[cxcheng]

I thought I'd like to share this.

http://wheeltalk.fancal.net/?p=867

I was originally thinking of getting an E90 or E91, but decided to jump for a Corvette before the family comes. And now that the baby is coming ahead of schedule, I'll probably have to switch cars in the future.

I was as much impressed with the 335i as I was disappointed with the G35. But might want to go for the E91 328i just to get more of that wagon utility.

I wish BMW makes iDrive into something more worthy of its name though. The Infiniti's nav system appears to be the best that is available in the US, trumping the Acura system. Gadgets are also very important to me. And the Infiniti sales person was very nice. The BMW sales person has that take it or leave it attitude.

In the handling department, the G35 seems to be compromised primarily by its size which also would affect it against the Lexus IS350 even though it seems to be more aggressively setup than the IS350.

[Pedal2Floor]

Nice write-up.

I agree that the G35 Nav/Entertainment system is better than the iDrive. However, I am not sure about the location compared to the iDrive. I believe that the BMW has a better ergo placement. I also believe that the iDrive hood prevents the Nav screen from being washed out vs the G35 -- but maybe that is just me.

From your Nav article, it is kinda unclear what the Japanese want to do with iPod integration. On the Apple web site, all the major Japanese brands are listed as supporting iPod (http://www.apple.com/ipod/carintegration.html) but the Infinite Brand is missing from the list.

I believe all the Japanese Sedans are going to feel soft compared the vette that you mention. The BMW Sedans w/Sport will be closer to what you feel with your vette. If that 10K difference is worth it will be up to you and what you want.

If you are unsure, you can always lease the BMW.

But, if you are looking for a push, you have come to the right place -- get the Bimmer!

[hen]

And the Infiniti sales person was very nice. The BMW sales person has that take it or leave it attitude.

i agree completely

[yukit]

Originally Posted by cxcheng

And the Infiniti sales person was very nice. The BMW sales person has that take it or leave it attitude.

I basically got the same treatment at Stevens Creek. At Infinity, they took me to the back lot to show me new G35s 6mt still wrapped in plastic just off the truck, but at the next door, I could not even get a salesperson's attention. I must not looked like a person who could afford a $50k car.
Mountain View BMW was a bit better experience, but not much better.
I will try Fremont & San Mateo in a few weeks.

[Nikki]

My infiniti salesperson didn't speak english or know anything about the car. but then again, that is probably just down here.

[GregL]

Oh no...of all days to have a G35 vs 335i thread... I think I better keep my mouth shut this time

[canucklion]

maybe you mistook a foreign shopping at the dealership for a salesman

Originally Posted by Nikki

My infiniti salesperson didn't speak english or know anything about the car. but then again, that is probably just down here.

[Ninjaneer]

Regardless of how the salesman treats you though, your there to buy the car you want based on the car, not the salesman. What you can do is get a different salesman or visit a different dealer.

'07 AT G35 is still a 5-speed, so that sucks. I heard its paddles downshift nicely and has good rev-matching though.

[herbz]

IMO the 335i wins vs. the '07 G35. in '08, the g35 is due to get some major updates. no one knows what they are yet. expect bmw to put out a 'zhp' package of the 335i with maybe a little more horsepower to counter the '08 g35. just a guess.

[r3amir]

Test drove a G35 today, a lot of pull power but the quality of interior was lacking

BMW wins the competition easily in my opinion

[williamf]

1 month ago I decided it was time to get ride of my 2004 Super Charged G35 coupe because my wife has been naging me to get a car with a back seat big enough for a childs car seat. So we went to the Infiniti dealer to test drive the new G sedan. It is a vast improvement over the last gerneration. Power is under rated, over all handeling is the best I had experienced in a sedan (up until that point). Lots of cool buttons and gadgets (too many IMO). Nav was good and the rear view camera was excellent. The car comes fully equiped for 10K less than a fully equiped 335i.

I told the sales guy that I was 95% sure that the G was my next care. However, I needed to do my due deligence and drive the 335i. First the 335i COUPE does fit a childs care seat very nicely, even when it is rear facing. Over all the cabin felt as as spacious as the G. Now the 335i I test drove did not have the Idrive. I thought the entire was very plain, but the materals were excellent. I believe the Idrive is a must for this car and makes it much more enjoyable. I use the bluetooth phone all the time.

Now as for the drive, the moment we pulled out of the dealership parking lot I was shocked. This little 300 hp car was almost as fast as my 387hp G35. It was amazingly quite and I have never seen a car that handles so well. 3 days later I had my own new 335i. Thus far I have taken it to 140mph and it is rock solid. I have experiement with the DTC and all driving mods to some degree. There is still much more testing to be done, but I find it all very interesting and I don't think I will get board for a long time. The DTC is much better in the rain and wet conditions than the Infiniti VDC. The DTC is not as in your face. It reacts very quickly and in a split second you have full control back to you.

The only complaint I have about the 335i is that it is jerky the first 5 minutes after I start up from a cold start. Hopefully my XEDE will help with this issue.

Simply put, if you want a couple that will give you what you need for a young family and you want handeling and performance on par with a vette, the 335i IS the only option today that is under 60K

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by williamf

The only complaint I have about the 335i is that it is jerky the first 5 minutes after I start up from a cold start. Hopefully my XEDE will help with this issue.

If anything the XEDE will make it worse. More agressive fuel/ignition/whatever maps can't help the smoothness factor.

[Louie A]

lol ... i always get a kick when someone asks for opinions for bmw vs "competitor X" on a bmw message board. do people really expect to get an unbiased opinion here? regardless, i say you should take the feedback for what its worth, but consider a 3rd party expert opinion. do a google, there are ton's of expert reviews on bmw vs. g35.

regardless... i say bmw > g35. did you expect anything different?

[froman]

The new G35 sedan is pretty nice. A friend of mine just got one, loaded w/ nav, sport pkg, etc, for $37K, just a couple of grand more than my lightly-optioned 325 manual. A 335 equipped like his would be around $10K more. However, I think the G35 interior still doesn't look as good as the 3's, although it's a huge improvement from the previous generation. And while the G35 will be about as fast as a 335, I just know it will not handle and feel anywhere near as sweet as the 3! As Ferris Bueller might say: "the 335 is such a choice ride. I highly recommend it, if you have the means."

[Hej]

Originally Posted by canucklion

maybe you mistook a foreign shopping at the dealership for a salesman

You joke, but I've had that happen at a retail store I worked at. One day we received a scathing survey card that the store manager posted up in the breakroom as a way to shame us. The customer complained that the sales person had "a thick English accent" (we had no such person there), was not wearing their name tag, and was not at all helpful to the customer. I penned in at the bottom, 'the "salesperson' also does not work here'.

[bronco]

I was mistaken for a sales guy once...but I played along and told the guy everything that I knew about the car, and he was impressed how much I knew, and he said that I was the first "salesperson" that knew so much of a car...then I pointed him to one of the real SA, and told him the truth but he ended up buying the car, and I got $100 from the dealership, and an offer to work for them...hahaha that was so funny...

[stressdoc]

I prefer a 4-door for putting the kid and/or seat in. Let's hope we eventually get a 335 (petrol or diesel) E91.

[zibawal]

If you buy car for navigation convenience, then G35, if for driving fun, then you will be missing that!

[shragon]

i saw the new g35 sedan on the road. looks much better than the last generation. but to me, it still looks more like a refresh even though it's a new generation.