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BMW 335i vs Infiniti G37

361 messages,  Last post on Apr 08, 2011 at 4:22 AM

You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 3 Series, Infiniti G37, Car Comparisons, Coupe, Sedan

Messages Page 8 of 37

#64 of 361 Re: 335i vs G37 [viral] by habitat1

Oct 14, 2007 (4:49 am)

Replying to: viral (Oct 11, 2007 7:53 am)
Not one of my facts has been disputed by a single person on here. The only issue anyone is taking with my posts are my claims that you pay more just for the nameplate.
 
Understand that I don't have a dog in this hunt. Never owned a BMW. Never owned an Infiniti. And I'll further qualify my position further by saying that the last time I test drove and compared the two back to back, it was the previous G35 against the 330i. And the TL 6-speed, which I ended up buying.
 
On the quantifiable factual basis of your claims, it certainly appears that, in the Washington DC area, the resale values of 3-4-5 year old 3 series are considerably higher than the G35, in spite of what the Edmunds and KBB figures suggest. That's from friends and associates who have been on the buying and selling side of both. I am pleased to report that my 2004 TL 6-speed appears to have both of them beat in resale value, in percentage terms, but the 3 is close and the G is not.
 
More importantly, you seem stuck on the idea that anything that cannot be quantified in terms of 0-60 performance, number of stereo speakers and techno do-dads, etc. must, by nature, be purely opinion and nameplate based.
 
Back in 2004, I sincerely wanted to like the G35 6-speed sedan. I had logged 150k miles on a Nissan Maxima SE and it was the best automotive experience in my 30 years of driving. But the things that kept me from the G35 were not quantifiable, but very real, nonetheless. The shifter, compared to the 330i and TL, felt like it had come from Fred Flinstones car. Notchy, rubbery and the antithesis of the short throw Honda S2000 I owned at the time. The TL and 330i were far superior. For someone that likes/requires a manual transmission, that was a huge "qualitative" difference. Similarly, the G35 engine felt rough at higher rpms, compared to the smoothness of the TL and 330i. The G's handling was not particularly impressive, the RWD vs. FWD TL setup notwithstanding. Interior design of the G35, at that time, was clearly by committee and not a very cooperative one.
 
All of these faults, and a few others, conspired against the G35 as a choice for me in 2004. I ended up making a compromise to the performance capabilities of the 330i in getting the FWD TL 6-speed, but I didn't feel as though the G35 had a single advantage over the TL and plenty of disadvantages.
 
My point, not particularly concise, is that there are plenty of attributes that are important to car purchase decisions that cannot be quantified. And I take issue with those auto magazines that try to quantify some that they shouldn't. Like factoring in price in their final ratings as though everybody has the same financial perspective. Hell, in 1994 I bought a bare bones Maxima because I wasn't comfortable paying $1,000 for a sunroof. In 2005 I paid $10,000 more for a 911 C2S cabriolet than a coupe. No one can rationalize or quantify that decision.
 
The new G35/G37 has been improved. As has the 335i. Perhaps the gap has been narrowed. But don't think that anything that doesn't have a number beside it is a "nameplate" inspired opinion. I gave Infiniti the benefit of their nameplate in 2004 and they still came up short.

#65 of 361 Re: 335i vs G37 [habitat1] by circlew

Oct 14, 2007 (7:17 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 14, 2007 4:49 am)
In 2005 I paid $10,000 more for a 911 C2S cabriolet than a coupe. No one can rationalize or quantify that decision.
 
In most cases, you get what you want unless you think twice about what you got, which is what you think you wanted at the time you got it and didn't take the time to make sure it was what you wanted before you got it!
 
In your case it was exactly what you wanted. Period.
 
You just think more clearly than "name plate" shoppers.
 
Regards,
OW

#66 of 361 Re: 335i vs G37 [habitat1] by chirp

Oct 14, 2007 (8:29 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 14, 2007 4:49 am)
Is the TL a coupe?

#67 of 361 Re: Replies to all [nick1958] by richardga73

Oct 16, 2007 (5:56 pm)

Replying to: nick1958 (Oct 11, 2007 9:31 am)
So nick, we get the fact that you dont like run flats, etc. But what these forums are about is well, LOVE! People spend loads of money on these damn things and try to cerebrally explain their choices and get caught up in the nuts and bolts and dont really explain that they LOVE this or that car. Now, please explain why you "liked" the G better because you didnt say "love" which is what most of these BMW 3 owners are trying to say!

#68 of 361 Re: Replies to all [richardga73] by circlew

Oct 17, 2007 (3:52 am)

Replying to: richardga73 (Oct 16, 2007 5:56 pm)
Yup, fell in love after the first test drive, which was after the G35 coupe at the time. Liked the G, loved the 3.
 
Regards,
OW

#69 of 361 Re: Replies to all [circlew] by chirp

Oct 17, 2007 (6:26 am)

Replying to: circlew (Oct 17, 2007 3:52 am)
It's only a car...That's nutz

#70 of 361 Re: 335i vs G37 [habitat1] by viral

Oct 17, 2007 (7:50 am)

Replying to: habitat1 (Oct 14, 2007 4:49 am)
On the quantifiable factual basis of your claims, it certainly appears that, in the Washington DC area, the resale values of 3-4-5 year old 3 series are considerably higher than the G35, in spite of what the Edmunds and KBB figures suggest. That's from friends and associates who have been on the buying and selling side of both. I am pleased to report that my 2004 TL 6-speed appears to have both of them beat in resale value, in percentage terms, but the 3 is close and the G is not.
 
So basically what you're saying is that we shouldn't believe what Edmunds or Kelly Blue Book (the industry standard on such matters for decades) has to say on resale value, but rather your friend's personal experience buying or selling one of these cars in one market? That is ludicrous. BTW, I looked up 2004 resale values, and the TL was below both the 3 series and G35 Sedan (again, the Coupe was the 4th best IN ANY CATEGORY that year). The TL was also the only one of the three not to make C&D's 10 Best in 2004. (http://www.caranddriver.com/bestcars/7571/10best-cars.html)
 
You're comparing a FWD 4 door sedan with a 50+ HP and torque deficit over both the 335i and G37. You might as well be talking about a Camry. Those comparison are too far removed to be relevant in this discussion.
 
I'm not hung up on anything. I'm using facts and numbers to disprove the false claims being made by others. I'm completely aware of the fact that there are a number of intangibles that can't be measured or quantified. I said as much in my last post. None of my comments are about that. But so far, nothing here has challenged my ongoing point that, in all those categories that CAN be measured and quantified, these two cars are dead even, leaving only those previously stated "intangibles" to justify the $10,000 price difference.

#71 of 361 Re: 335i vs G37 [viral] by circlew

Oct 17, 2007 (8:08 am)

Replying to: viral (Oct 17, 2007 7:50 am)
I can fall in love with intangibles...as long as they delight!!!
 
Regards,
OW

#72 of 361 Re: 335i vs G37 [viral] by kdshapiro

Oct 17, 2007 (9:27 am)

Replying to: viral (Oct 17, 2007 7:50 am)
Everything I've read gives the nod to the 335. Close yes. Dead even no.

#73 of 361 Re: 335i vs G37 [kdshapiro] by chirp

Oct 17, 2007 (10:53 am)

Replying to: kdshapiro (Oct 17, 2007 9:27 am)
You are right, the window sticker contest goes to the BMW. It's not even close

Messages Page 8 of 37

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