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Forum Thread

New car shopping :whee:

41,172 2,080 June 9, 2012 at 05:23 PM in Autos
There is at most a 50/50 chance we'll buy something this year, but we hadn't driven any new cars in almost five years so we thought we'd check some out.

Wife drives an '08 VW Eos - that's the car we would replace. Shockingly, it has been a very reliable car, and has only 36k miles on it. So we're in no hurry to sell it. But we decided to drive a couple of cars today, just for kicks: an Infiniti G37 and a Lexus IS350 and IS250. As expected the Lexus was a bit more sedate, but more fun than to drive than expected. Wife prefers the IS350 to the G37...

We would most likely buy a late model used, around a '10 model. I love my '06 TL and so does my wife, so we would also drive an Acura before making any decision (though we're not driving the new butt-ugly TL - it would be a TSX, or even the new ILX if we bought new).

What other comparable cars should we try?
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Joined Jul 2005
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
06-12-2012 at 12:01 PM.
06-12-2012 at 12:01 PM.
Quote from tsuperwanker :
I know the G37 has pretty good numbers, but it certainly does not feel like it has power at all. I test drove the C350, and it felt far more lively than the G37. I've seen many G37's at autocross, and they just put down terrible times (I know MLV probably doesn't care about autocross laugh out loud). The G37 just felt heavy, and had no spirit. To me, this just made for a terrible driving experience.

Also, the A3 is sort of in a different class. I will say it's a pretty cool looking car, and if they had an RS3 in the US, I would be interested in that car.
Yeah, I think German cars have better gearing ratios and engine computer programming that may give you better performance at certain gears/situations. But, the G37 is a luxury sports coupe. It is quite heavy. But power-wise, I think it's sufficient.

I had the G35 coupe a few years ago, which was a tad weaker than the G37. I never raced it or anything. But, I recall driving it up mountainous roads/freeways on roadtrips and it drove admirably. It climbed up steep roads like it was nothing and accelerated up those roads with ease. However, I think going against other sports cars or sports sedans in a road race, it may not fare too well since it is on the heavier side. Pure numbers though (quarter mile times and 0-60), it's a decent sports coupe.
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Joined Jun 2006
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> bubble2 18,871 Posts
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tsuperwanker
06-12-2012 at 08:30 PM.
06-12-2012 at 08:30 PM.
Quote from z2g :
Yeah, I think German cars have better gearing ratios and engine computer programming that may give you better performance at certain gears/situations. But, the G37 is a luxury sports coupe. It is quite heavy. But power-wise, I think it's sufficient.

I had the G35 coupe a few years ago, which was a tad weaker than the G37. I never raced it or anything. But, I recall driving it up mountainous roads/freeways on roadtrips and it drove admirably. It climbed up steep roads like it was nothing and accelerated up those roads with ease. However, I think going against other sports cars or sports sedans in a road race, it may not fare too well since it is on the heavier side. Pure numbers though (quarter mile times and 0-60), it's a decent sports coupe.
Yeah, the Germans know how to build their cars. I do love how MB does gearing - even the standard V8's (non AMG's) are pretty powerful. I had the opportunity to test drive an E550 coupe a few years ago, and it just pushed you back. The one thing I love about MB is how much torque their engines produce (more so the V8 and AMG engines), and in the end it's the torque that matters to me the most.

The G37 coupe was really intriguing because it was priced really well, and my local dealer had great offers. I was really tempted, but I just wasn't feeling the car after I test drove it.
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Joined Jul 2005
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> bubble2 10,159 Posts
z2g
06-12-2012 at 09:59 PM.
06-12-2012 at 09:59 PM.
Quote from tsuperwanker :
Yeah, the Germans know how to build their cars. I do love how MB does gearing - even the standard V8's (non AMG's) are pretty powerful. I had the opportunity to test drive an E550 coupe a few years ago, and it just pushed you back. The one thing I love about MB is how much torque their engines produce (more so the V8 and AMG engines), and in the end it's the torque that matters to me the most.

The G37 coupe was really intriguing because it was priced really well, and my local dealer had great offers. I was really tempted, but I just wasn't feeling the car after I test drove it.
Yeah, I have an X5 and a Murano. Despite only having 10-20 more horsepower, the X5 feels much more powerful than the Murano. I guess it's the gearing and ECU programming. When I depress the gas pedal on the X5, you can feel it go. On the Murano, it's like it doesn't want to do anything.laugh out loud

I think with the G37 and other decent Japanese sports coupes and sedans, if you're going from German car, you won't like the Japanese counterpart. That's what I get from the car forums I frequent all these years.
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Joined Jan 2006
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> bubble2 5,853 Posts
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ManUpOrShutUp
06-13-2012 at 12:16 AM.
06-13-2012 at 12:16 AM.
Quote from emelvee :
Wife drives an '08 VW Eos - that's the car we would replace. Shockingly, it has been a very reliable car, and has only 36k miles on it.
Facepalm There's nothing shocking about a car being reliable for 36k miles.
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Joined Jan 2004
Here's to the future
> bubble2 25,141 Posts
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Iaaaiws
06-13-2012 at 02:21 AM.
06-13-2012 at 02:21 AM.
Quote from 420 :
Facepalm There's nothing shocking about a car being reliable for 36k miles.
Did you miss the part about it being a VW?
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Joined Feb 2010
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> bubble2 4,199 Posts
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idkist
06-13-2012 at 07:25 AM.
06-13-2012 at 07:25 AM.
I'm loving the G37X ('09 24k mi) that I just bought this past Feb. I think it's a great car overall. Only gas mileage leaves a bit to be desired (I'm getting ~18-19 City & ~26 Hwy), but that's the price you pay for the performance. Price/Performance I think it's the best deal out there.
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Last edited by idkist June 13, 2012 at 07:28 AM.
Joined Jan 2007
Free hugs!
> bubble2 16,512 Posts
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uniquename
06-13-2012 at 07:33 AM.
06-13-2012 at 07:33 AM.
Quote from idkMyBFFist :
I'm loving the G37X ('09 24k mi) that I just bought this past Feb. I think it's a great car overall. Only gas mileage leaves a bit to be desired (I'm getting ~18-19 City & ~26 Hwy), but that's the price you pay for the performance. Price/Performance I think it's the best deal out there.
This is my problem. I get that mileage with my explorer (actually 20-21 for "my" version of "city"). I've thought about getting a car, but nothing that I would want would gain me anything but a bigger payment.
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Joined Aug 2005
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> bubble2 41,172 Posts
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Original Poster
emelvee
06-13-2012 at 07:38 AM.
06-13-2012 at 07:38 AM.
Looks like we're going to wait on the new car. Decided I don't want to drain my cash and/or take out a loan. So my wife will stick with the VW for a while.
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Joined Feb 2010
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> bubble2 4,199 Posts
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idkist
06-13-2012 at 07:40 AM.
06-13-2012 at 07:40 AM.
Quote from uniquename :
This is my problem. I get that mileage with my explorer (actually 20-21 for "my" version of "city"). I've thought about getting a car, but nothing that I would want would gain me anything but a bigger payment.
Yeah the first fill-up made me cough up a nut at first, since I was coming from an '07 civic. I still get approximately the same distance(~350mi)/time(~2wks) between fill-ups between the G37x and the Civic doing mostly city driving (6.5mi to/from work). Going from the 11Gal tank to the 17Gal tank and the lower mileage made my bi-weekly fillups go from ~$35-40 to ~$65-75.
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Joined Jan 2008
HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
> bubble2 9,504 Posts
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ALVSGIRLY
06-13-2012 at 07:40 AM.
06-13-2012 at 07:40 AM.
Quote from emelvee :
Looks like we're going to wait on the new car. Decided I don't want to drain my cash and/or take out a loan. So my wife will stick with the VW for a while.
You're a big tease!
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Joined Jul 2004
Master Of Scamps
> bubble2 17,139 Posts
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Scampsters
06-13-2012 at 07:53 AM.
06-13-2012 at 07:53 AM.
MLV should buy this
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Joined Jul 2004
Master Of Scamps
> bubble2 17,139 Posts
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Scampsters
06-13-2012 at 07:55 AM.
06-13-2012 at 07:55 AM.
Quote from emelvee :
Looks like we're going to wait on the new car. Decided I don't want to drain my cash and/or take out a loan. So my wife will stick with the VW for a while.
Quote from ALVSGIRLY :
You're a big tease!
He always makes a thread stating something and barely a day in he changes his mind Wink
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Joined Jan 2008
HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
> bubble2 9,504 Posts
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ALVSGIRLY
06-13-2012 at 07:59 AM.
06-13-2012 at 07:59 AM.
Quote from Scampsters :
He always makes a thread stating something and barely a day in he changes his mind Wink
I think mrs mlv should hold out until she gets a new car Stick Out Tongue!
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Joined Jul 2004
Master Of Scamps
> bubble2 17,139 Posts
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Scampsters
06-13-2012 at 08:01 AM.
06-13-2012 at 08:01 AM.
Quote from ALVSGIRLY :
I think mrs mlv should hold out until she gets a new car Stick Out Tongue!
Why do you think he keeps Moot in the basement.

It doesnt suprise me though that you have used that strategy on more than one occasionWink
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Joined Jan 2008
HER SPOILED HIGHNESS
> bubble2 9,504 Posts
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ALVSGIRLY
06-13-2012 at 08:03 AM.
06-13-2012 at 08:03 AM.
Quote from Scampsters :

It doesnt suprise me though that you have used that strategy on more than one occasionWink
I am not that strong Stick Out Tongue!
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