Pretty clean, seemingly well kept, 2005 Infiniti 6MT G35 - 202K - $6500

I saw the CarFax before posting and assumed the repair is fairly minor considering how expensive parts and labour are nowadays.

Looks clean on the outside, but the listing's missing interior shots which seems suspicious.

I heard the mercedes 48v implementation has been a disaster in terms of reliability compared to the others.

Huh interesting, per this doc the E53 isn't a real AMG. Or perhaps I should say there's a differentiation, under "Performance & Handling" it says that the E53 has an AMG-enhanced engine, whereas the E63 says Handcrafted AMG engine.

Also Brilliant Blue Magno goes hard... found my new fav colour

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...41051d07_b.jpg

Edit: Oh no. I'm in the depths of looking at designo (pts/individual) colours.

Designo Mystic Blue
https://forums.mbclub.co.uk/data/att...ash=wsxxEDNnBg

Designo (Sprinter) Steel Blue
https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/...all&quality=85

Yes, they use a tuned 6 cyl and especially if they didn't have the driver pack like in the C43 you drove, its more demure than feral (but so is a M340i imo).

Personally, I enjoy the 43 Driver Pack experience to the 63. A lot less heavy and the 63 has its own issues that don't make it that fun to drive

My Dad is at that age where he's starting to not be careful enough about things, he's rubbed the corner on a car just the other day (left a note and paying for repair, but better if it never happens) and he has a 2003 Highlander...

He's super resistant to change in any form and could easily afford a garage full of Ferraris but he's stuck on his 2003 Highlander... but he's willing to consider getting something new when it was suggested by his mechanic, not by any of us directly related of course lol... he is interested in something with 360 camera.

I would think given stubbornness, he will want to stick to Toyota/Lexus and not much bigger than a 03 Highlander... which by todays standards is probably the NX350? I'm not crazy about the 2.4 engine.

Any suggestions for a good buy in that range of a mid size SUV? Don't even bother suggesting German cars, he's a Toyota or Japanese loyalist. Not into hybrids either. I'm a little out of touch on this segment tbh. I guess in Toyota's range there's kind of only the Venza and the NX... need to do some research when I have time to see when the NX went to a 4 cylinder might consider something slightly used... but perhaps one of you gents has some insight.

I don't like driving them but the outgoing MY24 4Runner or GX460.

I don't trust any of the Toyota powertrains at the moment:

RAV4 Hybrid/Prime are still having cable corrosion issues (-MY22 had a TSB, MY23/24 still having issues and it's a 6-11k repair). Likely affects Venza/NX as well.

2.4T is hella loud.

Twin Turbo V6 is having issues, though mostly in gas form.

Yah a neighbour was selling a 22 4-Runner and I was trying to get him to buy it even tho, likewise I don't particularly enjoy the driving experience... but he seemed to think it was a bit too big.

I guess on the bright side the 2.4T being loud might not matter, when we think of new cars its from the perspective of other brand new cars... but probably almost anything is going to feel refined compared to a 21 year old Highlander with 300k on it hahaha

Think dad will notice if you don't tell him that he's driving a hybrid?
Some of the V6 hybrid lexus models (RX?) might be up his alley

In general though, the Lexus 360 cameras and parking sensors are pretty bad.
The rear sensors / 360 cam missed a whole pole during a RX test drive.

2020-2023 lexus RX with a V6. Made in Canada if he wants to be patriotic.
Non hybrid CR-V, RAV4, CX-5? It’s funny how these “compact” suv are now the same size as a 2003 highlander.

He'd probably notice haha he's an electrical engineer by trade... my sister has a gas RAV-4 he likes that for the most part save for the engine being a bit weak and generally being a bit low rent

I was going to suggest the turbo CX-5 to him to see if he's keen on Mazda... I think it's the most dynamic of the bunch but not sure how their tech is... you're right they're about the same size as his '03 now... the new Highlanders are gigantic by comparison

The last gen Toyota and Mazda 360 cam are way more confusing than they are helpful.
Objects look very very weird shape in them.

Latest gen Toyota/Lexus not perfect but ok.

Hard to find something that's small, durable, and worry-free with a potent Japnaese engine... Think the current RAV4/NX and Venza are probably it as options if he doesn't want to step into something larger like a RX/GX/4Runner.

I would choose a Venza between those options.

Why is the 360 Camera in the 9k Ultra Luxury package on the NX ?
A really good one was standard in the cloth seat F150 Lightning

Leather seats, heated rear seats and 4 way lumbar is in the 14k executive package?

I find 360 cams on anything that's not Audi/Merc/BMW to be rather pointless as the resolution is extremely poor. I had a rental Mazda 3 that had 360 cam and it gets dirty to the point that the car says it can't be used either.

It sounds like he need something smaller but retain the 200hp/200tq that the Highlander has. Is he adamant about not getting EV? Cause Dark might have some Kona EVs that he'd be interested in I think.

I personally would say throw him in a new X1 with 360 cam, but the UI on those things are terribad. Maybe a Toyota b4ZX? Find something smaller and with power.

BZ4x is low key the car you give someone you hate - it barely charges in the winter (20kw "fast charging" while an Ioniq 5's pulling 230kw)

Ioniq's got a great 360 Camera, puts the blind spot cameras on the instrument cluster, etc. in the event that shoulder/neck/back mobility gets worse.
Retains physical controls for HVAC/media (unlike Kia)

G01 LCI is probably palatable since it doesn't have the latest iDrive that puts 50000 climate controls in the touch screen
Full car PPF below the beltline to keep the bumpers and panels safe

PPF is great for door dings and rock chips, I don't find them particularly useful against scrapes as you'll have a cut up and peeling PPF that you can't polish out by hand, and costs more to paint and replace the PPF as well.

There's a very small subset of car on car collision which PPF may help, but anymore than that it doesn't.

FYI for 68style’s dad, you can convince him to go EV there’s a fire sale on chevy equinox EV lease. 48months for $470/month

Make sure to lease these, their batteries are 2-2.5 gen behind what is being developed.

On a 48 month lease:
Equinox LT: ~500/mo taxes in, 3k incentive from GM + 1200 costco
- power liftgate, 360 cam, heated steering etc.

Blazer LT AWD: ~635 taxes in, 5k GM incentive + 1200 costco
- same equipment as equinox

Lyriq Tech RWD (5500 MRSP credit, 1k GM BC incentive, 1200 Costco)
- Need upgrade trim to Luxury for 360 cam, adaptive cruise, AKG sound,e tc.

- 48 Months: 757 (luxury is 844)
- 24 Months: 784 (luxury is 902)

Nissan kicks :lawl:

just curious why cx5 and not cx50? i test drove the cx50 last week and i like it.

interior seems pretty luxurious, cant remember if its real leather or fake but its a nice space to be in. comfortable front seat, ok rears but roomy for a midsize. it doesnt appear to have less head room even though the roof is lower than the cx5.

the steering is heavy, gives it a sporty feel but even the turbo is pretty gutless. i will assume your dad will ok with the power coming from a old highlander

reverse/360 camera is ok reminds me of bmw idrive5/6 but nothing compared to current toyota which i think is pretty damn good.

imo the cx50 is the best looking suv/crossover in Mazda's lineup.

I personally like how the CX50 looks too, but I actually thought the interior was kinda crap on it and it's built in the USA... CX-5 has a nicer interior despite being an older design and is built in Japan stilll

I guess if you want to keep it Japanese, the newer Toyota stuff or Mazda would be ok.

Personally, I think the Mazda ride kinda rough, kinda cramped, lease poorly compared to an X3/Q5... but they also just hit the X3 with an ugly stick and confusing infotainment for the newest generation.

- CX50 Turbo GT: 57k taxes in and 748/mo lease
- CX5 Signature: 54k taxes in and 723/mo

- X3 Loaner w/ Premium Enhanced, HUD, Autoparking,: 812
- X3 M40i Loaner w/ Premium Enhanced: 1031

For 2025, the BMW options got a lot cheaper

Before:
1) $5k for PP Essential
2) $8k for PP Enhanced for HUD/Autopark
3) $2.5k for Driving Assist....
4) $2k for Parking Assistant


Now:
You get 12.5k of value for 5k:
- 360 Camera and autopark
- Adaptive Cruise with traffic light detection
- "Upgraded" audio
- Steering and lane control

New options:
- New driver aid package: hands of up to 100kmh, adds traffic light detection, points out cyclist/pedestrians when turning
- New parking package: adds remote parking from phone/when outside car
- Matrix LED headlights ($500)
- Ventilated States now unbundled ($900)

Someone tell me about P car packages.