WRONG, wrong, wrong. I have a sedan (notice where I'm posting). My auto displays 4-3-2-1 as I come to a stop.
My final conclusion on this, after reading many many posts, is there is a 2004.5 model that behaves like the coupe. Fully manual on the upshifts. Display equals gear car is in at the time.
Having looked @ my VIN# as posted in another thread, I can confirm I do have the 2004.5 model. That is the first confirmed change in the current model year.
Any questions?

2004 DG 5AT
Aero Sport Premium

 

if that's the case I feel cheated! LOL.. I just bought my 2004 G35 Sedan.

2004 G35s 5AT DG/Graphite/Premium/Huper Optik Tint

 

GeezerB,

I do have a question: On my '03 sedan, the manumatic display always shows the gear I've set, no matter what the car is doing. So all it's doing is allowing me to set an upper limit gear. You say that yours displays 4-3-2-1 as you slow down. Does it do the opposite when you accelerate?

 

Mine displays 4M when I shift into manual mode also. However, you can tell that it down shifts to one when you come to a complete stop. Then as you accelerate it goes through the gears to 4 and will hold there unless you manually shift up to 5.

I rented an 04 Max SE (auto) for business last week, and had it for about three days and 600 miles. That car when you shift into manual mode it will run to red line then shift up for you, or down depending on the circumstances. The LCD display also corresponds to the gear selection. I will say I had a ball with it because it does not let up into redline - just put it in manual mode and go. I was bugged out to see if I had enough speed to say 4th gear and my speed slowed the tranny would shift down a cog or two. My 03.5 G does not perform in this fashion. But I will say my G is extremely efficient in D. I can hold a gear up shift/down shift with the right amount of throttle input. I only really use manual mode for gears 3rd thru 4th, and sometimes 5th

"03.5" G35-S Ivory Pearl Sport/Prem/Aerodyn-RS
"02" MBZ C-320 Sport Wagon Brilliant Silv/C-2 pac

 

they updated the shifting software in our ECU for 04 model

now it is like the coupe and it will drop back to 1 when it stops. and u have to shift all over again manually when u go.

the 03 sedan's tiptronic is a joke. its not a safety feature. its just bad design. whats the point of having a tiptronic when u can leave it in 5th and it will acts as a slow automatic(it doesnt kick down in tiptronic mode as often)

u gotta downshift ur way back down to 1st if u wanna shift manually again when u start going.

the 350GT8 have the best tiptronic software of all.
it goes to 6th on cruising mode, and goes to 3rd under acceleration. but i never see my friend drive over 6th. the 7th and 8th gear is pretty useless lol

 

yeah, the early sedan's do it weird. They fixed it for the FX and coupe's, and now apparently halfway through the '04 run for the sedans.

If you put it in manual and it goes to 4 and stays there, you have the old style.. it's just a "top gear limit selector" -- that is, you're in an automatic transmission that will shift on it's own from 1st up through the number displayed in the dash. The newer, or coupe-style, drops the numbers as it downshifts. This is better, but still not great, as it doesn't let you hold a higher gear when you're slowing down. The best way to do it would be to hold whatever gear you put it in, and only drop into 1st on it's own after coming to a complete stop.

Whichever way it works, though, you get used to it. I have the '03 Sedan, and got an FX loaner the other day, and was playing with the manual.. wound up redlining the thing in 1st coming off a stoplight under normal acceleration, simply because I didn't realize that it dropped down there for me.. I was expecting it to work like my sedan.

 

Hmmm I have an 03.5 and if I'm on the freeway at speed and switch to manu, it will drop to 4th. If I am at a stoplight and shift it down to 1st, it will not shift up unless I do it.

another difff between the 03.5 and the 03.

-t


'03.5 Sedan 5a: BS/G, Prem, Aero/Body, Sport, Nav
Click for MODS or Vote at Online Showoff

 

clarification of my above post... because I cannot edit!

===
Hmmm I have an 03.5 and if I'm on the freeway at speed and switch to manu, it will drop to 4th. If I start in 1st, it will not shift up unless I do it.

However, it will downshift , but not display 4,3,2,1 without me doing it. When starting out at top 5M or 4M, it will shift up, but not display the numbers unless I do it.


-t



'03.5 Sedan 5a: BS/G, Prem, Aero/Body, Sport, Nav
Click for MODS or Vote at Online Showoff

 

So the question becomes if they have "updated" it for a 2004.5 model, is there a way to get the dealer to update it for a 2004 model? I can't imagine it being a new transmission and/or new parts in the car for a middle-year run.

2004 G35s 5AT DG/Graphite/Premium/Huper Optik Tint

 

I'm sure it's just a new chip.
But I've been wrong before.

2004 DG 5AT
Aero Sport Premium

 

Someone should ask Infiniti if its using a new chip, because it dose seem like its a new chip. If it is I am for sure getting the new chip.

 

If it is a new "chip" does chip=ecu? How does one go about changing the chip at the dealer? Do you say "Hey the 2004.5 has this bla bla bla and I want it?"

2004 G35s 5AT DG/Graphite/Premium/Huper Optik Tint

 

I have a 2004 sendan also and when I switch to manumatic it stays at 4 as I'm slowing down to a stop it stays at 4. From what I'm reading they must have made the changes from 2004.5 on and not starting on 2004's. That's a bummer.

 

Yep, I have too agree then. There obviously is a change from the 04 to the 04.5. I got my car November 1st of last year and I had no idea there would be any changes for the current year? 03, 03.5, 04, 04.5...Jesus what next..04.75?

 

I hear there is a coveted, limited-edition PI G35.. it's an 03.14159 model.