G35 Article from the North - G35Driver - Infiniti G35 & G37 Forum Discussion

Jul 13, 2004 | 05:54 PM

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G35 Article from the North

[b]This Infiniti is beyond good

by Daniel Barron posted Jul 9, 2004
It may sound hokey to say that Infiniti's G35 coupe is in a class all its own, but that's an accurate description of this two-door stunner. It'll be difficult to find a car that combines the comfort, driveability, style and options the G35 has for $51,000. (Canadian)

That price gives you the performance and navi packages. You'll have everything Infiniti can throw at you in a G35: a 3.5 litre V6 engine that has 280-horsepower, leather seats, steering wheel and gear shifter, navigation system, 6-disc CD changer and titanium tint trim on the centre console.

The G35 has a lot in common with Nissan's 350Z roadster. Rear-wheel drive, a similar body shape and other little things like gauges that adjust with the steering wheel make the two close relatives. Infiniti tweaks things, though, so the average 9-5er can travel around comfortably every day. The suspension is still sport-tuned, but doesn't feel quite as tight as the Z, the body is longer, and the seats are suited more for longer drives in traffic. Brakes are equally spectacular and the performance package includes 18-inch tires that grip everything you throw at them.

The setup inside works very well. Considering how small the centre console is, you'd think a navigation system would get in the way, but this doesn't hold true. With the push of a button, the screen pops up. The only thing it covers is the analog clock, but remedies that by using a digital clock onscreen. It's cumbersome using the analog control stick for everything (a touch screen works immensely better), and the DVD-based system doesn't always give directions that make the most sense, but like all nav systems nowadays, it still shows everything you need in terms of street names, navigation points, etc.

Those sitting in the back don't have a ton of head and leg room, but the seats are extremely comfortable so short-to-medium trips really won't affect them that much. I wouldn't have minded a little more room up front for CDs, cellphones and the like.

This coupe is also fast. Very fast. There's a whole lotta power in the engine and the 280 horsepower really lets this coupe move. The dual exhaust has a nice deep growl and shifts are smooth and quick; you'll never feel like you're pushing the car too hard.

At a quick glance, the price tag may seem steep, but you really do get a lot for what you pay. Even without the optional packages, it's a formidable car, and you can knock the price down $6,000. I never understood why I always saw so many G35's driving around. Now it's perfectly clear.