5-year owner's update.

I bought my Silver 2004 G35 coupe 6-speed on Oct 1, 2003.
I just sent in the last payment, the car is now paid for.

The car included all options except the navigation (I declined the $2000 nav option, and now own a $200 Garmin GPS instead)
In 2003, I paid approx. $34k (& change) including Tax,Tag,Title, etc. (out-the-door price negotiation)
My interest rate was 3.4%, and the payment was $675/mo.
The car had 16 miles on it when I bought it new from the dealer, the car now has 44k miles.
It is my daily driver, and it has been autocrossed several times, and has also been flogged on various racetracks during trackdays and high-performance driving events.
It has also circled the Talladega Superspeedway for about 20 laps reaching a speed of 145+ mph in the 33-degree banked turns. That was the car (and my) highlight, for sure. (on youtube)
I let the dealer do the oil change every 3500 miles, but I do everything else myself. The dealer charges $30 for the oil change, and also gives my car a thorough safety check every oil change, and points out things that need attention, which I will usually decline and then perform the work myself.
The car has had 2 TSB services, one for rear axle clicking noise, and one for the fuel tank hose recall. The dealer was very good about it and did a good job.

After 5 years of ownership:
The best thing about the car:
The Brembo Brakes are awesome! Excellent bite, hauls the car down quickly, and no brake fade AT ALL at the track. (see mods).
Rear-wheel drive.

Complaints:
The seat belt is uncomfortable around the neck, and is also too tight, meaning it pulls too hard.
The Traction Control is too sensitive and restrictive, and I always turn it off immediately after I start the car (unless it is wet or raining, usually).
The interior could use a quality upgrade (I think the later models 2005+ have better interiors). The CD changer is slow.

Mods:
Motordyne Engineering 3/8" plenum spacer and isothermal gaskets.
Z-tube intake. (my first mod, of course)
Stock airbox with high-flow filter.
Stillen 3-way adjustable sway bars, front and rear, set to stiff/stiff. (excellent, excellent mod!)
Stoptech 2-piece slotted rotors with aluminum hat (much lighter than OEM brake rotors).
Project-Mu race pads.
Motul 600 Dot 4 brake fluid.
Stainless Steel brake lines.
Racing pedals.
Clear corners.
NISMO 18" wheels with 275/40 rear and 245/45 front.
These wheels are wider than stock and much lighter than stock (18 pounds vs. 24or26 pounds).

I plan on keeping the car for another 5 years, at least.
I hope to do some more mods (Headers, exhaust, CPU maps, maybe adjustable coil-overs)

This has been a 5-year owners update.
Thank you.

 

congratulation... finally less headache with money

 

Sounds a lot like my experience.

I bought an 04.5 6MT in Dec of 2004 with every option (including sat and wheel/tire warranty) except the spoiler. Bought it off a lady who was going through a break-up (she had bought the car for her fiance and it was sitting in her garage b/c she couldn't drive stick!).

It had <3000 miles on it and I paid 31,000 for it. Infiniti came to her house, drove the car to the dealership where they performed the first service on it and I picked it up from there. Nice. Paid it off early this year.

I truly love the car more this day then when I first got it. I have obviously upgraded it considerably in both looks and performance.

I am "fine" with the interior. I just added a real leather shift boot with orange stitching and a new shift know to spice things up a bit. I have kept it in very good shape, so the slightly dated nature of the materials etc. doesn't bother me too much. I am actually becoming turned off by how cramped with gizmos the new car interiors are becoming--when I had an 07 G sedan loaner, I counted 7 different ways to change the radio station!--and that was without nav!

A couple of things I wish were done better:

1. There is actually very little real leather in this car. The seats could be of much better quality to last longer.

2. I wish I had black carpet instead of the gray carpet--black OEM carpet can be purchased and I am talking to my mechanic to see if this swap is feasible.

3. I really wish I had the 306hp motor. Every time I drive a G sedan with the 306hp motor I am amazed at how hard that thing pulls and how much smoother it is.

I've been in for warranty service for the following:
1. Gas gauge not reading full
2. Axel click
3. Driver's seat creaking

That's it after almost 80k miles. Not too bad.

 

Great review thread Napoleon!

This is excellent info and mirrors my ownership experience as well on my 04.5 6MT with similar mods.

Paid-off FTW!!!!!

 

Yup pretty much the same here. I bought the car in 2003 brand new. I have had no major issues except the axle click. I paid it off the summer of 2006 and I have enjoyed not making the payment for the last few years. The car has a little over 100K on the odometer and I plan on keeping it. I love this car!! New motor, Twin Turbos, and a bunch of other goodies are in the near future.

 

I bought my '04 on 12/31/04. After learning how to detail cars because of my black AT coupe, I have managed to keep it looking as good as it can look since it is a daily driver with 96k miles on it. Only problems: Airbag sensor went out right before warranty went - fixed under warranty. Hood hinges failed, causing paint damage - fixed under warranty. Window motor went out - repaired myself (easily). Various rattles and creaking which come and go. Otherwise, I still love it. Since I still have 15 months to pay for it and plan on keeping it for at least one year after that, I hope it lasts to at least 200k miles.

Oh yeah, awesome writeup!

 

I still have 4.5 years until my G is paid off lol..im paying $443.60 a month at 8.9% ..but GOOD REVIEW OP!

 

Great review thanks man. What is the gas tank TSB you spoke of? I ask because the area where my tank is, is very loud like I have a hole in my car. I know these G's have a lot of road noise but sometimes it's like I have a back window down, mostly when it's wet out that I hear it the worst.

 

does you car idle oddly when the A/C is off?

when mine hits 600 RPM it starts to behave a little strange

 

The float (or whatever it is) in the gas tank that tells the gauge that the tank is full fails and it becomes nearly impossible to put in more than 3/4 tank of gas. Happens on the Z's as well.