Comments after driving a G37xS for 2 weeks

[Fungusmud]

I upgraded from a 2008 G35xS to a G37xS w/prem+tech 2 weeks ago. Few comments and findings after 1400 miles of driving...


* 130MPH speed limiter is gone. It's good to at least 145 now with plenty of power left.

* RPM's are significantly lower on the highway. I drive mostly highway, hilly at 75-85MPH. Average MPG has gone from 17-18 in the 35 to 20-21 in the 37on same daily commute.

* The 2008 lighted kick plates work on the 2009, same install.

* When the Tranny works itself into granny mode (from driving it conservative for awhile), it's less responsive than the G35's tranny. It takes a bit to upsift when getting into the pedal. If you drive it somewhat aggressive for a minute, then all is fine and it's upsifts are crisp and predictive. It will at anytime upsift multiple gears at once if it thinks you need it. The main difference is when cruising at 70mph in the G35, you were in 5th and in the power band, in the G37, you are in 7th and out of the power band. If the tranny is being conservative, it takes a good stab into the pedal before it upsifts.

* Motor has more grunt, no question about it. With VDC off, coming out of a medium or tight turn under hard throttle, it will require countersteer. It was difficult to do this with the G35. Maybe this is the motor, or a retune of the AWD, or suspension changes.. It feels like motor tho.

* The motor is quieter than the G35 at all times.

* Rigged up video in motion and navi in motion bypass with a switch that kicks it in when the ashtray is open. Works well.

* Platnium Graphite is much easier to keep looking nice than black.

* Everything else seems identical to the G35

Next plan is to figure out how to remove the upper rear seat, giving the space of a fold-down seat.

Feel free to ask any questions.

[metalblaze]

Originally Posted by Fungusmud

Next plan is to figure out how to remove the upper rear seat, giving the space of a fold-down seat.

Feel free to ask any questions.

Excellent inputs -- thanks! I'd be interested in your rear-fold-down seat project as well. Keep us posted!

[mIKE]

Gonna be a lot of cutting

[rohardi]

* Rigged up video in motion and navi in motion bypass with a switch that kicks it in when the ashtray is open. Works well.

What do you mean by this?

[htj]

Great info. I appreciate the comparison from somebody who has owned both.
However, i hate you for posting it b/c i'm going to buy a g35 and you make want a g37.

rohardi, i think he's referring to bypassing the requirement to have the emergency brake on to use Navigation or video.

[CalsonicVQ]

If you don't mind me asking, how big of a financial hit did you take as a result of upgrading from the 08 to the 09?

[rohardi]

When you say video, do you mean the back up camera? I would think you would want the E break off if you were in reverse. And as far as nav goes same thing.?.?.?.

[oab97]

The nav system doesn't let you make destination address inputs when the car is in motion. This is to prevent the driver from making complicated attention sapping inputs when he/she should be concentrating on the road.

The video he's referring to is not the backup camera. It's the ability to watch video (DVD, iPod, etc.) on the nav screen by using the composite video and audio jacks located in the center console. In order to keep people from watching movies as they drive the e-brake must be engaged in order to utilize that feature. NOTE: Having a screen that displays videos in front of the driver's head (e.g. in his/her line of sight) is ILLEGAL in most, if not all, states. Having videos playing behind the driver, like for people in the back seats, is perfectly acceptable.

The OP has modified his vehicle to disable both of these safety features. This website does not allow threads discussing how to make these modification because they do not condone them. Any posts relating to how to perform these mods are deleted by the moderators. However, I'm guessing that simply stating that they have been done is alright since most of us know the possibility exists.

[GEE35FX]

Great info thanks for posting.

Ouch , you must have taken quite a hit going from an 08X to an 09X

[oab97]

For the OP, thanks for posting this comparison. I'm waiting, rather impatiently, for a G37S 6MT that I originally asked be ordered back in late July. The order wasn't placed until early Sept. for various legitimate reasons and the delivery ETA just slipped from 12/12 to 1/27. The recent 6 week slip has me considering trying to find an 08 6MT that would meet my needs but I don't want to make a mistake just out of short-term frustration with Infiniti (I don't blame the dealer as it's out of their hands).

Your post describing more power with less noise highlights the refined nature of a premium sports sedan that I'm looking for and helps confirm that unless the price difference becomes ridiculously large I guess I just need to keep waiting......and waiting.....and waiting.

[Fungusmud]

Thanks for the comments...

Oab's description of the video in motion and nav motion bypass is correct, however as stated (forum rules), that's all I can say.

I took about a $10k hit on the 35 to 37 upgrade. Worth it? Probably not, but it's done now.

[darnelled]

Which exterior color did you go with? Notice any improvements with the self-healing paint?

[hotshot8148]

Originally Posted by oab97

The nav system doesn't let you make destination address inputs when the car is in motion. This is to prevent the driver from making complicated attention sapping inputs when he/she should be concentrating on the road.

The video he's referring to is not the backup camera. It's the ability to watch video (DVD, iPod, etc.) on the nav screen by using the composite video and audio jacks located in the center console. In order to keep people from watching movies as they drive the e-brake must be engaged in order to utilize that feature. NOTE: Having a screen that displays videos in front of the driver's head (e.g. in his/her line of sight) is ILLEGAL in most, if not all, states. Having videos playing behind the driver, like for people in the back seats, is perfectly acceptable.

The OP has modified his vehicle to disable both of these safety features. This website does not allow threads discussing how to make these modification because they do not condone them. Any posts relating to how to perform these mods are deleted by the moderators. However, I'm guessing that simply stating that they have been done is alright since most of us know the possibility exists.

ok so ur telling me that you cannot change ur destination address once the car is in motion. What if your on the highway and you have change of plans, does that mean you have to pull over, pull up the e brake, then change ur destination??..WOW what a hassel!!

[rohardi]

See, this is where I'm confused too. I was on the highway test driving the new G37XS last weekend and I used the voice controls to program a destination in to the navigation while I was in motion on the road.... So why would you need a work around?

[Fungusmud]

The 35 was black, the 37 is Platinum Graphite. It's too dirty to notice anything special about the paint

While the voice input is great, but try it when it's a weird street name, or has a north or a south in front of it, or a route #. I've spent minutes in the car while driving trying different possibilities with nothing but failure and frustration.

Want to see more than 6 traffic alerts on the screen in the list? Can't while moving because it won't let you scroll down. Another example. The list goes on.

It's common on most 2005+ cars, don't hate Infiniti.