Obviously a poor choice of words on my part. [img]/w3timages/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Let me try this again without sticking my other foot in my mouth. The Maxima's have always been 4 doors and known for their horsepower, long before the G35 hit the drawing boards, meaning that the G35 is bigger, better, and more powerful. So my "Maxima with an attitude" analogy was based on that alone. I know that the G35 is nothing like a Maxima and I didn't mean for it to come across as a comparison.
So maybe a better way to ask my original question would be, <font color=blue>"If the Maxima has always been known as the 4-door sports car, in your own words, what would you call your G35?"</font color=blue> 1000 apologies if I offended anyone here.

(walking away slowly with tail between my legs..)

2003-G35C-5AT Laser Red/Black/Prem/XM/Tint/Chrome 17's/Black Badged

 

Mooser, I agree with everyone on the board: 4-door Z, Japanese BMW, and even the Ferrari for middle-class folks (haha, never heard that one before).

When I was shopping for a car, my qualifications were: 4-door, 6MT, Rear wheel drive. There aren't too many cars that fit the bill, (though they are becoming more abundant). I have three kids to cart around, so practicality was definitely a consideration.

Little did I know the rear doors on the Gsedan swing almost 90 degrees out and the rear legroom is larger than all other cars in the same class, AND the rear seats recline! One word: Gravy.

I call the G35 Sedan the best combination of performance, luxury, value, and practicality. No need to compare it to another car. It's doing just fine making a name for itself already.


2003.5 Sedan 6MT Silver on Graphite
Premium | Aero | Sport | Tints

 

150 bucks for a z suspension, new rubber (another 700 bucks or so), and BAM, a sedan will outhandle a coupe. 400 bucks for new rotors, full metal brake pads and some motul fluid....BAM....I can brake better than a coupe in a canyon run (I gotta give props to a brembo equipped coupe, but that will only show up on a road course, in a canyon run it doesn't show)

That is where I am at now, about 1200 dollars in mods and still about 800 bucks less than a comparable coupe.

not braggin but IMO the sedan was a better performance buy.

I am not going to argue about straight line performance, but all three are close enough to come down to a driver.

yes 4 door z is correct. I have owned 2 altimas (94 and a 02 3.5) and a 96 maxima. there is some comparison but only in near-stock form. once you start modding you run into the limitations of FWD.

i do love the looks of the coupe, but as far as performance, the sedan is the way to go if the Z doesn't fit your bill.

Better Life thru Chemistry
Black on Black 03.5 Sedan 6MT - Goodyear F1 GS-D3's 225/55/17, Custom Intake Tube, '03 "Z" Suspension, Magnaflow resonator, 6 Wire 4 Guage Grounding Kit

 

A Maxima?

Mate, the sedan emdodies all that is great with four doors with 2 door prowess, handling and prestige. I bought my sedan because I thought it looked better than the coupe, there was never a hesitiation on my part in my decision making.
I like four doors, i like RWD sedans, I love the G and I never doubt the coupe buyer's attitude when it comes too personal choice. It's all about personal preference without judging others choices.

 

Mooser, your analogy is right along with everyone else's.
Nissan tried to market Maxima as a 4-door sports car back in 1989. It became very famous for its sporty nature: powerful engine, good brakes, decent handling. But due to the FWD platform, it will never out perform BMW or other RWD cars in it's class.
Nissan just finally made the right decision to sell the G here in US and it is a winner because it outperforms the 330i yet it cost the same as 325i......Also, I love the generous back seat for my family.

2004 G35s 6mt, Tb/willow, prem pkg, Nismo body kit

 

the coupe's rear is like j lo's...one word: superstar! (or is that 2 words...was never good at that counting thing)

2004 TB Coupe 6MT

 

I echo what others here said...the G35 Sedan is a 4-door Z!!! And, of course, the G35 Coupe is a better looking, more luxurious Z!!! ;-) Love 'em all!!!

btw - I have always liked the Maxima too (and this new version is kind of cool and interesting, to say the least), but again, FWD is just the pits. I do see a lot of older folks driving the new Maxima, which I guess is the target consumer for this vehicle. Although the engine may be the same, the G35's RWD platform and 52/48 weight distribution (I believe) is what separates it from the Maxima and Altima.



2004.5 G35-S 5AT Black/Willow - Prem, R. Spoiler, Navi, Infiniti Sport Wheels, Alum Pedals, Dark Tint, Z Tube, K&N Filter

 

For me, the Sedan is conformity and rebellion all rolled into one.

First, the driving experience is a rush and being a 4 door Sedan it's practical. The trunk space is also a big plus.

I can take coworkers out to lunch and scare the crap out of them with VDC OFF [img]/w3timages/icons/shocked.gif[/img] or I can take the wife and baby girl out for a classy Sunday drive. [img]/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/img]

My ridepool buddy is used to VDC OFF now and he really likes it. [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img] He also likes that we don't have to get cut off by A holes on the freeway going to work any more.

When I bought the G my perspective on freeway driving completely changed. I am no longer forced into being passive/submissive as I was in the 95, 4banger, no *****, Altima. I was the victim of a-- holes, cutters and road ragers in the Altima all the time. But not any more! Now I get respect. I don't get cut off any more because they can't cut me. [img]/w3timages/icons/mad.gif[/img] Now I cut who I want when I want. And if they cut me when I'm not looking, I can and will cut the F'er right back and they can't do anything about it. I don't have to take their sheite anymore!

On LA Freeways the amount of respect you get is directly proportional to the type of car you drive.

Sorry for the melt down... I spend way too much time on the LA freeways! LOL [img]/w3timages/icons/laugh.gif[/img] Anyways, I love driving the G.

In Theory, practice and theory are the same.
In Practice, practice and theory are not the same.

2004 G35 6MT Blk/Blk Sedan Stillen Air, Stillen Exhaust

 

You forgot to add: room for four, and a better soundsystem by far : )


BTW, no offense taken, Mooser. : )<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by GeeSpot on 08/11/04 10:44 PM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

You forgot to add: room for four...

<hr></blockquote>

That's funny, I distinctly remember traveling with my entire family in my G. All five of us were belted in, if I'm remembering it correctly.

 

Hydrazine - you need to stop drinking that rocket fuel - stick to triple espressos! BUT... I know what you mean. As you've no doubt noticed, WOT and Stillen make for a combo that causes EVERYBODY to look - most will back down. A riced-out Integra wanted to have a go on the freeway a couple of days ago. Funny, I just stomped on it, and he heard Mr. Millen's signature sound, then decided not to play. Oh, the first day with the Stillen I surprised a guy in a Boxter S (258HP, 225 lb-ft TQ, 2900 lbs). He heard the Stillen (idling at a red light) and decided to play. I made a very conservative launch (no time to shut VDC off) and slowly walked away. Soo... Yeah it's a family sedan - but, most people don't use the capabilities of the cars they have anyway. OK, maybe we can't compare to an M3 (perf. wise), but how many M3 owners EVER push their cars? One real test of sedan vs. coupe will be autocrossing. The sedan is classed in D stock, the coupe in B (with S2000's and 350Z's). So, somebody at SCCA thinks the coupe is significantly faster. Well, that's probably due to suspension diffs. more than anything. Time will tell if stock sedans with good rubber start turning similar times as coupes!

2004.5 G35 Sedan | Garnet Fire + Willow | 6MT | Z-Tube

 

Prior to my G Sedan, I owned a '99 Maxima. While I loved my Max, I can't tell you how different the respective driving experiences are ! The G simply blows the Max away.

 

Sedan is a better modding platform on the long run imo. Once families receive reinforcements people usually tend to get rid of their hot two-seaters and buy something more practical. Thus loosing a lot of money on the mods. Whereas sedan owners can retain nimble family car look/functionality and still be pushing serious HP. And the best thing of course Z guys are leading the way in mods, which are 99% transplantable into our beloved sedans.

***04 G35s 5AT/Sport***
***04 Volvo XC90 T6***

 

A Maxima with attitude?? Hell yeah! My modded 00 Max SE was a freak on the freaway with third gear pull from 80mph....the gearing was such that I could be cruising in 5th anywhere from 60-80, then drop to third and bam, I'b be pinned to the seat.....sounds unreal, something you gotta experience to know.....
anyhow, like most folks have said, four door Z, even more so when modded.....can you say sleeper?!


04 6mt Sedan / stock airbox mod / z-tube / k&n panel filter / crank pulley / 18" r/h c2s / s-tein springs

 

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

"If the Maxima has always been known as the 4-door sports car, in your own words, what would you call your G35?"

<hr></blockquote>

Heh. Nice restatement. I don't think anyone was truly offended.

I looked the 350Z. No back seat, huge strut tower brace, cheap interior. Fast as hell, but too many compromises. Any time I can't fit people in my car means I can't drive my car.

Then, I compared the G35 Coupe vs. Sedan, in depth. For a year -- no joke. The G35 Coupe has a back seat -- but no one but kids under 12 can use it. I tried it myself... multiple times. Still very compromised storage. Hard ride. Reasonable interior, at least.

So, the G35 Sedan: nearly as fast as the Coupe (2005s will be as fast out of the box), but without any of the compromises. Not a ticket magnet. It loses out a bit on brakes and tires, but that's it. To me, there really wasn't any true comparison. The sedan is for G35 owners who... think.

Just kidding, of course. Your priorities and assessments will of course differ from mine. But that's what was in my head when I was shopping.

Regards,


Rick