I entered pricing for the 2007 into the database of my price comparison site last night--I've been wanting to see this info myself (part of me has wanted a G35 six-speed since it first came out). I was expecting the price to go up a grand or so because of the new interior, more powerful engine, exchange rates, etc.

Turns out the change in price depends a great deal on which features you want. Sometimes it's lower than last year, sometimes it's higher. But the great news is that it's never much different once you adjust for feature differences.

http://www.truedelta.com/models/G35.php

Scroll down a bit and you'll find quick links to the most popular comparisons. Or just click pricing to start one not listed there, like 2006 vs. 2007. Also be sure to select the sedan if that's what you're interested in--default is the coupe.

Since the main thing holding the G35 back before was the interior, I think life just became a lot harder for the Acura TL and Lexus IS.

I cannot wait to test drive the car myself. I'm especially interested in checking out the seats in the Sport, as they include adjustable bolsters. I used to wonder why the G35 coupe got a much more support seat than the sedan. Probably don't need to wonder about that anymore.

 

+1. IMO, with the new G now out it will be a lot more difficult for IS and 3 Series customers to justify spending the extra $$.

 

I'm reserving judgment vs. the 3 until I can drive the new G35 (hopefully Monday). It might still be possible to defend the 3 on the basis of handling. The TL and IS lack this defense.

Your quotation made me notice a typo in my original post. Fixed now. Maybe I shouldn't have stayed up so late last night entering data...but I really wanted to get the new G35 into the database.

 

I went to the database and compared a fully loaded G35 6mt Sedan to a 335 6mt Sedan and the price difference was over $10k. I can tell you from an ex-E46 and current G35C owner's perspective that the handling difference is not worth $10k. MHO.

 

I just try to make it clear how much the handling costs.

Reliability is also an issue for many people. But I am seeing low repair rates for the 2006 3-Series, about the same as for an Acura TL. Of course they're still young.

Not collecting data on the G35 or IS yet--still need a few more cars enrolled.

 

Great website by the way. Here are my thoughts on handling between the two cars.

I've been a long time Bimmer fan. BMW has drastically changed its image over the past 8 years. With the exception of the M cars, they use to be performance first and then luxury, but it seems the other way around now. But why wouldn't they? The E46 was a huge success for BMW and you have to wonder if it's because of the emphasis of luxury over performance. Why do I say this? Given power to match, the E36 M3 will run circles around the E46 M3. The 400 lb difference may have something to do with it, but alot can be said about the steering fiasco the E46 3-series encountered 5 years ago. In an effort to make parking easier, BMW softened up the steering so drastically, they had to wind up retrofitting alot of real enthusiasts cars to satisfy them.

I'll go as far as to say on a handling level only, the E36 platform is much better than the E46. Based on reviews I've read, It's my opinion that the E90 3-series handles as good as the E46, but not better! It's heavier and even more laden with technological treats. With that in mind, I've also read reviews from first generation G35 owners who've said the new G35 handles better than the last. It took some handling mods to get the first gen G to the level of the E46, but I feel the handling advantage that BMW enjoyed with the E46 vs first gen G35 has gotten smaller. To the hardcore weekend road course racer, that small advantage may justify the $10k difference. In my opinion, $10k buys alot of suspension and performance mods. Based on the success of the E46, the E90 isn't necessarily better, but it is new. The leap from E46 to E90 is much smaller than the leap from E36 to E46. In the case of the first gen G35 vs the 2nd gen, the latter is much better all around.

 

Glad you like the site.

My personal feeling is that the E90 handles much better than the E46. I was never much of a fan of the E46, especially the earlier years with the mucked up steering, but love how the E90 handles. The problem is they want to be both Lexus and themselves at the same time.

That said, I like some things about the first-gen G35 better than the BMW. Something about the Infiniti reminds me of the way BMWs used to be, with a more direct, less insulated feel. Of course, the steering kickback is part of this

 

Oh, don't forget to add Mercedes. They [I]might[I] have something below $50K.