After looking at the 3-series, the RX8 and the IS300, I've narrowed it down to the 3-series... the 330 just does everything how I like it.

But since I'm looking for a rear-drive sport sedan with decent power and a stick, the performance/price of the G35 6-speed sedan means I've *got* to look at one.

Brand and image don't mean *jack* to me... performance, feel and reliability are everything. So whether it's BMW, Skoda, whatever, doesn't really matter to me.

However, the one thing that scares me about the G35 are all the TSBs out on the thing. There seems to be *a lot* of issues with the car. I know a guy who has one and is not happy with it.

So do you like your car? Has it been trouble free? Or a problem child?

Last, if you had to do it again, would you get another G35 or get something else?

Thanks!

If you're in control, you're not driving fast enough -- Parnelli Jones

 

I love my 2003 Sedan. Sure it has had a couple things I've had to take it in to the dealer for. I had a rattle in the rear deck, and an issue with my 6-disc changer. The dealer was always great about fixing things properly and giving me a loaner so I wasn't left out to dry. Overall I love the car, it gets alot of comments and in my opinion when you look at the value, performance, and overall feel of the car compared to the 3-Series, the decision is a no brainer.

 

Ditto!


'03 Sedan 5a: Silver/Graphite, Premium, Aero/Body, Sport, Nav
SolarGard Quant. Tint 19% r, 28% fr, & just a tad more than 4" of 50% on the windshield

 

All new car models are bound to have TSB’s in the first year in production, like my first BMW a ’99 328i has 145 TSB’s and 10 recalls and I bought it the first year it came out. The 2003 G35 sedan has 25 TSB’s and the majority of those were the first vehicles in production. Even the 2001 Lexus LS430 in its first year in production has 60 TSB’s.

So Infiniti should have addressed most if not all of these TSB’s for the 2004 G35 model year.

BTW, if reliability is a big priority than you might want to stay away from any BMW.

 

So, to all the kind folks who replied, are any issues with your cars taken care of to your liking?

The one thing I thought was nice about the G35 was the powertrain warranty.

FD, as for the BMW, is long-term reliability really that bad? As you say, it is hit-and-miss with any car, but long-term reliability concerns are what scared me away from the Volvo S60/V70 R... Volvo might not be bad, but the complexity of that car and it's reliability over the long haul (big $$ repairs) scared me from that one.

If you're in control, you're not driving fast enough -- Parnelli Jones

 

How can you talk about long term reliability on a car that just came out last year.. if that is your biggest concern think IS300 that car is totally bullet proof. Look at the short list of TSB's... look on IS300.net for common problems (I can save you some time there aren't any).

I had a vibration problem that took a couple of trips to the dealer to fix... it's okay now seems like a very solid car to me but only time will tell.

2003.5 5AT Sedan Black/Black Premium/Winter Packages

 

Well maybe not all BMW’s are unreliable but for me my ‘99 328i was an unreliable hazard. I’ve only owned it for 8 months in ’99 and have been stranded two times in the city and one time on the highway and lots and lots of problems throughout that year, so I got so fed up with it I traded it in for a CLK430 back in ’00 and never looked back at BMW. I now have the G35 coupe and it has been trouble free with one or two minor problems.

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

...if that is your biggest concern think IS300 that car is totally bullet proof. Look at the short list of TSB's... look on IS300.net for common problems (I can save you some time there aren't any).

<hr></blockquote>

The Lexus IS300 has 36 TSB’s.

 

Well, I don't think the IS is perfect... I've done a lot of forum-hopping and the IS isn't faultless either. Anyway, I don't fit in that car anyway, at least not comfortably.

As for long-term reliability, no that can't be determined by the G35. But Infiniti as a whole, or Nissan with the Maxima, can offer some insight as to how solid things like engines, trannys and electrical systems are, even if they're not *exactly* the same.

Or is that somehow faulty logic?

If you're in control, you're not driving fast enough -- Parnelli Jones

 

This engine is solid. Solid, solid, solid. There was a thread a while ago that basically said, "Isn't it funny that with all of our gripes, they've all been with rattles/squeak or a slow CD changer? That's much better than the engine or tranny failing!" I would tend to agree. My family has owned the gamut in reliability from Jaguar to this car. I say that, because all the ones in between had some major faults. Our BMW in England left us stranded so often we started to use it strictly as a barn car-- only to drive us to and from the stables. Our Bimmer here had its electrical system go out two weeks into ownership, and our Alfa... well, we won't go there. All amazing cars, all well-designed and beautifully engineered, but all with great flaws.

So far, the G Sedan hasn't let me down at all. All of the TSBs that were pertinent were performed in one visit, and I was given a loaner while that happened. Incidentally, Infiniti ranked #1 in customer service this year, so they must be doing something right.

The IS is a nice car, but I felt it was a little like listening to Mozart with cotton in your ears-- you knew something great must be going on, but you just aren't moved by it. The fact that I could hear the engine or feel the road sort of drove me insane. That, and I actually had to sit in the back of one once. THAT's never going to happen again.

Ultimately, it's your choice-- what's most important in the car to you? I own a G, so it's obvious I've made my choice about performance, reliability, etc. but I think a lot of it is highly subjective when it comes down to it-- do you LIKE the way it handles, LIKE the accelleration, etc. Best of luck with your choice,

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

I can't speak about problems yet, because I've only had my car a few days. But I will tell you that any issues with the speed of the CD player has been fixed in the 2004 model, the CD player loads and plays CDs quickly.

2004 6MT Sedan
Twilight Blue/Willow, Premium, Aero

 

I also deliberated among the RX8, IS300, and G35 (I felt the comparable 3-series was too expensive - about $9k CDN more).
See the following links that might help you out -
https://g35driver.com/forums/showthr...ear&Main=86009

https://g35driver.com/forums/showthr...ear&Main=84442

I have since taken delivery of my 2004 G35 Sedan 6MT - and I am very pleased with every aspect of this vehicle.

2004 G35 Sedan 6MT (Silverstone)

 

The G is a great choice if you have a competent dealership or 3 around to take care of the TSB's. I would not even hesitate for a moment if you do. I live in Oregon where there is only 1 dealership around and they act like it. The next closest dealership is ~175 miles away and I've actually taken a vacation day to get my car serviced from them.

Make sure that your dealer(s) can take care of the TSB's or the warranty is useless as it is in my case. http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthre...b=5&o=&fpart=1

 

2003 IS300 has 5 TSB's and no recalls
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/31/03310809.html

2003 G35 has 25 TSB's 2 safety recalls and one general recall
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/27/03271513.html

Too bad the IS300 is slow as [censored] or I would have bought one... but don't give me any nonsense go look at all data yourself



2003.5 5AT Sedan Black/Black Premium/Winter Packages

 

I was comparing first model years for both cars, 2001 IS300 had 36 TSB's in it's first year production model... it should have less TSB's now, it's on it's third year in production...</p>

First model year G35: <a href="http://alldata.com/TSB/27/03271513.html">25 TSB's</a></p>

First model year IS300: <a href="http://alldata.com/TSB/31/01310815.html">36 TSB's</a></p>

So the IS300 is not "totally bulletproof" as you quoted before.</p>

 

It's only September the year is not over and I am sure they can add to that list in 04 and 05 ... it's called apples and oranges you would have to know how many TSB's existed for the IS300 in it's first year September 2001 not now.

It all depends what you want ... I was more interested in performance so I chose the G35 if I were more interested in reliability then I would have chose the IS300

2003.5 5AT Sedan Black/Black Premium/Winter Packages