UNFORTUNATELY for me, my wife wants me to get rid of our current stick shift in order to get an AT sedan so she can drive the car also (and yes, I have tried to convince her to learn but it's a no go).

FORTUNATELY for me, we're getting rid of a 2001 Civic Si and I have convinced her to replace it with a G35 - and I've informed her that she can expect it to be modded in the not so distant future.

I've scoured the online classifieds and we visited one dealer today - we test drove an '05 w/ sport and premium package and we both loved it. Only problem there was that my wife hated the Blue on Tan colour scheme. I have to admit that I, like her, prefer the black on black combo the most (she really likes the look of the black interior and can be swayed on the exterior colour) so I'm back online looking again.

I digress... I have posted on here to ask for help in choosing a car....

WRT the '04 or '05 sedan - is there a difference in the driving? What about interior quality?

Also, we live in Toronto, Canada where there is snow on the ground for 3-4 months - I've heard that with a good set of winter tires the RWD is not a problem in the winter... or should I spend the extra dough and go for an X?

My planned mods will be geared towards performance, handling, and looks... likely in that order and likely spending a little on each and then repeating.

In my online search, I've come across:

1) '04 G35 w/ Premium, black on black, 69,000km, CAD$17,600
2) '05 G35 w/ Sport+Premium, silver on grey (I know, I know), 57,000km, CAD$20,000
3) '06 G35 w/ smark key package, graphite on black, 64,000km, CAD$20,500
4) '05 G35 w/ smark key package, grey on black, 28,000km, CAD$21,900
5) '05 G35X, silver on black, 88,200km, CAD$17,000
6) (TWO - grey and silver on black) '05 G35X w/ Premium, 61,000km, CAD$20,000

I've read on here somewhere that it's more expensive to mod an X wrt suspension, etc. Also, given the increase in fuel consumption (all things being equal, is it that much more?), is it worth it to spring for the X - there's snow on the ground 3-4 months out of the year here, but again, I've read that a good set of winter tires on the RWD is fine.

Down the road, I'm planning on adding:
grounding kit, z-tube, pop charger, plenum spacer, piping, sway bars, springs w/ drop, Very subtle spoiler (I like the M3 lip a lot)... would like to keep it a tight and exhilerating drive w/out going FI and since we are going to keep this for a while and it will be our daily driver, I want the look to stay clean and classy (and not a cop magnet), like most of the cars that I've seen on here.

The more I am on this forum - and I've been on here A LOT over the past week - the quicker I want to pull the trigger on this... all of your rides are making me very envious.

I look forward to your advice. Thank you in advance for your time.

 

if you want an 03 with 17 winter and 19 coupe summer wheels let me know. Ive got 52k on my auto sedan blk/blk with the nismo.Slotted rotors and new pads too.

As far as the snow goes its not bad.I have RWD and i only live 3 hours from you and it gets through the snow fine.

 

There are differences between 03-04's and 05-06's. It's mostly subtle cosmetic differences but also some mechanical issues like larger brakes on the 05-06's (compated to non-brembo 03-04's) and rev-matching when in manumatic mode. There is slight bodywork differences and interior changes as well as options.

For me, after kicking around these differences i decided i wanted an 05-06, and of the two years, i went '06 because of the larger brakes on the '06X vs '05X and the bluetooth setup. I' m just one of those people that wants everything.


After 10 years of driving RWD cars (some with snows) i went with an X because i just wanted a car i could relax with in the snow. I am putting snow tires on my X as well. I already had it out in one storm and with the all-seasons it was great.

As for mods, i can't help you out there. I made myself promise that other than tint and wheels, my car will stay bone stock. I already have one modified money-pit vehicle.

 

^^ Pretty good reasoning right there. I'd personally go for the 05/06X for the updated interior, rev-matching AT and of course the AWD.

 

if you're going with an automatic tranny then definately go with the G35X, I know i would've except that i still like to have a 6 speed manual, i live in toronto also and RWD is a pain in the *** not to mention extremely dangerous, can't do the simplest things like make it into or out of most street parking spots once a layer of ice sets in

 

when i first starting driving my 04 in the winter last year i would always turn vdc off thinking it was turning the traction control on and not knowing i drove like that through the whole winter without a problem

 

hehehhee, the light clearly reads VDC OFF when it comes on

 

If you plan on lowering, I'd stay with a very mild drop and spring rate. ie.. Coupe springs. As far as I know, no one makes an aftermarket performance shock for the 1st gen AWD models. There's one guy that had KONI custom make some front shocks but I'm sure that's $.

Maybe someone from Toronto can chime in on the necessity of AWD there. But considering it's for the wife, AWD and snows seems like the safest option.

Plus even with the AWD, it's not full time awd. It's RWD first then AWD. So when it's not needed, the only performance penalty you have to deal with is the extra weight of the AWD tranny. No big deal.

 

I have PM'd you man about my car. Hopefully we can work something out!!

 

go with '05 or newer, definitely an X. I looked at the '04 vs. the '05, and the '05 looked sharper, had more enhancements (including the CD changer having the capability to play MP3 CDs).

Also consider that Infiniti will NOT certify any pre-owned car that is older than 4 years or more than 60k miles. So you could probably get an '05/'06 certified for around $20kCAD.

There is a 1 MPG difference in terms of X vs non-X, so you're really talking pocket change.

 

THANK YOU all for your input so far - you've been a big help.


I didn't realize that the X was not full time AWD. That's great!

I almost settled on a 2006 G35 yesterday but second guessed the price this morning after seeing the new classifieds.

I'll have to go have a look at the X's.

WRT sticking with a mild drop and spring rate with the X's, would 1-1.5" do the trick or is that too much?

 

Good choice on the X, wish i would've waited.

What does WRT mean? I feel like an uber newb for not knowing -_-

EDIT: It just clicked, "With Respect To" I assume?

 

If you want a mild drop.. stick to the 1" all around. Anything over 1" you will have camber problems and need to buy camber kits in order to get them back into spec. Best bet is to pick up a set of 350z suspension/springs and coupe rear springs to get that 1" drop in the front and .75" in the rear to give it that nice even look. Plus, you'll get GREAT handling.

 

EEEK @ Those prices. I got mine my 04 for $13,500.

 

Go for the G35X. I just bought an 05 on Tuesday with 33,000 miles on it for 14,500USD.

It's been raining cats and dogs here for the last 2 days in Atlanta and I have been driving with the SNOW feature on. That feature on the X splits the torque 50/50 between both axles. I love it!!