Get an 08 G35 now or wait for an 09 G35/G37 in the fall?

Ok I have 2 months left on my 05 G35 lease. The dealer has the car I want in stock and the lease numbers are stupid crazy right now. You should be able to lease a fully loaded G35 for well under $500 per month for 36 months.

This month BMW lowered their residual values by 5-6 % which translates into an increase of between $100-$150 more per month on a lease. Infiniti could definitely follow suite next month with the economy as bad as it is. Right now the G35 has a 60%-63% residual for 36 months. That is way over inflated and it will have to drop if IFS plans on staying in business.

Even if they come out with a G37 it will be much much more expense to lease than the G35 currently is. You know they won’t do many deals the week it comes out and the residuals should be absolutely atrocious by then. I figure the G37 the way I want it will be $150-$200 more per month than the current G35.

The problem is that I know I will be disappointed if they bring out the G37 sedan in the fall. Heck I might even be disappointed if they bring out just the 7-speed auto in the G35.

So is it worth waiting for the G37 or the 7-speed and pass up on what is really the best lease numbers we will see on the G? How much better would those new features really be?

 

WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT


I would anyway. If its confirmed to be the 37, you will be kicking yourself in the a$$ in seconds if you grab an 08 now.

 

Would I be kicking myself in the a$$ if the G37 will cost me $200 more a month over 36 months? That is a tremendous amount of money. Will a G37 or the new tranny actually make the car that much better?

When they made the updates from the 04 model to the 05 I thought they were significant. I thought the interior of the 05 was miles ahead of the 04 and the overall driveabilty of the car was much better.

When they changed from the 06 to 07 style I thought the same thing. The paddle shifters, new Nav, Bose audio system(chokes on his own words), and added power were all huge improvements.

Honestly, I am not really sure that there is much more that I would want them to add to the 08. The bigger engine would be nice but it has already been shown that bigger does not necessarily mean better. The 7-speed would be good but I don’t think 1 extra gear is going to make this car more of a beast than it already is. Air conditioned seats would be “cool”(Pun intended). However, they definitely are not worth thousands of extra dollars on a lease payment.

So really how much do you think the new improvements would be worth if they actually put them in? Is the 3.7 liter worth an extra $3600 over the whole lease? What about the new tranny and the other new features? Are those worth thousands or maybe just hundreds.

Is everyone satisified with their 08 or are you really longing for an 09 already?

 

I'd pick up the '08 in a heartbeat. The changes aren't enough to justify that much of a price difference.

The word is that the G37 would come detuned to 306hp still anyways. I got a 6MT, so I can't speak for the 5AT vs. 7AT, but its pretty much the same car, and with leasing you don't have to worry about resale value w/ it being a G35 vs. G37.

 

I love my '08 (just got it last weekend). Its an X and I just got 24.81mpg, and I wasn't kind to the engine on more than a few occassions. Get an '08, you'll love it. Besides, when are these do for a new body? 2011? Wait for an 09, your 1 year closer to wanting a new body style too.

 

Every year people will be asking the same question, get an 08 or wait for 09? get an 09 or wait for an 10?...the cycle will never stop. if you like the car id just get the 08 and be happy with it.

 

I would wait in your particular case, strictly based on this comment:

The last thing you want is a sweet car that you regret for the next 36 months. If you wait, see the new models, and its truly not worth it then there will no doubt me more 08s on the shelf that will be discounted even that much more with the 09 out.

 

IMO, there was speculation of the '08 being a G37 and it didnt happen, even the new FX is the 35HR not the 37...regardless of the engines that are in the european models, i just dont see it happening here.

not to mention that putting the 3.7 in the G35 would increase costs so the vehicle price would go up as well.

 

I think I will have to revise my statement. I think the actual case is “I will be disappointed if I buy an 08 and they put the 3.7 engine in the 09. However, I will be extremely disappointed if the lease numbers drop enough so that I can not afford a G period when my current lease is fulfilled”.

If the lease rates drop so that the payment is $50 more per month than it is now then I will be forced to get a different brand of car. With the way the economy is these lease numbers are extremely volatile. Everyone just assumes that you can go in there and get a good deal anytime you want. The reality is that timing is everything when getting a good deal on a lease.

 

With Infiniti sales down 11.4% in April, you won't find a much better time than now...

 

Okay, second thought. The 7 speed is TWO more gears than us AT guys have currently, and should make a marked difference on mpg. I dont know how ppl are getting 24, but when i BABY my car on the highway, i see maximum 22.5, normally i get about 16....

The motor wont be detuned for the 09. Look at the SAME motor going in the 370Z---assumptions are 350 hp. They will bump up the coupe so that it is at least as quick as the Z, and then the 330 hp 3.7L in the 4-door will keep it below the coupe by the numbers.

If you thought the same thing in 0-07, and didnt jump on the 07, I doubt you will be killing yourself waiting the 5-6 more months for 09's to hit the lots.

Last thing, best point made so far is that if you decide the production changes to the 09's dont warrant the #'s you will have to spend over the 08 rates, you will no doubt be able to find an 08 on a lot.

 

that's a toughy, rates are very very low now, the 09's most likely won't have as good of a rate since it's a new model and if the speculation about either the 3.7 and/or the 7 speed a/t is true, it'll definitely increase over what you can get the 08 for...

i personally would just stick with the 08 and the great rates, even with 3.7 and/or 7 speed a/t won't be a deal breaker for me, if it was boosted vhr38tt etc etc, then maybe... and it's a lease, there are creative ways for you to get out of the 08 lease into a newer model if you really want to switch...

 

Anyone seen any 2009 M announcements? I tend to agree with whats been previously posted here: the USA-spec M is holding up the G.

I'm pretty far down the buying a 2008 path, btw. Pluses being people seem to like the current 5speed, even though 7 would hopefully improve mileage. Seems like the 2009 TL is just catching up and not surpassing, so my expectations are low on 37, detuned or not.

 

7 sp would def improve mileage unless you drive all city, wouldn't make much of a difference in my opinion

TL = wrong wheel drive, but that depends if you care, torque steer never sounds good

 

Thanks for your help. I think I have made my decision. I ran the numbers and if I do the 08 at the current residual of 62% then the payment would be $455.50 per month. If the G35 residual drops the same 5% that the 3 series residual dropped this month then the payment would be $508.21 per month.

A difference of $53 per month just on the residual alone is way too much for me to risk even for the prospect of a 7 speed G37. I have decided to go with the 08 G35 and just suck it up if the 09 comes out with everything that has been rumored.