Playmate of the Year
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From: Caribbean
Playmate of the Year
Hi everyone, just wanted to share the good news. There's a very favorable second/third/whatever take of the G35C in the Jan 2005 motortrend. Its not that long, so i'll type it out for those who cant get it (plus I have some free time and well..consider it my holiday gift) Cant find my digital camera, so dont bother me about typos!
Its easy to overlook the significance, superiority, and value of an outstanding car after spending a year behind the wheel. All the good things tend to be taken for granted, and the little annoyances are magnified- especially in a car with many talents and few warts. So it was with our 2003 infiniti g35 coupe, the co winner of MTs 2003 car of the year, along with its four door sibling of course.
Lets retrace our steps. In mid-2002 we had our first look at the darling of the NYIAS and one editor said "the g35 - coupe and sedan- appears to be poised for stardom". A few months later, we had the opportunity to track test the g35c and another editor opined, "squint, and you'd swear this v6 was a v12." he concluded, "if you can find a more stylish, better performing, four place coupe at this price, buy it."
The numbers? a base model 6mt came in at $32,595. The first test of this car produced a 5.8 sec 0-60 and a 66.1mph slalom speed. suddenly, infiniti was threatening high rent european territory. Next time around, we tested a pair of G35s (coupe and sedan) for the car of the year contest and improved the slalom speed to 67.1 mph. After winning the golden calipers, infiniti loaned us a 6mt coupe fitted with the $2260 premium package and the $550 aero package for a total of $35,395. Taking meticulous care to break the car in properly rewarded us with the fastest g35 coupe we've tested: 5.7 secs to 60, eclipsing the century mark for the first time with its 14.2 sec 100.5mph quarter mile. icing on the cake was its class-topping 67.7mph slalom. We got a good one, a really good one.
Thus began our year-long term with the coupe (and a sedan that we covered in our july 2004 issue). Logbook entries began predicably, if self-congratulatory: "I still love it- maybe even more than before. She's a looker, for sure. I appreciate that infiniti went a long way to distinguish this car from the sedan, though they are clearly related. Clean flanks, nice face, and a good job with the tricky headlight treatment and fast rear deckline. Nice wheels, love the brembo calipers (60-0 in just 109ft), and the exhaust pipes look properly purposeful. However, the (optional) rear wing loooks like somebody left an ironing board on the trunk."
Our fuel economy varied widely from just 15.2 mpg after a track test to 24.5 on a 900 mi round trip to scottsdale, az for the barrett-jackson auctions. That editor commented on how comfortable the seats were for the entire interstate trek, saying he could've easily done an additional stint. The avg over 18,600mi was a respectable 18.7mpg, still under the epa's claim of 20 city and 27 highway.
Its easy to overlook the significance, superiority, and value of an outstanding car after spending a year behind the wheel. All the good things tend to be taken for granted, and the little annoyances are magnified- especially in a car with many talents and few warts. So it was with our 2003 infiniti g35 coupe, the co winner of MTs 2003 car of the year, along with its four door sibling of course.
Lets retrace our steps. In mid-2002 we had our first look at the darling of the NYIAS and one editor said "the g35 - coupe and sedan- appears to be poised for stardom". A few months later, we had the opportunity to track test the g35c and another editor opined, "squint, and you'd swear this v6 was a v12." he concluded, "if you can find a more stylish, better performing, four place coupe at this price, buy it."
The numbers? a base model 6mt came in at $32,595. The first test of this car produced a 5.8 sec 0-60 and a 66.1mph slalom speed. suddenly, infiniti was threatening high rent european territory. Next time around, we tested a pair of G35s (coupe and sedan) for the car of the year contest and improved the slalom speed to 67.1 mph. After winning the golden calipers, infiniti loaned us a 6mt coupe fitted with the $2260 premium package and the $550 aero package for a total of $35,395. Taking meticulous care to break the car in properly rewarded us with the fastest g35 coupe we've tested: 5.7 secs to 60, eclipsing the century mark for the first time with its 14.2 sec 100.5mph quarter mile. icing on the cake was its class-topping 67.7mph slalom. We got a good one, a really good one.
Thus began our year-long term with the coupe (and a sedan that we covered in our july 2004 issue). Logbook entries began predicably, if self-congratulatory: "I still love it- maybe even more than before. She's a looker, for sure. I appreciate that infiniti went a long way to distinguish this car from the sedan, though they are clearly related. Clean flanks, nice face, and a good job with the tricky headlight treatment and fast rear deckline. Nice wheels, love the brembo calipers (60-0 in just 109ft), and the exhaust pipes look properly purposeful. However, the (optional) rear wing loooks like somebody left an ironing board on the trunk."
Our fuel economy varied widely from just 15.2 mpg after a track test to 24.5 on a 900 mi round trip to scottsdale, az for the barrett-jackson auctions. That editor commented on how comfortable the seats were for the entire interstate trek, saying he could've easily done an additional stint. The avg over 18,600mi was a respectable 18.7mpg, still under the epa's claim of 20 city and 27 highway.
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From the logbook:
"no vehicle in recent history has so thoroughly embodied all the core MT car of the year values as the g35 does. Slam-dunk, infiniti- all the little stuff will shake out over the next couple years."
"a thoroughly engaging drive. even the shortest commute home helps erase the stresses of the day with a burst of acceleration here and a nice bit of cornering there. It's as good looking as the 350z but infinitely more practical."
"i hate the rubiks dipstick. why dont the front seats return to their preset positions after allowing a passenger into/out of the rear seat?"
"The g35 works well as an everyday communter, long distance runner, and a weekend toy. whats not to like?"
"could it be that infiniti has created the best 2+2 coupe for the mass market? Id have to say, yes. from styling to performance, world class handling to interior comfort, the g35 delights the senses."
"after driving the coupe on and off for a year, i still find myself glaring blankly at the center stack, searching for frequently used buttons. i find them eventually, but they shouldnt be this hard to use. all i want to do is change the radio station or shut the entire system off to hear the exhaust note."
"this is a Z car for people with lives"
"what a fantastic car! its a shame i have to give up the keys. can i buy this one?"
***EDIT- "Playmate of the year" was the title MT used for this article on the contents page. So its their words and not mine!
"no vehicle in recent history has so thoroughly embodied all the core MT car of the year values as the g35 does. Slam-dunk, infiniti- all the little stuff will shake out over the next couple years."
"a thoroughly engaging drive. even the shortest commute home helps erase the stresses of the day with a burst of acceleration here and a nice bit of cornering there. It's as good looking as the 350z but infinitely more practical."
"i hate the rubiks dipstick. why dont the front seats return to their preset positions after allowing a passenger into/out of the rear seat?"
"The g35 works well as an everyday communter, long distance runner, and a weekend toy. whats not to like?"
"could it be that infiniti has created the best 2+2 coupe for the mass market? Id have to say, yes. from styling to performance, world class handling to interior comfort, the g35 delights the senses."
"after driving the coupe on and off for a year, i still find myself glaring blankly at the center stack, searching for frequently used buttons. i find them eventually, but they shouldnt be this hard to use. all i want to do is change the radio station or shut the entire system off to hear the exhaust note."
"this is a Z car for people with lives"
"what a fantastic car! its a shame i have to give up the keys. can i buy this one?"
***EDIT- "Playmate of the year" was the title MT used for this article on the contents page. So its their words and not mine!
Last edited by tekknikal; Dec 23, 2004 at 11:42 AM.
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my comments:
i agree this is a fantastic car (!) driving it *always* brings a simle on my face, even on the hardest days. It's enjoyable to drive on 6am morning drives where i'm racing through the east end of st croix, and its equally enjoyable when im not feeling well and just want to get from point a to point b. Even then i find myself wanting to go to point c, but i tell myself no- my girlfriend wouldnt be happy if i stay sick any longer. Sometimes I drive the car every day, other times i let it sit for a few days and take my other car.. whether its a daily drive or im babying it, its great.
My biggest nit picks with the car itself are fixed in the 05: front seat recline, power telescoping wheel, etc. although its still a mixed bag. Im not sure if anyone agrees, but to me, one of the best marks of a well done 2+2 gt coupe is that you cant think of one single way to truly "fix" it. If you give it more power, it needs better handling. If you make it more luxurious, you'll want more performance, etc. it feels like that perfect blend.
As far as the looks of the car goes, grand slam.
Most of you probably see other G35's on a daily basis, but where I live there are none. Mine is the only one that most people here have ever seen. If I told you guys people liked it, thats an understatement. There is a porsche carrera or two here, a boxster, a cayenne, some 3 serieses, some TLs, an NSX or two, some vettes, a Z, and even a couple M3s (e46 and 36). I've been told more than once that my car is the best looking sports car on the island. I'm also often told its the best looking car on the island. Either way, one thing is for sure, when the reviewer said that its a looker, he's definitely right- every time I drive it, other drivers eyes (and sometimes cars
) follow me. I've seen old men jump in the air, and school children cheer and point. Ive been the target of very bad things that people have said and have been admired by some very impressive people. It probably sounds like im making it up- I probably wouldnt believe it either, but I'm telling it as it is. This is an amazing car that pretty much pleases everyone, especially the driver. Every time I'm in the states I cant help but stare whenever I'm lucky enough to see one. The GT-R, whenever it comes out, has a lot to live up to, and I cant wait to own one.
Job well done, Infiniti.
i agree this is a fantastic car (!) driving it *always* brings a simle on my face, even on the hardest days. It's enjoyable to drive on 6am morning drives where i'm racing through the east end of st croix, and its equally enjoyable when im not feeling well and just want to get from point a to point b. Even then i find myself wanting to go to point c, but i tell myself no- my girlfriend wouldnt be happy if i stay sick any longer. Sometimes I drive the car every day, other times i let it sit for a few days and take my other car.. whether its a daily drive or im babying it, its great.
My biggest nit picks with the car itself are fixed in the 05: front seat recline, power telescoping wheel, etc. although its still a mixed bag. Im not sure if anyone agrees, but to me, one of the best marks of a well done 2+2 gt coupe is that you cant think of one single way to truly "fix" it. If you give it more power, it needs better handling. If you make it more luxurious, you'll want more performance, etc. it feels like that perfect blend.
As far as the looks of the car goes, grand slam.
Most of you probably see other G35's on a daily basis, but where I live there are none. Mine is the only one that most people here have ever seen. If I told you guys people liked it, thats an understatement. There is a porsche carrera or two here, a boxster, a cayenne, some 3 serieses, some TLs, an NSX or two, some vettes, a Z, and even a couple M3s (e46 and 36). I've been told more than once that my car is the best looking sports car on the island. I'm also often told its the best looking car on the island. Either way, one thing is for sure, when the reviewer said that its a looker, he's definitely right- every time I drive it, other drivers eyes (and sometimes cars
) follow me. I've seen old men jump in the air, and school children cheer and point. Ive been the target of very bad things that people have said and have been admired by some very impressive people. It probably sounds like im making it up- I probably wouldnt believe it either, but I'm telling it as it is. This is an amazing car that pretty much pleases everyone, especially the driver. Every time I'm in the states I cant help but stare whenever I'm lucky enough to see one. The GT-R, whenever it comes out, has a lot to live up to, and I cant wait to own one.Job well done, Infiniti.
Last edited by tekknikal; Dec 23, 2004 at 11:37 AM.
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From: Omahaw
"a thoroughly engaging drive. even the shortest commute home helps erase the stresses of the day with a burst of acceleration here and a nice bit of cornering there. It's as good looking as the 350z but infinitely more practical."
that's EXACTLY why i chose the G35 over the Z. I test drove (in this order) S2000, RX-8, 350Z, G35. The Z is a riot to drive, but frankly the G does everything the Z can do, plus the G is waaay more comfy inside and has lots of more luxury accommodations. the same can be said when comparing the G with the S2000 and RX-8, IMO. Interior comfort & luxury took the cake, because all those cars are basically identical in performance...from my layman's point of view, anyway.
that's EXACTLY why i chose the G35 over the Z. I test drove (in this order) S2000, RX-8, 350Z, G35. The Z is a riot to drive, but frankly the G does everything the Z can do, plus the G is waaay more comfy inside and has lots of more luxury accommodations. the same can be said when comparing the G with the S2000 and RX-8, IMO. Interior comfort & luxury took the cake, because all those cars are basically identical in performance...from my layman's point of view, anyway.
Wow thats great to hear. And a very good point made about the overall greatness of the car minus the few little annoyances that it may have. Nice article, thanks for the post.
-Vin
-Vin
Great posts. It pretty much sums up the way I feel about my G. I couldn't have done a better job of describing ownership of this car. I have another ride (Jeep Grand Cherokee) and it makes it special every time I jump back into the G.
RBull
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Posts: 30,341
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From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
OK, so where's the "playmates"?????? 
Great article. thanks for sharing. More Kudos for Infiniti.
Great article. thanks for sharing. More Kudos for Infiniti.
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