need a replacement car for g35x

[bowlofturtle]

In about a year from now, june 2011 my younger brother will take my 2005 g35x AWD sedan from me. He will pretty much pay 14k for it.

I'm starting to look for cars and test driving them. I've always been an import guy. Somewhat of a spirited driver. I never use my back seats, normally driving me +1. Not the best manual trans driver but i can always manage. A bit of a car tuner geek, but nothing remotely extreme. I'm trying to find a car. At this point there is nothing i really want on the market. I really want s2000 but not in chicago's winter. I want to stick with a one car setup, if needed i'll run winter/summer tires, i do that with my g35x right now.

I'm somewhat leaning towards a g35 manual coupe, i feel dumb for buying the same car again. I really liked the newer lexus Gs350 but way to pricing for me. IS350 is something i really like. Packs a punch in power area, people say its cramped but i dont really care, no M/T but not big of a deal to me. To me the WRX/STi/EVo are mostly all beaten to [censored], overpriced in terms of car cost and insurance rates. 2 other smaller profile cars i've been thinking about were the 2.0T GTi and the genesis coupes. Used should be about 16k for the GTI and the genesis should be 25k new.

Basiclly looking for something a 24 year old male would like to drive all year around with a long snowy winter. Most of us are gearheads here so i dont expect suggestions like a camry since i'm not looking for a commuter car. A fun daily driver is what i'm after. The g35x i had really hit the spot for me, aside from lower then normal MPG (17's).

 

[dparm]

You liked the G, why not get another? That car has gotten better and better with each year.

I'm a bit biased but I would also recommend a gently used Audi S4. V8 power, 4WD, beautiful interior. Drive it and you will be sold, I know it. Cops never hassle me, morons in Civics don't try and race me all the time, and it's smooth and quiet. It's a sophisticated vehicle.

 

[dparm]

Edit: Just saw you're in Chicago. Whereabouts? I'd be more than happy to give you a ride in my S4.

 

[bowlofturtle]

i'm not exactly sure what my area is called but i'm about 5-10 minutes from jefferson park area.

i've driven and worked on 02 a4 1.8T 5pd and wasn't exactly happy with its performance compared to a MkV gti 6spd or DSG.

v8 might be too thirsty for me. I will be very happy if i can get 22mpg on a car w/o trying. I'm sure if i try to hypermile and drive at 55mph i can easily get 27-28 mpg in my AWD G35. But really thats not how me or most people i know drive. We cruise around 70-80mph, sit in horrible traffic on I-90/94 all hours of the day, once we break loose from the traffic we are pedal to the metal driving for a while, with all that my normal MPG is about 17 (thats being nice). I'm pretty sure a genesis and GTI will get me 22-24 all day easily being 2.0T.

 

[OVERKILL]

Have you considered the SHO? I'd say Mustang Mach 1, but it doesn't really sound like your kind of car.

The SHO has AWD and a turbo V6 that makes 365HP and 350lb-ft.

 

[Nick R]

Agree. Taurus, or maybe even a Challenger.

 

[barlowc]

An Infiniti G37x Coupe AWD would be an awesome ride.

 

[mechanicx]

You could look at the Mustang, Camaro, Challenger. the Cadillac CTS is coming out in a 2-dr coupe this fall.

 

[The Critic]

If you liked the comfort and driving position of a G35, then I would advise that you get a G37x.

The 335xi may be just as fun, but the car is no where as comfortable.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: bowlofturtle
i'm not exactly sure what my area is called but i'm about 5-10 minutes from jefferson park area.

i've driven and worked on 02 a4 1.8T 5pd and wasn't exactly happy with its performance compared to a MkV gti 6spd or DSG.

v8 might be too thirsty for me. I will be very happy if i can get 22mpg on a car w/o trying. I'm sure if i try to hypermile and drive at 55mph i can easily get 27-28 mpg in my AWD G35. But really thats not how me or most people i know drive. We cruise around 70-80mph, sit in horrible traffic on I-90/94 all hours of the day, once we break loose from the traffic we are pedal to the metal driving for a while, with all that my normal MPG is about 17 (thats being nice). I'm pretty sure a genesis and GTI will get me 22-24 all day easily being 2.0T.



The S4 is a 340hp V8, totally different than the A4. Don't compare those two.

But yeah, don't buy this car for the gas mileage. Best I can do on the highway is 24mpg. I could care less since I don't drive much and the performance is totally worth it.

My offer still stands -- if you're curious to check it out, let me know. I am up in Lakeview near Wrigley.

 

[bowlofturtle]

I love the SHO, but not in my budget. I like to buy lightly used i picked up the 05 g35x in 2008 with 32k on it for about 60% of MSRP when new.

Same goes for the 335, i love the thoughts of being able to drive a TT car and just chip it. But those are still in the mid 20's. I'm getting about 14k for my g35 which is about fair market. I really dont want to throw too much on top, but if need be 3-4k is here. i will make it 25k tops if i was buying new.

When i was talking about buy another g35 being dumb, i was refering the same gen my 05 is. The new ones are nice but the car guy in me will only want a g37 and again not exactly my price.


i know a4 and s4 have nothing in common. the way the shoehorned the 2.7T and that v8 makes it nearly impossible for me to wrench on. I might hit u up, i'll just drive to the lakeview area, thats like ashland/ irving park.

 

[Nick R]

Why not just a regular Taurus? Or a different suggestion- a Malibu with the V6. Fast, and surprisingly fun to drive.

 

[rjundi]

Infiniti G coupe is great as is sedan. Get the RWD version(with decent set of winter rims/tires) if you like a really sporting experience. IMHO a different car in RWD.

The cruddy thing about Infiniti is the AWD does not improve the car, it actually degrades. It was an afterthought/add on instead of the original intended design like BMW, Audi, Subaru.

 

[bowlofturtle]

^ i will exclude BMW from that list.

same as infiniti, BMW design the chassis and layout of the 1 and 3 series to be RWD, but due to the general location and marketing they opted to do a AWD to cover people in your area and mines that get hit with insane amounts of snow.

AUDI and subaru almost all chassis are design with AWD in mind and then Audi gives a FWD option to guys out in cali and TX.

On a road track the AWD G shows equal or better times, mainly due to the extra grip. But honestly that means almost nothing when your driving on the normal street. I might take it to the auto-x once or twice a year to have fun.

My budget of 14-19k limits my option in G coupe since i have to stick with the same generation. I wanted to look into the 350z but again i feel like i'm buying the same car. I cant help but to think there is a BETTER car out there for the money.

 

[raaizin]

Audi A4 or A6 depending on your budget. I bought a 6month old A6 CPO for not much more than than a loaded maxima...

 

[addyguy]

I'd add another vote for the AWD G37x...love those cars.

 

[javacontour]

Prices will be different in a year. Don't focus too much on what they are asking, focus on what they are actually selling. If you got your 3 year old G35 for about 60% of MSRP, then you'll probably find 3 year old G37's for about the same discount. Three year old G37's should be showing up on the market as they came out as a 2008MY car sometime in 2007. So in a year, there certainly will be some lightly used 2008-2009 cars for you to shop.

Don't let asking prices scare you off. Money talks and if you show up with 60% of the MSRP, you might drive home in something you like come this time next year.

 

[CBR.worm]

Keep the one you've got. I have an '06 and was looking to replace it about a year ago, drove a bunch of cars and realized that for the money I preferred my car. I think in my case I will wait until the '11 g37's are a couple years old and slightly more affordable.

 

[silverrat]

Acura TL