How many miles would you deem "acceptable"

[Chapbass]

Hey all, if anyone remembers my old post about the g35 vs cts...I still havent bought a car!


The CTS kinda fell out of the rankings, but has been replaced with the fx35 and RX8. Honestly though, every time i see a G35 coupe I just want one so bad....so im pretty much decided.


Anyway, how many miles do you guys think these can go for? I'm currently looking at two different cars.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

This guy has all the features im looking for (sport package, no spoiler, 05-06 model, etc). The color kinda makes me wonder, some pictures look awesome and some look beige, which i dont like. its also at the high end of my price range, but still probably doable.


Car #2 is this!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...8&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14


It ends soon so im on crunch time. I absolutely love it. Perfect everything. Only thing that scares me is 67000 miles. Anyone feel thats too much?

The upside is then I would have some money for the start of some upgraded sound, isolation, and carpc stuff that I plan on doing with it. Just worried about those miles.


Any thoughts?


EDIT: PS: I'm in chicago, so i would be able to test drive these (although the 2nd one is cutting it close on time...).

 

[Corporate Thug]

67000 miles for an 05 isn't close to acceptable in my book. I try to go by the 10k per year as a rule of thumb.

 

[angry hampster]

Nothing wrong with 67k miles. 15k/year is considered to be the industry average. Assuming that car was bought four years ago, it's sittin right on the average.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

for the first car, kbb shows $24,335 suggested retail price, in perfect condition. take off 2-3000 for good condition right now. the dealer's asking price is reasonable, assuming the car is in good shape.

kbb says the second car is worth $19810, again suggested retail and perfect condition. i think this asking price is also reasonable. mechanically, the car should still be very good.

the black car looks sweet, but expect a lot road rash, especially on the front. i wouldn't rush into buying a car - as the buyer, all your power lies in not buying the car. especially with a sports car off season. i'd wait until the middle of winter, when demand is lowest. there will be plenty more coupes coming of off leases soon.

things to know:
with an automatic transmission, it's a bit of a chick's car, if were honest.
these cars will come with summer (not all-season) tires. you MUST buy winter (not all-season) tires and rims, with tire pressure sensors.
these cars prefer premium gas, and lots of it.
services are frequent and expensive, i shit you not.
starting in 2005, the "rev-up motor" was installed. this was a refinement over the 2004, but sometimes prone to extremely high oil consumption, requiring a new motor. this, and some other motor and transmission glitches were ironed out for 2006.

i suggest waiting as long as possible. the prices will keep coming down, and the cars will get better. if you're going to modify the car, i guess it makes sense to go for something like the black one, once the price has been beaten to death. also, you might want look at certified pre-owned at an infiniti dealership, carrying a full warranty.

 

[SithSolo1]

'05 here
Auto -I also fail to see how having an auto instantly makes this or any car more of a chicks car
Avg mpg is 16 for me
Summer tires, I've replaced them once so far at 16K and the replacements were ~$200 ea but I went with a brand(toyo) other than stock(bridgestone)
Oil change is ~$80, I dunno about other service but I do know when you take it in you get a loaner and a car wash
The "rev-up" motor is only in cars equipped with a 6-spd manual

also if you want to upgrade the audio you need rip out the bose system completely, its not worth keeping any part of it in.

 

[Chapbass]

thanks for the advice guys. I've done my research, know about the oil consumption issue.


As far as manual vs auto, ive debated it alot. My current car (97 Trans Am) is a manual, but honestly I think id prefer auto right now. Others can drive it if its a situation they need to, I can (easily) install remote start, I feel its better in the winter, and chicago rush hour isnt kind to manual. I also plan on installing paddle shifters, or at the minimum using the auto stick. So yeah, I'm pretty secure in my masculinity.


Winter tires are already on the list. Once again, driving a Trans Am definitely gives you the idea of RWD in the winter


No, I'm not a big car modder, at least from the engine point of view. I do plan on doing alot of audio/video type of mods, and yes the bose system is going as soon as wallet permits .



As far as waiting until winter...I can wait a little while longer, but I do NOT want to be caught driving the TA once snow hits. ATM I don't have winter tires for it, so it must go. I've been looking for a good 3-4 months now, very seriously the past month or two. I really feel like I should go take a look at the first car, If i love the color and get a decent trade in value on mine, im just gonna take it. That black car just looks sick, but at the same time in some of those pictures it looks like there are some serious swirl marks on the back. not quite sure without seeing it, once again.

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
67000 miles for an 05 isn't close to acceptable in my book. I try to go by the 10k per year as a rule of thumb.

As long as the price reflects the miles (so it is cheaper) and there are service records, it is better to have a car that was driven many miles over a short period of time than a car that was driven less frequently. The oil never builds up water, the car has probably seen fewer city miles, and the car spends a greatly reduced percentage of its miles driven cold (sometimes fewer cold miles, period). As a percentage of miles driven, it has probably seen fewer engine starts and stops, fewer motion starts and stops, fewer turns, and has spent less time in the shorter gears, meaning both the engine and transmission have seen less wear per mile.

So as long as the owner took care it for those miles, they aren't something to be afraid of, as long as you're getting an appropriate discount. I'll take a commuter over a housewife beater any day.

 

[SearchMaster]

There is some strange cross-shopping on this forum sometimes. G35/RX8/FX35 - heh.

I don't know much about G35's specifically but my 2000 Maxima has nearly 200K miles and is still running great with only 3 repairs done. So for me, someone who drives until the wheels fall off, 67K miles is reasonable. However, if you're planning to sell it off in a couple of years, you'd be hit pretty hard in depreciation. Let's say you'd have 100K miles at that point...there is a mental barrier for other buyers to purchase a car with 100K miles versus, say, 80K miles.

 

[zoiks]

If myself am replacing my 2005 Mazda 6 with a 2007 G35 sedan.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: SithSolo1
'05 here
Auto -I also fail to see how having an auto instantly makes this or any car more of a chicks car
Avg mpg is 16 for me
Summer tires, I've replaced them once so far at 16K and the replacements were ~$200 ea but I went with a brand(toyo) other than stock(bridgestone)
Oil change is ~$80, I dunno about other service but I do know when you take it in you get a loaner and a car wash
The "rev-up" motor is only in cars equipped with a 6-spd manual

also if you want to upgrade the audio you need rip out the bose system completely, its not worth keeping any part of it in.

The detuned engine and worse brakes perhaps?

 

[alkemyst]

Depends on usage....I'd take 100k of highway ove 50K of all city anyday.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Have you actually seen these cars in person? I wouldn't buy a car off ebay unless I could see it and/or have it inspected locally by someone I could trust.

If either car has been in an accident I wouldn't buy it.

 

[zoiks]

To be honest with you, I wouldn't get a G35 that was out of warranty. I had a coworker who had a 2003 G35 coupe that complained of some 'noises' coming from the engine. Since it was under warranty, Infiniti looked at the car and promptly changed the entire transmission as that was the culprit. Parts for that car are very expensive as well.

I suggest that you look at the local Craigslist or even at some listings that are out of state for a car with less miles. Talk to the buyer, fly out there. Inspect and buy the car and drive it back. I bought a g35 in LA the very same way. I live in the bay area and couldn't find any decent deals. I found a car in the Los Angeles CL and called the seller. He sent me pictures of the car and of any defects he could find. I got a one way rental car and drove the 400 miles to check out the car, bought it and drove it back.

 

[Chapbass]

As far as buying it on ebay, like I said, I'm a chicago native, so i would be seeing both of these cars in person. The silver one I would be buying just a like a normal car at a dealer. The black one I would have to bid, but I would probably do so AT the company or in the parking lot I sent ebay links as the pics on ebay are huge (larger than their own websites).


Regarding zoiks post: the 03 G's had LOTS of problems (First model year), but yeah, I definitely understand where youre coming from.

Halik: Correct me if im wrong, which I definitely think I might be, but I thought the brakes were different in sport package vs not, not manual vs auto. As far as the engine, I believe the numbers are 280hp vs 298...not THAT big of a deal (for me at least). I know you were more replying to him instead of me, but Just figured I'd double check.


I think the black one might be out of the running. Ends too soon I feel....If it had one more day I could head home tomorrow...but it doesn't...

 

[Chapbass]

Originally posted by: SearchMaster
There is some strange cross-shopping on this forum sometimes. G35/RX8/FX35 - heh.

I don't know much about G35's specifically but my 2000 Maxima has nearly 200K miles and is still running great with only 3 repairs done. So for me, someone who drives until the wheels fall off, 67K miles is reasonable. However, if you're planning to sell it off in a couple of years, you'd be hit pretty hard in depreciation. Let's say you'd have 100K miles at that point...there is a mental barrier for other buyers to purchase a car with 100K miles versus, say, 80K miles.

haha, the g35 is an awesome car. I've been shopping for that thing since before the garage was around I believe, so don't think I stole the idea from someone!


I went to a local carmax to look at g's, and they had a row of 5 rx8's and I ended up loving them too. I wish they had a little more torque...that I would HAVE to get in manual as auto is just too slow.

The fx I wasnt even considering until I was at an infiniti dealer talking about how much I didn't really like the g sedan. He then mentioned the fx, took a test drive, and loved it.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: Chapbass
As far as buying it on ebay, like I said, I'm a chicago native, so i would be seeing both of these cars in person. The silver one I would be buying just a like a normal car at a dealer. The black one I would have to bid, but I would probably do so AT the company or in the parking lot I sent ebay links as the pics on ebay are huge (larger than their own websites).


Regarding zoiks post: the 03 G's had LOTS of problems (First model year), but yeah, I definitely understand where youre coming from.

Halik: Correct me if im wrong, which I definitely think I might be, but I thought the brakes were different in sport package vs not, not manual vs auto. As far as the engine, I believe the numbers are 280hp vs 298...not THAT big of a deal (for me at least). I know you were more replying to him instead of me, but Just figured I'd double check.


I think the black one might be out of the running. Ends too soon I feel....If it had one more day I could head home tomorrow...but it doesn't...

starting in 2005, the 6mt includes the "sports" suspension package and the "performance" wheel and tire package.

edit:
my bad, apparently the wheel package included with the 6mt is unique to the car. i had confused it with the option available on the automatic.

 

[SithSolo1]

Originally posted by: halik

The detuned engine and worse brakes perhaps?

fyi the "detuned" engine makes more torque and the brakes for all g35s after '04 are the same. Only the '03-'04 cars had a different set of brakes(Bremo) for the 6-spd

 

[Chapbass]

would anyone with an unlimited carfax account mind running JNKCV54E55M411152 This vin for me?

 

[Audiotherapy]

yeah definitely get a g35 with warranty if its newer than 05. the alot of the newer models have oil burn problem.

 

[StageLeft]

That G35 is at $15k now, which isn't bad. 67k is a lot of miles for any car you're paying 15k for, though that car has a good motor with proven reliability. It was award winning years ago, and since then Nissan has just continued to tweak it--I think--this presume it's the same underlying motor as what has been in the Maxima for all these years, and I think that it is a variant on that theme.

I would of course prefer the manual, but that's because it's slightly cheaper and I frankly have a heart flutter to think what Infiniti would charge to replace an auto on that car, should it die. A manual is less likely to die for the same miles (in most cases) and repairs would be cheaper.

thomsbrain is right about miles of course. Chances are high that most of those are highway, which are the easiest you can put on a car.

my 2000 Maxima has nearly 200K miles and is still running great

That's pretty good. My 00 has 119k and just the last few days I was thinking that for a car that was first registered 9 years and two months ago, the engine still sounds fantastic and pulls hard. I have a manual. The only drivetrain related attention it has needed is two O2 sensors died over the years and the ignition coils were all changed a few years ago--both very minor repairs. Otherwise, I've changed the front axles earlier this year. That is the only attention it's received, besides brakes and regular maint.

I've entertained the idea of replacing the max at some point with a G35 AWD sedan. It would be a nice change, but I would definitely want to look into repair costs first. The max has most common parts available at an after-market auto store, which I use for everything. I bet the G35 would really wreck the wallet by comparison.

 

[ajayjuneja]

My g35 has 73,000 miles on and still runs like new. Granted it's been pretty well maintained, but I haven't had a major problem yet - other than I had to replace the belts slightly sooner than scheduled (58K).

 

[Chapbass]

Slight forum necromancy...but only slight.



Bought a car!!!

2005 g35 Coupe 6MT
6sp manual
32000 miles
Black/black
Sport package, no aero package (no spoiler)

Paid just a slight tad over 20000.

so excited

Pics are coming in a while!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Chapbass
Slight forum necromancy...but only slight.



Bought a car!!!

2005 g35 Coupe 6MT
6sp manual
32000 miles
Black/black
Sport package, no aero package (no spoiler)

Paid just a slight tad over 20000.

so excited

Pics are coming in a while!

Should be fun. Sounds like a decent price.

 

[Chapbass]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Chapbass
Slight forum necromancy...but only slight.



Bought a car!!!

2005 g35 Coupe 6MT
6sp manual
32000 miles
Black/black
Sport package, no aero package (no spoiler)

Paid just a slight tad over 20000.

so excited

Pics are coming in a while!

Should be fun. Sounds like a decent price.

yeah. I probably could've gotten a slight better price if I lived in Cali or somewhere warm where they have a lot of coupes around...but since I live in chicago, theres just a ton of sedans and g35x's. So I paid maybe 1000 more than I could've at best it seems...but im a-ok with that, considering i got to see and drive it first .

 

[JulesMaximus]

Congrats.