Non-Audio Stuff > Car Talk

Want convertible, thinking G37x

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Gilly87:
So I'm looking to spend around 20 grand, looking at mid-to-large convertibles. I live in LA, so I want to be able to drop the top when I feel like it, but also want a car that's reliable with a nice ride and not-horrible gas mileage (17/25 minimum; would like 20/30 but not going to kill myself over it).

I originally wanted to buy my dream car, a 300ZX with the targa top, and just redo it from head-to-toe, new engine, etc, but I don't think I have the time or money just yet, and I want something that's not going to make me look like an impulsive spender if I have to take business partners out, etc.

I really like the 2010 G37x S - everything I want, plus all-wheel drive, which would be great to have if I road trip to visit friends in Montana and Colorado, which I plan on...anyone know any good reason I shouldn't buy one that's in good shape? I've been led to believe that getting 150k+ miles from an Infiniti that's well-maintained is not at all impossible, so I figure if I buy one with ~50k and take care of it for 100k, I'll be getting a steal at 20 grand or so considering it was originally a $45k+ car.





I've also looked at a used 4 series convertible, but I don't really want a BMW; EVERYONE and their mother has that car here. Also not into expensive ass repairs, and from the nightmares I've seen friends have with Minis, I don't really trust BMW.

I've also considered the new Mustang with the ecoboost engine, but I'd rather get a car that can last a while; I know a V6 is going to keep chugging for a lot longer than that turbo 4, and although I think the look is a huge improvement from the last generation of 'stangs (2005 - 2014 are just fucking ugly IMO), I would prefer something a bit classier looking. Plus I'm all about the hard-top convertibles...so awesome, and I plan on getting a decent sound system for it at some point, so the hard top convertible is big for me.

Also looked at the 2010 Lexus IS convertibles, but I feel like the G37 is a bigger car (correct me if I'm wrong) and I want something with a nice ride for long trips. I kinda wish they made a GS convertible XD

I've also considered wussing out and getting a used GS450h or G37x sedan, which would be the intelligent and practical thing to do...but I don't know if I will live in LA forever, and I want to take full advantage of all weather-related perks while I'm here. I figure there will always be a teenager in LA who wants a convertible, so if I have to sell it in 5 years for a 5-10k loss, well shit, that's just too bad.

Any thoughts? Experiences? Ideas?

burnspbesq:
Why not an A4?

DrForBin:

--- Quote from: burnspbesq on March 23, 2015, 01:56:28 PM ---Why not an A4?

--- End quote ---
hello,

as an Audi owner i would say expensive to run, soft top convertible, not all that reliable and parts/service can be difficult and costly.

(the parts are made by magic gnomes who eat gold leaf and poop fairy dust. YMMV.)

i will NEVER sell mine. :)p7

Schopenhauer:
Go with a Vette, Gilly.

DaveBSC:

--- Quote from: Gilly87 on March 22, 2015, 03:23:20 PM ---Any thoughts? Experiences? Ideas?

--- End quote ---

The previous generation Lexus IS350C is a complete snoozebox, with a big fat ass because they couldn't be bothered to properly engineer it to fit a hard top. If you just want a reliable driving appliance with a retractable hard top, buy an SC430. That car is also rolling Novocaine, but it's more luxurious and possibly the most reliable car ever made.

The G37 convertible is just big and fat. Some 4200 pounds worth of fat actually, so it's only marginally more fun than the Lexus. With the top down, the trunk is nonexistent, so you'd better be able to fit what you want to bring with you in the back seats, and hope it doesn't get stolen, or have fun doing the hokey-pokey with the top and your luggage. I also don't like listening to the roided out VQ37HR in the Infiniti G37 sedan. With the top down... yegh. Did I mention the G convertible shakes like an old Saab over broken pavement?

The Audi A5 Cab is equally heavy, but unlike Infiniti, Audi's chassis engineers actually know how to do their jobs. It's a rag top, but a well insulated one, and that means better styling than the hard tops, and a trunk that you can actually put things in. As a former Audi owner myself I know what the service experience is like, but in the last few years Audi's reliability has actually gotten pretty good, so hopefully you won't have to visit the service desk too often. Either a CPO or a thoroughly inspected car is a must though. Audis don't suffer foolish or neglectful prior owners.

The E90 gen 3 series was actually a pretty damn good car, in spite of the quality of people that may have bought them. Stay FAR away from 335is, but 2009+ 328s are holding up to a reasonable degree, though the equivalent A5 2.0T is doing better.

The G37 sedan is fine, it's definitely dynamically better than the convertible, doesn't have the storage issues or cowl shake issues, and mechanical reliability is excellent save perhaps the brakes. It's a little boring and the engine sounds like an old Soviet era tractor, but you could definitely do worse, like the IS250 for example.

The previous generation GS450h was the dumbest car ever made, which is why they sold about five of them. Take a GS350, cut the power down having the engine run Atkinson cycle, add the power back with an electric motor, along with several hundred pounds of weight for the batteries, which kill half of the already too small trunk. Any efficiency gained from having the engine run lean is immediately lost because the car has to lug around all that extra weight, which is why the GS450h is both no faster or more fuel efficient than the GS350. Which is why nobody bought one.

That car was also the second worst car in the segment at the time, ahead of only the "is this thing a joke?" Acura RL.

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