Test drove two Infinitis yesterday...2003 G35 and 2003 M45
 

I took out the G35 and the M45 yesterday...had a lot of fun. I must say I was surprised by the G35 though...not at all as nice as I had expected. I found that the fit and finish was lacking compared to the Bonneville, and that the interior looked really cheap for such an expensive car. The power was nice (not truly impressive, but nice) and the handling was wonderful, but I couldn't get past how much I would have been paying for such a lousy interior and almost no options (in the one priced like the 2003 SSEis) . I'd put it in the same class as the Grand Prix, but definately not a Bonnie. Now there's nothing wrong with that class, but when you compare a Bonneville of the same year and mileage, the Bonnie comes way out ahead in my book...compared with a Grand Prix the G35 is definately better.

Now, the M45 OTOH was an absolute gem. It was well worth what they were asking for it ($27,000 with only 35,000 miles), if only I could have afforded it. It was super fast (335 horses, and you could feel every bit of it :twisted: ) smooth riding, and had just as good handling as the G35. It had some amazing options like heated and cooled seats (lol...felt like I had a hole in my pants!), fancy cruise control that would adjust when it came up on traffic and go the same speed as the car in front of it, HIDs, and side curtain airbags. The only thing lacking was the sound system...standard Bose stereo just like we have (nice, but I'd expect premium sound in a car like that).

Overall, if I could swallow the extra $5000-$6000 I would get a 2003 M45 in a heartbeat, but for my money, nothing beats an SSEi.

American resale value at work... if new, the G35 is easily several thousand cheaper than a GXP or SSEi. :o

Wow...I find the new ones for $35000 around here.

Did the salesman have to go in the car with you?

Yes, and I hate that! We tried two different dealerships and both times they wouldn't let us take it out alone. At least the first guy did a few driving demonstrations for us (scared the heck out of me, but it was fun...doing doughnuts and 0-60 accelerations) and then he encouraged us to push it as far as we wanted and showed us good places nearby to speed without getting pulled over...lol. The second guy though made us feel too uncomfortable to push it too far...oh well. I guess it is an Infiniti dealer thing.

Sounds like it was fun, but inside the G compares to a GrandPrix? Wow, I've been in a red G35 Coupe and it was well equipped and well laid out. I was having to much fun to be concerned about details inside...anyway

The only Japanese car that really excites me right now is the new Acura RL :shock: You should go test that sucka!

Maybe the one I drove since it was a base model was a little different, or it could be a year thing. I was not impressed though (the ride was great, but the M45 was better...a lot more power).

The RL is nice, but way out of my price range...even the older used ones are too much because they don't depreciate enough. I am looking for something in the 2003/low mileage range, and for an RL that would be 30,000 and up! I could get an SSEi for 19,000.

G35's are sweet, especially the coupes.

I'm not discreditting your story Hailey, all I'm saying is that my interior is nicer then the Bonneville and the G35 (Coupe) had a nicer interior then the Aurora....so...I'm just working with personal comparitive logic.

But if yer happy with an 03 SSEi, I say "give er"!

Whats the insurance comparision? ;)

I know you're not...when it comes down to it this stuff is all a matter of opinion anyway..I'm just sharing mine. ;)

And I am happy with the SSEi...relatively. I would kill for the M45 though. :twisted:

I have no idea on the insurance issue...I was impressed with my SSEi when I got it (my insurance dropped from about $1000 a year on the Grand Prix to $600 a year on the SSEi), but I have no idea if that would hold true for a 2003.