Looking at a used G35

[Alfador]

I'm looking at a 2003 G35 coupe I found on auto trader and I've got some questions.
It's got about 120k on it, and its stickered at around $11,000.

I haven't had a chance to talk to the dealer yet, and I'm going down to see it this weekend, so a lot of this is based on the assumption that everything looks/feels/sounds good, and that the carfax comes out clean. I wasn't expecting to find a 2dr for that price, let alone in manual. My price range limit car-shopping is around 12k so I'm a little surprised I encountered a G35 at all.

Most of the talk I see about buying used Gs on here is usually for newer models with less mileage on them so don't really have a clear idea of how well these things hold up past 100k. I commute to work a ways but I carpool so only really drive my own car about once a week. Most of my driving would be around town, and I'm admittedly a "wait and brake heavy" guy when I stop. Mainly I'm trying to figure out how well its going to hold up at this mileage and how much I can expect to get out of it with proper maintenance and care. I've qualified for the low mileage discount for insurance the last couple years on my current vehicle so I don't think I'll be running up the count all to rapidly.

Oh, and if it makes a dif. I live in MA but the car is in RI. Last car I bought was also in RI and it's never been an issue before.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... make=INFIN

[redbaronk]

Are u sure u want to buy a car with hat many miles on it? I don't think any car is good after 200 miles and ur only about 3 to 4 years away from hitting hat mark...

[Alfador]

If I can make it to 175 I'll be pretty happy with the mileage situation. We typically run cars ragged in terms of miles anyway in the family. We've run a sentra, a carolla, and a camry all up to 200k before retiring them and with regular maintennance gotten pretty good results out of them. I think the most we ever had to do to any of them was an alternator. Hell, I think every car I ever owned needed a new alternator at some point. In 4 years the car will be well past paid off, and if it's still viable, it'll be great. If it's not, I'll move on. I still have the 240 as a fun car as well so I anticipate about 15-17k a year in mileage.

[telcoman]

If I can make it to 175 I'll be pretty happy with the mileage situation. We typically run cars ragged in terms of miles anyway in the family. We've run a sentra, a carolla, and a camry all up to 200k before retiring them and with regular maintennance gotten pretty good results out of them. I think the most we ever had to do to any of them was an alternator. Hell, I think every car I ever owned needed a new alternator at some point. In 4 years the car will be well past paid off, and if it's still viable, it'll be great. If it's not, I'll move on. I still have the 240 as a fun car as well so I anticipate about 15-17k a year in mileage.

Mine runs like new.

Got 246k on a VW Rabbit Diesel before te oil pump failed

Telcoman

[Amays U G37S]

Personally I think 11,000 is high for that car in terms of age and mileage.

[Alfador]

If they want the 10.8 that it's listed for I'll probably walk. Looking to get them down a little lower than that hopefully.They're a dealer so they should be expecting it. Then again this is New England where all the jackasses are allergic to haggling.

I'm very familar with the perils of high mileage vehicles. I'm mainly just wanting to make sure I'm aware of any specific issues like "oh yeah the transmissions aren't good past xxx" or "expect to have starter problems" or some other such thing.

[Amays U G37S]

ya i figured with that amount of miles you would have some type of rail or floor pan rusting I would be sure to look for.

Within the engine bay just make sure the brake booster isn't rusted. Typically, everything else can be replaced, and might have surface rust.

8k-10k would be a good price, I think after financing that extra grand is just to much.

However, if you have cash, I would walk in with 9k and see what you can do. Gotta be careful about those first years of vehicles. I have an 08, first production year of the VQ37VHR, and body style, which means a lot of quarks, and not so comfy ride.

I've seen 05' 350z's for 11k

[Alfador]

I went and looked at it. The underside and the floors looked completely clean. I never finance in a dealership because honestly, credit unions almost always get you a better rate if you have an account there. The only rust I saw anywhere was a very small amount of surface rust (more like discoloration really) on the front strut towers. I threw a 9.5 offer at him and he came back with a 10.5 and the usual "it's practically robbery at this price" car dealer shtick.

If I can get it down to 10 I'll probably go for it. 10.2 or something maybe. 10.5 seems a little much and if he sticker ed it that close to what his min was he's not a very good dealer.

What I have heard is that these cars seem to have electrical issues as their main problem with age. Does anyone know anything more about that and how easy they would be to fix if they came up?

I also found this other one closer to me. It's a little more, and a private seller, but it's more local and has about 30k less miles on it: http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c ... dard=false

[biggie]

Would always check to see what the delaership can do for interest rates. They beat my credit union on my G35 last year, by about a 1/2 percent.

[Alfador]

I'm gonna get their quotes, but the CU gave (with nearly identical income and worse credit than me) like a 3.5% so I'm thinking I'll be in good shape. They give like .5% off for automatic withdrawal as well.

An old friend of the family owns his own garage, and he said that he doesn't even work in the ones before the engine upgrade because of the electronics issues. He can be kind of ornery so I'm not sure if that's his typical gruffness or if there is something actually about them.