08 M45 or GS 460...Need some honest opinions and experiences

[G35_Rican30]

Ok guys i am looking at getting rid of my G35 coupe because me and the wifey want to expand our family, i currently drive a G35 coupe fully loaded and i was thinking of going with either an 08/09 M45 or 08/09 Gs 460 now for your FYI my wife drives an 07 ES 350 fully loaded and its a Great ride with awsome sound system (Mark Levinson) and nice Nav system and the car gets great gas mileage and has power.. 275 hp stock. Ok back to my question now when i compare both cars, price is almost the same but i find that the M offers more leg room and head room in both the front and rear so i guess it comes down to Hp and the "TOYS" that both cars bring to the table. Now IMHO i think the Mark Levinson sound system is better than the Bose system or is it a different Bose system in the M than my G35 has?

Any help or advice you guys can give me i would greatly appreciate it

[saeedakobiakov]

lexus will blow the doors of the m with smoother ride.
Modified by saeedakobiakov at 8:36 PM 2/29/2008

[G35_Rican30]

Could i have both??...is there a difference bt the two..if so which is better but i do like the sport rims on the M

[saeedakobiakov]

grow up body , no rims for you.

[G35_Rican30]

so you saying i should go with the Lexus Gs 460 instead of the M

[dernawe]

It really comes down to comfort vs sportiness. The GS has it beat when it comes to comfort and ride. The M has it beat for sportiness. I have a 07 M45, and honestly, I would rather have the GS. The M45 bumpy ride (loud thump when going over bumps at speed) has really gotten tiresome. My lease is up in August, and I will be looking to Audi or Lexus for my next car.

[G35_Rican30]

Would the ride have been better without the sports package or do they all ride the same

[saeedakobiakov]

yes, lexus has more power too.

[Boon]

08 M45x

AWD ftw

[mazz]

i came out of a 2002 q in 2006 looking at all the choicesthe 4 wheel drive m is a bit rougher ride but i was very pleased with my 2 wheel drive m for ride comfort

[nmgoodthing]

You simply have to go test ride both of them and compare. The Lexus is a traveling sofa. The M is a drivers car. You will be paying a bit more for the Lexus. A loaded one will be almost 60K.

I've always preferred Nissan quality over Toyota's lack of quality over the recent years. Although all new cars seem to have their share of problems.

Performance wise I think there is a slight difference. I've seen newer M's running 5.3 seconds 0-60 and the GS is rated 5.4 and it has more horses.

Just take a weekend and go test drive both.

[Mark Linkous]

Hello,Gotta agree with the man from the Land of Enchantment. I would find that with two conceptually similar cars, the little things will decide it. Whether it is which seats you like better or which driving position you like better. Also, the dealer would be a factor to me. Both cars are excellent. I would guess the Lexus would have better resale value. Though, both have excellent residual value.Good Luck,M.L

[G35_Rican30]

Thanks for all the inputs so far, pls keep them coming, so what i hear so far is that the M is a sportier car where as the Lexus is more of a smoother ride, what about the "TOYS"...who has the advantage there?...does Lexus have a better Nav/Sound system Combo than the M

[saeedakobiakov]

go to lexus webpage pick the model you like , then use compare cars option.it will show all the advantages over m45, then go to infiniti site and do the same thing to see the diferences.i will bet you will by lexus after.rwd is the way to go m or gs.

[DaleHeller]

I agree with some of the previous posts. The M is a great car, don't get me wrong, but the Lexus, particualry the GS460 is in a different league all their own. I have the 07 M35 and frankly wish I had waited for the GS460.

Most annoying M items1) 5 speed transmission, really keeps the RPMs high on trips, I turn 3,000 RPM at 80 MPH. This increases noise and hurts highway mileage. I get 19 overall2) I have all the goodies with Tech and Adv Tech packages.3) Sound system is worthy of an Altima, not an M class of vehicle. It's one of those things that every time you find a good XM station and want to appreciate quality music, you realize how the M falters. The 14 speaker Bose system is abysmal. It's poorly desiged and likewise, performs poorly for the extra money that you pay for it.4) iPod interface is probably the most ineffective on the market. basically, it is an audio/video IN jack with RCA plugs. To call in an iPod interface is very generous.5) Tires are very noisey, check out some of the other posts, some owners have replaced them outright.6) Navigiation (IMHO) is the best on the market, very accurate. Audio input is somewhat of a pain, since you have to start at the state level each time. Not much other options for entry I guess, other than touch screen which is on the 08 model. POI labels, and destination labels leave a lot to be desired.8) Heated and cooled seats- don't bother turning them on, you will probably be at your destination before they begin to be noticable. My Toyota Avalon was much better.9) The M35 engine is less powerful than the G35 - figure that one out !!! I love the shift-auto, but wish it had about 300-325 HP, and of course the 6-7 speed auto.

The ONLY reason I didn't go with the Lexus was the cramped feeling I got when I took it out. The M feels much more open, comfortable, and generally appealling as a driver or passenger. It really felt tight to me, and I am of average height and build. The Cadillac (CTS) was not out yet.

I may sound like a heretic on this post, but frankly, I am already wanting to trade it off due to many of the disappointments for the $46k that I had to pay for it. The newness is quickly wearing off (at least for me) and I am beginning to enjoy it less and less, due to some of these quirks.

[Mark Linkous]

Hello,I gotta agree witcha about the Blose system. If you think yours is bad, listen to the 03-04 system. The Levinson system is in another league entirely. In regards to NVH, the M45 is a bit quieter at highway speeds. I believe the M45 uses a different OEM tire as well. Again, G35Rican is looking at the M45 and not the M35.All the same, I am sorry you have not been happy with your car. Life is too short to drive a car you don't want.M.L
Modified by Mark Linkous at 2:03 PM 3/2/2008

[MZH]

I drove both 350 and M35 when I was buying mine and finally settled for an M35 sports and I am really happy with my decision. Lexus has a little bit better MPG and HP than the M. But I found the interior and exterior of M more appealing than the G.I think it all comes down to individual choice, I like the Ms meaner looks more G looks more like a family car to me rather than a sports model.

Lexus is a bigger name for sure and you definitely will pay more $$$ for that as well. M is still in the making and they have done a superb job ...

Good luck with your search buddy.

[stevehodges]

I drove both a couple of years ago when looking for a new car--I had a terrible experience with a BMW 740i--and the M won me over. I think it's a terrific value and have not regretted my decision to with it. In fact, I plan on getting a 2008 model in a couple of months. I think the Nav system is the best on the market.

For what it's worth, I have the first generation M45 Sport.

[Gmunford]

Simple: Like driving? Get the M. Like driving fast? Get the M45.I'm a new ownwer but tested lots of cars - traded in a beloved Jag XJR; had 2 Mercedes before that. Yes you feel the road, and if you want a car that feels like a sofa, prob. not for you.

And re. the sound system - not sure what my fellow forumers are hearing, but as someone whose spent my life in music, I now go the garage to really listen to a CD.

Just take one out, find a good twisty road and DRIVE - - (w/o the sales guy of course). If you love lateral g forces, you'll know you've come home. Bimmers beware. The M's got it all.

[dernawe]

My vote is for test drive them both. Again, I have a 07 M45, and if I could, I would take it to the lexus dealership today and do an even swap. Today I found another annoyance, you can't go to a memory seating position if the car is not in park?!?! WTF? You can adjust the seat, but you can't push 1 or 2 to go to a saved position. Idiotic. And I would like to add that the navigation system is the best I have used, when you can use it. The almost complete lock out of the system while in motion is another serious annoyance. I know the car is sexy, I know it is fast, but liveability is low for me. I came from an 2003 Audi S8, and I regreted it about 20 days after I signed my lease payment. I am not trying to be negative, I got the car for a reason, just want to lend advice to someone who is in the same position as I was about a year ago.

[G35_Rican30]

Again guys thanks for your honest opinions, i am taking all of this into consideration....now i know they re-did the M for 08 and it has an updated Nav system w Nav traffic and re-fined exterior and by the pictures it also has an updated interior look and i'm hoping they re-did the Bose system as well, now i heard the bose system on the G37 and i must WOW a huge difference from what i have so i'm assuming the M has it as well. Now i know what it will come down too is what i want and how i feel but guys pls keep sending your opinions now i know what too look for on the test drive

[saeedakobiakov]

you want less blind spots when flying in traffic, that is my advice.

[antzrus]

I've got the Boise 14 speaker surround system that comes w/the premium package. I have no complaints-just praise for this system. I really don't get it unless you all are members of a philharmonic orchestra, graduates of Julliard School of Music and have perfect pitch.

But I really struggle w/the idea that one decides which machine to drive based largely upon the audio system. You spend $50K + for the machine, spend less than $1k @ Crutchfield and get what you want. Gimme' a break. Get your machine for the driving experience; it is an automobile not an acoustical sound stage.

[Mark Linkous]

No. Bose offers some of the most heavily marketed, poorly produced electronics on the market. The fact remains that many people spend far too much time in traffic not to appreciate good sound. Also, maybe twenty years ago you could spend a grand at crutchfield and build a system Not now. With systems so integrated, adding a sub/amp combo is about the only option. Moreover, I purchased this car in spite of the system. That does not mean that Infiniti should not switch OEM suppliers.M.L
Modified by Mark Linkous at 12:36 AM 3/4/2008

[G35_Rican30]

True but when you are about to spend or spent lets say 50k for a vehicle i want to be able to walk outside or sit inside my vehicle and say i feel and i see and i hear 50k of my hard earned money, i dont want to feel that i bought an expensive vehicle but looks and feels and sounds cheap, now true you could get a great aftermarket whatever but why when you already have spent 50k, to me you should get quality stuff all around. Now IMHO the new look M with the upgraded Nav system and hopefully sound system should beat out Lexus but i dont know how many 08 M owners there are that can tell me yes they upgraded what needed to be just like in the new G37, that Bose system sounds awesome

[MZH]

I have a solution: Get both M45 08 and a GS460 together on lease.and you will save yourself a lot of head ace and time man

[Dodgeyaussie]

The following is posted with the knowledge that i sell new Infiniti's.

I really think the GS460 and M45 cater to different markets. As mentioned, if you want a sofa on wheels than isolates you from the road, go for the Lexus.

The Infiniti is much more of a drivers car, where you feel involved and connected with the driving experience.

So to me, it really depends on what type of driver you are.

As for the sound systems, while the 14 speaker Bose system that is part of the Advance Tech package does sound awesome, especially with DVD audio discs, i think it lacks depth, especially low down. The same could be said for the G35/37 as well.

I think the Infiniti with the best sound system is the FX.

Some official garb....

GS is positioned between the flagship LS and the smaller ES and IS models in the Lexus luxury sedan lineup. GS 350 features a V6 engine, 6-speed transmission, and rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. GS 460 features a V8 engine, 8-speed transmission, and rear-wheel drive only. A gasoline-electric hybrid GS 450h rounds out the lineup.

GS offers a sophisticated blend of luxury and performance. Yet Infiniti M matches its luxury appointments while offering more refined performance.

Key M Advantages

Available V8-powered all-wheel-drive model Infiniti M Available Rear Active Steer1 Available 19-inch wheels and tires Available heated, reclining rear seats Automatic entry/exit for steering column and seat (vs. steering column only) Available hard-drive-based navigation system2 (vs. DVD-based) Available XM NavTraffic®3 Front-seat Active Head Restraints Available Lane Departure Warning4 (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) Available Mobile Entertainment System More front and rear head, shoulder, hip, and leg room Larger trunk

[mazz]

i have the bose system with the tech pkg on my 2006 and i think it is greatcheck consumer report if you want to buy the infiniti they have 2 of the top 3 models in luxury cars in this months issue m35x and m35

[Boon]

You drive a G35 coupe. You obviously appreciate a sportier car. I'm pretty sure once you drive them both it will be a no brainer. I would get the Lexus if I was 60 and had a bad case of hemroids. Until then, you will see me in a car that I can drive, instead of one that I can just cruise along with. If you want a sporty lexus look at the new 08 ISF. Now that car is pretty bad @$$. Smaller then the M, but big enough for a car seat =)

[G35_Rican30]

True but expected that because the G35 is a sports car, now when you say M you are not thinking sporty, you're thinking luxury