Time for a new car

[GoCougs]

I was talking with a BMW owner at the autoX this past weekend and he mentioned that not only is the water pump considered a "maintenance item" to be replaced at 60K miles (which I've heard before), but apparently the whole fracking radiator needs to be replaced after 60K miles because it also somehow wears out.  That right there is reason enough for me to never buy a used BMW.  Or even a new BMW.  It's bad enough that they apparently can't build a water pump that will last 100K miles like pretty much every other carmaker can, but they can't even make a radiator that will last more than 60K miles?  And this from a company that prides itself in engineering excellence?  What a joke.

And how DARE you for wanting to check the oil yourself.

[SVT666]

Did? How do you know it's already beat up?

I was referring to the old model.  It had a shitty interior.

[GoCougs]

You sure about that being a good deal? Within 30 miles of Seattle I'm finding loads of 2010 G37X (albeit non sport models) for ~$25k - $26k (meaning, you should walk away for 10-15% less easily), and all pretty much have way less than 50k miles...

[SVT666]

About MY2009. There were moderate upgrades in MY2010 - better interior switchgear (doors), better seat heater controls (7 settings rather than just hi/low), less garish gauges (no more goofy blue), better looking white LCD readout (no more goofy red), better climate control, better iPod/iPhone integration (there have been problems with the '09 actually even working with iPhones), streaming Bluetooth audio, updated NAV unit, better AT performance.

I have driven the 2009, 2010, and the 2011 G37 sedan.

- Switchgear is not noticeably different from 2009 to 2010.
- Seat heater controls are unchanged from 2009 to 2010 (7 settings)
- I like the goofy blue.
- The red LED doesn't bother me, but yeah, white is nicer.
- I see no difference in the climate controls
- Ipod integration means nothing to us since we don't have any iPods
- 2009 has Bluetooth as well
- NAV units gets upgraded every year don't they?
- There is no noticeable difference in AT performance between 2009 and 2010 that I could tell.  Whatever the changes they were minimal.  2011 received a big upgrade in transmission programming though, and I'm hoping to get my transmission programming updated.

About the "sport" model. The ground effects hang down low, which was a bit of a    for the AWD model and ride quality (and snow prowess) decreases with the 18" wheels (I passed on the S model because of this). Other than this maybe bigger brakes all you get is the paddle shifters.

The S gives you a different steering ratio and different steering wheel rim, different brakes, the magnesium paddle shifters, 18" wheels, better seats, revised lower bodywork, and I think there is slightly revised suspension settings.

About the warranty. At least in the US, it's 4 yrs/60k for bumper-to-bumper, so it's just about up for that car. Perhaps it has the extended factory warranty (but those are sorta worthless anyway).

The warranty is good for another 25,000 kms.  So about a year.

[SVT666]

You sure about that being a good deal? Within 30 miles of Seattle I'm finding loads of 2010 G37X (albeit non sport models) for ~$25k - $26k (meaning, you should walk away for 10-15% less easily), and all pretty much have way less than 50k miles...

I have to pay a 6.1% duty on non NAFTA vehicles.  Plus the import charges and any modifications that need to be made for Canadian compliance and suddenly I'm paying the same or more.  Also, none of those cars you found are white and that was non-negotiable for us.  It's the only colour on the G that we both really like.  Also, when I searched Autotrader, I only found 13 2009 and 2010s.  Only 3 were cheaper and they had fewer options and they were only a grand or two less which means I'll end up paying more for those.  The others were all more expensive.

As an added bonus, my car was privately owned and not by a fleet.   I did a title search and then googled the guy.  He's a dentist in Vancouver.

[hotrodalex]

the only 'SPINner I can think of capable of legit 9/10ths performance driving is ChrisV.

MexicoCityM3?

[Eye of the Tiger]

LOL.  I bet 9/10ths of us could get up to 9/10ths after 9 or 10 laps around a track.

[CALL_911]

The facelift also looks much better. I'm with Cougs on this one.

[CALL_911]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Infiniti-G37-Sedan-Premium-2010-Infiniti-G37x-Sedan-AWD-Premium-Pkg-NAVIGATION-Bluetooth-Bose-/180902891779?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2a1ea71103#ht_34495wt_1165

This would be poifect for you, SVT.

[SVT666]

Yeah, except it's in Chicago, and I'm nowhere near it, and I don't buy cars off eBay.

[68_427]

[GoCougs]

If I had to do it over I'd do white. I had a white G as a loaner and fell in love with the color. I'd go with the optional 18" 7 split-spoke wheels:

[SVT666]

Here are a couple photos the dealer sent me.

[GoCougs]

Looks good but man, be careful with that stone/wheat interior. Just look at it funny and it'll get stained...

[CJ]

Looks good but man, be careful with that stone/wheat interior. Just look at it funny and it'll get stained...

This.  Don't wear jeans. 

[68_427]

No wood trim? 

[SVT666]

No wood trim? 

No.  Aluminum trim.

[CALL_911]

No.  Aluminum trim.

Aluminium trim is much better, IMO.

[SVT666]

Aluminium trim is much better, IMO.

Me too.

[68_427]

Not sure I've ever seen aluminum trim that looked upscale.

[CALL_911]

Not sure I've ever seen aluminum trim that looked upscale.

Save for some high end cars, I've never seen wood trim that didn't look as fake as a Burberry bag that hailed from Canal St.

[Lebowski]

Save for some high end cars, I've never seen wood trim that didn't look as fake as a Burberry bag that hailed from Canal St.

+1

Wood generally only looks good in the high end models, IMO.

[MrH]

Save for some high end cars, I've never seen wood trim that didn't look as fake as a Burberry bag that hailed from Canal St.

The open pour wood stuff is the classiest trim out there.

[CJ]

Pore.

[Raza]

I was talking with a BMW owner at the autoX this past weekend and he mentioned that not only is the water pump considered a "maintenance item" to be replaced at 60K miles (which I've heard before), but apparently the whole fracking radiator needs to be replaced after 60K miles because it also somehow wears out.  That right there is reason enough for me to never buy a used BMW.  Or even a new BMW.  It's bad enough that they apparently can't build a water pump that will last 100K miles like pretty much every other carmaker can, but they can't even make a radiator that will last more than 60K miles?  And this from a company that prides itself in engineering excellence?  What a joke.

And people want me to get a Z4?  Great, get a low mileage one, and in a year, spend $4000 to replace the water pump and radiator. 

[SVT666]

Well, the deal is dead.  I was looking at the pictures of the interior that the dealer sent me and the driver's seat looked like the colour wasn't quite right.  I chalked it up to shadows, but after you a couple of you guys mentioned the taupe interior gets stained easily, I asked the salesman if the seat was stained.  He said it has some discolouration and that it looked like it was from clothes dye.  I asked if they could get it out, and he said no.  If the seats stain that easily, then my kids will make a total mess of it...and besides, I don't want to pay good money for a car with stained seats.

[GoCougs]

The carpet, floor mats, and doors would take/have already taken a beating too. 'Tis why I will always get black interior despite it being a bit dour (which is hard to find on some G sedans such as white and slate blue like mine).

[hotrodalex]

That's sweet.

[SVT666]

The carpet, floor mats, and doors would take/have already taken a beating too. 'Tis why I will always get black interior despite it being a bit dour (which is hard to find on some G sedans such as white and slate blue like mine).

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking now too.

[CALL_911]

Find a facelifted one!