# Help w/buying used car Lexus vs Infinit vs Sebring

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 25, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037 "2014-07-25T17:26:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tuscanleather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tuscanleather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuscanleather)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037/1 "2014-07-25T17:26:53Z")

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Hi everyone,

New to the forum but I’m interested in hearing other people’s opinions on some car stuff.

I’m helping buying my mom buy a used car (for her birthday). I have a very basic knowledge of cars and I have my mechanic helping me. I’m interested in what the general public has to say based on personal knowledge or experiences.

It’s seems to be a split decision between (they all have more or less the same mileage)  
2005 Lexus ES 330  
or  
2006 Infiniti G35  
or  
2008 Sebring

Car heads, feel free to sound off on which purchase would be ideal, or which car/type I should stay away from. Any help is appreciated since it’s for my mom.

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037/2 "2014-07-25T17:55:39Z")

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Since the OP is looking for opinions, IMHO is a more appropriate forum for this than General Questions.

Colibri  
General Questions Moderator

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**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037/3 "2014-07-25T18:21:03Z")

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> [@tuscanleather](#):
>
> Hi everyone,
> 
> New to the forum but I’m interested in hearing other people’s opinions on some car stuff.
> 
> I’m helping buying my mom buy a used car (for her birthday). I have a very basic knowledge of cars and I have my mechanic helping me. I’m interested in what the general public has to say based on personal knowledge or experiences.
> 
> It’s seems to be a split decision between (they all have more or less the same mileage)  
> 2005 Lexus ES 330  
> or  
> 2006 Infiniti G35  
> or  
> 2008 Sebring
> 
> Car heads, feel free to sound off on which purchase would be ideal, or which car/type I should stay away from. Any help is appreciated since it’s for my mom.

It would be good to know the miles on each of those.

And, are you looking to compare a Chrysler Sebring to a Lexus and Infinity?

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**Author:** ![tuscanleather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tuscanleather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuscanleather)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037/4 "2014-07-25T18:42:00Z")

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Sorry, you can ignore the Sebring, couldn’t find an “edit post” button.

The 08 Sebring is also an option, if the 05 Lexus or 06 Infiniti don’t pan out.

I’m mainly trying to compare the Lexus and the Infiniti as I’ve never owned either car.  
05 Lexus ES330 = 160 km  
06 Infinit G35 = 180 km

The 08 Chrysler Sebring = 170km

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**Author:** ![cookiecuttercc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@cookiecuttercc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cookiecuttercc)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037/5 "2014-07-25T23:49:24Z")

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the Lexus as it shares a platform/ many parts with the Toyota Camry of the same year.

Should something break or need maintenance, any competent mechanic will be able to fix it and parts will be plentiful. Not necessarily so with the Infiniti.

And it’s more likely that the ES was driven by a “gentle” driver (ie a middle-aged or retired person)…as performance oriented car buyers don’t go running towards the Lexus ES.

On the other hand, a G35 is more “performance-oriented,” stereotypically attracts a younger buyer, and as such has a bigger probability of having a prior owner who liked to red line the engine, take corners at high speed, etc.

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**Author:** ![dflower](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dflower/32/3270_2.png) [@dflower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dflower)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037/6 "2014-07-26T03:13:53Z")

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All cars you are looking at have high price tags for maintenance. My mechanic says most cars of the last 10 years or so in the mid to high price range have such high maintenance costs that only the well to do can afford to keep them after the warranty runs out. I have a G35 and I love it. Have never owned the others. The G35 is fun to drive and looks great. I bought mine from a middle aged man not a teenager. We older folks like fast cars too.

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**Author:** ![tuscanleather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@tuscanleather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tuscanleather)\
**Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-w-buying-used-car-lexus-vs-infinit-vs-sebring/694037/7 "2014-07-26T06:38:16Z")

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> [@cookiecuttercc](#):
>
> the Lexus as it shares a platform/ many parts with the Toyota Camry of the same year.
> 
> Should something break or need maintenance, any competent mechanic will be able to fix it and parts will be plentiful. Not necessarily so with the Infiniti.
> 
> And it’s more likely that the ES was driven by a “gentle” driver (ie a middle-aged or retired person)…as performance oriented car buyers don’t go running towards the Lexus ES.
> 
> On the other hand, a G35 is more “performance-oriented,” stereotypically attracts a younger buyer, and as such has a bigger probability of having a prior owner who liked to red line the engine, take corners at high speed, etc.

Hey, thanks for your input. It didn’t occur to me to think of it like that.
