Car Chat General discussion about Lexus, other auto manufacturers and automotive news.

Why I'm probably getting a G35...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-15-05, 10:52 PM
  #16  
4CYLNDR
Driver
 
4CYLNDR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by kensteele
g35 sedan is absolutely boring.
. . . any more boring than an AWD is250 that does the 0-60 in some 8 or 9 seconds? The Toyota Rav 4 is quicker than that. And can carry my surfboard
4CYLNDR is offline  
Old 12-15-05, 10:54 PM
  #17  
4CYLNDR
Driver
 
4CYLNDR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 4DOORFUN
I have no problem with the G35 interior. Maybe my expectations just are not that high in terms of interior quality. I thought the leather felt great, real aluminum trim, and nice layout with good driver visability.

Yes, there are ton of G35's on the road. No doubt about it. I never for once second believed spending $30K or $40K on a car would make is rare and exclusive. There are also a ton of BMW 330i's, Audi A4's, and so on and so forth. If you really want to an exclusive car, then plan on spending a lot more than $40K. Lexus plans to sell 40,000 units of the new IS. Give it time, they will be everywhere.
i think its hilarious that people are buying the IS's b/c they AREN'T a dime a dozon the road. the g35 was the exact same way when it first came out. Now they're everywhere. the IS will be no different. In my opinion, both are great cars . . . but the Lexus just doesn't handle as well as the G does.
4CYLNDR is offline  
Old 12-15-05, 10:57 PM
  #18  
is350
Intermediate
 
is350's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: ca
Posts: 251
Received 9 Likes on 5 Posts
Default

my friend used to have a is300 and now he got a g35, and he told me the g35 quality feels cheap compare to his lexus. but ya like everyone said, wait for the next gen G35.
is350 is offline  
Old 12-15-05, 11:29 PM
  #19  
Badman Forever
Lead Lap
 
Badman Forever's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i traded a g35 coupe for the is350. only thing i liked better on the g35c was the slightly better road feel and stiffer stock suspension. on the is350, it feels good enough and the suspension can always be upgraded. the interior quality is what really got me to go for lexus. as for the g35 sedan, it just doesn't have enough points in the exterior looks. but for the value, yes the g35 is a decent deal.. but that's if you don't care how it looks on the outside.
Badman Forever is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 06:15 AM
  #20  
jlin101
Lexus Test Driver
 
jlin101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kansas
Posts: 827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

There is no denying that cars like G35 and TL are great values: lots of performance, luxury and space for a price that is more palatable. If you find the quality of the interior acceptable, by all means get the G35. I parted with my G35C simply because of the lack of refinement in the interior (in my opinion), even it looked stunning from the outside and drove like a blast. I find the extra refinement and straight-line performance on the IS350 well worth the premium cost.
jlin101 is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 08:24 AM
  #21  
4DOORFUN
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
4DOORFUN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I know about the new G35 coming out in 2007. I may wait and check it out, but it will sell for near MSRP and I’m not wild about buying cars in during their first production year.

Is anyone under whelmed with new IS 350? The IS 350 is in a brand new model year and it’s simply keeping up with the competition instead of beating the competition.
Look at the following comparisons:

280/298 hp vs. 306 (you won’t feel the difference)
260/270 tq. vs. 277 (you won’t feel the difference)
handling – slight edge to G35
build quality – slight edge to IS
size – slight edge to G35
manual tranny option– G35
warranty – tie
value – G35

The old, worn out G35 still competes with the new IS on many levels. What does that say about the new IS? Did Lexus underestimate the competition in this segment? I think so. The new IS 350 is a great car, but it’s overpriced for what you get. Lexus should not have raised the price so much from the previous IS. The majority of car buyers would rather have the BMW brand if they are willing to slap down $40K.

BTW – for $35K, the IS 250 is a serious rip off. People that purchase an IS 250 must really just want the Lexus brand. There are so many better cars for $35K.
4DOORFUN is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 08:56 AM
  #22  
TheRupp
Lexus Champion
 
TheRupp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Default

I have to say, the G35 is probably the best used car around. The features you get for <30k is a GREAT deal. However, I wouldn't buy one new.

Originally Posted by 4DOORFUN

280/298 hp vs. 306 (you won’t feel the difference)
260/270 tq. vs. 277 (you won’t feel the difference)
handling – slight edge to G35
build quality – slight edge to IS
size – slight edge to G35
manual tranny option– G35
warranty – tie
value – G35

The old, worn out G35 still competes with the new IS on many levels. What does that say about the new IS? Did Lexus underestimate the competition in this segment? I think so. The new IS 350 is a great car, but it’s overpriced for what you get. Lexus should not have raised the price so much from the previous IS. The majority of car buyers would rather have the BMW brand if they are willing to slap down $40K.

BTW – for $35K, the IS 250 is a serious rip off. People that purchase an IS 250 must really just want the Lexus brand. There are so many better cars for $35K.
No, Lexus didn't underestimate this segment. The IS250 competes more with the TSX, 325i, C240. It doesn't compete with the G35. The G35 competes with the 330i, TL, C320, IS350, and a few others. The G35 doesn't really stand toe to toe with Lexus on the IS, due to lack of engine variety. The G35 competes only with the IS350, otherwise it's not really a fair battle with a full litre of displacement and about 75 horsepower difference.

You're going to feel a MAJOR difference with that 16 horsepower (it's more than 16 i believe, since they measured the IS with the new HP standards, but i'm not sure about that) and that extra gear in the transmission (for auto). The result is a much faster 0-60 time, better fuel economy, and better overall acceleration performance.

Last edited by TheRupp; 12-16-05 at 09:03 AM.
TheRupp is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 09:11 AM
  #23  
shaolin
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (2)
 
shaolin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Irvine, CA OC Area
Posts: 1,577
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

nothing wrong getting G35.

is the new sedan G35 have the same tranny on the coupe?? i know the Z and G35 coupe has tranny problems so check that out first before you buy it. i have friends that sold their G35 coupe and friend with Z that they have tranny and tire wear problems.

just some heads up
shaolin is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 09:14 AM
  #24  
spwolf
Lexus Champion
 
spwolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 19,934
Received 163 Likes on 121 Posts
Default

lol, i am guessing we will see a lot more threads like this before he actually buys the car :-). How many times did you change your mind already? :-).
spwolf is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 09:15 AM
  #25  
jlin101
Lexus Test Driver
 
jlin101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kansas
Posts: 827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 4DOORFUN
I know about the new G35 coming out in 2007. I may wait and check it out, but it will sell for near MSRP and I’m not wild about buying cars in during their first production year.

Is anyone under whelmed with new IS 350? The IS 350 is in a brand new model year and it’s simply keeping up with the competition instead of beating the competition.
Look at the following comparisons:

280/298 hp vs. 306 (you won’t feel the difference)
260/270 tq. vs. 277 (you won’t feel the difference)
handling – slight edge to G35
build quality – slight edge to IS
size – slight edge to G35
manual tranny option– G35
warranty – tie
value – G35

The old, worn out G35 still competes with the new IS on many levels. What does that say about the new IS? Did Lexus underestimate the competition in this segment? I think so. The new IS 350 is a great car, but it’s overpriced for what you get. Lexus should not have raised the price so much from the previous IS. The majority of car buyers would rather have the BMW brand if they are willing to slap down $40K.

BTW – for $35K, the IS 250 is a serious rip off. People that purchase an IS 250 must really just want the Lexus brand. There are so many better cars for $35K.
Actually there's a significant difference between the feel of IS350 and G35. Having owned a manual G35C, I would say the interior quality of G35 is NOWHERE near that of the IS (it can't even match that of a regular Toyota). In G35, only the manual one comes with 298 hp. To extract the maximum acceleration out of a G35 (0-60 in 5.6-5.8), you have to drop the clutch and busy yourself with the notchy shifter, hoping for a perfect launch, and taking the risk of premature clutch wear. I admit I'm no Andretti, but neither are most people who consider themselves "great drivers." In the IS350, all one has to do is stomp on the gas pedal and watch 0-60 go by in 5.3s. This is why over 80% of Lambo's and Ferrari's now come with clutchless manuals. Yes, it's not as "macho" as a manual, but at the end of the race, it's whoever gets to the next light that wins, not how the tranny was shifted. Lexus had to raise the price on the new IS--it's a significant improvement over the old one. Infiniti also raised the price of G35 over the old G20. Of course we ALL like to pay LESS for our purchase if we could. The fact that Lexus did not price the IS significantly less than the 3 series may speak more of their confidence in the product. Lexus is entering a new era where it no longer has to underprice itself compared to the Germans. Even if an IS350 costs the same as a 330i, I would still stick to the Lexus.
jlin101 is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 09:15 AM
  #26  
spwolf
Lexus Champion
 
spwolf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 19,934
Received 163 Likes on 121 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 4DOORFUN
I know about the new G35 coming out in 2007. I may wait and check it out, but it will sell for near MSRP and I’m not wild about buying cars in during their first production year.

Is anyone under whelmed with new IS 350? The IS 350 is in a brand new model year and it’s simply keeping up with the competition instead of beating the competition.
Look at the following comparisons:

280/298 hp vs. 306 (you won’t feel the difference)
260/270 tq. vs. 277 (you won’t feel the difference)
handling – slight edge to G35
build quality – slight edge to IS
size – slight edge to G35
manual tranny option– G35
warranty – tie
value – G35

The old, worn out G35 still competes with the new IS on many levels. What does that say about the new IS? Did Lexus underestimate the competition in this segment? I think so. The new IS 350 is a great car, but it’s overpriced for what you get. Lexus should not have raised the price so much from the previous IS. The majority of car buyers would rather have the BMW brand if they are willing to slap down $40K.

BTW – for $35K, the IS 250 is a serious rip off. People that purchase an IS 250 must really just want the Lexus brand. There are so many better cars for $35K.
as the the engine, IS does have much better 0-60 and 1/4 mile times so it seems, plus better mpg. I would call that superior engineering.
spwolf is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 09:33 AM
  #27  
Badman Forever
Lead Lap
 
Badman Forever's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

remember that infiniti still uses the ole sae hp rating standards which is giving them 298hp for the g35 manuals. if lexus were still marketing the is350 under old standards, it would really be 320hp then. hence the noticeable quicker performance that you have seen in some tests.
Badman Forever is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 10:13 AM
  #28  
Gojirra99
Super Moderator
Senior Moderator
 
Gojirra99's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 30,117
Received 226 Likes on 153 Posts
Default

I don't know if I'd ever buy an IS350 sedan, It's unlikely that I would trade my G35 coupe 6MT for an IS350 sedan, but I've driven the IS350, & it's noticeably faster than my manual G35c.
I haven't tried the VSC/TRAC disable, but it should make the IS350 more fun to drive on the track than the magazine/reviews suggested.
Gojirra99 is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 10:54 AM
  #29  
TheRupp
Lexus Champion
 
TheRupp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Default

Originally Posted by Badman Forever
remember that infiniti still uses the ole sae hp rating standards which is giving them 298hp for the g35 manuals. if lexus were still marketing the is350 under old standards, it would really be 320hp then. hence the noticeable quicker performance that you have seen in some tests.
That's what i was trying to refer to. What's the IS350's HP with the old SAE measurement method?
TheRupp is offline  
Old 12-16-05, 11:08 AM
  #30  
newr
Lexus Champion
 
newr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 4DOORFUN
The rev matching downshifts of the auto transmission were superb.
This is a PLUS for a sport sedan with automatic tranny.
newr is offline  


Quick Reply: Why I'm probably getting a G35...



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:32 AM.