond graphite with black leather interior / alum trim, with all the packages ( similar features as the BMW re comfort access, adaptive lights, blutetooth, iDrive like controls,...even a rear parking assist camera that activates on reverse into the 7” colour nav system - sorry, but that is so cool!).
Now I have the excitement I was looking for. I am more than happy to have a very good car and 13k in the bank, than a great/utlimate one. And it still does not mean there won’t be a BMW in my future.
As to the wife factor...she still says get what you want....but her take is this...she can appreciate what makes the BMW what it is, but the 3-series simply did not have enough luxury in it to win her over…the 5–series certainly did…and she points out that when I can afford a 5 series, perhaps that’s the time to get it !!! She’ll get me a BMW jacket for now! She says that while the 3-series it may be a technical marvel, they lost her when she couldn’t tell the difference between leatherette and leather – for that kind of money, she want good leather! But for me, it’s obviously not about that.
As much as I hated to admit it, the 330 (nor talk of the 335) did not excite me as much as I wanted it too!! I think its because I am not a “driver’s driver”.. Hey, I never even drove a manual, or used the manumatic equivalent in my Acura. I think a lot of the BMW excellence is wasted on me, even though I appreciate and admire it! I simply dont admire it to the extent to $13,000 !!. And the high buyback (the very thing that makes the lease attractive) means it’s a harder car to lease-to-own.
As to lease vs lease-to-own vs finance. yes, paying cash is the cheapest way to buy a car, but these all these cars are pricey, and one should not invest in depreciating assets. So that leaves lease and lease-to-own. For these type of cars leasing means means $11,000/yr, and it an endless cycle. Lease-to-own means the annual cost is much less...which is why the significantly lower MSRP matters a lot.
So my strategy is this:
1) lease a 2007 G35X
2) after the lease, if I erred, and really did not like it, I give it back (the beauty of leasing). I will not kick myself that I “coulda” got a BMW for the same money, as I made the call with both eyes open, and fully explored that option at the time. It was jsut one cycle. And it was not a once in a lifetime opportunity. It will be the next car.
3) If I love the car, which I fully expect I will, I can:
a) seek to lower those $11k/year car costs, and buy it back (at about $10k cheaper that I could a BMW). I’ll keep it for a few more years,, I may or may not purchase the extended 6y/160,000 warranty)….or
b)I can lease again.
4) After that we start the cycle again
I reworked the numbers for 2007..It not $13000 in the bank ….its $15, 620.
My oldest friend has an 03 330i, so I am never far from a BMW! And when I see those 335’s on the road, I will be tipping my hat, but I wont have regrets, and I really dont care who passes who on the highway. As long as the drivers are happy, then all is well.
Hope this all makes sense!
Thank you all again for the comments
G35-2-B ( by November)
Toronto, Ontario
Wanted to respond to queries, and give you the ending to the movie!!
Actually my lease is only up on Apr 1/07.....but I wanted to get into an 06 for affordability reasons - the current lower lease rates (2.9%, 3.9%) make a huge diff.
Have an Acura now (reliability has been superb – near zero maintenance in 4 years- I’m a lo km driver)- and have driven the new ones – but not going there for my next one..or to Audi. And Lexus doesn’t do anything for me. So I've at least narrowed it to Infiniti and BMW!
After balancing all the factors here, I’ve concluded that for a given budget, it all comes back to what is the car the excites me..and that excitement should be on many levels – ie appearance, performance, features, reliability, cost, value, etc. If the choice ends up correct, there should be no others car out there that should have me second guessing that ‘damn – same price - I should have got that car’.
I also don’t want to be pressured, especially as I do have some time on my current Acura lease. I was looking now as the 06 lease rates are enticing.
But the 06’s don’t do it for me. The G35X excites me, but it’s the same excitement I had in 2003 – and, not really studying the G35 all these years, the car basically looks like it did 2003..I actually like the style, but I feel I'm buying a resale! So the end-of-production factor is tempering my excitement big time.. While many of the earlier problems have indeed been fixed, and while the discount is great, it just feels like an older car and some of the technology feels dated – eg. not over impressed with the pop-up nav system – much prefer the BMW on that point..But as great as a 330xi is, the 06 selection to actually buy one was thin - only one are left with the options I wanted – same colours as I have now – which I am tired of. So I’ve concluded this was my first problem ...I was trying to choose between two compromises. So I'm done with the 06 models and its a relief!
So that leaves the 2007 G35X, and the 2007 338xi, or better still the 335xi. And available in any colour I want. Okay now we’re talking.
These are both fine cars. And again, equipped as I want, one is $52k and one is $64k. Both are just or recently tweaked/redesigned.
I drove the proxies for both cars, ie 06 G35X and 06 330Xi.
G35 it is.
Add to that the new 2nd generation version in an 07 model, the continued price differential, the family factors (size, and wife-acceptance), etc, and I conclude Infiniti is indeed the car that excites me, so that’s the one! Also, Infiniti will work with me re getting out of the current lease.
If ordered now, the new O7's arrive in early November, just in time for winter where the all wheel drive will come in handy. Am going for Diamond graphite with black leather interior / alum trim, with all the packages ( similar features as the BMW re comfort access, adaptive lights, blutetooth, iDrive like controls,...even a rear parking assist camera that activates on reverse into the 7” colour nav system - sorry, but that is so cool!).
Now I have the excitement I was looking for. I am more than happy to have a very good car and 13k in the bank, than a great/utlimate one. And it still does not mean there won’t be a BMW in my future.
As to the wife factor...she still says get what you want....but her take is this...she can appreciate what makes the BMW what it is, but the 3-series simply did not have enough luxury in it to win her over…the 5–series certainly did…and she points out that when I can afford a 5 series, perhaps that’s the time to get it !!! She’ll get me a BMW jacket for now! She says that while the 3-series it may be a technical marvel, they lost her when she couldn’t tell the difference between leatherette and leather – for that kind of money, she want good leather! But for me, it’s obviously not about that.
As much as I hated to admit it, the 330 (nor talk of the 335) did not excite me as much as I wanted it too!! I think its because I am not a “driver’s driver”.. Hey, I never even drove a manual, or used the manumatic equivalent in my Acura. I think a lot of the BMW excellence is wasted on me, even though I appreciate and admire it! I simply dont admire it to the extent to $13,000 !!. And the high buyback (the very thing that makes the lease attractive) means it’s a harder car to lease-to-own.
As to lease vs lease-to-own vs finance. yes, paying cash is the cheapest way to buy a car, but these all these cars are pricey, and one should not invest in depreciating assets. So that leaves lease and lease-to-own. For these type of cars leasing means means $11,000/yr, and it an endless cycle. Lease-to-own means the annual cost is much less...which is why the significantly lower MSRP matters a lot.
So my strategy is this:
1) lease a 2007 G35X
2) after the lease, if I erred, and really did not like it, I give it back (the beauty of leasing). I will not kick myself that I “coulda” got a BMW for the same money, as I made the call with both eyes open, and fully explored that option at the time. It was jsut one cycle. And it was not a once in a lifetime opportunity. It will be the next car.
3) If I love the car, which I fully expect I will, I can:
a) seek to lower those $11k/year car costs, and buy it back (at about $10k cheaper that I could a BMW). I’ll keep it for a few more years,, I may or may not purchase the extended 6y/160,000 warranty)….or
b)I can lease again.
4) After that we start the cycle again
I reworked the numbers for 2007..It not $13000 in the bank ….its $15, 620.
My oldest friend has an 03 330i, so I am never far from a BMW! And when I see those 335’s on the road, I will be tipping my hat, but I wont have regrets, and I really dont care who passes who on the highway. As long as the drivers are happy, then all is well.
Hope this all makes sense!
Thank you all again for the comments
G35-2-B ( by November)
Toronto, Ontario
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
sounds like a good decision to me. I think the new 07s will be much better suited for your tastes. Like you said, the 06s and the 03s are pretty much the same car it is was getting kind of dated. If it were between the 06 G35 and BMW I would say go BMW. Now that you are getting 2007 model I would defenitely go for the G35. Even though noone here had drive a new G35 it is a completely new car. The BMWs have very nice exterior appeal but the interior in my opinion looks dated as well. ITs almost like BMW was just concentrating on their exterior designs and threw something together last minute for the interior. The interior of the 2007 G35 will be far better looking. You cannot go wrong with your decision.
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Ontario
A number of posts favour BMW. Does this mean that the G35s to date (even though there are in a lower price range) have not really lived up to expectations?
Questions:
1) Do your regret your G-35 decision?
2) Would you buy the G-35 again?
3) If you currently lease, do you intend to buy bacK?
(Sorry dont know how to make this a poll)
G35-2-B
Toronto, Ontario
Questions:
1) Do your regret your G-35 decision?
2) Would you buy the G-35 again?
3) If you currently lease, do you intend to buy bacK?
(Sorry dont know how to make this a poll)
G35-2-B
Toronto, Ontario
1) No way, I LOVE my G! I have been more than pleased and enjoy driving my car everyday.
2) Absolutely, although I am not too keen on the looks of the new model (I like mine better). Maybe when I see it in person I will like it more.
3) N/A.
2) Absolutely, although I am not too keen on the looks of the new model (I like mine better). Maybe when I see it in person I will like it more.
3) N/A.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 2
From: Oklahoma
I believe that many of the BMW recommendations are because the cost out of pocket for both are the same, it is a lease so only for a limited amount of time. So you aren't keeping it long enough for the higher longterm cost of maintaining the BMW will come into play.
OTOH, a former coworker who bought a 3 series after I bought my G35 has had it in the shop several times with computer problems. he is unsure whether he will keep it once the warranty expires. It depends on whether it continues to need a new computer module every 6 months.
OTOH, a former coworker who bought a 3 series after I bought my G35 has had it in the shop several times with computer problems. he is unsure whether he will keep it once the warranty expires. It depends on whether it continues to need a new computer module every 6 months.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area
BMW's (& MBZ) are for people who care tooooo much about their image. The cars are crap, except the m3/m5 and SLK series. Infiniti cars say look at me without the LOOK AT ME, and when it comes time to put it down on the road... german cars can't corner like my 6MT. Proved it this weekend during my 700+ mile run. This cheesy 330 couldn't corner, or pull the 's' turns like my 6mt did. At the rest stop he asked me what i did to my car.. he was stunned when i said, "AND VOID THE WARRANTY? This puppy has 1050 miles on her"
1) Do your regret your G-35 decision?
I have a 6MT sedan and HELL NO do I regret it. I'll make up some excuse to drive. This 6MT is worth it and I am learning how to control it better by the day. All i look forward to is driving ever since I got into my 6MT. Test drive this car and fall in love. If you're a driver, go after a 6MT.
2) Would you buy the G-35 again?
I waited 4 years for the right price and model. If you're looking for a luxury car that isn't a puss on the road, the G35 is the way to go. Like I said above, I took my car on a 700+ mile run with motorcycles and other cars. Through the twisties and long *** straights with bad cross wind. My G35 handled like my 3000GT without the damn stiff suspension and way more power in the low end and upper end (way more luxury too).
3) If you currently lease, do you intend to buy bacK?
I don't lease. I bought my G.. This 298HP beast is staying right where it belongs
1) Do your regret your G-35 decision?
I have a 6MT sedan and HELL NO do I regret it. I'll make up some excuse to drive. This 6MT is worth it and I am learning how to control it better by the day. All i look forward to is driving ever since I got into my 6MT. Test drive this car and fall in love. If you're a driver, go after a 6MT.
2) Would you buy the G-35 again?
I waited 4 years for the right price and model. If you're looking for a luxury car that isn't a puss on the road, the G35 is the way to go. Like I said above, I took my car on a 700+ mile run with motorcycles and other cars. Through the twisties and long *** straights with bad cross wind. My G35 handled like my 3000GT without the damn stiff suspension and way more power in the low end and upper end (way more luxury too).
3) If you currently lease, do you intend to buy bacK?
I don't lease. I bought my G.. This 298HP beast is staying right where it belongs