I am planning on buying a G35 Sedan, most likely a 6MT with a sunroof if possible. I like the idea of 300HP, but people I have talked to locally say there is not much of a performance difference with the extra horsepower in the '05 over the '04.

What's the scoop - is there a significant difference? What about an '04 auto vs '05 auto? I have read that some of the autos shift slowly in MM. when did that change? the '05 I drove seemed to shift very hard.


Also I need to be able to pull a trailer with it. I pull a trailer now with my '00 maxima - it is very easy trailer to pull, just heavy. I think the Maxima is great, but it is getting old and I really wish it was rear wheel drive and faster - and most importantly had rear suspension that worked in fast corners. The maxima pulls the trailer with ease - I assume that if I can pull the trailer with the maxima the G35 should be able to do it as well. About half the miles on my car are pulling the trailer with 2 bikes on it to and around the mountains of western north carolina from south florida. Each bike is about 450#s and the trailer is another 500 so that is about 1500lbs with about 100lbs of gear in the trunk.

My other option is to get a newer maxima, knowing what I would be getting. I put 100K on a 97SE 5spd, 120K on the '00 SE Auto - both towing the trailer - so I know they are durable. I would expect a G35 to be about the same or better.

Any input would be appreciated -

 

As far as the 05, the 6mt has more hp but also less torque than the AT. The extra torque will help towing. The performance difference is debatable but most would consider the 05 better looking than the 04. The brakes are also improved on the 05. In general, I would say the 05 is better but that's not saying the 04 is bad.

 

If 50% of your miles wil be towing/hauling 1500 LBS, I don't know if you need a G35.

I guuess keeping the MAX as the hauler is out of the question? I am not sure what you plan on doing or your finincial plans.... KBB has your Car at about $7k private Party... I just hate seeing a G towing stuff... (but that is just me)

Regardless, the performance difference when pulling a trailer is not a common discussion. I would guess that bigger brakes are better...

 

I heard that the higher hp and lower torque from 04 - 05 resulted in a slight slower 1/4 but over all would be faster on let's say an oval track.

 

I wouldn't tow 1500lbs with the G35. First off, there is only 1 hitch available for the G35 and it's a class 1 with a 1 1/4 receiver. It's rated for 2000lbs and 200lb tongue weight, but the G35 itself is rated for 1000lbs and 110lbs tongue weight. Most problematic is how the hitch attaches to the car. The rear suspension/chassis design means the hitch is bolted to the rear bumper and the trunk floor plan. These areas were designed to move independantly, but the hitch fixes them relative to each other. I would imagine it would put a lot of stress on the trunk floor which is thin sheet metal. I have a hitch on my G35 sedan and use it to carry mountain bikes, but I wouldn't use it for real towing. Here is an article I wrote on the install that has pictures of the hitch and how it mounts.
http://www.g-owners.com/article_read.asp?id=49

 

FX35?

Similar performance, similar pricing, tow-capable.

 

Remeber the rear bumper and parts of the rear of the g35 is all alum compared to the steel of the maxima. It can't handle a large load.

 

i've seen someone local towing a jetski w/ his 6mt coupe and didn't have a problem. there will be strain on the motor with any car you get but the VQ engine is a very strong piece.

 

I pulled my 1100lb jetski with my 04 G35. It didn;t have a problem. But it wasn't recommended to pull anything more than that because of how the G35 is designed in the rear.

 

Hmm, I've been thinking of getting a hitch for the coupe if I get another motorcycle this year, but chances are the bike will be a supersport and no more than 500 lb wet. If anyone has info on a hitch for the coupe, can you post?

 

Ok, that helps.

I have thought about keeping the Max, but one of the reasons I want a G35 is so I can drive it in the mountains after I tow the bikes up there. The maxima is actually my wifes car, I have a 4x4 toyota tundra that I use to pull the bikes anywhere that isn't fun to drive, and that I drive to work. But I usually take the Max when I go to the mountains. Even though it is not a sports car, it is a lot of fun in the mountains - especially compared to the tundra. Trying to enjoy driving the tundra through the mountain roads just doesn't happen.


My first choice is to sell the tundra and get an '05 G35 6MT Sedan for myself. Another option is to sell the Maxima and get an '03 or '04 Auto G35 for my wife that I will drive a lot. Either way it will end up towing a trailer, but I may look into getting a custom hitch made that does not attach to the bumper. I had that done on the 97 Max at a local shop here in town. In fact I had that done on a '91 escort GT that pulled the same trailer with two sportbikes with no problem (I just could never use 5th gear), I sold that car with 197K on it so I don't think that will be an issue.

A big factor is that my commute to work has recently changed from 20 miles each way to 110 miles each way. At 85-90 I am getting about 12-14 mpg in the tundra on the highway. Right now I spend between $200 and $250 a week in gas. If I could get an extra 8-10 mpg on the highway it would save me between $100 to $150 a week in gas. In essence I could make the G35 payment each month just in gas savings alone.