I miss my Benz! 04 G35x

[milhan]

After trading in my 99 E320 4matic for an 04 G35x, I am starting to have second thoughts. Lets compare. The Benz is way more comfortable, handles well, but not as good a the G, and feels much more solid. My G's windows rattle, and the suspension is bouncy and way too stiff.

Gas mileage is exactly the same. I think the G looks way better though. I am hearing suspension noises as of late, but I guess I should expect this with 92k miles on it. My Benz had 110k and the only problem I ever had was a loose baffle in the Catalytic Converter.

I don't want to rip Infinity at all, and I know I am comparing apples to oranges, I just think the Benz is over all a better car. Of course brand new the Benz was a little more expensive, and doesn't have the giddy up the G has.

Just my two sense. I guess if you want performance, get the G, if you want a solid German ride, and handling, get the Benz.

[telcoman]

After trading in my 99 E320 4matic for an 04 G35x, I am starting to have second thoughts. Lets compare. The Benz is way more comfortable, handles well, but not as good a the G, and feels much more solid. My G's windows rattle, and the suspension is bouncy and way too stiff.

Gas mileage is exactly the same. I think the G looks way better though. I am hearing suspension noises as of late, but I guess I should expect this with 92k miles on it. My Benz had 110k and the only problem I ever had was a loose baffle in the Catalytic Converter.

I don't want to rip Infinity at all, and I know I am comparing apples to oranges, I just think the Benz is over all a better car. Of course brand new the Benz was a little more expensive, and doesn't have the giddy up the G has.

Just my two sense. I guess if you want performance, get the G, if you want a solid German ride, and handling, get the Benz.

milhan: Welcome to NICOI can't speak for an 04 Infiniti as I have an 06. Try a new G35 6 speed manual. Then come back & tell us if you still miss your benz? I think not?I don't think Mercedes has the same quality as they had 20 or 25 years ago? Lexus, Infiniti, Acura have taken their customers at lower prices. The euro vs dollar has made European vehicles expensive as compared to yen vs the dollar. The Japanese are tough competitors.Our auto industry thought by forcing the Japanese to build automobile plants in the United States they would forestall the Japanese from easy access to our markets.Oh well that idea came back to bite them in the $ss. The Japanese using American workers in Amarican plants turn out excellent products. As a result GM, Ford & Chrysler are slowly going down the tubes.

Telcoman

[xerexabante]

How can you compare a G35 to a E class Benz?

[SVTCOBRA]

Not too sure how 'solid' any benz is after looking at consumer reports. The benz is over all a better car??? Yes, I think you should trade in your 'Infinity' and get another benz. I think everybody should be happy!!! I know I'm extremely happy with my G's!!

[g35cuhlean]

I dont blame the guy, after all, his g does have 99k on it? what do u expect when u pick up a g with 99k on it. Maybe the first owner abused the shi3t out of it?

Maybe next time get a used g with decent millage and maybe u will like it more. lol, thats just me. I've been in a mercedez before, itts okay. Once the car start having problems, thats when u go dead broked.

Sorry, thats how i feel about a mercedez.

[milhan]

All I am saying is I think the Benz is a better built, more solid car. Yeah, the electronic reliability is terrible ( Bosch) compared to Mitsubishi Electronics the Japanese use. But for a " High end" sport luxery car that Infinity claims it is, I think it falls short. The wind noise on the freeway, and the rattles and creaks this car has is unacceptable. I drove many Gs,not just mine. I bought this car because I think it is absolutely gorgeous!!!! I guess that is not a reason alone to buy a car. ( My Bad ) I just think they have a ways to go in the refinement dept. Enjoy your cars everyone, I respect you all, and please don't take my comments peronally. After all this is the U.S.A. Not BURMA!!!!

FREEDOM is not FREE!!!!

[zozoka1212]

I understand what you are saying. My father was crazy about Mercedes.He had several mercedes in his life. They used to be absolutely perfect cars. Those days are over as cobra says you should check out the consumer report for the mercedes. You'll be surprised. Reliability is horrible.

I would not compare the 2 cars. The "infinity" G is more bending to the sports car segment instead of the luxury,comfort( iknow it is a sedan and X). I think you made a mistake to buy the G. Youy should of buy the M. M is more closer to the luxury/comfort. I think so anyways. Also as it say above you have over 90k on the car. Once you buy a used car there is a huge risk. You don't know what you buy. Was it abused was it broken in correctly, who knows.If I were you I would consider to test drive an M and if you like it trade it in.

zozo


Modified by zozoka1212 at 7:46 AM 10/13/2007

[milhan]

Maybe you are right. I will try the M. I love the looks of this car also. I just can't get used to the bone jarring ride of the G. I know MB reliability is horrible. I have never had a post 99 Benz. This is when Chrysler took over and ruined the MB name. Trust me though. I had a 90 300E that rode, and drove better than any new car on the rode today.

[zozoka1212]

No doubt. The Chrysler- Mercedes merging was a huge mistake. Last MB my father had was a SLK 500. Man I loved it. It wasn't to comfy tho. But who cares when you driving a sport car. When I went to Germany I always borrowed it from my Dad. That time in my life I had pocket rockets and could not trust them to go on a longer trip. So I asked the MB from my father.

300E see those were reliable cars. 300k miles in the original engine no problem.

zozo

[Kendahl]

Different price points and different design goals. It should be no surprise that the resulting cars are different. Someone else, who had traded a G35X for a Mercedes, might equally well complain that the Mercedes was slow and soft.

Before ordering a G37 (3 weeks to delivery!), I test drove Porsches, Audis and BMWs. They were all different. I chose the G37 because it best matched my preferences in performance, handling and comfort. Someone in search of a hard core sports car would probably have picked a Porsche. Someone who values comfort above all would have gone for an Audi A4.

Your G35X's rattles and suspension noises do bother me. A four year old car with 92k miles should still be tight and quiet. Unless you have decided to trade it off, you should spend some money to fix these problems. Doing so will make the car much easier to live with.

Before writing Infiniti off, take a test drive in a newer G35X. Even if yours wasn't beaten to death before you bought it, a newer car will have the advantage of further development.

[milhan]

You are right, I will drive a newer G and the M, then make a comparison. I think it all depends what you are looking for like you said. Even driving the Acura TL was disappointing. The Japanese suspension is just completely different than the Germans. I really haven't found one that has the road feel along with the comfort the Germans have. Even the newer Volkswagons are very tight and comfortable. Thanks for the input

[SVTCOBRA]

I think zozo is right, you might want to try the M.Or, try the new 2007 G sedan. I think it is more refined and is starting to lean more toward the luxury than before.Good Luck!!!

[zozoka1212]

I think out of all Japanese cars the Lexus is the best for comfort.

zozo

[Kendahl]

The Japanese suspension is just completely different than the Germans. I really haven't found one that has the road feel along with the comfort the Germans have.

I don't agree that there is "Japanese" suspension tuning and "German" suspension tuning. There are substantial differences between models from either country.

A Lexus ES is very different from an Infiniti G. The G37 is substantially more refined than the G35 coupe.

The Porsche Caymans I test drove were very stiff, had hard seats and a lot of road and engine noise. In contrast, a 2000 BMW 328 coupe was soft and nearly silent. Had I bought the BMW, I would have promptly installed stiffer struts, bigger antiroll bars and a louder exhaust just to generate some feedback.

I heard a lot of tire slap over expansion joints in the Caymans, 911s, Audi TT and G35 coupes. This has been substantially muted in the G37.

[milhan]

Close your eyes and drive three German cars, and three Japanese cars. ( only close them for a few seconds. crash) I promise you will be able to pick the three German cars, from the three Japanese cars. Most of the German cars use the Macpherson front struts. I don't pretend to know a whole lot about suspensions , but what I do know is there is a difference between these cars.

Yeah the Lexus is different from the G and so on and so forth. Maybe its the frames, the metal in German cars, i really don't know, but I can feel a big difference.

[g35cuhlean]

Yes, the German cars are a lot more stiffer, the only thing sucks, is the engine. I would get a Mb anyday over a G if they can fix the engine issues.

Everyone here have a very good point... But the question is, have u test drive all of the g's model? try lower miles maybe u will have a different feeling.

[SVTCOBRA]

Have you tried a mustang!!Sure, it isn't as refined as a G.Sure, it might not be as fast as a G.Sure, it's not as reliable as a G.But, it's a mustang!!!

[zozoka1212]

LMAO



zozo

[maxnix]

Just my two sense. I guess if you want performance, get the G, if you want a solid German ride, and handling, get the Benz.

Well, using all five of my senses to varying degrees, I would say if you want a SOHC 3-valve truck combustion chamber design type engine, get a 320 or 500. The new 350 and 550 MB engines are finally a step forward to current performance engine thinking that they abandoned several years ago. Why all the upmarket V8 and V12 had to be turbo and supercharged to perform. Why the current 6.3 AMG V8 is NA.

Personally, while the E class interior is well executed in terms of materials and finish, the design is a little Baroque and has more in common with a 1950's Buick than better contemporary cars like Lexus and Infiniti offerings, and to a lesser extent, Audi.

While the MB chassis is undeniably good, the V35 is defintely roomier and probably as good handling, if not better. Rattling windows have no place in a V35, but my experience is pretty much limited to numerous demo and loaner drivers.

[Kendahl]

Close your eyes and drive three German cars, and three Japanese cars. ...... I promise you will be able to pick the three German cars, from the three Japanese cars.

Actually, I have driven more than three of each. Over the years, I have owned six Japanese cars, four German cars and one half breed (an Izuzu Opel which was an Opel chassis with an Izuzu drive train). This summer, I test drove two Porsche Caymans, two Porsche 911s, two 3 series BMWs, an Audi TT, two G35 coupes and two G37s. All of them were quite different in character. The only tendency I noticed was for Japanese cars to be good at everything, but never the best nor the worst. In contrast, German cars seem to be more specialized; they either emphasize performance at the expense of comfort or vice versa. Although I am buying a G37, I started out looking for a Porsche, BMW or Audi. It was the G37's balance between performance and comfort that won me over.

The Macpherson strut is used world wide. German manufacturers use it often, but not exclusively. The alternative is upper and lower control arms. The Macpherson strut is cheaper but, in principle, not as good as control arms. In practice, the quality of the engineering is more important than the type of suspension.

[SVTCOBRA]

two Porsche Caymans, two Porsche 911s, two 3 series BMWs, an Audi TT, two G35 coupes and two G37s..

and a partridge in a pear tree!!!!I'm sorry...I shouldn't drink and type...

[Kendahl]

and a partridge in a pear tree!!!!

Actually, not. None of the local dealers had one in stock.

[SVTCOBRA]

and I thought I loved test driving cars...

[BigWill]

and a partridge in a pear tree!!!!I'm sorry...I shouldn't drink and type...

Rich, you're a card!!

I love it bro!

Take that stuff on the road! lol

Not in a Mustang tho... I drove a friend's Mustang once. It was a 90 something. They really don't make those cars for tall guys. It was extremely uncomfortable, not to mention noisy... that being said, I think that the 5.0 with the right pipes has the best sound!! (And they're quick).

[milhan]

Well when using upper and lower control arms as oposed to the Mcpherson strut, you have more things to go wrong, like bushings! In my case I think some of mine are starting to go. Simple is usually better.

Although MB tends to over engineer many of it's systems. The vacuum assisted doors for instance in the S class, or the 4matic all wheel drive system they use. These things can be nightmares to fix.

I will just shut up now and enjoy my G for what it is, and live with what it isn't.

[maxnix]

I will just shut up now and enjoy my G for what it is, and live with what it isn't.

G37 should be great fun. Enjoy.

[SVTCOBRA]

Will, I believe in 99 they started making them with seats that go back further. So, you can go ahead and pre-order your Shelby GT500KR now since there will only be 1000 of em. 540HP should be fun!! I know, I know, I'll shut up now about mustangs...Not another word..... not one.

[zozoka1212]

So SVT I have a question about your Cobra...



Just kidding. You can't talk about it. You promised. like 100 times so far. LOL.



zozo

[SVTCOBRA]

zozo, not a word.....

[grantman240z]

I drove a Mustang once...is it normal to get the overwhelming urge to plow it into a wall?