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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 10 of 13

#87 of 126 Re: [hauschild] by johninnj

Aug 22, 2008 (12:50 pm)

Replying to: hauschild (Aug 22, 2008 9:22 am)
I can't imagine real world MPG is close....you're talking about a car with 50% more horsepower ! ! I always liked the way the A4 / passat drove.....nice and stuck on the road. I have a thing for gadgets though : )

#88 of 126 Re: [johninnj] by hauschild

Aug 22, 2008 (2:35 pm)

Replying to: johninnj (Aug 22, 2008 12:50 pm)
Yeah, I enjoy the Audi, but I guess they're more for people that lease because of the reliability factor and resale. I purchased mine pre-owned and if I go with something new, it is going to be something that I keep for at least 6 or 7 years, so I need reliability. So, I don't like Acura's, and I don't feel any better about Nissan/Infiniti quality-wise compared with Audi. So, it's probably gotta be a Lexus.
 
However, first I'll have to drive both and then take it from there - but reliability goes a long way in my book.

#89 of 126 Re: [hauschild] by sjaieve

Aug 23, 2008 (2:04 pm)

Replying to: hauschild (Aug 22, 2008 2:35 pm)
I find a a lot of people are still stuck in the late ages in respect of reliability and quality:
 
Per the latest JD Powers, "Aug 2008"
 
Top Industry Nameplates in Initial Quality:
1-Porsche
2-Infiniti
6-Mercury
8-Ford
10- Audi
 
JD Powers Initial Quality Ranking-Entry Premium (August 2008)
 
1-EX35
2-G35/G37
6 A4
 
For long term relaibility, consumer report has Infiniti G in the top tier and Audi in a lower tier.
 
Be careful about using information that is outdated, stay in tune with the times

#90 of 126 Re: [sjaieve] by hauschild

Aug 25, 2008 (11:00 am)

Replying to: sjaieve (Aug 23, 2008 2:04 pm)
So, are you a Nissan/Infinit guy I assume? I know some people that have good luck and bad luck with them. I personally don't care for Inifniti, mainly because of the styling.
 
I can only comment on my A4 which runs great, but seems to have a unrepairable issue that is engine noise - it kinda sounds like a diesel engine and I've had them replace the camshaft and other things, but the issue remains. I also had a faulty brake light switch replaced (which caused dead batteris for days) and some seals on the radiator. All of this was under warranty, but since it has only 36k miles on it, I kinda worry about what else will go once the warranty expires. This Audi of mine has already been in the ship longer than any Ford I've ever owned, and a few of those I put on over 100k miiles.
 
But, I should report that I test drove the IS250 AWD and was completely taken aback at how pedestrian of a ride it is. I hope I do not offend anybody, but this vehicle should not be classified as luxury/sport. Why would anybody in their right mind spend 36k for a vehicle that drives and acts like a Toyota sedan??? My A4 copmletely blows the IS250 outta the water in every category I consider important except for seating position, which I prefer to the A4.
 
After having driven that, I wonder how any reasonable person can conclude that the IS250 is even close to the A4? I was going to test drive the Infinit G35x, but that's too bulky looking and seems like something and old fart should be driving - and if it drives anything like the IS250, it isn't worth the time.
 
I read all these reveiws about how great these Japanese luxury cars are, especially the IS250, but are these authors on drugs???
 
So, I guess that leaves me in a situation of having to put up with the quality concerns of a German car. Ya know, with as long as the Germans have been making fine automobiles, it's disappointing that they seem to disregard quality. Maybe they feel that if you can afford a German car that you probably don't care about spending additional money on repairs after the warranty expires. Also, it must cost these manufacturers a lot of money for this "warranty" repair work - I guess I just don't understand it.
 
Anyhow, that's why test driving is so important!

#91 of 126 Re: [hauschild] by johninnj

Aug 25, 2008 (1:57 pm)

Replying to: hauschild (Aug 25, 2008 11:00 am)
Dive the is350 with the sport package they offer. I doubt pedestrian will be the word you think of lol. Factoring price...I still stand by the G as the best thing in the category.

#92 of 126 Re: [hauschild] by sjaieve

Aug 25, 2008 (2:18 pm)

Replying to: hauschild (Aug 25, 2008 11:00 am)
Actually, I love Japanese cars. They offer the best luxury, perfomance and price combination. Throw in bells and whistles, reliability etc and its a no brainer, at least for me. I am a former IS250 owner and all this bashing of that car is just unfair. I had a tough time letting go of that car, the only reason I sold it was the power, I now demand more. There is simply no ELLPS car with an interior that matches the IS series. If you want to bring interior room, you have a point but as far as everything else other than perfomace and interior room, the IS250 is a lovely car. I would take the IS250 over an A4 any day. Also consider that although you say the IS250 is slow, the A4 is also slow, the C300 is slow, the 328i is slow. bear in mind that I drive an 08 G35 so as far as I am concerned, all these cars really arent perfomance cars anyways. Same thing a guy with a GTR would tell me

#93 of 126 Re: [johninnj] by circlew

Aug 25, 2008 (2:20 pm)

Replying to: johninnj (Aug 25, 2008 1:57 pm)
I test drove a G35x...it's no old fart sedan! The thing goes and handles like crazy and will blow A4 off the road hands down.
 
I have a leased 330xi and the G will dust it very easily...the steering feel is where the BMW blows away the G. The 330 fells like an extension of your brain while the G is good but a few notches down.
 
Regards,
OW

#94 of 126 by hauschild

Aug 26, 2008 (7:20 am)

Well, I wouldn't say I'm bashing the IS250 as much as I am stating that the car isn't what I would expect a luxury/sport sedan to be all about.
 
Again, I love the smaller size of the IS250 and the sitting position, but there are too many other things that scream "family sedan" from that vehicle. With barely a press of the throttle, my A4 whisks away briskly - it just feels quicker even though it may not be much quicker. The IS250 labors when you hammer on it, and it doesn't end up doing much for all that laboring.
 
But, we all have our specific needs and tastes. I mean, I would love the reliability of the IS250, but I'm not gonna spend 36k for a vehicle that drives and handles and reacts no better than my old Ford Focus ZX3. I want to be impressed when I'm spending that kinda coin for a car.
 
I think this weekend I will give the G35x a test drive, but again, I'm not crazy about Japanese styling, and especially the G35X - it seems too much like a Crown Vic to me - to bulky. I love the IS250 and the A4 in terms of the sleekness. And, 300 horsepower is a bit much when gas is 4 bucks a pop. But, never say never, I guess.
 
But, I will say again that for a guy like me that doesn't have much experience with luxury/sport sedans, the A4 fits into the cateogry I've always thought of in terms of this genre of cars, whereas the IS250 seems not unlike a Toyota family sedan with a nicer interior. Who knows? Maybe I expect too much out of a car for that price???

#95 of 126 Re: [hauschild] by johninnj

Aug 26, 2008 (7:37 am)

Replying to: hauschild (Aug 26, 2008 7:20 am)
Check out the Sport model (I think it's a package now on the X). A little more sporty fascia, bigger wheel/tires. If you are not a nameplate guy....Mazsaspeed6 (Do they still make that?), and Legacy GT are EXCELLENT awd 30K cars.

#96 of 126 Re: [hauschild] by sjaieve

Aug 26, 2008 (8:28 pm)

Replying to: hauschild (Aug 26, 2008 7:20 am)
And you should demand a lot for that price. I think for a guy like you, you should wait for the 09 A4 4 banger, its faster than the IS250 and pretty close to the 328i. It will most likely be more fuel efficient than most ELLPS. However, it has a much nicer interior than the 3 series. I have sat down in it. I still thing the G35 gives you more car than the A4 though but like you said, we have different tastes. Good luck with the car search

Messages Page 10 of 13

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