Last night I took my niece and 3 of her college friends back to school. She's a freshman at Lafayette, a college in Easton Pa. My niece had a load of groceries, a knapsack, & decent sized gym bag. Her friends 2 guys, 1 girl, each had a knapsack and decent sized gym bags also.

I normally always carry a portable hydraulic jack, cleaning supplies and emergency supplies. I left the jack and only removed the cleaning supplies. Well, the trunk was pretty full, but I could have fit 3 more knapsacks.

The biggest passenger had to be about 250 lbs (he sat in the front) the rest were about (I estimate the girls were 115, 100lbs,) and the guy 140. I weigh 201.

I was curious how the G would perform. MY G had never been so heavily laden b4. The trip was from Mount Vernon, NY to Easton Pa 98 miles exactly.

The VERDICT. The G performed amazingly. It handled well, its roll on accelleration was great, I did use the manumatic a few times. I did not need or feel the car needed more power at any time. The sport suspension worked beautifully, absorbing all road irregularities. Most of the trip, I drove at 80 mph, a few times I hit 90 while passing, but the G35 at this speed, in 5 th gear has great passing power, only if one really wants to move does one need to go into 4 th gear.

Bottomline, this car is a great highway cruiser. I've had this car over year, it continues to amaze me

Dknibb

 

I've made a fully-loaded trip before, as well, and it does just fine. Maybe even a bit smoother, since there's more weight on the suspension. Anyway, at 80, 4th is okay.. but there are times, such as trying to pass an 18-wheeler on the 138 (a 2-lane highway in the desert with short stretches of open visiblility that carries the nickname "Deathtrap Highway") swiftly, that forcing the car down to 3rd executes the job remarkably quick.

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

 

Downshifting to 3rd gear at 80? Wow the engine must be really spinning at that speed. I have to check the rpms at that speed. For me 4th is fine at 80 mph. I guess better safe than sorry. Actually you probably downshift for 4 seconds just to get launch speed than shift up to 4th gear b4 redline right?

Dknibb

 

Yeah.. at 80 it jumps up to around 5k rpm right off the bat, and you go back up to 4th pretty quickly.. but it does get you moving in a hurry. I haven't looked to see exactly what speed it redlines in 3rd at, but I think it's high 80's. Plus, there's just the thrill of having the car throw you back in the seat at 80. [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

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

 

3rd tops out around 86-88 i think. if you put it in 3rd your rpms will be very high to start out with. i think you will get better a speed in 4th with alot of gas. this way you will start around 4k i think?

 

Gearing. 3rd at 6000 (with much less engine torque than 4th at 4000) will accelerate you faster than 4th at any rpm due to the gearing differences in the tranny. even taking into account tranny slip.

Better Life thru Chemistry
Black on Black 03.5 Sedan 6MT - Custom Catback, Custom Intake Tube, HyperGround Kit

 

Interesting, 3point5SE.
Well I'll bet we all agree that 3rd gear is the killer gear when traveling on the highway. I love being in 3rd at 60 mph and then applying a fair amount of F = M x A to the pedal. Who said I wouldn't use the formula from Physics in the real world.

I thought you might appreciate that 3point5SE. Thanks
Dknibb

 

What I do if I know I'm going to pass is drop it to 3 a second or two early as I'm preparing to go, and then tap it to 4 right after flooring it.. and let the tranny decide when to shift. It's definately a quicker pickup than just flooring it in D or in 5, as the computer will only drop to 4th at that speed, and once you floor it, it won't upshift until redline.

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