larry91403 Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 My wife is interested in the Infiniti G35 and IS250. Does anyone have any input on the the IS that would help us make a decision beyond "The IS is the best car ever" or "Infiniti sucks". I am looking for current IS owner experiences and opinons that will help us make a decision. If you have owned both that is even better! Having just purchased an Infiniti M35 buying the G35 from the same dealer has its advantages but we are still undecided. Please help!
bartkat Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 I'd be more likely to compare the IS350 to the G35, since the IS250 has a smaller engine. I drove the IS 250 and was sold on the ride, luxury, and handling, but it was too slow. So I bought the IS350 and got all the same plus the power. Since the local Infiniti and Lexus dealerships are owned by the same person, and at the same location, I was able to also test drive the G35 and the two Lexus models during the same time period, with the same salesman. The G35 comes close, but doesn't have as nice interior, std features, and has a harsher ride. It's probably a matter of personal taste, but I felt the IS350 was superior and worth the price. After driving it 3 months I still feel the same way.
SW03ES Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 If you're looking for an unbiased opinion you're in the wrong place LOL
Rx330driver Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 I have sat in both, and i own an older version of the IS, the 300. Personally, i dont like the IS300. It is a great car, but the older version seems cheapish. THe newer IS cars are soo much better. If you want luxury get the lexus, if you want speed, get the infiniti
SW03ES Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 The IS350 is actually much more powerful and faster than the G35 automatic. The G35 manual is quicker than the IS250 manual though.
Rx330driver Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 doesnt the g35 have like 280 hp? thats 79 more than the is250 lol
SW03ES Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 Yes, but the IS350 has 305 hp. The IS350 is the best comparison to the G35.
Rx330driver Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 but his question is comparing the IS250 and the G35...maybe he doesnt want to spend the extra cash
larry91403 Posted February 5, 2006 Author Posted February 5, 2006 but his question is comparing the IS250 and the G35...maybe he doesnt want to spend the extra cash This is correct - I don't care soo much about the horsepower.
SW03ES Posted February 5, 2006 Posted February 5, 2006 I think really it comes down to your preference. Both are great cars. I'd do the IS because of the following reasons: 1. Better resale 2. Better brand image 3. More luxurious interior (your M35 has probably one of the most amazing interiors on the road, but the G35 not so much IMHO) 4. Newer design (the G35 is nearing the end of its design cycle and the IS is all new) 5. Better service 6. More extensive dealer network This is off topic but how do you like your M35? I sat in one at the car show and I love the interior. All that rosewood reminds me of the teak on my dad's sailboat.
larry91403 Posted February 5, 2006 Author Posted February 5, 2006 I think really it comes down to your preference. Both are great cars. I'd do the IS because of the following reasons: 1. Better resale 2. Better brand image 3. More luxurious interior (your M35 has probably one of the most amazing interiors on the road, but the G35 not so much IMHO) 4. Newer design (the G35 is nearing the end of its design cycle and the IS is all new) 5. Better service 6. More extensive dealer network I don't know how the G35 will fare in terms of resale and I agree that Lexus has the better track record there. As to the service, only time will tell with my M35 but at this point I am very happy with the service I am receiving so far. I don't know where you live but the Lexus dealers around here aren't all that pleasant to deal with. This probably comes from having a product that just sells itself. If I was to choose just the dealer experience I would have picked Infiniti. I suppose I should try to see what the next G35 would look like. I would hate for a new model to come out right after I buy one. The new IS is beautiful! This is off topic but how do you like your M35? I sat in one at the car show and I love the interior. All that rosewood reminds me of the teak on my dad's sailboat. I absolutely love the M35! I never ever considered Infiniti till I saw it. My parents had been driving Lexus for a long time and I had always planned on getting the GS300. If my dad had not raved soo much about his M35 and Lexus had not changed the GS so radically I would probably have gotten one.
Rx330driver Posted February 5, 2006 Posted February 5, 2006 you dont see a lot of the M class on the street, and that dash looks so confusing to me! lol. so many buttons. still it looks great. i woulda went for the new GS, i think it looks beautiful...gorgeous.
larry91403 Posted February 6, 2006 Author Posted February 6, 2006 Just some observations... My wife and I went to Lexus today to testdrive the IS250. We both agreed it was much more refined than the G35 (or the 325i that we drove afterwards) but there where some things that bothered us. On top of the list was that the dealer had decided that they would but $4000.00 worth of special wheels on all the IS's on the lot and that they had no intention of removing them and putting the stock ones back on. I'm not one to nickle and dime but I thought the first rule of sales was to give the customer what they want? This brought the loaded IS250 up to nearly $42k which in my mind is way too much for a car this small. So I brought this up with the salesman who's only response was "well it's a Lexus". That is just plain ridiculous! So next was the BMW 325i. My wife absolutley loved the handling (best out of the three according to her) and the price was reasonable - loaded at $37k before negotiation! I just would need to get over my dislike for German cars and the documented poor reliability. Then we went to Infiniti for a test drive in the G35. The interiror was nothing to sneeze at and the handling while not as good as the BMW was certainly better than the IS. Without negotiating the sales manager offered us a loaded G35 for $35k and I would imagine that if we had pushed we could have done better. I honestly don't know what the better choice would be and I don't know what my wife will decide. I really appreciate everyone's input!
SW03ES Posted February 6, 2006 Posted February 6, 2006 If you want the Lexus, find another dealer and report that dealer to Lexus NA. Thats a common dealer tactic when new models are short in supply and is beneath a company like Lexus.
bartkat Posted February 6, 2006 Posted February 6, 2006 If you want the Lexus, find another dealer and report that dealer to Lexus NA. Thats a common dealer tactic when new models are short in supply and is beneath a company like Lexus. Yeah, they shouldn't be throwing on unrequested dealer installed options like that. Tell em to stuff it.
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