My roommate just bought a 350Z Touring today. I've sat in a couple before, but I've never test driven one before tonight.

I knew that the seats were lower than in the G, having been a passenger, but seeing the road as a driver from the lower viewpoint only drove in the point that much more. As far as seating position goes, it was everything that I had wished I had in the G.

Hitting the road, I immediately notice the lighter feel of the car. I've always wondered what "one person less" would feel like in my car (impossible when you're the only one in it), and now I know. The Z seemed more willing to go. I feel like telling my car to go on a diet, lol.

The shifter felt odd because of how you sit in the seat. I'm used to the G's and how it's down low. It feels a little higher up in the Z. It made me wonder if it was supposed to be the same short shifter, because it didn't really feel like it.

Another noticeable difference (and maybe it's just my car) was that his tranny was a lot smoother. I'm already at 10K miles in my car and my tranny is still notchy. I'm a little PO'ed about that. When he took delivery, the car already had 300 miles on it. It could be that many hands have helped him break in his tranny before him, but I kind of doubt it. I think I need to test drive someone else's G35 to know where mine stands.

Although I've only driven his Z for less than 10 minutes, I could tell that it would be funner to drive (for me, anyway). I'm waiting for him to break it in before I take it up to higher RPMs and see the difference there. The only bad thing besides the limited internal space was the crappy view of the traffic to the sides and to the rear.

I'm still happy with my decision of buying the G because of its balance between all aspects. It suits my needs well...something a two-seater wouldn't be able to do for me.

But if you're someone on the fence, trying to decide between the two, definitely test drive both. After having driven the Z, I don't think I really would call the Skyline a Z with four seats. They both have a different feel to them.

EDIT: I can't speak of handling, since he's still in the break-in period, but I'll follow up when I get the chance.

G35c 6MT/BS/G/Prem/Aero/Nav<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by dubiux on 07/30/03 12:42 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

It makes sence when you think about it though. The g is around the same price an gives you lots of extra luxury features and a back seat. The price you pay is the performance.
At least the g is in the same neighborhood performance-wise, right?

 

If the Z didn't have a small performance edge, it wouldn't have anything.

-Jack
Obsidian '03 G35 Sports Coupe
Titanium '03 MX-5 Shinsen #532

 

I'll take it that your short test drive was on smooth roads. The Z' has tighter suspension tuning. It has better responsiveness at the cost of ride harshness, I notcied the differance immediately after driver several several coupes. That's why I installed 350Z springs and struts on my sedan, in spite of the the ride harshness. The lighter feeling you commented on come's from that tunning differance. Pressing both car's to the limit's will show the tuning differances, more. Something I understand you weren't able to do because of break-in concerns.

Ivry 6mt sed
Injen CAI, 22" resonator
8X18 Enkei RPM2 45mm
Kumho MX 245/40
350Z springs&struts
Crawford intake pleneum comming

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

If the Z didn't have a small performance edge, it wouldn't have anything.

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And a very small edge it is, at that. Although I haven't test driven the Z myself, it's obvious that acceleration is going to be a bit better, but handling-wise it all depends who you ask... Car & Driver notes that the G pulled better on the skidpad than the Z, and didn't have quite the degree of understeer the Z has at the edge of the envelope. When you factor in the more refined looks, the better interior, and of course the additional room, the choice seems clear to me. In fact, unless you're really in love with the more muscular / visceral look of the Z compared to the G, I don't see the very minor acceleration gains of the Z worth it at all... the most minor of modifications to the G will give it equal, or greater power anyway.

2003 G35 Coupe 6MT Leather
Premium, Aero
"There is no spoon"

 

Actually, the roads that I went on weren't that smooth. They were a little gritty.

Two more things I forgot to add:

I noticed that with both windows down, a lot less wind comes into the Z than in the G while driving. That was a weird thing.

The other thing. One word that I have always used to describe the ride in the G -- SOLID. I didn't really get that feeling from the Z.

EDIT: I take that back, half of the roads were smooth and the other half gritty.

G35c 6MT/BS/G/Prem/Aero/Nav<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by dubiux on 07/30/03 09:09 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

True and it depends on what you value.

For me, dollar for dollar, what I lose in "fun", I get a lot more back in practicality.

But if you value how a car feels more, one should at least test drive the car instead of accepting what people say. Regardless of how close the performance is, to me, the G isn't the Z with two more seats.

G35c 6MT/BS/G/Prem/Aero/Nav

 

I test drove both before buying the G35 6MT. I really didn't notice ANY performance difference. I thought the interior of the G was MUCH nicer and I liked the longer look of the body too. I still don't like the exterior door handles on the Z. My only wish was for more exterior color choices. I just don't understand why Nissan/Infiniti can't offer more choice of color. I really wanted either a cranberry red or a navy blue. Also, I think if you add all the standard options on the G to the base Z, the Z will end up costing more. I'm still glad I bought the G over the Z. In my area, there are Zs everywhere but the G is kind of rare.


Larry Bushaw - 6MT coupe - "There's nothing a donut won't solve!"

 

I feel safer in my coupe. Z looks so small.

 

I think you probably have to become accustomed to the weight of one first before you notice the difference between the two. How many people can really tell the difference in performance initially of one additional passenger?

Twilight blue for the '04 coupe is almost a navy blue.

G35c 6MT/BS/G/Prem/Aero/Nav

 

To give y'all an idea of the weight difference, we both went to the scales today. His weighed in at 3260 lbs and mine was 3400 lbs. Then we went to go fill up and I put in 15.5 gallons of gas and he put in 15.3. So, about the difference of one light adult.

Had a friend drive both of our cars back-to-back tonight and he said that he couldn't really feel the weight difference between the two, but the difference in stance was really noticeable.

G35c 6MT/BS/G/Prem/Aero/Nav

 

I test drove both too, over the same loop from the same dealer (Nissan was next door). They were both 6MTs. I didn't perceive any significant performance difference (none, really), but noticed that the Z was quite a bit noisier from the engine compartment, probably due to intake differences, and it wasn't a noise I enjoyed, unlike the exhaust, which I do. I also thought the interior was way cheaper looking, particularly the "what were they thinking?" cheeseball nav lid design.

That test drive was key in my decision to buy the G. For only a little more money it had a lot of advantages and almost no disadvantages.

 

here

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

I test drove both too, over the same loop from the same dealer (Nissan was next door). They were both 6MTs. I didn't perceive any significant performance difference (none, really), but noticed that the Z was quite a bit noisier from the engine compartment, probably due to intake differences, and it wasn't a noise I enjoyed, unlike the exhaust, which I do. I also thought the interior was way cheaper looking, particularly the "what were they thinking?" cheeseball nav lid design.

<hr></blockquote>

I agree completely. My uncle has a 350Z with a 6MT, which I've driven. I think they feel very similar, and the transmissions felt identical. The Z has more of a sporty feel because of its smaller size and lighter weight - just felt more nimble to me. But other than that, they really felt similar. The pedal placement is lower on the Z, which I like better - the G's clutch pedal travel seems ridiculously long to me, and the pedals sit up too high, IMO.

I also agree with the engine noise - its louder in the Z, and its not a pleasant sound. The Coupe gets rid of most of that unpleasant engine noise and emphasizes the sweet exhaust sound more. I wish both of these cars would have a louder intake that growled like a healthy DOHC V-6 should.

But everything else is like same car, but I have a back seat and nicer interior.

2003 G35C, 6MT, DG/G, Aero/Nav/Premium
2002 Corvette Z06, Electron Blue/Black

 

I test drove both extensively while making the decision and bang-for-the-buck, I couldn't argue with the G.

I think the best way I've heard it put was in a print interview with the Infiniti design chief. He said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that the Z evokes "sprint" while the G says "endurance."

Regularly driving on some of the CRAPPIEST roads in the United States, I think the the Z would have worn on me, to say the least.

BASIC BLACK