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Infiniti G35 vs Lexus IS 350

126 messages,  Last post on Aug 04, 2009 at 6:58 AM

You are in the Infiniti G35 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Infiniti G35, Lexus IS 350, Sedan

Messages Page 12 of 13

#107 of 126 Re: On my soapbox [sjaieve] by johninnj

May 18, 2009 (7:23 am)

Replying to: sjaieve (May 12, 2009 1:52 pm)
I think if you pull that R&T comparison of the IS, TL, and G, the G is tied or quiter as speeds than the other two. The G is loud under full-throttle for sure....but I find that part of the package in a car that has over 300hp. The IS is also too small for large people.

#108 of 126 Re: On my soapbox [sjaieve] by scottm123

May 28, 2009 (12:31 pm)

Replying to: sjaieve (May 12, 2009 1:52 pm)
I'm with sjaieve in the fact that I was able to afford both. I chose the G over the IS for a few reasons.
I needed AWD and I felt the IS250 was grossly under powered and just too small inside.
The G fit my needs perfectly and although I was able to afford both, the price worked for me as well.
Quiet was never a factor for me. Honestly, people looking for just luxury shouldn't be looking at the IS anyways. The G is a bit louder, sure, but it was never a factor for me. In fact, I'm now running with a Fast Intentions Cat-Back exhaust, so it's gotten louder, not quieter... and yet, I love it even more.
 
Like he said, it boils down to personal preference.

#109 of 126 Just fell in love all over again by gotoyota

May 28, 2009 (11:00 pm)

I haven't been in the forums for a while. I always find it entertaining to read what folks have to say about how they arrived at the Lexus or Infiniti showroom and all the other cars they considered before making their decision. I chose my '08 IS350 over the G35 (even though I had planned for at least a year to retire my old '97 Maxima and trade up to the G) after driving the IS and then the G35x essentially back to back (the dealers were within minutes of each other). My reasons:
- Lexus feels better to me
- The engine sounds refined and semi-exotic, especially with the window down
- The power somehow felt much stronger even though both cars were rated at 306hp (Lex does have more torque, but...)
- The Lexus just looks sexier to me. I still get the feelin when I look at it
- The Lexus is much more relaxed at freeway speed (what's up with the G turning 3k at 70mph??? My car is just a hair over 2k at 70)
- I thought the G's punched out VQ engine sounded too coarse compared to the IS, an opinion most automotive journalists share, although it has a better exhaust note IMO
- Bottom line is it was an emotional decision. That's why people buy cars - we go for the one that makes us feel good, right?
 
The G is a very nice car and I'm sure I would have been happy with one had I not driven the IS first. Oh, another thing...I looked at a few used '07 G's with around 15-20k on them and the nose paint was chipped beyond belief and the grill was plastic and it looked horrible after meeting a few pebbles on the freeway...
 
So, my one big complaint against my car has been the ever present, overly ambitious VDIM. At first it didn't bother me but as my confidence with the car improved and I started driving more aggressively I got very sick of it constantly cutting back the throttle.
 
It was bugging me enough that I did some research to see if I could defeat it and found out that you can. Hold down the traction control button for 5 sec and VDIM turns off! Woooooeeeeeee!!! I can't say how much fun this car is now! Only problem is the juvinile feeling that accompanies gratuitous tire smoking when exiting a corner...but it is a BLAST! Totally transforms the car. I'm not sure if this works on 06 or 07 models. It does work on the 08 and 09's though. Has anyone else done this? I don't drive it hard very often, but this really makes the car 10x more fun.
 
By the way, even the G37 doesn't have the torque of the IS350! 277 lb-ft vs. 268 for the G. Wards chooses the IS350 over the G37 as well and calls the Toy/Lex engine the best V6 ever. Still, the G is a great car. It's a matter of what moves you. Price was not the issue with me - it came down to how I perceived each cars ability to deliver what was important to me. I still love the G and would never even think of criticising someone for buyine one, but I think a few people might come away with a different opinion of the IS vs the G if they were driving the IS with the VDIM switched off

#110 of 126 Re: Just fell in love all over again [gotoyota] by sjaieve

May 29, 2009 (1:20 pm)

Replying to: gotoyota (May 28, 2009 11:00 pm)
Its a Friday and just need to waste the last hour of the day:)
 
I think this is a very honest post. Congrats on your purchase. The G37s engine was not on wards best 10 this year. The only one that did not make it in over 10 years of the G's history. That will be my next purchase next year.
 
The way I see it there are only 3 cars worth considering in this price range, the IS350, G37/35 & the 335i. You cant go wrong with any of these 3, the rest is just that, the rest.
 
I go for Taste of Lexus events every year and I drive an 08 G35X and yes, I also did observe that the IS350 seems to pull harder from stop than my X. But remember the G35S would pull better from stop than my X.
 
Most of the items you identified are to do with refinement, which is why you paid more. I don't have the chip issues you discussed though, I think its somethng they addressed with the 08s and the G37s come with self healing paint. This is why I always say these 2 cars are at par since the G as you say is a great car, but once you add refinement (for a price) you get the IS350.
 
Another thing I have observed, once on the road, the IS350, 335i & G drivers have a LOT of respect for each other, LOL. You will see what I mean.
 
Good luck on your purchase, the IS350 is a nice car that is underrated for no good reason, its got the BEST interior, by far, in this class IMHO.

#111 of 126 Re: On my soapbox [scottm123] by sjaieve

May 29, 2009 (2:09 pm)

Replying to: scottm123 (May 28, 2009 12:31 pm)
I drive with the windows down (up to 40mph), the exhaust note is so SWEEEEET.
 
Nissan really loves its cutomers cos the pricing is unbeatable, a friend of mine calls the GTR "Japans gift to the world" couldn't agree more. Then you have the 370Z, 0-60 in 4.8s (WOW, best in class, 135i what??), then of course, my sweetheart , the G. Cant wait for the DI taking it all the way to 350HP
 
You have been away for a while Scottm123:)

#112 of 126 Re: [hauschild] by gotoyota

May 30, 2009 (10:30 am)

Replying to: hauschild (Aug 25, 2008 11:00 am)
Nah, you're not in the wrong about the 250. You just can't expect a NA 2.5L V6 to have the torque necessary to excite.
 
Also, re your A4: does it have the 2.0T or the 1.8T? Not sure what year you have, but the diesel sound could be that the 2.0L Audi T4 is direct injected, which does cause a bit of a clatter at idle. My IS350 sounds kind of like a diesel at idle - really threw me off for a while when I first got it until I read up on it more. Mine actually has DI AND regular fuel injection (read up on it - Toy/Lexus went way overkill on this engine!). I don't mind the sound (I actually like diesels) now but it kind of bugged me at first because I was worried something was wrong. Just a thought.

#113 of 126 Re: Just fell in love all over again [sjaieve] by gotoyota

May 30, 2009 (10:48 am)

Replying to: sjaieve (May 29, 2009 1:20 pm)
Thanks sjaieve, agree with everything you said. And just between us, I have kicked myself a few times because I think I could have paid a little less and bought the G and still have been just as happy (or more, becuase I would have a few $k left, eh?) but since I already sunk the cash into my car I may as well stay on the bright side and look at what I love about it.
 
Yes, I agree the IS CAN pull harder from a stop, provided the tires are new...once the tires are worn down a bit VDIM becomes a wet blanket on your accelaration party. Figuring out how to switch that off has saved my relationship with the car! It was driving me insane that I could only get the trac to stay off until I hit 30mph and then it was back on! Once you disable the VDIM it stays off until you turn the engine off.

#114 of 126 Re: Just fell in love all over again [gotoyota] by blnewto

Jun 14, 2009 (3:19 pm)

Replying to: gotoyota (May 30, 2009 10:48 am)
Good posts gotoyota, also concur your honesty We chose our G over the IS350 for a couple reasons. Price was definately a consideration, both were in our comfort range as far as cost, but 3k less is a trip to Vegas BTW, try the G with the traction control off as well, just a blast!
Agree about the interior fit & finish & materials used to be a notch better w/ the IS, although the doors don't feel as significant in the IS, they feel a bit "tinny" for lack of a better description. The rear seat room also played a part, we use our back seat to haul a couple kids now & then and friends failry often, the IS back seat is very tight, so that really was THE deal breaker.
I felt the IS was better off the line, the G feels a bit stronger in the 4-6k RPM range around 60mph. Both cars have great breaks and excellent steering feel. Sound isolation goes to Lexus but the sound while driving goes to the G (exhaust note).
ISs seem to be holding their resale a bit better but after factoring in the higher intial cost it may be almost a wash.
I wouldn't include the BMW 335i in the discussion since it's about 10-12k more, and it will out run both the G & IS. The 330i would be a fairer fight IMO.
In short, both the G & IS are nice choices in the 42k or less performance sedan catagory and if you want a quieter slightly more refined model I'd get the IS, for less money w/ more room the G is the choice.

#115 of 126 Re: Just fell in love all over again [blnewto] by gotoyota

Jun 15, 2009 (8:43 am)

Replying to: blnewto (Jun 14, 2009 3:19 pm)
Thanks, I still believe I made a good choice. The G is also a great choice. I was actually more at home in the IS because of it's snug-ness inside. This is the smallest car I have ever owned and I like it...even if my head occasionally brushes the headliner (a reminder to be grateful I still have a full head of hair) and the back seat is only good for my kids on the short jaunt to church or to/from school or the grocery store. By the way, I have 5 kids! So it's not at all a practical car, but that wasn't why I bought it. After driving the IS the G felt and looked more like a family car to my eyes, and I just liked the tidy proportions of the IS more and more. I still find the G to be very pretty and nicely proportioned, it was just an emotional thing. I still love to take a second (sometimes third) look at my car when I walk away from it. It's actually kind of embarassing some times, I don't want people to think I am so infatuated with it! As far as engine sound, both cars have their strengths as you point out. I like the IS' induction sound with the windows down. But the G has, as you said, a better exhaust note (does the IS HAVE an exhaust note? I hear more gear whine than exhaust note...) But...neither car really sounds all that great to me. To tell the truth I prefer the old IS300 for its engine sound (or my buddies Impreza STi, for that matter!). I love a good inline six, and Toyota/Lexus has produced some real sweethearts over the years. I may buy the BMW next time for this reason. The IS has stronger acceleration all around - the G does beat it to 120 by 0.3sec for some reason, but it's behind all the way from 0-110, and this was verified by my seat-o-the pants drive of each prior to purchasing the IS. This is from a Road and Track comparo between the IS, G, and the TLS. Really though, the acceleration is so good with each car that I think the subjective matters are more important, as we all seem to agree. Seems we all feel pretty happy with our choices for the most part, and that's a good thing.
 
Acura Infiniti Lexus
TL Type-S G35 Sport IS 350
0–120 mph 20.6 19.5 19.8
0–110 mph 17.2 16.2 15.4
0–100 mph 14.3 13.5 12.7
0–90 mph 11.9 10.8 10.2
0–80 mph 9.3 8.9 8.1
0–70 mph 7.6 7.2 6.5
0–60 mph 5.7 5.4 4.9
0–50 mph 4.4 4.2 3.8
0–40 mph 3.5 2.8 2.7
0–30 mph 2.2 1.9 1.9
0–20 mph 1.3 1.2 1.1
0–10 mph 0.5 0.4 0.3

#116 of 126 Re: Just fell in love all over again [gotoyota] by sjaieve

Jun 15, 2009 (10:20 am)

Replying to: gotoyota (Jun 15, 2009 8:43 am)
To be honest, even if you said the IS350 is better, I woudnt mind. This is one argument I am more than willing to lose as I believe the IS350 is a great car. Try telling me a 328i, A4, TL, C350 is better than a G35, I would have a lot to say about that:)
 
Its really unfortunate that the automagazine world bashed this car a lot for its driving dynamics. I cannot see how anyone driving a 328i (the auto magazine's sweetheart) can have more fun in that *** compared to the well appointed IS350. BTW, the Mark Levinson is sweet, better than my BOSE IMHO.
 
Anyway, you made a great choice man.

Messages Page 12 of 13

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