Mine was very similar to yours. I was getting rid of my 3-year old Miata and I wanted something that was a 2-door, good handling, brakes and more power. I looked at everything from a Mini Cooper S to a Z06. I test drove 3 Cooper S and tried for force myself to buy one becasue I could pay cash. They are nice cars, they just didn't do anything special for me. The only convertible I looked at was an S2000. For the price of a Boxster or a Z4(I don't like its looks anyways), I could have a Z06 and there is no comparison in performance. I actually didn't fit in the S2000 (I do in the Miata) and I hated the engine and controls.

I looked a Mercedes C class coupe (V6 6-sp)...hated it. Horrible handling, feel and dash layout. It was the worst stick I have driven in years. I looked at an RSX Type S. It was horrible to. I used to really like Honda/Acura, but they have gone astray. The suspension was really soft, but the tires were really hard. It had the cheapest interior I have ever seen. I looked at BMW. The M3 was thrown out because it was more than Z06 money for less performance.

I decided only to look at a G35 Coupe and not a 350Z for several reasons. First, on a Z I could either get a track model with Brembos or a Touring model with Bose and leather; but not both. Infiniti has 1 year longer bumper to bumper and powertrain warranty. Infiniti has far better service. Last, a track model was the same price as a much better equipped G35C. I looked at a 330Ci, but it was slower and about $8K more. It doesn't have the big Brembos and most disappointing, an LSD isn't even an option. They best deal they could give me was about $5K more than the list on a G35 coupe. I test drove 2 Z06's. Great performance, but I don't like the amount of noise, harshness and wandering they do. The G35 won, no because it had the greatest positives, but because it simply has no negatives.

At 10 months I am still happy with the car. In fact, it is the only car I've ever owned that I would replace it with one just like it (same colors) if anything ever happened to it. It might change in a couple of years as the models change, but right now there isn't another car that is worth replacing it. I am really glad I didn't buy a Z06 or I would be losing my shirt (I have several friends who have them). I just saw an ad for new 04' Z06's for $12,500 off. There are low mileage used 04' Z06's for less than $40K.

04' G35 Coupe 6-sp
Diamond Graphite/Willow w/Premium

 

Check out the new issue of Road and Track!!...Final tally (out of 600 pts.) G35=573.0, RX-8=585.2