The Infiniti G37 is a classic case of badge snobbery denying success to a thoroughly decent sports coupe. Aimed squarely at cars like the more expensive 3 Series Coupe and Audi A5, the G37 entered into battle with a brawny 3.7-litre V6, well sorted dynamics and loads of standard kit.
But when did you last see one? Exactly. The G37, and perhaps more broadly the Infiniti brand, has always struggled for brand cachet in the UK, which was always going to be a problem in a market that seems to prioritise a badge above absolutely everything else. Lexus has been doing it for more than a quarter of a century in the UK, but you could still argue that many see BMW, Mercedes and Audi as another cut above. The result is that how many left currently shows just 17 G37s like this in the UK...
There are other G37s around - 48 standard models and 74 automatics, for example - but this particular car is one of just 17 manual G37 S Infinitis in the UK. So it's the most PHey of Infiniti specs, and let's not forget that this is a car we described as "a brisk, entertaining and sophisticated coupe" back at launch.
Moreover, while Infiniti probably won't appreciate the point, lacking some of the kudos of its rivals means its cars have suffered savage depreciation. For many a manual will be a hindrance rather than something to celebrate, which will compound the issues of it being a relatively unknown coupe that uses a lot of fuel and costs a lot to tax. The end result is that this G37 S is for sale at £16,317, a stratospheric fall from the £40k it would have cost new. When you bear in mind too that it was registered in 2014 and has covered just 8,000 miles, it begins to look like the bargain of the century.
So while it might be a stretch to call it nearly new, the Infiniti is also very far from even average mileage for its age. The colour might not do the Infiniti a huge amount of favours, though you can't be particularly choosy when it comes to selecting a manual G37...
While some will of course never consider an Infiniti instead of one of its German rivals, comparing it to a few of the obvious premium coupes makes the G37 look even better value. Want a £16k 3 Series Coupe? You're looking at this 2012 325i, with another 15,000 miles and a hundred less horsepower than the Infiniti. This Audi A5 has the same amount of miles as the Infiniti and is £34k. A newer car, of course, but that's more than twice the price!
So although the Infiniti G37 won't be to all tastes, it does look like a heck of a lot of car for the cash at the moment. While far from the bottom of its depreciation curve, there's surely only so far a car can fall - certainly it's not going to lose another £20,000, and if you're going to keep it for a while then the effects are less severe. With a car boasting Japanese reliability, great rarity and a desirable powertrain layout that's becoming rarer by the day, that doesn't sound like a bad way to spend a few years.
SPECIFICATION - INFINITI G37 S
Engine: 3,696cc V6
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 320@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 265@5,200rpm
MPG: 26.7 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 248g/km
Recorded mileage: 8,000
Year registered: 2014
Price new: £41,840
Yours for: £16,317
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