I have always wondered what everyone loves about their G35s... and what do you like to do with it. My favorites along with a few nit picks are listed below.

Engine Sound at light throttle (trying to accelarate) and low revs.. when you get that V8ish growl and then the engine sound when you are at around 5000 rpm or higher.. where then engine feels to be ripping like a cheetah at full lope (ok, getting carried away here )

Letting the tail step out by both throttle on and off oversteer. I have to say that power on oversteer is a tad hard with the auto as in many situations such as making a left on a wide intersection, you can sometimes get a 1-2 shift in the middle of the curve. Not good. But it can be done with some gently takeoff.. inducing the car to shift to 2'nd and then using the 2'nd for accelarating out of the curve.

Going fast enough around tight on ramps where stuff starts flying of the seats.

Acceleration 1) Off the line 2) Taking off from around 50mph when you hit a lull in the traffic.. and realizing you are doing 90.

Bose Sound system is great. I know many people have upgraded the speakers etc. but even the stock (premium) is pretty decent.

Improvements:
- Auto tranny should upshift when I tell it and not when it deems it is convenient. Downshifts are actually not bad.
- Auto with atleast a sport mode, with downshifts on braking.
Would be better if they had sport and econ modes.
- ECU reset button

 

I've got to admit, I just love everything about it... I've had it 6 months now, and I just enjoy every time I have to go somewhere. It's sporty, it's classy, it turns heads, it's great on road-trips, it's great for quick little spars with 330s on the highway, it has enough room for errands, it still smells new, it shines like the day it was born... I just love this car. I was obsessive over my SHO when I first got it, and same with my GT and Envoy, but none of that lust lasted as long as this true enjoyment. It's a keeper.

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

I've owned this vehicle for just over a month now. My
pros and cons are as follows:
pros:
- Styling: While I find the styling better than
average, it wasn't a big factor for me. However, I am
surprised at the compliments people give me on the
car. I have an A6 2.7T (2001) and no one ever
compliments that car.
- Shifter: I owned a 1999 Trans Am (yea, you read that
right) and the shifter had the same turnstyle and I loved it.
This shifter is the same way, feels tough as the
engine, but shifts seamlessly when you use force. I
know people complain about the shifter, but it was a
big selling point for me and is wearing in nicely.
- Center of Gravity: the Front Midship platform is a
driver's dream. It reminds me of my old (naturally
aspirated) 300zx and that's the highest compliment you
can give. You feel like your part of the road, and in
complete control of the 260 ponies shoving you
forward.
- General Interior: People complain about the interior, but for its price point it's exceptional - my wife's MDX is a $42K car and it feels cheap in comparison. I firmly believe replacing the metallic looking material with some real metal would make this car Audi-worthy. However, some of the interior details are just silly (see interior under cons).

Cons:
- DVD NAV: Does somethings well, but a lot of niggling issues plague this system; it prompts you to continue your route if you shut the car off on the way, but then doesn't actually continue the route - a bug; the trip computer, and fuel economy should be on the same screen; the screen covers up the analog clock, but isn't on all the nav screens; etc.
- Memory seats: The memory seats should control the mirrors, as well as the seats, and be programmed to the keyfob. As it is now, they're worthless with the manual transmission as they don't even do the exit assist (as they do in the auto).
- Rattles: Only 2,000 miles and there's a distinct rattle that I think is coming from the sunroof, or the rear-parcel-shelf. This seems way too common and way too early for this price point.
- Interior Details: Two big issues seem to cheapen an otherwise rich looking interior; small buttons that lack tactile feel (and they all feel the same); buttons are bass-akwards. Also, all luxury manufacturers should know that a radio is meant to be controlled by a **** (and that the western world reads, and operates controls, from left to right). All I can say is thank heavens for the auto-climate control and the steering wheel controls.

Summary: Overall, Infiniti got all the important driver-centric stuff right. However, the bells-and-whistles-details are unrefined and have not been thought through - Infiniti needs to look to Lexus and Acura as to how to get these things right. Then again, this car has something so few have anymore... character, and a soul. And that's why I find an excuse to take the long route every time.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by nwG35Sedan on 10/06/03 09:43 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

All good points-- quick tip, though: When you're at the "settings" screen for the Nav, go down the voice control, and press OK instead of left or right. It turns it off so you don't have to listen to it at all. If you want to turn it back on, simply hit "Setting" then "Voice" and it will turn it back on. I think it's in the manual, so give it a quick look if this doesn't suffice. Also, how does yours not continue the route? I've not seen a problem yet...

All the best,

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

Thank you so much for help on the voice nav ... it's been driving me nuts. I'll edit my post.

Also, on the nav not continuing my route. When I start the car, I'm prompted to continue the route. I select continue route and it takes me to the map, but the route doesn't continue. It's an obvious bug and I plan to have it checked out at the 3,750 service.

 

No problem, glad to help. About the "continue route"-- very odd. I believe there's a software update they can install when you take it in. Hope that clears it up for you. Enjoy the ride,

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

I have ~900 miles on my G35. So far I really like it.
It has excellent power.

Handles very nicely.

I have finally figured out the clutch so no more hard awkward launches or 1-2 shifts.

I love the auto up and auto down windows.

My first car with a Navigation. while yes the calls for directions from my wife have stopped but are now replaced with calls asking how to program the Nav.

Meaty sounding horn. when I honk it, it's saying get the F__k out of my way instead of excuse me can you please move.

**Cons**
Interior rattles-which i am sure I can get fixed at the dealer. I just can pry myself to give the car up for a day.

Carpet is cheap cheap cheap. The carpet in my SHO is way nicer.

Sunvisors feel cheap also. Geobau will back me up on this, the passenger visor in My sho is hands above the G35

I wish the sport package had the 18" wheels and brembos from the coupe.

Jim
'03 Sedan
Brilliant Silver/Graphite
6MT/ Premium package
Sport tuned suspension
Aerodynamic Body Kit
Navigation and Satellite Radio

 

Yep-- I definitely liked the visors with the dimming mirrors, etc. Passangers always just used those instead of the overhead lights. Oh well, if I want to uh, apply makeup, I'll just go to the SHO in the other garage. If I want to just enjoy a nice, crisp ride, I'll take my G out [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

Don't want to rehash anything already posted, so here are some additions.

Cons:

Nav system. Let's say I'm in a strange place, and I want to find the closest McDonald's to me.. not the closest fast food joint, but specifically McDonald's. Can't do it. It gives you a list of every frickin' McD's in the state -- can limit by city of course, but that doesn't help in areas with suburbs and cities all squished together. It knows where I am, it knows were all the McD's or Best Buy's are, surely it can be programmed to find the closest one instead of making me figure it out for myself from a huge list.

Radio: Sure wish the CD player would stop jamming. CD ERR F0.

Tires: What the heck was Infiniti thinking? 215/55R17 is not a common size, and there aren't any real performance tires available.

<hr>

Pros:

Autocross. 'Nuff said. [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Ryoken:
I hear ya there...my only complaint in the whole Gride. The best solution I found to this was the following.

1)Narrow it down to the city your in
2)then Mcdonalds
3)after it gives you the big list press info then map
4)I can usually find the closest by looking at the maps and then pressing enter. I know this is absolutely acinine-especially when you freinds 1999 Acura works flawlessly, but it's better than owning a TL

 

The problem is, I live in San Diego. Sometimes the closest "whatever" is in El Cajon or another of the independent-cities-in-a-large-single-metropolitan-area. Or sometimes it's like McDonald's.. even in just San Diego, there's a couple dozen or more of them.

I like the way it does fast food and gas stations.. sorts by distance, with the miles away listed and an arrow showing the general direction. I want that for Points of Interest searches. the logic is already in the system, it's just not applied in all the right places.

But then I autocross, and I forget all about the Nav and the CD player and just [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img].

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

I'm planning to buy a G35 or RX-8 or *gasp* Acura TL in the next 6 months or so - leaning towards the G35. One thing that pops up in most reviews of the G35 is the brakes - they are apparently very powerful, but grabby. I've read through this thread, and no one has mentioned the brakes. What do you folks feel about the brakes, especially having driven it for more then a short drive?

The other thing some articles mention is the shifter - that it requires effort. My SE-R used to have a similar feeling shifter, but once you got the knack for it with the revs matched nicely, it was very quick and smooth (a short-throw shifter helped).

Thanks,
C

 

The brakes are very quick-- but once you've gotten used to them, they're exceptionally good for bad situations. I usually coast through stop signs in my other cars if I've been driving the G too long. Oops. They do, however, wear quickly if you abuse them. They can last quite a while, and many drivers' have, but if you use them hard, they wear fast. It's just logical.

As for the shifter-- I've driven the MT a few times, and got the feel for it after only two sittings, so I think it's a great feel. That's just me, though, and I've driven MTs for a while. Ultimately, it's up to you! Oh, and ditch the Acura... FWD? Psh [img]/w3timages/icons/wink.gif[/img] Also, wait for the RX-7 [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

G

2003.5 Black w/ Willow G35
Premium / Sport / Aero / Winter / Navi / Tint

 

Like geobau said the brakes are touchy. They react by how fast you step on them, not how hard. You will get used to them.

IMO The shifter feels great. It's a short throw and gear selection seems positive. It's not a smooth as say a front wheel drive car because in the G, the stick is connected directly in the tranny. On a FWD car it's a remote shifter.

I would exclude the RX-8 and focus on the G35 and TL for your comparisons


Jim
'03 Sedan
Brilliant Silver/Graphite
6MT/ Premium package
Sport tuned suspension
Aerodynamic Body Kit
Navigation and Satellite Radio

 

I did not find the brakes on my 6MT or the 6MT sedan I test drove to have touchy brakes. When I test drove an automatic though, the brakes did seem very touchy. Are there any differences or is it simply a car to car basis?