feed back on these cars (bmw, infinity, nissian)

[beppy]

looking to get used cars. $20k range.

manual transmission.
1. 2006+ BMW 330i(xi)
2. 2006+ BMW 325i(xi)
3. G35 coupe
4. nissian 350z

Looking at the following used cars. anybody here with knowledgable advice on these cars? What kind of maintainence cost would i need to pay for these and how much? what kind of major cost are expectred for these cars. brakes? clutch? and how much.

also if you have any other selections let me know. just want to here other member's experience with these cars, and opinions on it.

[nico5772]

you could get a new altima coupe. a beautiful and fast car!

[ph4tb0i]

or a brand new genesis coupe? msrp on the base is 24.5 and you'd be getting a pretty good brand new car too!

[c_snapper]

you could get a new altima coupe. a beautiful and fast car!

not quite...the OP's budget of around 20k, altima coupe starts at 27k for the 2.5, and it's not a fast car at all....

to op,
the bimmers are alright cars, just try to get them cpo or it's in good shape...

the G is nice, and the 350 is a ***** to be a daily driver cuz it's such a sports car...

[stealth]

The 350z is odd man out in that list as its the only 2 seater.

[beppy]

i test drove the genesis coupe 2.0t. didn't like it, very underwhelming. price is good though.


dont really like how the altima coupe looks. also didn't think it was that fast of a car.

[npinc]

I really do like BMW, but repairs are MAD STUPID expensive. Check Consumer Reports. I'm thinking of buying one myself, but I noticed there are good and bad years, good and bad models. It should be easy to get a good price on them for the year.

Not sure about Infinity. It's a Nissan, so should be great, but they age SO fast. If you're looking for the flash appeal, you'll look like an idiot or a gangster driving a 3 year old Infinity.

That 350z is a sexy car. I love them. Repairs are expensive, but man, how often does a Nissan break? Like, almost never? The convertible Z is awesome. I'd love one myself. Wicked looking car and won't age as hard as an Infinity.

[Pete_Coach]

I owned a 2005 325i and can say that it was one of the best, if not the best car I ever owned. The 2006 was the first year of the model change and is slightly different to mine bit it is a great car too.
Thing is, you don't really know how good a car it is until you are almost at the point of losing control and the BMW is at it's best at the limit but, it is also fun to drive all the time. They are really right when they say that BMW is a drivers machine. The 330 is crazy powerful and just feels so good to drive.
I am not one who judges a car by the watts in the stereo or the gadgets on the dashboard so I cannot speak to the accessories that seem to be important to many others, I just know if you are a driver, you cannot go wrong with the BMW.
As for repairs, well all cars are expensive to fix. Dealers are more so than independent shops because dealers will always bring the vehicle up to specs and independents can just repair the car (there is a difference). Any car in this category or class will be more expensive than your typical Civic but then again, it is much more car than those as well. I never found my ownership of my Bimmer any more expensive than any of the other cars I have owned.

[npinc]

I owned a 2005 325i and can say that it was one of the best, if not the best car I ever owned. The 2006 was the first year of the model change and is slightly different to mine bit it is a great car too.
Thing is, you don't really know how good a car it is until you are almost at the point of losing control and the BMW is at it's best at the limit but, it is also fun to drive all the time. They are really right when they say that BMW is a drivers machine. The 330 is crazy powerful and just feels so good to drive.
I am not one who judges a car by the watts in the stereo or the gadgets on the dashboard so I cannot speak to the accessories that seem to be important to many others, I just know if you are a driver, you cannot go wrong with the BMW.
As for repairs, well all cars are expensive to fix. Dealers are more so than independent shops because dealers will always bring the vehicle up to specs and independents can just repair the car (there is a difference). Any car in this category or class will be more expensive than your typical Civic but then again, it is much more car than those as well. I never found my ownership of my Bimmer any more expensive than any of the other cars I have owned.

How are you finding the Mercedes in comparison?

[mr_raider]

How are you finding the Mercedes in comparison?

Be careful now. Pete is in the auto repair business. He is much less likely to get screwed than joe schmoe who walks in to a dealership and drops his keys off at the service counter.

[beppy]

Ya BMW are expensive but how does the 350 and g35 compare. Are their maintainence comparatively less than the 3.series? After all they are all luxury cars.

[EP32k2]

German cars have electrical issues and it all stems from that crap BOSCH components that they keep using. I would put Nissan reliablility near the bottom of *** manufacturers.

That said, BMW parts aren't really that much more expensive if at all compared to Infinity, Lexus and Acura.

[Pete_Coach]

How are you finding the Mercedes in comparison?

I like it very much but for different reasons. I am less prone to get a ticket, it is slightly larger inside and a bit softer ride. An lastly, even though the Mercedes dealers are a bit on the egotistical side, ther=y were slightly less than the BMW dealers in my area.

Be careful now. Pete is in the auto repair business. He is much less likely to get screwed than joe schmoe who walks in to a dealership and drops his keys off at the service counter.

No, I am no longer in the business. I am less apt to be screwed not just because of my background but because I ask questions of the guy who want to fix my car and ask for alternatives in each and every case. I will never let the guy tell me there is only one solution. If they cannot provide other solutions, then, in my opinion, they do not possess sufficient knowledge of the vehicle or vehicle maintenance.

German cars have electrical issues and it all stems from that crap BOSCH components that they keep using. I would put Nissan reliablility near the bottom of *** manufacturers.

That said, BMW parts aren't really that much more expensive if at all compared to Infinity, Lexus and Acura.

You really have no idea do you? Did someone tell you that once? FYI, Bosch have been supplying parts for not just German cars but North American cars for decades. GM wouldn't have had fuel injection in the beginning if it wasn't for Bosch.
Your last sentence is correct and you could add in any SUV, any higher end GM, Ford, Chrysler or any vehicle for that matter. Quality parts cost money, regardless of vehicle type.

[EP32k2]

You really have no idea do you? Did someone tell you that once? FYI, Bosch have been supplying parts for not just German cars but North American cars for decades. GM wouldn't have had fuel injection in the beginning if it wasn't for Bosch.

Well since you don't know me, I'll take the time to explain. Firstly, in my family we have had BMW, MB and Audi....all of them have had electrical issues of some sort. My friend who is a BMW fanatic and also has a 911 has had electrical issues. The worse was when his ABS went on the 911 (55,000kms). Had to replace the brain and sensors which came out to a whopping $5000+.
My dad's friends E90 which was only 2 months old spend a month with BMW because the car wouldn't start. In the end they replaced the computer. I can go on and on and on. Telling me that BOSCH was the first to bring fuel injection is irrelevant to what I said. I'm not questioning BOSCH innovation. Reliablity on BOSCH components are crap period.

The japs (mostly Toyota and Honda) use Denso and is a far superior product in terms of reliability. Not trying to sound like some *** bandwagoner, I'm far from it...just stating facts that cannot be disputed.

Out of the cars picked by the OP, I would go with the 330i. It drives and handles the best out of the bunch.

[Pete_Coach]

Well since you don't know me, I'll take the time to explain. Firstly, in my family we have had BMW, MB and Audi....all of them have had electrical issues of some sort. My friend who is a BMW fanatic and also has a 911 has had electrical issues. The worse was when his ABS went on the 911 (55,000kms). Had to replace the brain and sensors which came out to a whopping $5000+.
My dad's friends E90 which was only 2 months old spend a month with BMW because the car wouldn't start. In the end they replaced the computer. I can go on and on and on. Telling me that BOSCH was the first to bring fuel injection is irrelevant to what I said. I'm not questioning BOSCH innovation. Reliablity on BOSCH components are crap period.

The japs (mostly Toyota and Honda) use Denso and is a far superior product in terms of reliability. Not trying to sound like some *** bandwagoner, I'm far from it...just stating facts that cannot be disputed.

Out of the cars picked by the OP, I would go with the 330i. It drives and handles the best out of the bunch.

You are correct, I do not know you. Never said I did, nor am I interested.
It is a shame your acquaintances have had so much problems with their vehicles. The more gadgets and electronics there are in vehicles, the more is to go wrong. More often than not, it is integration of the electronic systems that is at the root of the problems as opposed to the individual components. Yes, it is is still electronics.
I too have a friend who had huge issues with ABS, cost him several trips to the dealer, replacement of wheel components and then eventually the computer as well...oh, it was a Chrysler Sebring (pre Mercedes involvement).
Anyway, if all your friends and family have had all those problems with all those Bosch equipped cars, and still buy them again and again...somewhat like self flagellation isn't it?
Fact is, no vehicle is free of electronic gremlins and the more integrated the electronics and systems become, the more gadgetry is added to the systems the more the electronics become the source of every problem.