Need help from you G owner guru's!!

[NightRiderQ45]

Hey! Well I lurk on the Q45 forum so this is my first time on this side of the world and I need your help with some cars that my girlfriend is looking at purchasing. She saw a 03 and 04 G35 coupe yesterday on craigslist that she asked me to look into. Since I don't know much about these cars other than it looks good, I figured I would come to you all for help since I bet you all know these cars like the back of your hand. If this side of the world is as helpful as the Q45 side, it would be great!

Ok, what should I look for in these models and years? How is the reliability of the earlier G's? transmission, motor, xenon ballast issues? What type of maintenance questions should I ask and better yet...are they overpriced. Does this car have a timing chain or belt? I do know that I have to run their VIN to a local dealership to see if maintenance work as been done properly.

Below are the links to both cars that she is looking at in the Dallas area.

Here is the 03...http://dallas.craigslist.org/n....html

Here is the 04...I really like this color combo but I think that it's overpriced...kbb.com said this car should be around $15.3http://dallas.craigslist.org/d....html

Please if both cars are overpriced, please tell me the price I should be aiming towards. Thanks!!

[biggie]

Price is pretty good on the first one. Would say the second is at least $1k high.

Main issue with early cars seems to be the radio. Mine is still fine and I've had no major issues with my '03.

[joe603]

I use the prices on edmunds to estimate the value of a car...get the newest year you can afford!

[SoCalSideways]

the '03 is pretty nice. low miles for the year and aftermarket wheels. but im sure you can still drop him a little more than what he's asking for. keep looking though. im sure you can still find a better deal.

[Poyzinous]

I'd try to find an 05. or a late 04 in good shape.

[NightRiderQ45]

Thanks for all replies but I welcome more lol! Poyzinous, why you state get a 05 or late 04? I'm guessing that the 03 is old in terms of years? Well I'm glad that the radio is really the only issue with this modle. Her budget is $15-16K max so she really doesn't want to go above $15k. I agree the 03 has a good price but I really like the 04 with that rare white with black seats combo. She likes that one also but like stated earlier, it is over priced. Does this car have a timing chain or belt? If it's a belt, that can be negotiated in price if it hasn't been changed.

Also after doing some brief searching, I saw that these models have a radio/battery issue with a bad a/c circuit board that causes the battery to drain? Is that the radio issue you were talking about earlier? I googled the electrical drain problem and 03 G35 immediately came up. I guess that's why I should look for at least a 04 huh. I think I read that there is a recall for the battery radio issue for 03's

Modified by NightRiderQ45 at 8:13 AM 3/16/2010
Modified by NightRiderQ45 at 8:37 AM 3/16/2010

[NightRiderQ45]

I use the prices on edmunds to estimate the value of a car...get the newest year you can afford!

is edmonds more precise than kbb?

[Poyzinous]

only the VG motor uses a belt. The VQ uses a chain. I say to get an 05 because of the extra refinements and advancements in quality and build. Late 04 models, like production date 03/04 and later are usually priced the same as early 04 models, and have fewer issues, because they were addressed mid year.

[RED_DET]

Oil consumption issues? 03-04 had it and 05-06 were even worse, especially on the Rev-Up.

[joe603]

03-04 have stereo head-deck and AC board issues. The 05-06s have some oil consumption issues...though it's not a widespread issue.

The G's all have a 70k or 6year powertrain warranty...so buying newer does have some advantages.

[SVTCOBRA]

I didn't think the oil consumption was an issue with Automatics....both that he is looking at is AT.

I like the white/black!!!!!

I also check prices on KBB

[joe603]

Correct SVT...only the REVUP engines (05-06 sedans 6MTs and 05-07 coupe 6MTs)

[NightRiderQ45]

Thanks for all replies. I've basically ruled out any 03 model because of the multiple issues with the radio/circuit board. Plus I don't want to hear her complain to ME if a issue were to come up lol. I usually never buy the first year model and I didn't realize that the G35 came out in 03. The 06 model is out of her pay range but I will help her shoot for a 05 or a late 04 model. The white one is a 04, but I'm still waiting for them to reply back. Afterwards, I will ask for the build date because that white one is !

[J Russ]

Unfortuneately you dont live closer to Arizona...

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/....html

or

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/....html

[SoCalSideways]

Oil consumption issues? 03-04 had it and 05-06 were even worse, especially on the Rev-Up.

I have an '05 G35 Rev Up. My engine has been doing great on oil consumption. I havent had to replace any oil and it's been about 2,500 miles.

I agree with Poyzinous. 2005 was the year that the G35 received interior and exterior upgrades. they also upgraded the engines horsepower output and fixed the 6MT transmission problem.