I really need some help and I've been asking friends opinions but they've been no help so I figured the best place to ask a G35 question is the G35 forum.
Here's my situation. I'm trying to decide which G35 to get. I'm looking at getting either a stock 2006 barely used G35 sedan or a 2004 sedan with just about every option (navigation, dual climate control, bose sound system, HID's...)

I know its always possible to add stuff aftermarket but I'm not going to be putting money into my car like that.

I know certain things have changed on the G35 since 2004 and maybe there are things standard on the 06 that arent available on the 04.
Pretty much I need help trying to figure out what are the advantages and what I would be missing by getting one or the other.
Thanks

 

Here is a thread to get you started:

https://g35driver.com/forums/showthr...dan+difference

If you use the search function you will probably find more threads similar in nature. In a nutshell, the biggest differences in my opinion are the interior and motor (but only if you are getting a manual, the auto motors are essentially the same even though they bumped the HP rating). There were some exterior styling changes (i.e. the hood, grill, bumpers, lights, etc.) but these were subtle in nature.

I am by no means an expert on the subject as I have not spent much time in or around an 03-04. As far as the interior and exterior styling issues go, your best bet would be to find both and examine them closely to see which you like better.

 

One huge advantage of the '06 over the '04, are the brakes, they changed them in '05, and are much better, overall, than the '04. My '04 had to have front brakes at 15k, the brakes were grabby and the front wheels were always black, my '05, at 10k still has negligble wear on the pads, and the wheel's stay clean. There are a lot of other things nicer about the '05-'06, but my main thing was the brakes! Overall, I like my second generation G35 much better! Maybe you could pick up a used '05 as long as it's not the X, they didn't change those brakes until this year.

 

The 05-06 has a better looking interior and exterior IMO. The brakes are better. The 06 has the best navi out of all the navi's even the 05's. A side from thost that's about it...

 

If you are not planning on mods I would go for the 06.

My $0.02:
Stock/Stock the 06's have a better exterior (minus the headlights, I hate those ring looking things) the front end, matched sides and rear are a huge help. Now the 04' with the Nismo kit is still my overall fav but you are going to have a hard time finding one with it.

The interior is all up to you. I still like the 04's interior better. They should have made the whole center aluminum like the titanium-look center of the earlier model instead of just a piece.

 

Speaking as a guy who test drove a couple loaded 2004 G35's and ultimatley went with the 2006, Base w/AT I wish I would have saved some money and used the extra cash and put it into mods and gone with an 04 MT. Just my .02

 

Apart from the financial side of it, would you still have chosen the loaded 2004? People are telling me the difference between the 03/04s and 05/06s but I'm asking a more specific question than that. I'm really trying to get some opinions as to what some of you would have chosen.
Either....
A stock auto 2006 G35 sedan which has...
-more time under the warranty
-a more recent car with any little bugs from previous models already worked out
-the 20 extra horses
-a (barely) redesigned exterior and dash

or
A loaded auto 2004 G35 sedan which would have...
-navigation
-HIDs
-Dual climate control
-Reclining rear seats (I think)
-The better looking tailights and headlights (to me anyway)
-Would be a cheaper shorter loan
-Bose sound system
Pretty much anything thats standard on the 06 I think I'll have as standard or an added option on the 04

Based on those factors what would you choose???


Also quick question. It may be a stupid question but is the keyless entry (which I didn't know the G35 had until recently) really a keyless entry?? What I mean is does the vehicle automatically unlock the door simply by you walking up to the car and pulling the door handle?

 

Keyless entry, you still have to push a button located on the door handle and underneath the taillights, this is with the intellikey. But as most manufactors will say "keyless entry" just means you get a fob that opens and locks the door, pretty much standard in ALL cars now.

As far as the two goes, consider this:
1. You can get a brand new car with basics. BTW HIDS are standard on the 06 also and I don't if you gone shopping, but it's pretty hard to find a base g35 even one with just the sunroof is kinda hard to locate. Most already have the premium package.
2. You can buy a USED car and it's fully loaded, which will also save you some money.
3. I guess this might be a consideration, what kinda image are you trying to sell, if any? Because I know if I showed up with a new base G35, it probably would command more awws over a used fully G35.

 

I currently have a decently loaded 04 with Navi, Auto, but no sports suspension.

I drove a base 06 auto as a loaner a couple weeks ago when I had my 30K service, and noticed the lack of the auto lights. Also noticed that it only had single zone climate control, but for a day, that didn't cause problems.

Anyway, the interior seemed a little more refined to me, like backlit controls on the steering wheel and better clock location, though the dark interior seemed more plasticly. The MM mode on the auto is different, many people like how the 06 does it better, I didn't drive enough with it to make any judgements. I am used to how the 04 works, doesn't make it worse or better.

The premium 04 has reclining rear seats.

I think I saw that even the base 06 supports MP3 formatted CDs for music, which, combined with the 6 CD changer, could allow a LARGE music collection.


All else being equal, the 06 should have a longer period before you have to do repairs, and as mentioned the brakes should last longer. However, I haven't had issues with them after 30K yet.

The Navi is nice, the main benefit is you don't have to worry about mounting it when you use it. The main disadvantage is if you rent a car on vacation, you can't take it with you.

Note, without the Navi, you can't get the fuel economy numbers while driving. You have to do them the old fashioned way, entering your gas and mileage into a spreadsheet.

My opinion is that, since I already have the 04, I didn't see the enough improvements to upgrade. If I hadn't already got used to some of the features, I probably wouldn't have missed them.

 

You think so? I think most people probably won't be able to tell if its an 06 or 04. I think a pop-out navigation, reclining rear seats, dual climate control, and a bumpin sound system would get more "ooohhs" and "awwws" than a stock 06 with no options.

 

I guess you would have to consider the situations your in. My 06 is fully loaded only thing I didn't get was the aero package. I've actually never have anyone even notice that i have reclining rear seats, dual climate control or bose system and no one has actually given a damn about the popup navi other me and my little brother.

But I've gotten complements about the car, like my girlfriend's friend, who hated me in high school, my GF tells her I got a new G35 and her friend's reply was "he can't afford that..."

 

Tell us ur budget and maybe we could even help you some more. I honestly, would get the 05+ just b/c of the interior upgrades and the premium package includes things that I wish my sister's 04 didn't like the keyless entry and lighted buttons on the steering wheel to name a few. The electronic telescopic steering wheel is nice too.

 

Now that I'm thinking about the reclining rear seats and dual climate control aren't a big deal to me. As I said if I get the 06 I'll probably be getting a base barely used 06 so I'm wondering what the stock sound system is like???? I like to have a good system but that isn't that big of a deal to me seeing how the stock system in my mother's 05 Camry sounds damn good to me. I guess the thing thats really getting me is that I'd like to have the navigation but I guess I could always spend a little money and get me a navigation.

 

What does your mom's 05 Camry's sound system have to do with the G35's system??

 

If it is about the money go with the '04. If it is about wanting to buy a car and not having to drop a dime for maint, go with the '06. Navi is so cheap these days, I got a Roadmate 760 for 250 after rebates, and love it. I like being able to swap it between the 3 cars I have, and when I take vacation I take it with me. It even works in the rental car I had up in Canada.

I have an '06 Premium, sport, aero. The navi would be cool to get the trip computer and stuff, but a total waste of 2K IMO.

Pete