Okay, I thought you were talking about the sedan calipers, the close up Shane posted of the sedan calipers was what I meant looked the same.

 

I'll be making my choice by December, so this topic is near-and-dear to my heart. Since the G35 2007 US price sheet is not formally out yet, here's a comparison of the 2006 models' MSRPs, equipped to my specs as closely as possible:

2006 G35 sedan $37,750
with premium package, navigation, XM

2006 BMW 330i sedan $45,190
with metallic paint, premium package, AT, comfort access, heated seats, parking sonar, navigation, Sirius

Difference: $7,440
Difference G35 vs. BMW 325i: $3,240

I don't expect this situation to change much with the 2007 models. Now, you could certainly argue that I'm picking useless options, the options don't quite match, the BMW is a better car, etc. But given that these are the features I want, you can't argue the drastic difference in price; not quite 10K, perhaps, but still a 20% premium for the BMW.

 

I think you're right, but for different reasons than you stated. Most people (not enthusiasts) shopping the luxury car market are looking for something with more prestige and quality than your average Ford or Chevy. Infiniti brings quality to the table, but its just not as prestigious a brand as BMW. I'd bet you dollars to donuts that most of the rest of the world thinks that Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus are all better than Infiniti because they instantly recognize the name and the history, not because they've read the comparison articles and can quote the stats sheet. Take a look at the last page of the article again. The cars TIED. To me, as an enthusiast, that means the G35 and the BMW are EQUALLY good cars, each appealing in their own way. For the factors that influence my decision, the G35 is a better choice. And I would argue that with anyone.

That's not an irrational, biased opinion. That's a carefully researched and well-thought out conclusion that has more substance than "most of the rest of the world thinks so." Perhaps if we could let go of the BMW aura we might be able to have a more even-handed discussion.

 

Ya, ok I hear that. Of course as mentioned the price of the '07 will rise and the options will change (odds are PDC will be offered for ~$700 or so); I expect the overall difference to be less than 5k comparing equally equipped (or as close as possible) G-sedans to 330i's. 5k isn't cheap obviously; I just think Infiniti is going to need to really push value in the face of their competition.

 

Let's fix that so we can read it shall we?

Its really pretty pointless in arguing about Infiniti vs BMW in this forum. Because obviously this is a g35 forum so many people will say things to favor Infiniti because they happened to own a car from Infiniti.

Its part of human psychology also that people tend to see and hear things that they want to believe in and block out the things they think are untrue. One thing is the BMW reliability issue, people are so quick to remember and point out every single nagging problem that's wrong with BMW, saying how unreliable it is. But do you guys ever stop and think why does the BMW 3 series win as much awards as it does? How its considered the bench mark and how many rave reviews its gotten? How everyone compliments on the driving feel that BMW has that Infiniti has tried so hard to duplicate but cant? O no that of course is blocked out of your mind.

I remember my friends BMW has some problems, I'm going to remember that part, but everything else that's good about BMW, I'm going to try and block it off and only state the negatives about them. If you bring up the reliability issue in a BMW forum, i guarantee the argument would be completely different and people will start recalling things about their friends and certain magazines to back up their argument that BMW is reliable.

Bottom line: BMW 3 series cannot be considered a unreliable car, just because you know of a someone that has a BMW 3 series with problems doesn't prove anything. We cant take one example or even a couple of examples and then stereotype the car manufacture brand.

OK fine you say many magazines say Infiniti is more reliable and you choose to believe it, well there's also a lot of magazines that say BMW and their 3 series is a step above the Infiniti g35, so can you buy that also?

Lets really be fair now. If your going to start talking what you see in magazines and what you hear from people, than lets talk about it from both sides the positives and the negatives. And i dint think I've gone too far when i say the BMW 3 series is generally looked at as being the better car than the g35. Maybe not in this forum but in the rest of the world that's the general view.

The fact is the g35 lost the comparison with the 330i, stop crying about it. The g35 also beat the 330i when it first came out in 2003, so I'm sure there's no bias.


NISSAN over BMW

BMW beats Infiniti (Barely)

 

Well, the 330i is dead. The '07 335i got a $2200 price increase, plus some packages went up (nav and premium a few hundred bucks each). So, if Infiniti comes close to holding the line on price, I think the price disparity between the G and the 3 series will only grow. (Although you do get the big HP/torque boost moving from the 330i to the 335i, so I'd say that is worth close to $2200). One nice thing that BMW has to help make prices a bit cheaper is the European delivery.

Personally, I'd love to have a 335i, but I think I'm going to have a hard time justifying the price difference. I'll probably end up with the G35 or G35x, especially since I can get VPP pricing on Nissan/Infiniti vehicles.

Just waiting for them all to arrive, so I can see/drive it in person!

 

Ya, the price difference there is more easy to justify because of the power/handling. C&D just tested the 335i coupe @4.9s to 60 and 13.6@105 in the 1/4. I don't see how even a 3.7L VQ in the next coupe will match that, but you never know.

 

Congrats on picking up the new 335. I'd love to have one. But you're comparing prices against a coupe. When I was shopping my 05 6MT, prices were around 33k on average; this was for everything except nav. Everything. A 330(sedan) with decent options was 41k. And the infiniti dealer would come off that price further than the bmw dealer. I know. I tried to work the deals. That's a difference of 8k US.

And when I mentioned the resale value, the g35 sedans were within a thousand of the 330s. Compared to original price, the g has a *higher* resale value.

Regardless, as you pointed out, my experiences are local and anecdotal at best.

On another note, the 335 is just going to kill the competition.

 

the only big thing w/ the new 3 series coupe is that it is available in AWD with the 328i... 335i coupe will be something to watch out for but it's still up in $$ compared w/ the next gen G35 coupe

 

As much as I dispise the new BMW Coupe boring rear end styling, the hardtop convertible option is very hard to overlook. I am secretly hoping that Nissan will put a hardtop on the next coupe, because I need THAT!

 

hopefully the MY2009 will have the hardtop out. they're probably in development to keep the weight and trunk space at a decent ratio

 

no mention of the BOSE studio on wheels?

 

Yes, it was in there.

 

If you read back at all the sedan comparos out there despite the fact that the G won, many of the testers admitted their choice was heavily influenced by the price/value factor. Many reported that the chassis/steering was still better in the bimmer.

I can personally attest to this as my bro has an '01 330i and my impressions were the same. However in a straight line there was definitely a power advantage in my court. Still I'd rather give up 20-30 mph in high speed driving and rather carve up some hilly twisties which I find much more satisfying and involving.

That said, I chose the G because the 3 was too small and overpriced when loaded like my G. 2 and a half years later I am still thrilled to be driving my G and look forward to driving it every weekend.

I am hoping that the new '07 (or '08 - that's when I'll be looking again most likely) brings a bit more to the table and doesn't exclude options (intelligent key, rear vent, etc) when choosing a 6MT.

My bro now has a loaded 335i 6mt sedan on order and we will be going to pick it up in Munich early Oct and driving through Europe. I'll be driving it quite a bit (at least 1000 mi.) and the new G will need to come close to keep me from switching sides (even at the higher $$$).

I'm sure there are a few more people like me here that made their choice base on similar criteria. G's & 3's are both great cars so lets give credit where credit is due.

 

If you choose a 6MT, you will still get the intelligent key. You will give up the driver entry assist option and the rear AC vents though.