I was surprised the G35 did not make the Car and Driver 10 Best list this year. I really thought the changes made by Infiniti which I feel addressed the only real complaints you could make about this car would guarantee the G35 a spot on this list for years to come. The improvements made to the controls on the center stack and the appearance of the dash are significant and most welcome. And who doesn't like more horsepower along with bigger optional wheels? The Car and Driver list leaves me confused.

 

and i bet they put a bmw up there..

 

I don't put much stock into Car and Driver. On the other hand, the G35 (particularly the coupe) is still way up there in resale http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/08/pf/a...alue/index.htm

 

In the same area as that article they asked a bunch of editors what they would drive if they had to cover 2400 miles in 3 days with a companion and luggage for 2 (p. 59). Brock Yates said a G coupe was his choice and he ought to know as he was the cannonball run creator and organizer and came in 2nd with a modified Charger in the second year. I also think he came in first but I thought Dan Gurney drove them to victory in a ferrari 348??

Subjective crap that C&D spew.

They said the 3 series has resisted all the competition in the fiercest class. Propoganda. While sales may be up, market share is down and sales are for sure down now as they unviel the 06. 3 series does things well for sure, but not better than the G. Not faster or quicker in corners or roomier or sexier or more reliable. I guess that lack of power really lets the tranny shine. Now that the active steering and other gadgets remove the driver from the driving equation further, the 3 can stoop to new lows as the other cars in the line up have. The 5 is 8k more now and a worse car than before...and I like the looks!

 

I agree......The G's have cut into Bimmer's sales badly. Now it's time to try and boost them back up.....lol. ...... politics & $$$$$$$$$$ = B.S.

 

You have to ask yourself.

1. did I buy a G35 becuase it was on the best 10 list?

2. By not being on the best ten list, does that change how I feel about the car I own?

If your answers are no then who cares what C&D say. I suspect they have always been swayed by advertising dollars.

Jim

 

Probably not enough changes this year to get on the list. Almost all the cars except the RX-8 are new or seriously revised. They want to showcase the new models and I'm sure the manufacturers have heavy influence. I would have listed a number of other cars instead of what they chose. The new 911 didn't make it and that's just plain stupid. The Accord only belongs there for the hybrid engine, otherwise....

Notice the TL never made it at all. Bwaaahaahaaa!

 

sixfive, 3 er sales in November are not up but down substantially despite C&D, guess the top ten doesn't sell cars, eh?

BMW's automobile sales were down 29 percent, to 12,796 versus 17,991 in November of 2003. Year-to-date, sales were down 6.8 percent, to 171,488 automobiles compared to 184,090 sold in the same period in 2003.

 

Call me cynical, but apparently Infiniti didn't do enough advertising in "Car & Driver" to buy their way into the top ten. Even when the Infiniti G35 made the top ten I didn't put much stock in it. While I do enjoy reading car magazines, I ALWAYS temper their comments and reviews with the power of the advertising dollar. While "Consumer Reports" may not be car experts or even car fanatics, since they do not accept a penny from any advertiser, I feel they are the only folks who offer a true, unbiased opinion of what automobile a consumer should or should not purchase.

 

fotodad;
I think you hit the nail on the head.

 

Absolutely correct. I'd much rather see the G rated highly in a publication that isn't tainted by the mighty dollar.

 

My assumption is that 6mt is missing at the time of testing, which is a major benchmark, to CD peopel, for performance driving. As you can recall in previous issues of CD, G made it into the top10 because of the 6mt, which plays a big role in CD's selection of top10. So I am pretty sure it's going back on the list next year.

 

GGGGGGGG:

I think you've hit the nail on the head, too.

I recall that Motor Trend said that the Car of The Year award was largely due to the Coupe and it's 6MT when they gave the G35 the award in 2003, and the 6MT sedans weren't even available yet.

Then, last year, Car & Driver again reiterated that the "G" made their Top Ten list on the strength of the Coupe overall, and the 6MT coupe and sedan in particular.

Hey guys, these are "enthusiast" magazines, and will always be biased toward "driver's cars" with manual transmissions, larger brakes, etc., and no matter how good they make the Acura TL and other FWD sedans, they will always consider them below a RWD or AWD setup. When the new 6MT sedan comes out, I, too look for the "G" to reclaim it's position in the Top 10, or Ten Best, or whatever......

 

If you look at current C&D, many of these are NOT drivers cars. Magnum RT a station wagon? Also known as the Jeep Wagon Truckster or urban warrior pickup. Acura RL, a small auto accord with 4wd at high price? What happened to Lexus, Audi, Cadillac CTS V or STS, Volvo, etc? There are other examples. What ever happened to Mitsui Evo and WRX STI if these guys are "drivers"? Webster or Bedard are the only qualified car guys, the rest are status and marketing yups and never turned a wrench or drove what they built or modified . Engineers my butt - in name only! Csaba even wears a tweed driving cap! I've been reading C&D since before any of the current crew was there when I was just a teenager, over the years they been going steadily down hill and more "urban collegiate" and less hard core. They're worth reading for the numbers but as far as opinions - who gives a **** what they think? However, feel free to offer your opinion of them.

Merry Xmas

FYI unless a totally new G design or major upgrade comes out , the G is not eligible in future years.

 

I agree that most of the cars made it onto the list simply because they are new. But that doesn't explain how the 3-series got back on the list. I'm not aware of any major changes til next year and they are still priced very high compared to competitors.