Buy Certified Used, then it comes with a warranty. You can also buy a prepaid maintenance package if you are concerned about cashflow, and often even roll that into the loan. Good deals on certified used are when all the cars come off lease and the new model year is about to arrive (so now is a decent time to buy).

300hp BMW 3-series is overkill for around here. Fun to drive is a mix of performance and handling. The smaller engine on the BMW is fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are worried about maintenance, BMW comes with free maintenance for the first 4 years. If you can find a 1 year old BMW, that'd be your best bet.

Infinity is bottom of the barrel in terms of the luxury brands. Their styling is becoming more and more bland. Together with Nissan, their strategy is to sell new cars to people with less than ideal credit. This is why so many of them are turned back in still fairly new.

I have no experience with Audi, but have owned at least one or more BMW/MBs in the last 10 years. Based on my own experience and experience of other BMW/MB owners, the maintenance difference is minimal compared to the Honda and Toyotas that I've had. BMW maintenance is all included with the car for first 4 years, along with warranty means pretty much zero out of pocket other than tires and brake pads (if you ride your brakes). MB maintenance is not included, and I pay about $99 each year for an oil change. If I did it myself, the cost is about $50 for a new filter plus Mobile 1 from Walmart. Oil change on my Honda Odyssey is also yearly, at about $30 if I did it myself with Purolator 1 filter and Moblie 1.

OP here, I took a quick look at the BMW website. Seems like the most comparable car in terms of performance in the 3 series model with 300 HP with an MSRP of $37K. I took a look at the used models out there approximately 1 year old and they're listed for around $29-$31K with between 20K-30K miles.

To be honest, I don't really care about the tech features (lane assist, collision warning, panoramic backup camera). I'm happy with a car that's fun to drive.

PP here, I know it may be enticing, especially with the low price and apparent high power, feeling behind the wheel and etc. But there's a reason why Car and Drivers ranks the Infinity Q50 10th out of 12 for the entry level luxury sports sedan category, ranking higher than Buick Regal and the Lincoln MKZ, but lower than the Acura TLX, Vokswagen CC, and Volvo S60. You may really really want want a performance oriented luxury sedan, but the Infinity is not a good choice. I would hold out for a slightly more used 3 series with a sports package if driving dynamics nirvana is what you are looking for.

OP here. I don't claim to be an expert on this stuff but I have read that there are a lot of buggy issues with the tech in the Q50 that aren't present in the Q37/Q40. It's the first model year of the Q50 so maybe that's it but it's a different car in many respects (wire-guided steering, for example) from the G37/Q40.

My concern with the BMW is maintenance expenses over say a ten year period. I mean if you talk to most people on the street and you say BMW repairs people will nod and know it's big dollars. The other consideration is value for the money. Perhaps the BMW is nicer but the car doesn't need to be perfect, just a little fun. I'll do a little more research on the secondary market for the BMWs and see what's out there and perhaps give one a test drive.

Most people on the street accumulated their knowledge about car maintenance from hearsay around the water cooler. First, lets not mix up maintenance with reliability. Maintenance is well defined and you already know what's needed by each car and at what intervals. If you are afraid of the shop costs charged by BMW dealers once the car is out of warranty, there are plenty of trustworthy BMW and MB repair shops that a fellow owner can recommend. If you are buying used, you may also be interested in a certified pre-owned car that has warranty out to 100k miles.

As for dependability: I would suggest taking a look at this:

http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2015-vehicle-dependability-study

It seems that Infinity ranks just slightly better than BMW, and below Mercedes Benz. So if long term reliability scares you, I would say you should be equally concerned about getting an Infinity.

As for value for the money, any time you buy anything other than a retired police Crown Vic for more than $1500, you are not maximizing your value for the money. It's then up go you what is the most important to you. There's a reason why Infinity and Acura struggles in this segment - they are poseur brands that try to benchmark against the leaders, and fall far short. So they cling onto that vague concept of value, a good deal, but in the process fails to deliver the essence of what was promised.

Go test drive these cars, go spend some time sitting in them, smell the leather or leatherette, push the buttons, stroke the dash, put the transmissions in sport mode and see what happens.

Anonymous wrote:I loved my 2012 Infiniti G37 but DH made me get rid of it for something more "family friendly" and practical in the snow (mine was the RWD version). I would buy another one in a heartbeat. I agree the first year of the Q50, like pretty much any first model year, is probably buggy. Your maintenance costs and headaches are going to be much lower than with the German luxury cars.

The G handled beautifully and was pretty damn fast. I recommend.

Its fine for kids. Tell him to get an AWD and you get the fun car. (they do make AWD - ours is not and does fine in the snow). Its always important to have one fun and one practical care.

I loved my 2012 Infiniti G37 but DH made me get rid of it for something more "family friendly" and practical in the snow (mine was the RWD version). I would buy another one in a heartbeat. I agree the first year of the Q50, like pretty much any first model year, is probably buggy. Your maintenance costs and headaches are going to be much lower than with the German luxury cars.

The G handled beautifully and was pretty damn fast. I recommend.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The G37 is a fun car and often just leased. We had one gifted to us. The resale value was very low on a 3 year old car so they just gave it to us. My husband enjoys driving it. No issues with the car. Because of the bucket seats, car seats are doable, but hard. Its much nicer than a basic honda.

Thank you. Yeah, I really liked the 300+ HP engine compared to the Accord V6 and it handles really well.

Is the routine maintenance (oil changes, brakes, etc.) any more expensive than a regular car? While I'd rather a car that takes '87 gas the Infiniti is '91 premium recommended so at least it's not '93.

We fill it with premium 93. My husband does not like how it runs with the 91. We have had it a year and no problems. I do not think it is any more than our other cars. Oil changes are the same cost. I do not know much in terms of ours specs as we did not buy it or have choices. It does handle well, turns nicely. The gas pedal took me some getting used to but I only drive it on a rare occasion. We have no complaints and I think my husband would buy one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are worried about maintenance, BMW comes with free maintenance for the first 4 years. If you can find a 1 year old BMW, that'd be your best bet.

Infinity is bottom of the barrel in terms of the luxury brands. Their styling is becoming more and more bland. Together with Nissan, their strategy is to sell new cars to people with less than ideal credit. This is why so many of them are turned back in still fairly new.

I have no experience with Audi, but have owned at least one or more BMW/MBs in the last 10 years. Based on my own experience and experience of other BMW/MB owners, the maintenance difference is minimal compared to the Honda and Toyotas that I've had. BMW maintenance is all included with the car for first 4 years, along with warranty means pretty much zero out of pocket other than tires and brake pads (if you ride your brakes). MB maintenance is not included, and I pay about $99 each year for an oil change. If I did it myself, the cost is about $50 for a new filter plus Mobile 1 from Walmart. Oil change on my Honda Odyssey is also yearly, at about $30 if I did it myself with Purolator 1 filter and Moblie 1.

OP here, I took a quick look at the BMW website. Seems like the most comparable car in terms of performance in the 3 series model with 300 HP with an MSRP of $37K. I took a look at the used models out there approximately 1 year old and they're listed for around $29-$31K with between 20K-30K miles.

To be honest, I don't really care about the tech features (lane assist, collision warning, panoramic backup camera). I'm happy with a car that's fun to drive.

PP here, I know it may be enticing, especially with the low price and apparent high power, feeling behind the wheel and etc. But there's a reason why Car and Drivers ranks the Infinity Q50 10th out of 12 for the entry level luxury sports sedan category, ranking higher than Buick Regal and the Lincoln MKZ, but lower than the Acura TLX, Vokswagen CC, and Volvo S60. You may really really want want a performance oriented luxury sedan, but the Infinity is not a good choice. I would hold out for a slightly more used 3 series with a sports package if driving dynamics nirvana is what you are looking for.

OP here. I don't claim to be an expert on this stuff but I have read that there are a lot of buggy issues with the tech in the Q50 that aren't present in the Q37/Q40. It's the first model year of the Q50 so maybe that's it but it's a different car in many respects (wire-guided steering, for example) from the G37/Q40.

My concern with the BMW is maintenance expenses over say a ten year period. I mean if you talk to most people on the street and you say BMW repairs people will nod and know it's big dollars. The other consideration is value for the money. Perhaps the BMW is nicer but the car doesn't need to be perfect, just a little fun. I'll do a little more research on the secondary market for the BMWs and see what's out there and perhaps give one a test drive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are worried about maintenance, BMW comes with free maintenance for the first 4 years. If you can find a 1 year old BMW, that'd be your best bet.

Infinity is bottom of the barrel in terms of the luxury brands. Their styling is becoming more and more bland. Together with Nissan, their strategy is to sell new cars to people with less than ideal credit. This is why so many of them are turned back in still fairly new.

I have no experience with Audi, but have owned at least one or more BMW/MBs in the last 10 years. Based on my own experience and experience of other BMW/MB owners, the maintenance difference is minimal compared to the Honda and Toyotas that I've had. BMW maintenance is all included with the car for first 4 years, along with warranty means pretty much zero out of pocket other than tires and brake pads (if you ride your brakes). MB maintenance is not included, and I pay about $99 each year for an oil change. If I did it myself, the cost is about $50 for a new filter plus Mobile 1 from Walmart. Oil change on my Honda Odyssey is also yearly, at about $30 if I did it myself with Purolator 1 filter and Moblie 1.

OP here, I took a quick look at the BMW website. Seems like the most comparable car in terms of performance in the 3 series model with 300 HP with an MSRP of $37K. I took a look at the used models out there approximately 1 year old and they're listed for around $29-$31K with between 20K-30K miles.

To be honest, I don't really care about the tech features (lane assist, collision warning, panoramic backup camera). I'm happy with a car that's fun to drive.

PP here, I know it may be enticing, especially with the low price and apparent high power, feeling behind the wheel and etc. But there's a reason why Car and Drivers ranks the Infinity Q50 10th out of 12 for the entry level luxury sports sedan category, ranking higher than Buick Regal and the Lincoln MKZ, but lower than the Acura TLX, Vokswagen CC, and Volvo S60. You may really really want want a performance oriented luxury sedan, but the Infinity is not a good choice. I would hold out for a slightly more used 3 series with a sports package if driving dynamics nirvana is what you are looking for.

Anonymous wrote:Infinitis are very nice, reliable and fun driving cars. The only thing is that they tend to age rather badly (exterior wise) so that's why people tend to lease rather than buy.

I almost bought one, but decided to go with a BMW 3 series instead. My grandmother is still driving her 1994 Infiniti and it's in great shape.

OP here, what do you mean by that? Do you mean the paint chips off or that the car looks dated quickly?

Anonymous wrote:If you are worried about maintenance, BMW comes with free maintenance for the first 4 years. If you can find a 1 year old BMW, that'd be your best bet.

Infinity is bottom of the barrel in terms of the luxury brands. Their styling is becoming more and more bland. Together with Nissan, their strategy is to sell new cars to people with less than ideal credit. This is why so many of them are turned back in still fairly new.

I have no experience with Audi, but have owned at least one or more BMW/MBs in the last 10 years. Based on my own experience and experience of other BMW/MB owners, the maintenance difference is minimal compared to the Honda and Toyotas that I've had. BMW maintenance is all included with the car for first 4 years, along with warranty means pretty much zero out of pocket other than tires and brake pads (if you ride your brakes). MB maintenance is not included, and I pay about $99 each year for an oil change. If I did it myself, the cost is about $50 for a new filter plus Mobile 1 from Walmart. Oil change on my Honda Odyssey is also yearly, at about $30 if I did it myself with Purolator 1 filter and Moblie 1.

OP here, I took a quick look at the BMW website. Seems like the most comparable car in terms of performance in the 3 series model with 300 HP with an MSRP of $37K. I took a look at the used models out there approximately 1 year old and they're listed for around $29-$31K with between 20K-30K miles.

To be honest, I don't really care about the tech features (lane assist, collision warning, panoramic backup camera). I'm happy with a car that's fun to drive.

Infinitis are very nice, reliable and fun driving cars. The only thing is that they tend to age rather badly (exterior wise) so that's why people tend to lease rather than buy.

I almost bought one, but decided to go with a BMW 3 series instead. My grandmother is still driving her 1994 Infiniti and it's in great shape.

Anonymous wrote:The G37 is a fun car and often just leased. We had one gifted to us. The resale value was very low on a 3 year old car so they just gave it to us. My husband enjoys driving it. No issues with the car. Because of the bucket seats, car seats are doable, but hard. Its much nicer than a basic honda.

Thank you. Yeah, I really liked the 300+ HP engine compared to the Accord V6 and it handles really well.

Is the routine maintenance (oil changes, brakes, etc.) any more expensive than a regular car? While I'd rather a car that takes '87 gas the Infiniti is '91 premium recommended so at least it's not '93.

Anonymous wrote:If you are worried about maintenance, BMW comes with free maintenance for the first 4 years. If you can find a 1 year old BMW, that'd be your best bet.

Infinity is bottom of the barrel in terms of the luxury brands. Their styling is becoming more and more bland. Together with Nissan, their strategy is to sell new cars to people with less than ideal credit. This is why so many of them are turned back in still fairly new.

I have no experience with Audi, but have owned at least one or more BMW/MBs in the last 10 years. Based on my own experience and experience of other BMW/MB owners, the maintenance difference is minimal compared to the Honda and Toyotas that I've had. BMW maintenance is all included with the car for first 4 years, along with warranty means pretty much zero out of pocket other than tires and brake pads (if you ride your brakes). MB maintenance is not included, and I pay about $99 each year for an oil change. If I did it myself, the cost is about $50 for a new filter plus Mobile 1 from Walmart. Oil change on my Honda Odyssey is also yearly, at about $30 if I did it myself with Purolator 1 filter and Moblie 1.

Infiniti has the best tech. In fact their styling has gotten better not more bland. Of the Japanese Acura is the lower level of luxury with Lexus on top.

If you are worried about maintenance, BMW comes with free maintenance for the first 4 years. If you can find a 1 year old BMW, that'd be your best bet.

Infinity is bottom of the barrel in terms of the luxury brands. Their styling is becoming more and more bland. Together with Nissan, their strategy is to sell new cars to people with less than ideal credit. This is why so many of them are turned back in still fairly new.

I have no experience with Audi, but have owned at least one or more BMW/MBs in the last 10 years. Based on my own experience and experience of other BMW/MB owners, the maintenance difference is minimal compared to the Honda and Toyotas that I've had. BMW maintenance is all included with the car for first 4 years, along with warranty means pretty much zero out of pocket other than tires and brake pads (if you ride your brakes). MB maintenance is not included, and I pay about $99 each year for an oil change. If I did it myself, the cost is about $50 for a new filter plus Mobile 1 from Walmart. Oil change on my Honda Odyssey is also yearly, at about $30 if I did it myself with Purolator 1 filter and Moblie 1.

The G37 is a fun car and often just leased. We had one gifted to us. The resale value was very low on a 3 year old car so they just gave it to us. My husband enjoys driving it. No issues with the car. Because of the bucket seats, car seats are doable, but hard. Its much nicer than a basic honda.

Thinking about getting one of the lower level models (G37/G40). Seems like a ton of people lease these cars and then turn them back in after a year with less than 10K miles and these cars are available at substantial discounts. Buying new probably isn't an option because they eliminated the low end sedan models and now they only have the G50 with a starting MSRP of $37K. Even with a $4K discount add in destination and that's a little more than I want to pay. By contrast, I can get an almost new G37 with a few more options for around $22K (2 years old, 15K miles) or a G40 with a few more options (1 year old, under 10K miles) for $28K.

Anyone have any experience on the maintenance costs of these cars? I read a few of the car forums and the general consensus is that the maintenance is significantly less than a BMW/Audi/Benz. Anyone have any experience? I realize it won't be as reliable as an Accord but that's ok, I want something that's a little more fun to drive.