Have read some threads here and there on this forum and wanted to register and ask for the advice and thoughts of people who might have cross-shopped these cars.

I'm looking at a 2011 G37 coupe, low miles, all the usual bells and whistles, versus a 2010 MB E350 coupe with not quite as low mileage and lots of options -- but not as many as the G37. Basically what the G37 has, minus HID lighting, backup camera, and parking sonar. Both are priced in the high $30k range as far as what the dealership's asking; the G37 is overpriced, as far as I can tell, so there is that.

Both are CPO.

I've test driven both briefly and enjoyed both. The E350 was a bit smoother over bumps; road noise seemed to come out in the wash in my head; the G37 is a little more fun to drive, but the MB has that typical Mercedes composure.

I know I'm on an Infiniti forum but thought I'd ask for thoughts here, since my gut had me going for the G37 for a long time, but the E350 is pretty solid in its own right. Thanks in advance.

 

Buy what you like and can afford. I've never solicited opinions from other people as to what I should buy, be it a car or anything else. I don't have a problem knowing exactly what I want.

 

Buy the Mercedes.

 

Appreciate the feedback. @Bigrez, would be curious as to why you say that.

 

all comes down to what you want in a car right now. i decided on the g37 because i wanted a car that handled well and i could take it on backroad rides just for fun. definitely in the IPL its not a "smooth" ride, but its great fun to take around tight corners and accelerate out.

i'm slowly toning down the pure drivers car into a more comfortable luxury performance, used to own a lancer evo x. the e class for mercedes is on my next list of potential cars. its definitely great looking and would be a perfect daily driver, but as you said, not as fun to drive spiritedly.

between the two, i would suggest a g37s (for the upgraded suspension and brakes) if you want a drive it like a sports car once in a while and the e350 if you are looking for a great highway cruiser. i wouldnt recommend the regular g37 over the e350 if they are priced/optioned similarly.

 

I recommend learning all about Mercedes' maintenance schedule. They have some very expensive maintenance packages....easy to drop over $1k on a simple visit. Of course it all depends on if you are buying for the long haul, just going to own for a few years, or leasing. Or maybe the money just doesn't matter.

I only know this after listening to a coworker complain about his E350 for the last two years before he finally gave up and sold it a couple months ago. He's a backyard mechanic too, just completely rebuilt a GTO.

 

no brainer, g37

repairs on german cars are unreal, and over engineered,

prepare to spend 500.00 for a battery and take 4 hours doing it !

 

Check out Mercedes service reliability the past 5-8 years .... not what they used to be. Go with the Infiniti.

 

Thanks, all. Compounding the issue is the fact that the city to which I'm moving soon has an MB dealer, so warranty work would be easy, but no Infiniti dealer. I would be able to get routine service at a local Nissan shop, but any warranty work would have to be taken to a place roughly an hour down the road.

What I'll be doing will have me working very long hours.

Then again, the Infiniti has under 10k miles; the MB is a bit over 20k.

Would that change things for anyone?

 

10 or 20k miles isn't much for either car.

 

Nissan dealers can service Infinitis too.

 

Sure, and that's what they told me as well, but it's the warranty side of things that concerned me. The dealership told me that any warranty claims would have to be taken an hour away.

 

A Mercedes is like a old man cruiser and the G is sporty cruiser. They are both in completely different fields. Now if you look at the C-class coupe then it still isn't on the same level but closer...

 

I like the styling of the E350 coupe (as long as it has the sport package), but the maintenance costs on a Benz are A LOT more expensive than on the G. I've had a 2007 C280 and a 2010 C300 Sport in the past. In order to keep the warranty in tact you have to take the car to the dealer for the maintenance packages...I think every 10K miles. Each one can cost anywhere from $200-$600 depending on what is required at the time. Even a simple oil change is over $100. Once the warranty expires, you can go anywhere you want for oil changes...but until then you have to go to a dealer. Then you have to take into account how much repairs are going to cost once the warranty expires. When considering a german car, you can't just look at the cost of buying/leasing the vehicle...you HAVE to consider maintenance costs as well.

 

Thanks very much. If they're willing to go down a bit on the Infiniti pricing, I'd be happy with the car.

(Actual doc or just a username?)