What is the best year for used G35 sedan? Thanks

[lnguyenh]

Hi all,

Please be gentle as this is my first post here. TIA. My friend is planning to buy an appear-to-be-a-good-condition 2004 G35 sedan 31K miles for $20K. Is this a good price? What would be the best year to look for (from 2004-2006)? Are there any differences between those years? What things do we need to check when looking at one? Any goody options should we consider? It was told a one owner car but I thought you guys would know far better. Thanks a million.

[joe603]

Hello! Welcome to NICO

Tell your friend to get the newest model they can afford.

For specifics on the model year differences, check out some other posts. This is a common question. Be sure and use the search function too

[k@osx71]

get a carfax history on it, and pull the service history report from an Infiniti Dealer. I pulled mine and was surprised at how well the previous owner took care of it (serviced every 15k miles, oil change ever 30k miles, and got all the TSB's fixed and also the squeeks and rattles!). Physically any car can look good, its mainly how well it was taken care of. As goes for year, like joe603 said, the newer the better! I got an '04 and LOVE IT!

[telcoman]

Hi all,

Please be gentle as this is my first post here. TIA. My friend is planning to buy an appear-to-be-a-good-condition 2004 G35 sedan 31K miles for $20K. Is this a good price? What would be the best year to look for (from 2004-2006)? Are there any differences between those years? What things do we need to check when looking at one? Any goody options should we consider? It was told a one owner car but I thought you guys would know far better. Thanks a million.

Hello Inguyenh

Welcome to NICO

I agree with the others. Get the newest you can afford. The G35 is today's Hot Rod. When I was in high school it was 49, 50 ,and 51 Ford flathead V8's along with 32 Ford coupes and roadsters. Ahhh the good old days. The G35 is a fun but pricey automobile. If you are young you may want to consider something cheaper such as an Altima & perhaps buy it new?The problem that I see is you spending $20k & perhaps getting an abused or a vehicle that has been in an accident or has other problems? Always cover your *** because getting biten can be painful as well as expensive.It could very well be a one owner car but, for example, some people lease cars and never change oil. If it is an automatic with 31k miles the need for brakes cannot be far off. Anything that goes wrong with a G35 could be expensive to repair.I don't want to scare you but I'm an old farht that has been around the block many times so I'm just giving you my opinion and $.02. My father told me not to buy my first car which was a 1958 Ford with a 352 cu in engine. I didn't listen & it was the biggest piece of **** I ever owned. My first and last Ford.

As the wise Ben Stern said to little Howard when he was seven years old..."Shut up, sit down, don't be stupid you moron."

Good luck to you whatever you decide

Telcoman

[TeflonG35]

ack.... My first car was crap too.... 93 Pontiac Grand am... I'm truly amazed there are still some on the road. Crap Crap Crap. anything that could go wrong....went wrong.

Want a sleeper luxary car? Buick Regal GS. Supercharged 3.8 motor. Things are cheap and have a strong transmission that last a long time.

[SVTCOBRA]

Get a carfax subscription.20K is too much for a 2004, should be able to get a newer model for that.Get the newest you can afford.

First car was a FORD. Was great, got me thru HS and college.Then, traded for a Dodge...Worst experience ever!!!! Never another Chrysler product!!!! Back to FORD's and after that life was good again!!!

Now, on to Nissan's and Infiniti's and have been very pleased.So, telcoman's story is similiar to mine. One bad experience and you will write off that brand, or at least temcoman did and so did I. But, we are both old fharts.

So, check out the car to the best of your abilities or take somebody qualified.. Look for modifications and run away if you see them or signs that they were once there.

Good luck!!!!

[W661335PF]

WELCOME TO NICO- WHERE THE MEN ARE MEN AND THE SHEEP ARE NERVOUS.

The best advice is to go to Consumer Reports first, then read up on Edmund's.com and finally, look at True Delta repair history for the G repair histories. All of these will give you thousands of reviews. What others have said is solid advice though-- look carefully at Carfax (at owner's expense), review repair and maint. records and drive it on the highway to see how it handles at higher speeds. Then through town to see how it handles sharp turns (and be very careful), accelerates, brakes, etc. Finally, if you're serious, have a competent mechanic (not all mechanics are competent) look at it carefully, down to checking the compression in each chamber. I personally would never buy a car with mods that are designed to enhance performance.... or signs that mods had been on it and taken off. Most racers make significant mods to the car and so can beat it to death while it remains cosmetically great.

$20,000 is within normal limits for this year- the range can go between 18-22K, depending on mileage, condition and whether it has the sport package. Get the most recent one you can afford. Significant changes were made between 04 and 05, so I'd look at 05's first, although the 04 is an excellent car. Potential problems with 04's-- brakes and rotors, oil consumption issues, crappy audio system and a paint job that chips easily.

By the way, my 1st car was a green MGB I bought in LA when I was a teenager (many, many, many moons ago-- but I'm not as ancient as Telcoman!).

[Kendahl]

The newer, the better. Ditto for mileage. Consensus on this forum (not just this thread) seems to be that there were some early problems that were fixed by 2005. Someone else will know for sure, but I think the interior was significantly upgraded for 2007. However, a 2007 model might be beyond your friend's budget.

[BrandAidDesignG35]

Just got premium 04 sedan 21500 canadian- 40000 mil exceptional cond...

I say if he likes it, than go for it, but tell him he'll kick his azz if he dosn't get a coupe

[SVTCOBRA]

Grant,Will have to show your site to my daughter.Her passion is art and will be attending college next year to pursue her passion in graphics and/or animation. She's been accepted to SCAD, but will go to a state school if she doesn't get a scholarship. SCAD is rather pricy.

[BrandAidDesignG35]

I would recommend the state college... It would be a more applied training as opposed to legnthy, boring literature and things that don't really apply to the career. I took 2 years in school, left with a job right away, and now own my business as well, I'm 24.

[W661335PF]

I would recommend the state college... It would be a more applied training as opposed to lengthy, boring literature and things that don't really apply to the career. I took 2 years in school, left with a job right away, and now own my business as well, I'm 24.

Never underestimate the benefits of that boring literature course and things that don't apply. In a global market, employers are beginning to look more carefully at a broader education that suggests well roundedness as opposed to a technical one that suggests one dimensionality (I for one look at this area too). To make the point even further.... every degree you go up (BA/BS....MA/MS.... MD/JD/PhD...) raises your salary significantly. I always comment to all of the young staff in our practice that at 25, you should be making 20% above your age (28-30K), at 40 one should be making twice their age (75-85K) and at 55 one should make no less than three times their age (150K). One can rarely do this with a one-dimensional education (there are the rare few), chances are much greater with that very boring stuff one is required to take to get a degree. Incidentally, the research strongly supports this approach to work-life. There will be exceptions (a la Bill Gates), but they're the exception.

OOOOOps, just realized I got way of topic on my soop box. Mia culpa, mia culps.

[SVTCOBRA]

both are 4 year schools, but SCAD is more specialized. The State school would give her more of a college experience with broader exposure. Thanks for the input guys!!!! I think she will do well anywhere she goes since she is an over-achiever and she loves what she is doing. She excels at everything she puts her mind to.

sorry back to the thread topic!

(oh, the state school she got into is ASU. and I hear that this year they are only taking 2k and no one with a GPA lower than 4.0 - probably due to their recent popularity from the football team)
Modified by SVTCOBRA at 8:23 AM 1/27/2008

[lnguyenh]

Too bad I was too busy over the weekend to reply to this post. I would like to thank each and every of you for your time and advice (although some of you got sidetrack LOL). I've learned my lessons not too rush but ... here is the story (from what I've heard).

My friend drives a W Jetta. The mechanic (friend of mine) told her that she needed to trade her car in quickly or it would suck up money pretty soon. He works at the infiniti dealer. Last Thursday he called and said a coworker traded in a car (G35 2004 as mentioned above) as a good condition one owner car. He said he would give us until Monday (today) to take action ...

I thought the price, while not too high, was not that cheap. I thought there were some cosmetic changes from 2004 to 2005 but wasn't sure.

Anyway, I will pass the info back to my friend. Thank you again for your help. Cheers.

SL

[SVTCOBRA]

sorry for getting off task...

another good place to compare specs amoung years is carsdirect.comput in a couple of new cars and compare, then EDIT the cars to be what you want to look at and the years.