Rob O

So I'm going to go drive an '05 G35 Coupe (6MT) at lunch. the motor now has 300hp (298 officially) and the interior has been redone and upgraded (real aluminum bits now instead of painted plastic). I love the sound, the styling is nice and it has usable (for my kids) back seats. Since we have an XC90, I don't really *need* the utility offered by my Avant any more. Truth be told, I'd rather have the 350Z as a bargain toy, but with kids I need the G's back seats.

I'd been toying with the idea of a B6 S4 Avant or C55 AMG, or even an E46 M3. But I can pick up an '05 G-coupe for next to nothing ($35k with Nav out the door!). Throw a suspension on it and some fat-lipped 19's (it comes with forged 19s, but they're a bit ugly) and it'll likely be trouble free fun for the next couple of years.

Nothing on the market really excites me all that much. I LOVE my S4 Avant. However, I'm at 60k miles and know the $1,300 timing belt/water pump service is looming and I'm ready for a new clutch. Mostly, though, I'm not looking forward to turbo replacement ... which we all know will have to happen sooner or later. I hate being out of warranty.

I took delivery of my car on 2/17/01 and it has 60k miles on it (59,967). That's the longest I've ever owned a car (time-wise or mileage-wise) and I think part of me is just ready to move on to something else. Unless I were to step up and get a 997 or wait for the B7 RS4, I'll probably regret whatever I buy next. :-/

Other options include the V70R, also a bargain buy if not quite an S4 Avant, or <gulp> Chrysler 300C SRT8 (did I just say that?).

Advice?

<img src="http://www.config.infiniti.com/img/m/config/i/csx_g35c_05_ax6.jpg">

Disappear lika Ghost

Darin in Chicago made the switch, and now is back with another S4. Ask him. :-)

[badmoon]

I wasn't blown away when I drove the G35 6sp sedan back when it was 260hp...I'd be interested in knowing if they've made significant changes.

2000s4biturbo::Uli

i always asked myself.."if i would have bought the g35 would i have been happy enough to not buy another s4...?" i think the answer is no, for me anyway. i like they way they look, i like the sound, i like the sportiness.... but i dont go to the track everyday. i like the s4 soo much more, thats why i got another one. by all means go test drive it, i didnt go drive one. i drove the 350z once and said order it in blue.

oldyellar

and they loved it. My bro in-law has an 04' 4 door and loves evry bit of it. The only trouble he had was brakes that only lasted about 12k miles. They recognized the problem and have given him 4 brake jobs so far under warranty. And 20 more hp is all the better!

RKA

that knocks the cost down to a reasonable $400, but you'll have to sacrifice a saturday to do it.

The turbos...well, that's a gamble if you hold onto the car. Figure $4k to replace them? You could equate that to the depreciation of a new car when you drive it off the lot.

The clutch...yeah, that's gonna hurt.

The desire for a new car...that's a though one. But, if the 997 is something you think will make you happy (I know it would make me happy!), postpone the purchase of the car for a bit, pocket the money until the time is right, and get the 997 (maybe even a certified one in a year or so?).

davenew

He drives his old honda to work on rainy days.

Rob O

I could be convinced to buy an Aston AMv8 when available, but probably couldn't convince my bank to back me. ;-)

Less than the cost of pending service or potential turbo replacement for me is the hassle. And as much as I love my car, I know as it grows longer in the tooth I'll be tempted more and more to buy something else ... so I might as well make the move now while my car is highly marketable.

Or maybe I just go full Stage III with an RS4 wide-body conversion! :-P

TwinTurboTerror

Wasn't at all impressed with my dad's 350Z compared to my S4.

Rob O

As I mentioned in my reply below, it's not so much the cost as the hassle. Plus, if I'm staring at $5k or so in service/repair I might as well put that toward something new and under warranty.

Part of my justification for something cheap like a G-Coupe is that the B7 RS4 is about two model years out. I could slum it in a G until the RS4 is introduced, see what it ends up being (spec, performance, design) and decide then on jumping back into the Audi family.

The 997 would be a tough sell on the wife. I could theoretically buy one now (if you could find one in the spec you want), but she'd hang it over my head daily. She thinks you graduate to Porsche worthiness at 45 ... so I have a few years. ;-)