I have been looking at the 330I and I stopped by and drove a G35. The car ran great. I have a BMW 328I and its quality is great. I was wondering if anyone out there could give me a run down on the power train quality of the G35 compared to the BMW and also fit and finish quality. My 96 BMW has 100K on it and it looks like a new one. The paint quality is awesome. Also could someone give me a idea of resale value between the two. Just from my experience it looks like the BMW's hold their value better.

Thanks
Rob

I traded in my M3 for a G35!! More Stuff for your Money Big Time.

You are correct. The European vehicles seem to hold their value much better than the Japanese cars, especially the Infiniti. My friends paid way too much for their used Porsches when they could have had an NSX for less money. ;)

As for car quality ... engine quality is unmatched on the Nissan engines. They are simply superb and run forever. The paint quality on all upscale Nissan/Infiniti models is excellent, too.

I think the G35 will provide significantly more horsepower than the 330i. I drove a 330ix earlier this year. The Infiniti seems more responsive. Do opt for the suspension upgrade on the G35. NAV is excellent for populated areas in Canada. Have not tried it in the USA yet :)

Pam
pearl white/NAV/)zerolift

I think the REAL comparison would be between the new G35 COUPE (2 door) versions of the G35 versus the Bimmer 3-series.

I've driven the 330CI, and its a nice ride. IMO one of the benchmarks in "sporty small coupes".

I believe the G35 coupe has a power advantage, and better ergos/interior. Whether this offsets the fun factor and control of a manual tranny is going to be interesting.

I see the new Road & Track likes the G35. The Beem comes in second out of eleven sedans.

They are right on this count, the G35 interior is not up to the standard my 1995 G20 was. ... but it'll do !!! And it is light years above the old NSX in my opinion. ;)

Pam

BTW ... how do we edit our profiles. My signature needs updating.

id pick the 330 cus it is just a lot nicer, although the g35 is really great and i love it the 330 still beats it

I drove both of them hard and I think that the G35 much more responsive and has a better steering. The power is there when you want / need it just like in the BMW (if not more). I think that the throttle response may be a little quicker in the BMW but its not that different. The inside is very nice and comfortable seats in both. The gauges are lied out nicely in both cars. My pick is the G35 only because of the price and it’s a new car and it may hold the value better.

With the money you save on the G35 you can add a nice sportbike to the garage. Then we can really talk performance. :)

Just dropped my g35 with the new Intax Springs.. Awsome!!
whole new car - perfomance - performance - performance.. plus
it looks really cool. putting on 18.5's wheels tomorrow... 330 who?

my dad got the G35 2 days ago and it is really nice~ we enjoy it a lot and when we have nuthin to do @ nite we just punch some address in the Navagation system and let it bring us there for fun~!!
=)
newayz go with the G35~ it 0wns~
and hey bear G35 do u haev ne pics of ur lowered ride with new rims~!?!?
i would luv to c it!

Motor Trend just tested the 330 vs the G35 vs the CTS. the G35 won. and aparently its brakes are phenomenal. 60-0 in just 110 feet. if i'm not mistaken thats only 2 feet longer than the Ferrari 360.

Originally posted by PNut
BTW ... how do we edit our profiles. My signature needs updating.
Go here:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/usercp.php?s=
:)

Yesterday Infiniti sent me a message to watch the shootout between the CTS, 330i and the G35 on Speed tonight at 1900h PST.

I can certainly tell you that the NSX does not have nearly the brakes of the G35 as I found out Saturday on the front straight at Portland International Raceway during a lapping event.

I guess I need to do some work on the red beauty.

;) Pam

All I have to say is that drove the BMW 330, the BMW 530, and the G35. The G35 I loved right away. PLus, I'm saving a whole lotta money fo the options i have on it. I didnt' get the Nav system but I'm putting in a custom on later on this year I hope.

I pick up my g35 tomorrow also! I plan on posting upgrades I make to the car as I go along. First upgrade, putting in a Dension mp3 player where nav system dvd player would go (that small dash that opens up infront of the passenger seat), then I'm goign to control it through a touchscreen that will pull out from where the Nav display would have been shoudl Ih ave gotten that. Yeah, it'll set me back a pretty penny but you know what, it'll still be nicer, and around the same price than that 330 would have cost me and a lot cheaper than the 530!

Also, hope to take the engine up to around 500hp but that won't happen until the warranty runs out.

later,
-sjm

Defintiely get the 330Ci, it's a much better car.

Infiniti has like 55 more Hp (25%) and can barely sqeeze out an extra tenth of a second in the 0-60 times.

Plus with a few poeces of Dinan in your car, you could become surprisingly fast. (Especially with a SC --> 400+ ponies)

Inifinti I believe has nicer leather seating, but BMW's are more firm and stable, more like racing seats you'd throw in aftermarket.

BMW's have the best handling and braking in the under 50k class. Just take a look through the rims and you'll see a freakin "hubcap" i mean brake about the size of the hubcap, then take a look at the G35, it's like 1/2 the size.

Bimmers might cost a few more bucks but that includes 4yr/50,000 miles of warrantee PLUS ALL scheduled Maintenance. (everything but tires and ims are covers...brakes, tune-ups, oil changes... you name it) that's worth a few extra bucks IMO.

I think overall Bimmer's have the best quality.. I mean inifninti has more power, Lexus has better interior's and quieter rides, Volvo might be slightly safer, but Bimmers do it all very good (no one car company beats the BMW in all catergories)

and for me the most important reason to choose the 330ci over the G35 coupe is...... Looks.
While both cars looks about equal from the backend, the G35 is so bland in the front. the 330ci, especially the 2003 with the coolest factory front end, just Kills the G35 in looks dept. It's so damn aggressive looking, I just love it.

Well I realize most of what I said here is opinion, but you asked for opinions so I gave you mine. Is the G35 a bad car, No way, but I like Bimmers a lot more.

Good luck.

Just look out for Volvo S60Rs which can be bought for the mid to high 30s in the current market and will hand you your tail on the straights and in the corners...


Thanks.

-rollie
rdollie@att.net


... Volvo might be slightly safer, but Bimmers do it all very good (no one car company beats the BMW in all catergories)
...

Good luck.

Defintiely get the 330Ci, it's a much better car.

Infiniti has like 55 more Hp (25%) and can barely sqeeze out an extra tenth of a second in the 0-60 times.

Plus with a few poeces of Dinan in your car, you could become surprisingly fast. (Especially with a SC --> 400+ ponies)

Inifinti I believe has nicer leather seating, but BMW's are more firm and stable, more like racing seats you'd throw in aftermarket.

BMW's have the best handling and braking in the under 50k class. Just take a look through the rims and you'll see a freakin "hubcap" i mean brake about the size of the hubcap, then take a look at the G35, it's like 1/2 the size.

Bimmers might cost a few more bucks but that includes 4yr/50,000 miles of warrantee PLUS ALL scheduled Maintenance. (everything but tires and ims are covers...brakes, tune-ups, oil changes... you name it) that's worth a few extra bucks IMO.

I think overall Bimmer's have the best quality.. I mean inifninti has more power, Lexus has better interior's and quieter rides, Volvo might be slightly safer, but Bimmers do it all very good (no one car company beats the BMW in all catergories)

and for me the most important reason to choose the 330ci over the G35 coupe is...... Looks.
While both cars looks about equal from the backend, the G35 is so bland in the front. the 330ci, especially the 2003 with the coolest factory front end, just Kills the G35 in looks dept. It's so damn aggressive looking, I just love it.

Well I realize most of what I said here is opinion, but you asked for opinions so I gave you mine. Is the G35 a bad car, No way, but I like Bimmers a lot more.

Good luck.

Yes, but you pay a very handsome amount on the BMW and with that extra you can buy an Stealin SC kit for the G and really whoop up on the BMW. Plus after you add all the options on the BMW the price becomes astronomical and G looks like even more of a bargain.

IMO, the G beats the BMW, it beats it's engine (VQ=Ward's Ten Best List 9 years and running) the brakes are better than a Vette 60-0 in 110ft with no fade. Infiniti has awesome service and soon there will be just as many mods for the G as there are for the BMW.
I love the 330i but I can't see how they can justify the price when the G outperforms it in just about all the major areas.

Other than the nameplate BMW, what else are you really getting that surpasses the G that can justify those thousands and thousands of dollars extra?

That is what you have to ask yourself.

Defintiely get the 330Ci, it's a much better car.

Infiniti has like 55 more Hp (25%) and can barely sqeeze out an extra tenth of a second in the 0-60 times.

Plus with a few poeces of Dinan in your car, you could become surprisingly fast. (Especially with a SC --> 400+ ponies)

Inifinti I believe has nicer leather seating, but BMW's are more firm and stable, more like racing seats you'd throw in aftermarket.

BMW's have the best handling and braking in the under 50k class. Just take a look through the rims and you'll see a freakin "hubcap" i mean brake about the size of the hubcap, then take a look at the G35, it's like 1/2 the size.

Bimmers might cost a few more bucks but that includes 4yr/50,000 miles of warrantee PLUS ALL scheduled Maintenance. (everything but tires and ims are covers...brakes, tune-ups, oil changes... you name it) that's worth a few extra bucks IMO.

I think overall Bimmer's have the best quality.. I mean inifninti has more power, Lexus has better interior's and quieter rides, Volvo might be slightly safer, but Bimmers do it all very good (no one car company beats the BMW in all catergories)

and for me the most important reason to choose the 330ci over the G35 coupe is...... Looks.
While both cars looks about equal from the backend, the G35 is so bland in the front. the 330ci, especially the 2003 with the coolest factory front end, just Kills the G35 in looks dept. It's so damn aggressive looking, I just love it.

Well I realize most of what I said here is opinion, but you asked for opinions so I gave you mine. Is the G35 a bad car, No way, but I like Bimmers a lot more.

Good luck.


Brakes: BMW has better brakes? Maybe better "feel" is more appropriate because the G35 has the most powerfull brakes in its class. Brake feel is subjective, but the stopping distances are not. The G35 kicks butt in stopping distance (see Car and Driver) vs. any other car in this class.

Styling: Anyway, you pay a lot for the BMW name so make sure it is the car you want. I love the 3-series exterior styling, but it is dated. Inside, the 3 series and G are similar in quality, but you get a lot more gadgets for your money with the G. Plus, with the 3 series you will see yourself coming and going way more than you will with a G35 (at least for now).

Reliability and Quality - the Infiniti comes with a 60 full / 70k powertrain warrantee and a 100,000 mi. "service-free" VQ. Infiniti has been rated the most reliable car brand several years in a row by Consumer Reports. The VQ engine is incredibly reliable. Cant say that for the BMW. There is a reason they were forced to start packaging service with their machines. Believe me, you are paying for that free service contract. The eurpean car makers were outperformed by American car companies for the first time in 2003. However, neither the Europeans nor the Americans can match the reliability numbers of the Japanese companies.

Either way, the Bimmer or Infiniti is a respectable choice. However, has anyone seen the new TL? If the damn thing was rear wheel drive I think this whole debate would be irrelevant.

I generally agree with your comments but do feel some clarification on the brake comments might be useful.

I agree that in panic street stops the G35 stops shorter. However, the question is one of application I think.
Most people here think about or talk about performance more akin to racing or an autocross (think repeated applications of the brakes over a short period of time.)
In this case brake fade becomes a bigger issue than initial stopping distance. I know for a fact that BMW brakes suffer significant fade under heavy use. I don't know if this is the car for the G35.

Can anybody comment on the G35 brakes' resistance to fade?

Also, while I wouldn't be surprised to find G35 with superior brakes to the e46 I don't think they are going to earn best in class marks for anything other than possibly initial stopping distance. I suspect the $35k Volvo S60R's standard 13" 4-pot Brembos will do better for actual performance applications (and the Acura TL might do better than G35 even though it only has Brembos on the front.)

Overall though I agree - both G35 and e46 are fine cars. Also, it indeed does appear that as a generalization Euro cars are lower in quality than Domestic and Japanese cars but there are exceptions (a couple of Euro brands and the e46 did quite well in latest Consumer Reports study - which I don't put much weight on except for long-term ratings.)

Thanks.

-rollie
rdollie@att.net


Brakes: BMW has better brakes? Maybe better "feel" is more appropriate because the G35 has the most powerfull brakes in its class. Brake feel is subjective, but the stopping distances are not. The G35 kicks butt in stopping distance (see Car and Driver) vs. any other car in this class.

...


Either way, the Bimmer or Infiniti is a respectable choice. However, has anyone seen the new TL? If the damn thing was rear wheel drive I think this whole debate would be irrelevant.

as for the lack of design in the interior, that will all change this fall, they are redesigning the dash, and they are giving the Coupe a dash redesign, and more horsepower!!!!! it will be 300hp or over..