Infiniti G35 vs Mazda RX-8 vs Genesis Coupe // $10,000 Question

in acceleration we drive a variety of vehicles so we try to get into the mindset of the buyers of those vehicles and with these cars 5 or 10 years ago that would have been us now that includes generation Z so we had to do a little bit He investigates and uh yes, he has a nice method, what's up, family? I respect your pronouns, but I don't respect you as the person you're looking at. I'm Thomas and I'm James, and it's time to find out what affordable sports car. should you buy people always ask us what sports car should i buy if i have around $10,000 and our answer is always the same should you buy a Subaru BRZ or a Scion FR FRS because they are cool and you can get them for around $110,000 but maybe you want something that's a little more luxurious but still sporty, you can get an Infiniti G35, but what if you wanted something a little newer, something from the last decade?

You could get a Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 V6, it's a powerful car or maybe you want something that's a little weird, quirky and fun, something that doesn't have any cylinders, you can get a Mazda RX8, but only one of these cars almost got my back. money the day it was the Infiniti G35, so I'm not going to take a walk, this is the Infiniti G35, it has everything we need, naturally aspirated engine, rear wheel drive and manual transmission, and the Infiniti does all that and at At the same time it's a luxury car, so when this 2004 example was new, it actually cost us about $3,000.

We've borrowed this particular one from our friends at Clarks and Fine Cars, where it will be on sale soon and is a very good example, but we looked to autotempest.com, who kindly sponsored this video. and using their search tools that scan a bunch of different sites at once from all over, we found g35 with healthy mileage for around $10,000 10 grand for that money you get a proper 280 horsepower rear wheel drive

coupe

, which, believe it or not, is actually on a version of the same platform as the new Nissan Z, whether that means the G35 was ahead of its time or Nissan ran out of money.

I'll let you decide that this car is actually quite important in Thomas' world. Spying on sports cars because in the past, I actually bought this with the BMW E46, which is a car that I finally bought and then I started this whole channel, but before that I couldn't afford either the G35 or the BMW E46, so I bought a Nissan Ultima Coupe which had the same 3.5L V6 as this G35. It's the vq35de known for a couple of things it burns oil and makes a half decent noise and some good power. It's not slow, it's fast enough and the biggest difference now that I am. in this, after many years, compared to my Ultima that I had, it had a CVT, it has a manual transmission, yes, that is much better because it is a good manual transmission, this whole transmission is like the 350 Z, which is a Pretty good little sports car.

Car I have always liked the G35. It's sort of a non-German answer to a straight-line luxury sports

coupe

. It's a great car. Lots of power. Decent noise. The manual transmission. The clutch is a little heavy, but other than that, it's a lot of fun. drive, but what interested me most about this car was that it is a fundamentally well-designed and good-handling car. It actually says Advanced front midship on the fire blanket over the engine, indicating that most of the mass of this engine is behind the front. axle that gives a weight distribution close to 50/50, what is that?

What is happening? Yeah, sorry, part of our research with all of Gen Z, attention spans are decreasing, so they started putting these game things next to someone explaining something, okay? Don't worry about that, carry on fine anyway, since I was saying the G35's handling is very good, maybe a little spicy, if you don't know what you're doing, it actually turned out to be close to a 50/50 weight distribution. fifty. on me going around in one on a test drive in the past uh no sorry G Nissan yeah I never told you that but it's okay although because of the limitations statue I'm protected yeah yeah sorry you said? statue of limitations yes, stat protects you it is a statue there is a statute statute do you think it is a physical statue that protects not even a word is a statue that protects you is a strong shield and stuff it is not a statue anyway the G35 as I was saying?

It has almost a 50-50 weight distribution, but it's not completely 50/50 like the E46 was, it's a little nose-heavy, but from a casual sports car perspective it's not a big deal, it still feels a bit decently neutral. The understeer when you enter the corner, which is communicated a little bit through the steering, the steering is not as good as I thought it was going to be going back to a car from many years ago. It's actually quite numb, but there's that. It's a kind of communicative feedback when you're really loaded that you don't get nowadays, so that's good, but again I think the overall experience of this car is too soft, it's too luxurious and I think it should be considered among the affordable sports . cars, needs some modifications.

I would put some threaded shock absorbers on it. A shoulder escape. You know, something to give it a little flavor. It's actually good news that if you're going to buy a $10,000 used G35, it comes pre-modified. Yes, don't worry, although I'm sure the owner took very good care of it, speaking of cars that are famous for their impeccable ownership care, an alternative to infinity is something that comes from a brand that back then wasn't even a the brand was just a nameplate, unlike the Infiniti which is just a luxury car turned coupe, this is a dedicated sports car, okay that was a lie, it's on the same platform as the luxury sedan Genesis from the same period, but at least it's lighter than that.

Infinity G35 okay, that was also a lie anyway, the point is you actually know what I don't even know what the point is. All I know is that this represents another $30,000 manual rear-drive sports car that Autot Tempest is now showing us it can be. We had it for about 10 grand if you don't mind putting some miles on it and this is a 2015, it's a lot newer for the same price and you might be thinking, well yeah, that just means it has a lot worse resale value, too It has more displacement than that. Infinti, this is a 3.8L naturally aspirated V6, there was a 2L turbo, but this is pretty much the covered engine and although I said it's a dedicated sports car, it's not as light as something like the F FRS or the Subaru BRZ, however, those cars have 200 horsepower, this little Hyundai has 3 48.

I really didn't know what to expect from this car and now that I'm in it I can tell you that the highlight is the engine, It really pulls, it sounds good and it's hooked up to a six-speed transmission that when you hit around 5,000 RPM sounds like a ticking box, but some of the shifts feel like you're cocking one of those Time Crisis arcade guns, yes, it is not an expensive feeling, but it is happy and I think that defines this car, it is not cheap but it is happy. Does it drive like a BRZ or an 86?

Not even close, you can absolutely feel the weight. The steering is much more disconnected. When Hyundai launched this car, they put thinner front tires on it. I'd understeer a little more for safety, but that translates into not really knowing what's going on with the front end and add in the fact that it's hundreds of pounds heavier than the 86 Twins and what you have is still a very honest rear-drive manual . Naturally Aspirated Hyundai Genesis Coupe When it was discontinued, Genesis promised that a new rear-wheel drive Genesis Coupe was in development, well it was 2020 before and it turns out it's actually a garbage can, so this is what we were left with before to move forward. to an admittedly incredible front-wheel drive final product that I'm sitting in right now, which due to its makeup is actually a genuinely fun vehicle, it still seems strange to me, it's so strange to me that this has a Genesis badge like the one on Now I associate.

The Genesis and the Baga look alike and are luxurious. This is a sports car. You could get into a lot of trouble with one of these. Yes, I know you could. You could definitely get into a lot of trouble on a test track. 2012, did you also tour in one of these? Yes, I actually did a spin on a test drive. Yes, there is no statue to protect you. No, okay, why don't I take us both in the next car? Then it's probably for the best. Actually, yes, it's okay. The next car is the weirdest and most wonderful member of the bunch, a half-door Katana lining the center console and an engine with no traditional cylinders, and unlike the other two, it's on its own sports car platform, it was also the Mazda RX8. 30 Grand US when new but the tempus auto now shows they can be had for the same 10 Grand US or if you're dumb and don't know how unreliable rotaries are they can be even cheaper ok oh that's a cool sound, fine on the RX8.

I like that now, we recently tested an RX7 that we have and we decided that in its original form it was five F well, it was good, it was good, it's also in its original form, it's actually very clean, it's extremely clean and the owner of This I bought it last year for 9,000 Canadian, that's a bargain because I didn't know what other favors he did for this. I know very well, actually, the owner of this, Alex from Clark and Fine Cars, actually owned one of these. before this and I used to compete against him in time trials and he beat me decisively in these every time CU is a good handling car, but that's it, today it is the lightest of the three, yes, but it is also the least powerful, 232 horsepower. from a 1.3 l, it's revs, everything but revs, baby, just revs, don't think about anything, but the revs stay in third gear, there it is, wind up, wind up, wind up, wind up, that's fun , that with an exhaust would be enough, that without exhaust sounds pretty amazing, to be honest, yes the shifter feels, first of all, it's shaped like a Dorito, which I love, yes, in fact, it is funny my NC shifter broke when I had an NC Miata so I had one of these. shift knobs and stuff, looks very familiar to me, feels like a Mazda of its time in a good way, yes, the shifter is good, the steering is good, it's better than your ND Miata, that's not true, yes, no, there is more feedback, yes. but there's everything else, it's fun, it's fun, it's fun and it allows you to enjoy it on the road too and I've driven this one and I haven't spun and you know what of these three cars you haven't spun?

Yes, there we go, that's better. I think this is probably it. I don't want to say it's the most fun, but it feels like the best balance between comfort and fun. I understand what you are saying. Yeah, I think it's got a lot of character, it's got a lot of character, it's interesting, there's a weird handbrake. We'll talk about the interiors in a second, but there are a lot of weird things going on with this car and the fact that it has a rotating disc, which means it's horribly unreliable, has absolutely horrendous fuel economy, and for some reason, even though has a bit of a cult following on this side of the world in England, you can get them for about $1,500, knowing that this is almost a less reliable NC sedan.

Yeah yeah, I guess as a com I would still get the NC. I'd save hundreds of pounds and dollars, yes, and have a convertible. I guess it's good if you want a combination like his and his. I can say that I have emata yeah, no, I didn't really know what to expect from this because I didn't expect to ever drive a stock one, but now that we're at it, it's nice, oh, it's a pretty good little car, honestly, pretty good, it's just It's good to be reminded that for about 10 or 15 grand you can still get some really fun cars, yes absolutely true it's important to know that there are options available to you and speaking of things we're not here today the BMW E46 is more difficult. to find them these days because most of them have turned into a pile of rust ask me how I know or you could get a ncata Mustangs Camaros Mustangs Camaros there is more to do, we haven't discovered them all here, this is a very fun segment.

My favorite car segment is the affordable, economical, high mileage sports car, but even in this class of car where maybe beggars can't choose, looks do matter, they do it right, before discussing things about design , I just want to say that I am. Pleasantly surprised by the three by the three specifically by the power plants. I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. The lack of torque dump means you can plant your foot and go crazy, that's true for all of these. although well, those are heavier, so yeah, okay, yeah, there's definitely more torque in those, but yeah, listen, they're all naturally aspirated engines, all four actually, so you have to rev them, you have to drive them , Yes, is cool. and if you do that too hard on the Genesis it squeaks quite a bit on every downshift and upshift, yes it does and reminds you thatThe drivetrains are one of its low points but I still like it, it's a great value in 2015 and it's like you know, okay can we discuss the design now?

Yes, yes, I don't like this. Wow, I'm glad I was singing its praises, no, no, it's really, it's the sportiest sports car here. I think so, I agree. It looks a little generic, fake vents on the front here, it's just that this is from an era of Hyundai where they were like we didn't know what we were doing so they just throw in this design element and this one. design element and put it all together and then just this. I don't know yeah if this car could see the Genesis x concept c.whatever that bump is called oh yeah now it would be like oh that's wow that's what I do but then look what they're doing now ionic 5n It looks epic, it looks great, I've learned a lot, this is not my favorite era, but something like this no longer exists in the H line, it's not true, this is a powerful rear-wheel drive manual, nothing like this exists anymore. which is really powerful 348 horsepower it's a really fast car Not sure about aftermarket wheels on that kind of I prefer the originals but yeah have you ever been in a KDM Facebook group?

I'm pretty sure this is the law yeah you have to do that and some kind of lime green or pink has to be added somehow and like 18 shark fins and yeah this is basically as far as KDM goes yeah and then you have infinity, this is the most attractive car here, this is the most attractive car here, it's true, I said it, it looks like it should be in Champagne outside a real estate office. I'm not going to argue with that because it's strangely accurate, smooth, it's here, it's G, listen, it's simple, there's nothing extra, it's like we were going to make a coupe and they put a little wing on the back?

Some simple wheels there. GTR Vibrates the wheels. Yes, I agree, the Brembos are the Yes, it looks like the R35, it's good, it's clean, it's nice, it's good, I like it, yes, but have you seen the RX8? Listen, it's a little rude, boy, it's never been my favorite, no, never, I don't like both, I don't like the headlights, the taillights, the wheels, the hood or everything. personality, I've never really liked it, honestly I'm much more of a fan of simple profiles on cars and this has always had too many consequences. The problem with the RX8 is that it lives in the shadow of the RX, yes, and it is clean. simple, beautiful classic design, let's take a look at the interiors, starting with the value that is the Genesis 3.8, okay, okay, the value, oh so the value, come on, it's not that old, it's got some serious power , numb, so old, so, because it's the value because the value is okay when I spun one of these, I was actually comparing it to a BRZ back in the day, okay, to be fair, it was the 2L turbo.

I couldn't afford the right 3.8 um and I couldn't bring myself to want this car because I hated the interior so much and I feel really bad saying that because you get a lot of performance for the money honestly serious performance out of this car even I could win straight from all of these, probably. I would like, I just hated this, this and then these, but the way the buttons are on the side of the gauge cluster I don't like it, they forgot to take them out, it's just weird, but it creates more space, I'm sure this is a lot . of space we have cool meters here the trip meters no, no, no, we have meters here, it's your turn to take away the cool, no, I'm being mean, listen, I think this is a cool car and you get a lot of things with it. and that's a great idea, since 3D printing on the market modernizes the interior so well.

I would say exactly that it is not what the original looked like. It's much worse than that. I'll tell you, a new steering wheel and that. It's been a long time, but it sure has to be said that in terms of need for modernization, this is the newest car here. It's a shame that your first instinct is to try to modernize it, but the back seats, there you know. there are two, these are all two plus two, these are the least spacious, there is a lot of legroom, but there is no headroom, there is no headroom, there is no headroom.

I tried to sit there. I'm 510. Harrison tried to sit me there just for fun. He is 6'. 6 yes, it's a squeeze, yes, I don't know, yes, this is indicative of this day at this time, yes, right after this car went out of production, they did this in the design, look, look, what genes were come inside the Genesis GV 7. it's in a different universe right, I completely rebranded right after this car, okay let's go back in time 11 years and take a look at infinity, okay how many years older ? 11 this is clean, come on, not only is it clean, it's C physically and with a clean design when our guy from Clarkson called us and said: Hey, I think I have the cleanest G35 in the country.

I thought that was hyperbole, but this particular one looks like it came off the showroom floor, it doesn't. a decade older that's for sure it's definitely not like that they are such nice seats yeah it has a recorder hey but it also has this little thing here you're right about one of these guys and just what you slide to what you mean? What's that? You slide it in and then you use an adapter and then you go into your phone arm. Ah, that's pretty good. I didn't even know your phone adapter existed. No, that's like a leap between generations.

It's not that good. What does that mean for enjoying the majesty of a truly vintage can? I also direct his attention, oh, it's not there, yeah, there it goes, yeah. I draw attention to this entire glove compartment here that is dedicated to DVD ROM for navigation. system, can you too? I see, I see well and you move, you move, it's not that amazing, it's definitely navigation in the early days, but the best part is that you can do this cyanara technology, you don't have to look at it anymore. get up there God, I've always hated the infinity clock.

I could do without it. I think it's a stupid design, but like me, this is a bit of poison. Only the gauge cluster looks old, it's just orange. I love it. you love it I love that closer gauge it's so simple and easy to rev They are copying BMW yeah I was going to say no I'm not sure about the orange but I guess it's about time it's about time. I just love everything about this interior it was strange it has grown on me over the years because back then I was like now BMW which is what I bought but now that I look at this I think you know this is just as cool.

I think it's more clean than good, but I think I think you love that a little bit, but yeah, it's still good, there's a little more room back here than the Genesis, yeah, I can squeeze. my head in you can come in uh and obviously there's a sedan version if you still want that anyway so I don't know it's good it has things for cigarettes you know what it's missing what's it missing a character? that exists to compensate for the unreliability of the RX8 okay, okay, wait, wait, what's up oh yeah, the suicide doors are very, very cool, it's a Ferrari P Sangu, that's exactly what it is, that's exactly , look Okay, get in the car and it was great, in fact, I like it, so this has never been my favorite interior.

I don't like these shiny, tacky Mazda interiors from this era, it's actually one of the reasons I got rid of my NC but it's the era like you said it's from this era yeah yeah not bad though it's fun , no, this splits the difference between the other two in terms of age, this is 2010, looking directly at you, we have the katanas. Going down the middle we have a broken hand that looks like the hilt of a sword. Is very good. I feel like Captain Hook. Don't know. I just want to kill Peter P. Peter Pan. um, yeah, this is, uh, this is, I don't.

I don't know what to say, it's the interior of a sports car, I mean, for the money, I, you, I don't really care, listen, I need to say I don't really care about any of them because all I care about is the formula at this price I only care about the naturally aspirated manual rear drive so you don't have to hate something, yes exactly, I like the G35 better. I see these rare seats are cool, they're nice, there's some, there's some more geish specs. you can get the red everywhere in the interior, the black is 100% the move, this is nice, I like it, I like this material on the door cards, I like the material on the ricaro seats, the way you know follow up here, you know, I also noticed these sun. visor with little holes the only time I've seen the only other car I've seen that was on the SLS AMG, there you go, this is a Ferrari Pur Sangu AMG that SLS didn't design and you said no.

I like it because I don't like the design of the doors, but I like the doors. It looks like a CD. I feel like I'm at HMV. Did you have HMV here? Yes, we had HMV. Yes, we did it a long time ago. Higher market share. Rest in peace. and this is the final part, you know, of HMV that we have there, it's um anyway, I think it's time to come to a conclusion because we have to decide which of these we would choose, yeah, I said you have 10 thousand dollars right now to spend and I need a car that is not a BRZ, which one would you buy?

It's hard, it's hard, okay, gun to the head, which I admitted, there's a lot at stake in such a light situation. Well, for all the things the Genesis does well, it just feels a bit. Too cheap, a little uncommunicative and to be honest with myself, I just don't think I could part with the money for it. The RX8 will give me both pleasure and pain to own, so it's the only option and I'm a bit reluctant because it's the least fun of the bunch, but it seems the most car is the Infiniti G35. I think I agree, although it's currently not the most fun to drive.

This is the kind of car that inspires you to eat raw macaroni for a month so you can drop your paychecks at Mods and I know how much of a reasonably reliable drift missile the G35 can be and while I really like the engine Of the Hyundai and I think the Mazda is the highest ranked sports car of the three, the G35 just feels better suited to me, but the truth is that the class of higher mileage depreciated sports cars is still decently large. Check it out, go to Autot Tempest or download the app, filter by price and transmission and anything else, and you'll see a ton of used cars.

There are plenty of other very tempting options on the sites, so perhaps we'll revisit this concept again at a later date and see if we can find the perfect budget sports car. Thanks for watching. Yes, hello. I went in last time and bought a wig, a blonde wig. and it was amazing hello can you hear me? Yes, yes, sorry, I came last time and bought a blonde wig and turned into an actress. It was wonderful. You guys still sell wigs, right? Yes, I'm looking for one slightly. It's hard to explain, you know that new guy who looks like a wig like that?

Yes, but do you know what I mean by that look? That kind of guy who likes broccoli. Yes, I can go check it out so you can see what we have. uh I can wait a second of course hello hello sorry I went to ask someone to check it. uh no we don't have anything like that and in fact we're out of blonde wigs too oh wow okay. These are dark times, um, okay, maybe I'll, maybe I'll go and see what I can do, maybe we can make a broccoli salad, something like that. You know what I mean?

It's ok don't worry. Okay, okay, thank you. See you. soon yes goodbye