Just read the latest issue of "Car & Driver" which positioned the G35 coupe on the 2'nd spot between the new Mazda (Rx-8, I believe) and Cobra SVT. Mazda won by a point in their grading but after reading the article I wasn't too impressed about the Mazda.

One more thing: they rated the G35 coupe at 5.5 s from 0-60mph. Is it really that fast ?!! I have a G35 sedan (which is driven by my wife, actually !!!) which is listed at around 6.2 seconds in a 0-60mph sprint, but it's a big difference between 6.2 and 5.5.

Any comments on this ?

 

Yeah, the reason they tested the G35 is because its their new "benchmark"
same way for Automobile magazine, they tested the 350Z against the RX8, again because its their "car of the year" and therefore a new benchmark as to which to test against.
We should all get used to these tests [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img] because there will be plenty more XXX vs. G35Coupe comparo's

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

 

Yeah.. it was a coupe with a 6MT tranny, right? Compare that to your Sedan with an automatic an 20 fewer ponies, and there's your 0.7 second difference, give or take a driver.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

I think the accepted number right now for non-superhuman drivers is 5.80-60 and 14.2 quarter mile. The car will still rip up most anything on the road. Even here in Cali. land of exotics I get into stop light to stop light drags often. Alota people wanna see what the car can do. I only oblige once in a while... = D

Jason
Laser Red 03' Prem/Aero/6MT/SnRf

 

it was by 1 point, close call

 

Not only was their 5.5sec 0-60mph time the fastest I've seen reported in a magazine, but they also gave it a 0.86g for roadhanding which is the lowest I've seen. It usually is around 5.8-6.0sec and .89-.91g. Many times these results can vary if a different brand of tires are used, but I'm not sure what was going on during this test since they were using the Michelin Pilot Sports which most of the other tests used. Typically you get better (lower) 0-60mph times when you get better (higher) g's on the skidpad. Their test results seem to have varied in opposite directions.

G35 Coupe/Silver/Graphite/6MT/Prem.Pkg./BSM - now (maybe) May delivery.

Doug.

 

the g35c got 2nd place because mostly the back seats. Ive heard all over this site and other places that u dont buy a sports car because u want to take ur family places u buy it for ur self. Sedans r treating the whole family coupes r treating urself. bad call C&D

 

Here's my summary of the differences on the G35 and RX-8 comparisons after reading their article:

RX-8 has better rear seat headroom.

RX-8 has an even poorer trunk than the G35. (Same size but more difficult to access.)

RX-8 is lighter resulting in slightly better handling.

RX-8 has much less torque, especially at low or medium rpms. This resulted in poorer acceleration times. (I also think this is why the RX-8's introduction was moved back from February to July at the earliest. They were trying to increase engine torque.)

RX-8 has poorer gas milage. (That's why a rotary engine will never be put into anything other than a sports car.)

RX-8 has a bulgey body shape. I prefer the G35's shape.

RX-8 has a lower base price than the G35. (The next line will explain why.)

RX-8 has less features and amenities. (Definitely not in the same luxury class as the G35.)

RX-8 is pure sport. The RX-8 has a rougher ride. The G35 is a better choice as a long-distance cruiser.

C&D didn't like the "notchy" feel of the G35's manual transmission.

And here's one thing that they didn't mention in their article:

RX-8's rotary engine is new and relatively unproven. (Previous Mazda rotarys tend to have a limited engine life before rebuilding is neccessary.) Also, you'll never be able to take your RX-8 to your local mechanic for engine work. It will always need to be worked on by Mazda, and they will be able to charge you whatever price they like.


G35 Coupe/Silver/Graphite/6MT/Prem.Pkg./BSM - now (maybe) May delivery.

Doug.

 

I was under the impression that the rotary engine was very reliable over the long haul (fewer moving parts). I had a couple of friends in high school that bought old RX7's and the engines were still very strong for the amount of abuse that they were put through.

 

Less parts, less complicated, but if I remember correctly, the seals wear out often. This would not happen if they applied more oil to them, but then they would get clogged up with carbon. A side article in C & D about the new Renesis rotary engine (the one in the new RX-8) says that they have fixed these problems via a computerized oil pump. Maybe this won't be a problem for this new rotary.

G35 Coupe/Silver/Graphite/6MT/Prem.Pkg./BSM - now (maybe) May delivery.

Doug.

 

C&D is crap....eheheh

"Never underestimate an opponent"