Anyone else not impressed with the 06's? Just got back from the dealer test driving the 06 Coupe. I have convinced myself that I need to get rid of the 03 and upgrade to a new model and heard rumors of good lease deals. I also read a couple reviews of people who loved them. Test drove a new DG/Blk 6MT with only 100 or so miles on it. I was not impressed. Also the lease deal rumors are untrue, there won't be any really good deals until end of summer.

The interior styling doesn't look newer or nicer to me. The floor mats were a plain black on top of same color carpet. In my 03 the black interior comes with charcoal carpets with embroidered edges and Infiniti logos. the aluminum wrapped interior is sub-par and they still have the same shabby bose stereo and display. Every piece of crap rental car I drive has a nicer display on the radio than a 35-40k Infiniti. The orange thread on the steering wheel...wow, yeah..it was uh, neat I guess....it matches the stereo. Must say the nav was vastly improved. Better styling and display with more options, easier to use, loved it. It goes in and out now with the push of a button which really sounds more impressive than it is. The old way it pops up quicker and when you go to put it away, tucks away a little faster by hand. Either way it was overall better for sure. The great new NAV only made the stereo look even more outdated and out of place. I guess it doesn't look so bad if you leave it OFF. Hey Infiniti-- INTEGRATE THE NAV WITH THE STEREO!! -- The blue tooth is cool, didn't get to try it out but if it works at all then I would love it. The memory seat is long overdue and it's about time for sure. The seat also goes back into place without having to readjust the recline every time. The seatbelt problem still sucks. I like the feel and look of having it attached to the seat but then getting people in/out of the back was just as bad or actually worse than before. Looks better, function same or worse.

Exterior it looks a lot the same. I like the new headlights with the clear turn signal cover instead of amber and I like the dual xenon instead of having a halogen foglight which was/is lame. I don't like the strip on the headlights of the 06. It's all silver covered instead of being able to see the lens/light.(hard to explain) I just hate the taillights, sorry I know some of you are big fans. I think the round silver/clear reverse light next to all that red looks good, don't like the new reverse slits. The trunk button is a cool feature (I guess, always got along fine without it) but too bad they couldn't hide it better. It doesn't match and makes the back not symmetrical. They also pulled the taillights up tighter towards the corners of the back end and I think they looked better before. You really have to look at old and new side by side to see this.

Driving, could definitely tell that the gearing has shifted to the high end of the rpm band a bit, which I like in theory but it just felt sluggish to me. The gas mileage is not improved, figured if you moved the powerband up you might get better mileage at reasonable speeds but apparently not. Now to be fair the car was BRAND NEW, just off the truck and the tranny/motor, suspension, everything felt very stiff. There was even some hesitation or the car 'bogged down' once or twice but I know that the car will loosen up with a little time and miles. Also didn't want to push it too much, it only had 100 miles on it. The suspension was really tight and stiff, not much roll and it felt solid.

Overall it was easy to walk away and get back in my car. I wanted an 06 thinking I could be happy with it bone-stock but now I see I would have to make a few mods. I haven't tried out the AT yet but I will. You can get the suspension package on the autos with 19" wheels which wasn't offered in prior years. If I have to pimp it out I can buy the auto for cheaper and use the extra cash to hook it up right. Also able to get the intelligent key, not offered on the 6MT. Decisions decisions, wait for 2007 model most likely!

 

I wish I could wait for the 07, but I am itching to get a new car, and figured the 06 was good enough to last me a couple of years, and then if I like the new body style coupe in 08, I can always upgrade to that one. The only thing I know of that the 07 will have that the 06 doesn't is that they are planning on moving the seat control to the side, rather than on top of the seat, like they have done in the FX.

Also the chance that Lexus will build the IS 500 (coupe version of the IS 350, but with V8) is looking more and more like a reality, but it will not be out until 08. So if I get the 06, then in 08 or 09 I could choose between the new G and the IS, and maybe even a new Acura CL, which is rumored to be more of a sport coupe (with AWD) when it returns.

 

well what were you expecting? the 03 to the 06 are the same exact models except with minor upgrades. The 06 should have the same performance as the 07 coupe...so if you werent impressed by the driving, you shouldnt get it at all, youd be wasting your time.

 

+1

oh well, not your cup of tea, time to move on

 

I expected newer, more modern styling on the interior but instead they made it worse. I can back that up with some fact, like the cheap mats but mostly its just my opinion. Exterior changes I didn't care for, more opinion, I'm sure plenty of folks like it.

Performance is fine, I love these cars. If I seem harsh it's because I'm a G35 driver and a bit spoiled. My hope is the 07 will have a better interior, possibly nav/stereo/sat everything integrated into one display. Passenger seat made like the drivers seat with full controls. Integrate the front seat belts into the seat so in/out is no longer a problem. I'd like them to offer the dark blue color paint (forgot the name)

 

isn't the 07 supposed to have the new and improved VQ that is supposedly 80% newly designed and has 330+ hp? Or is that just for the sedan? Wouldn't make sense.

I agree about the 05-06 engine though. They drop torque throughout the low and mid range, and threw some HP on the top end, but the engine still bogs a few hundred before the redline (not the revlimiter... it's even worse right before the engine cuts the "fun")

I still like the midrange, but I can see why the MREV+ is so popular. It's cause we get back a bit of what we lost with the "improvement".

At least the exhaust note still sounds like heavenly farting (which is still very good, but smelly at times)

 

06 is just fine with me

 

New sedan for '07, coupe in '08.

 

Why integrate the Nav with the crappy stock stereo? I'm going to be totally replacing the stereo system and it's great that the existing stereo is not tied into the Nav. No stock car stereo system is worth a damn regardless of car and cost.

 

better wait till '08 cause of all the new changes coming. Our '05-'07s are going to be outdated.

 

There will never be that hype again we first experienced when the 03 G35 was introduced. From now on, it will just be subtle changes and improvements.

 

the interior on the 05+ kills the 03 and 04 one sorry.

 

im happy with my 04 6MT with brembo's. im planning to get the
2nd year next gen model in late 08 or early 09 if they release a 6MT.

if not, i'll probably save up another year and get a Boxter or something.

 

Yeah I am with you on that one, was looking to get an '06, but decided I would wait for the new coupe in spring '07 instead.

 

FYI, the cheap floor mats must be a screwup somewhere because my BO 06' came with matching mats and all of them have the silver embroidered Inifiniti logo on them, even the trunk mat.