Many differences between the 03/04 and 05/06 but I'll just name a few from my experience.

Exterior-wise, the 05/06 beats out the 03/04. For the former, I like the painted factory side moldings and front & rear bumpers. When lit at night, the headlamps look more attractive with the amber signal on with the HIDs. I also like the dark chrome color of the grille compared to the full chrome grille from the 03/04 (too bad neither of them can be interchanged). Personally I really like the way the 05/06 look without the OEM rear spoiler since it is definitely a cleaner appearance. The 03/04 looks awesome with the spoiler, esp. the ones with the Sports suspension package.

For the interior, I have to agree with how awesome the 05/06 look compared to the 03/04. The steering wheel controls is a big improvement, as well as the entire center console unit (CD player is much quicker to load/change CDs and less prone to CD jams than that from the 03/04). Instrument cluster is brighter but I prefer the one from the 05 versus from the 06. Definitely seems more luxurious in the 05/06 than the 03/04 but I like the sporty and grippy feel in the 03/04 than the 05/06.

 

LexusK8, You mention the difference in lighting of the guage cluster 5-05-06, what is the diff. you say you likeo5 more in this case? I did not know the cluster lighting was any diff.?

 

How can anyone compare an 05 interior to an 04? I have the premium c 05 and going to a base 03/04 it's a completely different car.

 

Well when I had the loaners a while back, I am almost positive that the 05 loaner I drove had an instrument cluster with white-outlined gauges, and the 06 loaner had an all-orange instrument cluster. I was under the assumption that the instrument cluster for the 05 and 06 should be the same, but that was the only difference I saw. Perhaps someone here with an 05/06 could chime in.

 

I too have noticed that the steering in the 05 loaners is a lot lighter. I don't like it at all. But, I'm with Jeff on this one, I'd go for an 05+ if I could swing it. Nothing beats the 03/04 Nismo bumper, but most everything else is a bit better with the 05/06. Regardless, I'm very happy with my 03. I don't deserve something so nice and I feel spoiled driving it.

 

'05 has the all orange gauges. My only complaint is the reflection at night off the windshield.

 

For me the brakes and the body colored lowers on the 05 were the big selling point.