Buying Used - 2007 G35x with 90,000 Miles

[imhungry]

Background story: I used to drive a 2005 G35 6MT, last Winter I let a friend borrow it and it ended up getting totalled (other party was at fault) - So I've been without a car for some time and have now decided it is time to look again.

I've recently come across a 2007 G35x with 90,000 miles on the clock. The owner says he is a commuter which explains such a high mileage in a short period of time. He has all maintenance and service records through the dealership and has recently changed the brakes, rotors, and tires.

At 90,000 miles in these last few years, what problems should I be looking for and if I do decide to buy the car, what problems should I expect? Also, what should I check for when test driving?

The car is priced low enough that I have no problem shelling out a few grand on repairs in the next few years.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[compguy786]

I think these cars are too new at the moment to have any significant issues. I have a 2002 Nissan Maxima SE, and i drove around 30k in one year. Bought with 131k on the clock. I have changed a host of things (i bought from the original owner)

Changed
- cam sensors (both)
- O2 sensor
- Wheel bearing
- interior fan
- radiator

I think you should be fine. Great car though. How about looking into a newer used maxima ?

 

[thescreensavers]

Dont know if the HR motors had the same issue but change the spark plugs to see if any oil is pooling from bad valve gaskets.

 

[Doppel]

2011 Altima 3.5 SR can be had new for around $22,500 now if you find a dealership willing to do it (and yes they exist). 270 HP, full warranty, stability control, etc. It's not an Infiniti, but...

 

[compguy786]

2011 Altima 3.5 SR can be had new for around $22,500 now if you find a dealership willing to do it (and yes they exist). 270 HP, full warranty, stability control, etc. It's not an Infiniti, but...

wow, not bad. but.......its a CVT.

Barely used 2010-11 Maxima can be had for about 24k too....

 

[imhungry]

Decided against it...because it was an automatic. After driving strictly manual cars my whole life, automatic transmissions just seem so...lifeless?

Just for reference, the asking price for the G35x was about $14k...in my eyes it was a steal but I just couldn't bring myself to purchase a used car with (at my point of purchase) almost 95k miles on the clock.

I expanded my search to Audi/Acura..I drove an '05 A4 1.8T the other day and loved it. The only question is the maintenance..it already has ~55k on it. I'm not trying to spend over 20 grand. I looked at Japanese cars within my budget only to find that I can get the luxury counterpart for a marginal difference. Accord vs TL, Maxima vs G35, etc - I guess that says something about the reliability, huh

 

[compguy786]

Decided against it...because it was an automatic. After driving strictly manual cars my whole life, automatic transmissions just seem so...lifeless?

Just for reference, the asking price for the G35x was about $14k...in my eyes it was a steal but I just couldn't bring myself to purchase a used car with (at my point of purchase) almost 95k miles on the clock.

I expanded my search to Audi/Acura..I drove an '05 A4 1.8T the other day and loved it. The only question is the maintenance..it already has ~55k on it. I'm not trying to spend over 20 grand. I looked at Japanese cars within my budget only to find that I can get the luxury counterpart for a marginal difference. Accord vs TL, Maxima vs G35, etc - I guess that says something about the reliability, huh

Dont get an Audi. They got electrical issues just like the VWs.

 

[Doppel]

wow, not bad. but.......its a CVT.

Barely used 2010-11 Maxima can be had for about 24k too....

Maybe if you shop around for months or drive far. Basically you're looking at 26k+ for a 2010 and a 2009 if you can find one will be 22-24k. Gone are the days when a 2-3 year old maxima was selling for somewhere in the teens, unfortunately.

CVT is very well rated as part of this powertrain, though, which is why Nissan is throwing it into almost everything they have.
imhungry $14k for a 4 year old car with 95k may be fair given the car it was but like you I'd have a hard time dropping that much money for such a used vehicle. I used to be the same way with automatic transmissions, too, but stopped fighting the tide. Manuals are going away and you have found out that if you limit yourself to manual only your selection choices go way down.

Acura is a premier brand and carries excellent quality. I'd be just as content driving a used one as an Infiniti but I would not say that about Audi; it will cost you more in repairs, all things equal.

 

[MotF Bane]

Decided against it...because it was an automatic. After driving strictly manual cars my whole life, automatic transmissions just seem so...lifeless?

Just for reference, the asking price for the G35x was about $14k...in my eyes it was a steal but I just couldn't bring myself to purchase a used car with (at my point of purchase) almost 95k miles on the clock.

I expanded my search to Audi/Acura..I drove an '05 A4 1.8T the other day and loved it. The only question is the maintenance..it already has ~55k on it. I'm not trying to spend over 20 grand. I looked at Japanese cars within my budget only to find that I can get the luxury counterpart for a marginal difference. Accord vs TL, Maxima vs G35, etc - I guess that says something about the reliability, huh

$14k is a good price, even with that mileage on it. I might have gone for it myself, but I only put on about 9k/yr.

In my opinion, Maxima is overpriced at this point. FWD versus RWD/AWD would be enough by itself to tip me towards the Infiniti. Maxima is probably more apt to be bought and kept, so it ends up with less supply on the used market; 70% of Infinitis are leased, so the supply is excellent for used.

As for reliability, my parents '01 I30t has 180k on it, there is a single spot of rust at the right rear wheel wheel, everything else is in great shape. Maintenance costs have been pretty small, a few sets of brakes, some tires, a sensor (I think O2), an ABS sensor, and that's all that I am aware of. It's gone back to the dealership a couple times for service (the sensors), and each time they hand us a G as a loaner until the I30 is fixed.

 

[CraigRT]

I like the comment about the Altima.
I have driven a few 3.5 Altima's and they are great, especially for the money. It is front wheel drive, but it still has the power that the VQ engines offer of course. I test drove a 6 speed V6 Altima coupe and loved it.

 

[Arkaign]

Depending on where you live, the AWD can actually be a negative (more weight, more moving parts, lower fuel economy, slower in good conditions, etc).

Just a thought. As you had a RWD model previously that you apparently liked, it sounds like AWD probably is a waste for you.

AWD is definitely handy in a lot of situations, but I find that in my area it's almost totally useless (DFW).

 

[LTC8K6]

Aren't AWD cars/trucks the quickest because of the ability to put the power down?

 

[MotF Bane]

Aren't AWD cars/trucks the quickest because of the ability to put the power down?

In the case of the G, the AWD version looks to have about two tenths of a second over the RWD version in a race to 60, but the numbers are pretty even for the quarter. The handling reportedly suffers a bit from the extra weight, and the braking is a little slower - the brakes are smaller for the x compared to the S editions.

 

[Viper GTS]

In the case of the G, the AWD version looks to have about two tenths of a second over the RWD version in a race to 60, but the numbers are pretty even for the quarter. The handling reportedly suffers a bit from the extra weight, and the braking is a little slower - the brakes are smaller for the x compared to the S editions.

And that 2/10 is purely from the launch. Five to sixty times would be interesting between the two.

Viper GTS

 

[Arkaign]

Aren't all of the G35x's Autos? I'd have to imagine a decent driver with the 6MT model would be faster in all cases than the 5AT models, AWD or not, so long as the tires aren't bald, and you're not trying to race on rain/ice

 

[MotF Bane]

Aren't all of the G35x's Autos? I'd have to imagine a decent driver with the 6MT model would be faster in all cases than the 5AT models, AWD or not, so long as the tires aren't bald, and you're not trying to race on rain/ice

All G3*x cars are automatics. Actually, I believe all Nissan and Infiniti vehicles with AWD are automatics, with the partial exception of the DCT GT-R.