Informal Poll: How old are u?

[Bocatrip]

[QUOTE=marysc6]I just picked up my new 08 M45 new years eve. I am a woman in her mid 50s, have a z06 corvette which I have mods on and that I take to Summit Point all year to drive and sneaks my husbands porsche out as much as I can.I can guarantee you the M45 is not an old man's car - and I dont know at what age you become an old man - my husband and I are like kids with their cars and I cant ever see that changing.This car is great when your doing lots of highway driving. It puts you in a different world, especially when you have cars that are built for nothing but speed,

[/QUOTE

This is the exact reason I'm going from my G35 Coupe to the M35. I'm a guy in my late 50s who is tired of sitting on the ground, getting bounced around, and listening to all the rattles. I want to sit in a substantial car that feels well put together, handles decently for a full sized car, and has a touch of luxo. It's not a bad looking car either. I'll concede it doesn't have the lines of a sports car, but then, it's not one.

[Mark Linkous]

Hello,Wow. Cannot imagine how much fun a Z06 would be to own. What, 505 H.P is not enough Bocatrip? Test drove a C6 last week. I really might buy one. At 75k+, the Z06 might be over my budget. Cannot believe what you can get for @50k in the C6. Best performance value period.Props and WelcomeMark

[Carlito]

im 39, just bought my 06. didnt see the value in the car when the new design came out. i loved the interior but thought the exterior could have had a few more curves, so i bought an 06 maxima. i've owned every maxima since 89'. i waited for the 09 maxima to drop, loved the exterior but thought the interior was weak. my 06 is fully loaded chrome wheels and all with 38,000 and was about 15,000 less than a fully loaded maxima that has fewer options. i say that to say this, the m is a "smart" man's car. a man who doesnt get cought up in the hype of the bmw or mercedes name and actually buys a better, less expensive car.before i bought mine i would keep my eye on the road for m's to see how they look rollin' especially at night. that task was a little harder than expected seeing u dont see that many on the road (in cincinnati). no shortage of its competitors to view. that sealed it for me

[fiveliterbeater]

well i just turned 30 last month and i just picked up my 06 M45. my other choices besides the M45 was an 05 bmw 545i or an 06 GS430 lexus. a 3 series BMW are for girls. REAL MEN drive V8's!!!

[tigerclaws1318]

the m45 is definetly not a old mans car especially the sport model. the ride is too stiff for a old man probably ending up breaking all his bones before he can get out the car. lolim 19 and i totally love the car to death for what it has to offer.

[SunLitSandMax00SE]

I am 23 and I have owned three maximas in the past.....89, 89, 00 and am now on my 2k6 M35

[fiveliterbeater]

I am 23 and I have owned three maximas in the past.....89, 89, 00 and am now on my 2k6 M35

hey that's crazy; among many of the cars i've owned in the past, i've also owned three Maximas: a 92 SE, a 94 SE and a 96 SE. the VE and VQ motors were in my opion ahead of their time. my first ride ever was in an 89 SE and i was like "wow!!" that was in 1995 though, times have changes, but i'll never forget the memories of the late 90's when the maxima was one of Nissan's fastest cars ( the 300ZX got discontinued )

[Gm0_M45]

i want in... lol

ive owned 8 hondas... an s10 and now a 06 M45..

im 20 years old..

[M45Caliber]

Fun thread -- enjoy seeing what others have owned too.

But y'all got a long way to go to catch me (not that you'd want to...). Yeah, I'm in my 50's now, but the 2003 M45 and the 2008 EX35 are my 57th and 58th car/suv owned - so far in my lifetime. (I actually spent about a week writing up a list a few years back, when one of my friends asked how many cars I've owned, since he sees me in something different every year or so... and you can add in 5 different motorcycles too).

I've had some awesome rides and a few pigs along the way... but these two current cars are among the finest overall vehicles we've owned - not from a price standpoint, but from a pleasure to drive perspective.

I haven't had a car payment in 20 years and doubt I ever will. I buy "new" for the wife, as she prefers that, and drives them for 6 or more years, so it's the way to go for her. I like to buy slightly used and let the other guy eat the majority of the depreciation. That way I can change cars every year or so and not worry too much about a loss. And there WILL be a loss - you can bet on that. So I get to drive a ton of fun/fast/sometimes wierd stuff and not get beat up on the depreciation.

OK -- now for that "old man" lecture - something to consider with whatever you buy/drive.

Every car I've owned (except for maybe 4 of 'em - 65 Mustang GT convert., 67 Mustang 289 4-bbl Fastback, 69 Boss 302, 72 'Vette convert 350/350) would be considered a "depreciating asset", so plan on a car like the M costing you $10K - $15K the first year you own it (assuming you bought it new) and maybe 3K to 5K every year thereafter. But as long as you are aware of this, there should be no future surprises to any of you.

I've spent more on wheels, tires, body kits, and "go-fast" goodies than on my kids college educations (or so it sometimes seems). You will NOT get your money back on any of this stuff when you go to sell your car. The wheels might bring a few hundred more, but that's about it.

Been there. Done that. Have the NOS tee shirt to prove it. So guys, enjoy your rides. Pimp 'em, VIP 'em, race 'em and cruise in 'em too. Enjoy them.

Bottom line -- Drive what you like and what you can afford. These cars are not cheap to own and maintain, just wanted to make sure you younger dudes are aware of that.

I'm not into modding my cars too much anymore, but enjoy reading about all the stuff you all are doing to yours -- nice to see that the "fever" is still out there among the car guys.

Peace, Out -- M45Caliber

[Gm0_M45]

caliber!!

i wanna be like you when i grow up!! haha..

thats how i see my future... bigger and better things!!

[striz923]

30 years old and I think our cars look bad a$$. I think they were ahead of their time a little. I have owned a 92 mercury capri (convertible), 99 Honda Prelude type SH, and an 05 ford sport trac. If I didn't need to put in a carseat, I would probably still have the Honda lol.

[NightWatch]

Another old fart here, 52. My 2008 M35S is my 11th car, my 3rd Infiniti. I've owned a 2003 G35 M6 Coupe, a 2006 G35 Sedan and now the M35. Most of my previous cars were sport/performance/muscle cars. I bought the M looking for more room and comfort without looking like I was driving a "grandpa mobile"

[Gm0_M45]

^^ well you made the right choice...

this car fits every type of person... the car is just plain sexxy!

and you dont have to spend $250,000 to get the same look from the people.... amazing car... i love it!

[keithhr]

63 next week, and barely out of my teens

[menlund19]

I don't think this is an old man's car...I am 31. Although I was at the carr wash yesterday and the guy behind me in line started gushing over my 2007 Black M35x when they pulled it up by the door to dry it off. I think he was about 70...of course, he was driving the typical old rich man Mercedes Benz S500.

[GJEMD]

[QUOTE=MattB]

If I had to guess I'd say the average age of M45 drivers is higher than 40. Young people (myself included) often can't afford such cars.

Don't be too sure. The current economic morass we find ourselves in is people of all ages buying things they can't afford. 57 y/o and can afford it $$

[StevenRogers]

27 yr old kid owner of an old man 06 M45 sport

[wizard8873]

I am 24 and own an 06 M45 Sport. Had a 1996 Sentra, 1999 eclipse GS, and 06 Altima 3.5SE before this. age wise, i don't think a car can be classified by age as there are wealthy people that are young and older people that barely get by.

I think the reason this thing is marketed (or said to be marketed) towards older people is because of its use. it's a sedan (family car) that has enough handling and power to add that fun portion to it. then again, if you're making 145k a year then you can spend the extra money and get a sports car for the lack of performance. younger gen is looked at more of having sporty, two door coupes instead of upscale performance sedans. it's just generalization sincem sot people make little in their teens and 20's and only make enough for a new in their later 30's and up. at least that's how i see it.

old man image to me is a car that is designed for comfort and no sportiness, buick easily comes to mind. the M35/45 are well past this. I still see it as an older person's car but only because of the 4 door aspect. people were wondering why i moved from an eclipse to an altima since it's a family car. i had a good list. it looked better, was faster, handled better, was more comfortable for cruising, had more space, and used less gas (managed 32mpg in the city several times and best highway mpg was 37). the M45 builds on top of that, it handles even better than the Altima while being more comfortable, supposedly has more room than it while i can't really feel it, and is much fast and nicer looking.

[antzrus]

63 next week, and barely out of my teens

62 and barely into my teens...

I waited until I was 60 before I purchased this machine. Why? Too many other things being a husband and a father that took precedence.

I still am both and still helping out w/grad school for both my sons (one a freshwater/salmon biologist-the other a budding attorney struggling w/an extremely high maintenance female fellow student). But I just figured I'm not gonna' live forever and so I finally said "screw it" and I've loved my Black Bourbon Beauty ever since.

[M35 Sport]

Well I'm 28 Just got this car a week ago. Had an 04 pontiac before this car. This is my 4th car so far in life. This is also my first car with a car payment. I am already fighting in my mind how much extra I will pay per month on the loan vs spending money on accessories and upgrades.

[Johntomferg]

If I had to guess I'd say the average age of M45 drivers is higher than 40. Young people (myself included) often can't afford such cars.

Don't be too sure. The current economic morass we find ourselves in is people of all ages buying things they can't afford. 57 y/o and can afford it $$

30 y/o can afford it: no loan required two years ago when I bought it. Not a 'silverspooner'.

Remember: To help the financial crisis, let's assume the 'bad' debt that collapsed the banks, and encourage the newly 'safe' banks to lend more. Brilliant.

[maxnix]

Old enough to know how to spell the 2nd person pronoun with 3 letters!

[wishforthefish]

I just purchased my 06 M35. I am 40 years old and this is my first Infiniti. I have had several cars over the years:

78 Gran Prix80 Z2888 924S95 Blazer - Just had first kid - car seat didn't fit so well into a Porsche03 Avalanche Z7107 Lexus ES 350 - too small for me and family too ride in comfortably06 M35

I have owned my M for three weeks and it has been a blast! I get to enjoy the sports car feel and performance and have a luxury sedan that the whole family fits into. I am 6'3" so most sedans do not have any room left in the backseats for riders....

As far as tricking out cars, I have spent thousands on blowers, wheels, carbs, rims, drive shafts (that I broke), trannys and sound systems. So I agree with several posts above - understand that you will never get the money back out of the improvements you put into a car - put them in for you to enjoy!!

Also I am not surprised that many respondents were in the plus 30 crowd, these cars are higher priced and younger people usually can't afford them when you balance college loans, new families, saving for a house.....

Enjoy your M! It is definitely the complete package compared to the Bimmers 5 series and Mercedes CLK or E series. More car and performance for less money and most of all much better reliability!!

[mach5871]

I'm 37 years old and my last three of four cars have been Nissan products, a 2000 Maxima GLE, 2003 G35, 2006 Hummer H3 (big mistake, slooooow), and now a 2008 M35. My wife drives a 2004 FX35 which we still have and love to drive. Cheers!

[Kalamidad]

I guess the perception is that only old people can afford the car Brand-New. The M is 45K and jumpt into the 50s with the first pakage you add. But the refinement is obvious and anyone who rides in the car can't help but acknowledge that is a nice car anyone would like to drive. The BMW do have a more youthfull appeal, but i made the choice and went with the M. why give in to the mold and get a Beemer?

[Dave_N]

oldish, fartish here, 44.

Just purchased a 2007 M35x with around 12000 miles

My car history1987 Honda Civic Si - 105K Flawless service till totaled by someone else1994 Mazda Protoge - 110 K good service1999 Audi A4 - 75K, a nightmare, 2 engine replacements, 2 sets of front control arms, air conditioning bracket (1K repair), etc. etc. Most of the repairs were warranty, but it had a ton of issues when traded for the M.

Wife's History1988 Honda Civic 115K2002 Honda Odyssey - Still have, 90K so far....

[infinitim35x]

im 26 now i bought my m when i was 24. there is no such thing as an old mans car, if you can afford it then buy it. my buddy has the new LS 600h he's 26 according to most people thats an old man car but after he fixes it up its now a drug dealers car....lol but you know what i mean. who cares

[mikeym45x]

32 here, have 2008 M45x. I test drove a 335xi, it was ridiculously fast, but small and cramped, rode horribly harsh (stiffer then my car with 20s).

[cruise8]

i'm 25 and just bought my 2006 black m35x last week and though it is suitable for older men, it also brings enough sportiness to the younger generation.

[New2Import]

Im 33 but wife mainly picked this car. She wanted a 4 door for the kids on the weekends. The car has really grown on me. Still needs more power We have owned serveral cars mostly GM94 ImpalaSS96 ImpalaSS My Baby97 Camaro 30th 2002 Caviler Coupe85 Blazer96 BlazerThen we went with Dodge03 Stratus R/T her daily driver04 Ram Hemi QC my dalily driverWe were gonna get a SRT 8 Charger or a CTS V but found a M45 at the time (she always wanted one) in that price range. Test drove it and that was it. Only thing I hate is the blue smoke start up. Oil consumption test is being done right now though.