A few years ago, when my mother was car shopping for entry luxury sedans, I suggested she "just get an Infiniti G35x." I've never been wild about the G – especially when laden with AWD – but it had more power than any competitors at the time, offered the AWD, the all-important luxury badge, and it was the best price in the class. I cannot count the number of time when I've seen in car forums somewhere, a debate or discussion in which the G35 plays the role of spoiler. "Why get a BMW 328i with only 230 horsepower when you could get an Infiniti G35 for the same price with 300+?" Replace BMW 328i with Mercedes C300, or Audi A4, or Lexus IS. That being said, they moved about 5600 G35 and G37s in June, compared to over 9000 BMW 3-Series sold in the US that month. Then again, the BMW 3-Series has a cult following going back 30 years. While the Infiniti G35 wears the legendary Skyline name in Japan, 99.9% of car shopping Americans don't know that. (Ken Watanabe, Japanese movie star and costar in The Last Samurai, is featured in the ad above). The bottom line is: Infiniti figured out how to get to the bargain breaking point. By that, I mean the position at which they offer the best value in the class, but not so much value that their car is no longer desirable.
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BMW has the nice badge! Infiniti badge is pretty worthless prestige-wise. If you wanted HP you’d be better off in the Toyota Camry V6. Toyota badge > Infiniti. :)
I only say this because I have a Toyota and all the racers at my college have tacky Infinitis!
I’d say the styling helped too. It’s not everyone’s type, but it’s distinctive, original, and not fussy. And not everyone finds double kidneys attractive, whether stuck onto the boxy-bland BMW styling of yore (perfect proportions but that’s all I’ll give it) or the Infiniti-wannabe styling of today (kidding, kidding…).
Value shoppers go for the G over the 3, but those same shoppers are probably shy about buying any new car with mediocre mileage ratings with the current fuel price levels.
Those people who aren’t looking for power but are instead looking for a nice status symbol and nice ride love the 328i: better mileage and better badge for the same price as the G.
Those people who are looking for the 300 HP are also looking for sub-5-second acceleration times. In the case of automatics, that leads to the 335i even if it does cost more. People who can’t afford the $7000 extra won’t want the 20 MPG when fuel costs are $4.50… which leads right back to my first paragraph.
The G is in a tough marketing spot.
I was looking at the G35 when I bought my STi, but preferred acceleration over luxury. YMMV.
There are a bunch of these running around in the Caribbean under the ‘Skyline’ name.
Used cars may perhaps be considered more if folks were not high on badges. Anyhow whatever. I’m still pissed off a more affordable RWD vehicle is not sold. I guess those open minded enough to buy one, buy used. I’m probably better off not even taking many new car purchasers seriously. Ironically it takes a certain lightness to spend a huge sum of cash on something unnecessary. Interestingly the CTS is similar to the G35 and I wonder how many of those purchasing understand the differences between the options (vehicles, not gadgets) at the price. How many ES350s and TLs sell again? And CUVs?
I’ve not driven a G35, I hope it offers a great alternative and value. Again it takes a certain enlightening (or alternatively numbness, ironically) to spend the cash on something not needed for survival. I love cars, but I do not need to have an expensive one. I also do not love my job enough and life is not so not challenging to splurge without well things getting increasingly challenging. Still I’m learning to lighten up. I’d love an E34, but its well old and spartan. A G35 is probably not a good deal better, neither is a 3-series. A used CL500, 650i or something else comfy and pretty (inside) is the goal.
The engine on the 3 series is just so sweet. I don’t care if the G35 is more powerful.
Not really a fair comparison. Infiniti sells about 3 models of the G35 that all ring in around 35k. (including the now named G37 coupe), and the only realy choices are stick, auto, and auto plus all-wheel drive. BMW sells a range of 13 models of 3 series ranging from about 35k stripped down with leatherette seats and a barely adequate, slightly more powerful that cars costing a fraction of its price engine, up to about 70k for the convertible M3. Wagons, coupes, convertibles in a multitude of layouts and with options easily adding 5-10k to any car… it’s like comparing one model of one car to an entire brand. I’ll bet that if you compared the G35 sedan to the 328 sedan (the most popular model by far) sales would be about equal. Prestige vs luxury – interesting comparison, but only if you compare the same money.
I’ll be looking at the 35/37 for my next car. It gives me everything I want out of the 3 series besides the price.
I prefer its interior too.
The G35 changed the world even though it wasn’t a world car. Its impact was significant because it was BMW’s stiffest competition in the world’s largest market. If I remember correctly, the G35 started at 28k when it was first released. It was way cheaper, way faster, and way more reliable than the BMW 3-series sedans and coupes, while yielding styling (exterior subjective, interior not for pre-2005) and steering feel to the Bimmer.
BMW was doing fine with its reputation (won by the E36), but they knew they had to react. And so they put Bangle in a closet while they styled the E90 (he must’ve escaped for a second). Then they put out the beautiful coupe, then the ridiculous twin-turbo 3.0 inline-6. Yeah, I’m fairly certain the E90/92 was at least partially a product of competition from Infiniti. I still wonder why Nissan never sold the G35 in Europe.
Too bad both cars have gotten too expensive in their current generations.
[quote]BMW has the nice badge! Infiniti badge is pretty worthless prestige-wise. If you wanted HP you’d be better off in the Toyota Camry V6. Toyota badge > Infiniti. :) I only say this because I have a Toyota and all the racers at my college have tacky Infinitis![/quote]
What kind of smack are you on? Toyota>GM, barely.
No one who likes cars, like Toyota. They haven’t made a decent car since the Supra. And a G35 smokes that hideously ugly lame thing called a Camry. Talk about tacky.
PS: why is it so hard to quote? Bueller? ;-)
The G35 was doing just CRAZY in Florida when it came out (at least in Tampa Bay) – I used to see them everywhere. I don’t see them much where I live now, but that may be because I’m in a college area.
Personally, I wish Nissan had used the “Skyline” badge. The Skyline name actually has MORE heritage than the 3 series, at least if you count years. And racing titles. Too bad all that is lost in translation, and of course they split the models now.
Of course, I can understand Nissan changing the name of the Fuga, but ‘Skyline’ is one of those great auto names that sadly have gotten junked (along with ‘Legend’ and ‘Integra’) in the race for alphanumerics.
The way fuel prices are rising luxury cars are doomed!
Some G35 engines are oil burners – and DON’T mean diesels. No reason not to buy a good used one, but make sure Infiniti has replaced the engine – as they have been quietly doing.
I looked at the G35x, and thought it was a really nice car, but it only came in auto. I decided on getting an 07 mazdaspeed6 instead, which (when new) was about the same price (give or take a couple thousand Canadian) and offered almost as much horse, AWD and a stick. now though, the mazda depriciated quite a bit more and side by side the two cars are 5 or 6 thousand in difference. When i was seriously considering the G though, I noticed that they were everywhere. To me, the G35 is almost the Accord/Camry of the ‘luxury’ brand. Soon enough you could loose a G in the parking lot.
If they only sold a wagon (as BMW and Audi do), then I’d take it under serious consideration. I personally think BMW’s handling and “feel” is the best of those three, but the G is the better overall car–especially when planning for maintenance costs.
I really, really wish the Japanese makers would pull the anti-wagon stick out of their collective butts. I like the Euro wagons a lot, but I don’t want the extra up-front and long-term costs.
As one of those who don’t think they kept Chris Bangle in the closet long enough when developing the E90, I was all set to buy a G35 last year. Although it is a really decent car, the V6 gets a little thrummy at higher RPM’s, the dealer was very iffy; the BMW has better mileage numbers. A ride in the 335i convinced me that despite the godawful “styling”, it was under the skin the BMW of the two and had equivalent interior room despite being shorter than the Infiniti.
A look at the dash of the 335 makes me wish for BMW’s of yore, as it is at best boring, and moves right up to atrocious with the iDrive blister.
There’s no question, however, that both Nissan and Toyota are getting closer. The G is nearly as sporty, while the IS has good feel while being the true luxury car. The competition should improve all three.
Lots of interesting posts.
+1 on wstansfi’s post though. His point on properly comparing the two is spot on.
@philbailey:
I’m wondering where have you read or heard that the VQ engines are oil burners and that Infiniti is silently replacing them? The 3.5 has been around for years in one form or another. It’s currently in everything from Nissans to Infinitis and has been on Ward’s 10-Best Engines for over a decade straight. The list should just be 9 other engines and the VQ.
Sure it’s not the smoothest nor does it provide the most audio pleasure – but for reliability, value and maintenance costs it (and the car as a whole) can’t be beat.
The G will be high on my list when I’m looking for a new(ish) car. It will have to be stick though. I haven’t yet driven one, but from all descriptions it sounds like what I would like (sporty, hard suspension).
I’ve driven a G37 6-speed and it is a FANTASTIC car. The interior is unbelievably good, ride quality is excellent, and the power is addicting :)
Dude (Farago), you are hilarious! Are you podcasting from your Mom’s basement?
I’m waiting for you to yell upstairs “Mommmm! I’m podcasting, I’ll take out the garbage later!”
Hmm. I’d buy a G if I could rebadge it as a Skyline. Quasi-legal aftermarket opportunity?
The problem is the Infinity brand. Like Acura, it’s a North American only marketing invention and doesn’t carry the same weight as Euro badges. This is reflected in the depreciation of their flagship cars – you can buy a two year old M45 in the mid 20s.
They should have stuck with the Nissan brand instead of trying to imitate Toyota/Lexus or at least be consistent. Why both making the flagship GT-R a Nissan if you have a luxury brand? The answer is probably that the most of the world associates the GT-R with its Skyline heritage while there is no such thing as Infinity heritage.
I don’t get why Toyota has had such success with their invented Lexus luxury brand while Nissan and Acura have had troubles with their respective brands. None of them exsisted 30 years ago.
A good friend bought a G35 after cross shopping the 3-series. He was sold on price and HP. That was a couple years ago. Today the 35 is for sale on his lawn and he’s driving a Civic. Give you one guess why.
I’m all for power and performance but to sell me it must get fuel economy at least close to the Camcord standards, give or take a couple MPG’s. That’s why I’ve been fond of the Acura TL. It’s an honest upgrade of the Accord but the MPG’s is damn near the same, but far more fun to drive – V6, manual, etc.
@faster than light rabbit:
It’s 100% legal to rebadge your G35 as a Skyline. Buy the logos and letters on eBay.
@seoultrain
I still wonder why Nissan never sold the G35 in Europe.
They are trying to set up a dealer network as we speak. I’m not sure that’s a good idea. With $10 gas, 300hp sedans don’t exatly fly off the shelves. They need to match the 320d if they want any sales. Not the 335i.
David Holzman Says:
The engine on the 3 series is just so sweet. I don’t care if the G35 is more powerful.
The 335i is at least as powerful as the G37, regardless of the paper specs. It’s also lighter.
@LUNDQIK
philbailey owns a garage. He has seen issues of various makes and models. I take that his comments were based on actual cases.
Mechanically, the G35 is a great car. However Infiniti dealers (at least within my area) usually don’t deliver premium-brand service.
Long story short, assuming Gs and 3s are “equals”, whoever treat their customers better at the dealership level gets the repeat business.
The G is a fantastically underrated car. It’s been plagued with the BMW-itis problem since launch (as in it always gets directly compared to whatever BMW is considered the star of the moment by the *cough* always unbiased motoring press). Here in Canerduh they retail at 40K for the “base” model, which is a fully loaded BMW in terms of specs. A 335i is well into the 50s without options. No contest, in my book, that’s about 10-15 000 in “flaw ignoring” points. My gripe with the OLD G is the wet weather handling with the open diff, it’s downright scary with all season tires (there was a LSD pack in the Aero model, it’s the one to go for if you can find one), my gripe with the NEW G is the lack of interior space.
Calling it ugly in comparison to the BMW is the proverbial pot calling the kettle black.
They are masses of fun and used ones are dirt cheap. The VQ series is my favourite engine with less than 8 cylinders. It makes a nice spread of torque and still revs to the moon with a good spike in power up top. Combine that with razor sharp fly by wire throttle and a throaty intake growl (I think it sounds good, kind of like a small-displacement V8 at low revs and a V-12 at high revs)and you have a very nice V6 in this price category.
PS
Fuel economy be damned, this is a luxury sport sedan, not a Prius. (Says the guy who drives a 9mpg city Q45)