I posted a while back about my efforts to sell an SLK32 AMG and buy a G35 coupe. I was successful, and couldn't be happier with the coupe. The coupe is an awesome deal. It is fun to drive yet a bit "calmer" than the AMG. Handling seems better to me. After driving the coupe, I described the SLK handling as "simulated sports car." It was responsive but sort of artificial. I don't know how to explain it better than that. Another thing about the AMG was that it was two cars in one - below 2500 rpm (or was it 3200 - I can't remember), it was a 215-230 hp sports car, but floor it and the supercharger would kick in and the thing would take off like a rocket, whether you wanted it to or not. That was fun for a while, but it was tricky to keep it under control driving around town. I am probably a better driver because of it but it was tough avoiding getting a speeding ticket. I can tell that the coupe has power that the AMG lacked when the supercharger was not engaged. I especially notice it starting off from a stand still. Second gear seems a bit premature but otherwise the coupe's auto transmission is smoother and more reasonable than the AMG "driver-adaptive" auto, which could be aggravating at times, especially at lower speeds when it became downright pigeonheaded (heard that used to describe the Saturn Ion transmission this weekend on Autoweek).

Build quality of the coupe is better than the SLK. In that car, the passenger door did not line up with the body correctly, which is just inexcuseable for a $57,000 car! The interior of the coupe is overall quite nice, but not as durable as the SLK. I've already scratched the trim ring on one of the door speakers :-( But the seats are fantastic and great looking. I don't miss the miniscule amount of wood trim that the SLK had. Hell, I couldn't even see that it was wood because it was so dark. The bose audio in the coupe is, to my ears, virtually identical to what I had in the SLK. The coupe's xenon headlights (which I had to pay extra for in the mercedes) are brighter and aimed better. I love the steering wheel controls and the in-dash CD changer (SLK did not have steering wheel controls, and the CD changer was a pricey extra). The look of the car is great - front, side, rear. And at long last I was able to get the black car I've always wanted. Before I always settled for some other color. Trunk is smaller than the SLK but having lived with 2 seaters for years, the coupe's back seat more than makes up for that.

The only real complaint I have is that the heated seats are better characterized as "warmed" seats. I barely feel them most of the time.

Only other "problem" I've had is getting used to a longer car. I didn't pull into the garage far enough one evening and the garage door scraped the rear bumper. Need to get that touched up sometime. There's no Infiniti dealership for a 100 miles in any direction, so maybe Nissan can do that for me?

 

PS Does the coupe with a spoiler look a bit like a Porche to anyone else? Someone at work said that the other day. I hadn't thought about it but after they suggested that, I could see what they meant. Maybe I should get some black wheels for mine??



26162-infiniti_g35_jep2.JPG

 

nice car, wise decision.

 

nice comparo...
about the porsche, me being a porsche fiend, no i dont think it looks like a porsche lol
as far as the black rims.....personally i'd get them dipped in chrome instead of getting blackened...black cars need chrome wheels, good luck and have fun!

<font color=blue>-Ramb<font color=red>0</font color=red></font color=blue>
Yeah, Mongolians!

 

Wow pretty odd trade? What was wrong with the SLK32, payments pretty high? I love the g35 coupe but the SLK32 is a pretty sweet ride!

 

The SLK32 is a nice car...but since German build quality has gone down considerably...it shows. Me cousin has both (his sister has the SLK32)....I prefer manuals...though the hardtop is nice.

 

Well, I would have to say that if someone that owned both cars, as slk2g35 has, wishes to comare them, then I would say that he is certainly qualified to compare them. We can read magazine articles all day, but slkg35 had his butt planted firmly in both cars, in immediate succession, so I appreciate the comparison!

 

Great comparison, and great picture. Where is that?

Andrew

2003 coupe 6MT blue premium aero (on order)

 

Hey cool555. I drove a used 2002 C32 AMG with about 8000 miles on it before I drove the G35C. I ended up with the Infiniti.

 

All that matters is what you think because it's your money!

Having said that I agree w/ cool555. My best friend owns a SLK32 and an E55 and having driven the 32 many times and being the owner of a 6MT, there is no comparision as far as the performance aspects go. Want to compare roominess, luxury, comfort, monthly payments, etc...sure go ahead...but when it comes down to shear acceleration, braking, handling (despite the fact it does not come with a manual) there is absolutely NO comparsion.

You wrote "Another thing about the AMG was that it was two cars in one - below 2500 rpm (or was it 3200 - I can't remember), it was a 215-230 hp sports car, but floor it and the supercharger would kick in and the thing would take off like a rocket, whether you wanted it to or not." Well gee...is that really a problem?? Floor any high-performance car and it SHOULD take off like a rocket.

You wrote, "I can tell that the coupe has power that the AMG lacked when the supercharger was not engaged." The AMG supercharger is electronically controlled to come to life in under half a second...the problem you state never existed in my several hundred miles behind the wheel - almost all of them with my right foot to the floor. It's practically instantaneous.

The slk32 is the fastest 2 seat roadster sold in North America for under $80K. And while it has it's negatives, as all cars do, comparing it to a G35 is unfair to both cars. My $.02.

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

The slk32 is the fastest 2 seat roadster sold in North America for under $80K. And while it has it's negatives, as all cars do, comparing it to a G35 is unfair to both cars.

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Unfair? Isn't that how you make a decision about which to buy (see my previous post in this thread)?

 

Point well taken. You're right....what makes one car special/different may not be important from driver to driver.
I just think it's a bit unfair for a guy to shell out $57K for a 32 and then be critical of it for being "too fast, too small, too whatever". Did he not read about it thoroughly and test drive one before he bought it? My friend drove Z06's, Vipers, M3's, etc before settling on the SLK32 and got exactly what he wanted.

 

Geeze what did I start. I just made a subjective comparison of two cars I owned because I happened to have driven both of them, and thought some on the board might find it interesting. Never claimed to be an expert and I know I'm not. It was fun owning the SLK32 but it was just a toy as far as I'm concerned. Glad I had the opportunity to drive one for a while but I personally wouldn't buy another Mercedes AMG car, nor would I recommend one to anyone else.



I always end up regretting participating in online forums. Maybe I should stick to posting one liners like "great car dude." Or say nothing at all. Sorry I started the thread.

 

slk, I appreciate this thread...don't let overzealous car nuts like this guy ruin it for you. Your post was a fairly objective opinion from an owner of both cars...I just don't get how some people can get so worked up over an OPINION for crying out loud...