Gents: I'm considering trading in my leased '03 for an '05. One email to a local dealer has already resulted in $2500 off sticker...WOW! What's the deal? Are '05s not selling that well? I'm in Chicago. My pay-off is very close to trade value based upon recent messages I've seen on this board.I really want an '05X with premium B and the sports suspension package. Anyone know if this can be done? Also, for those of u that have recently leased and speak of payments in the $400 - $500 range, are u rolling in your taxes? I want the least amount of $$ out of pocket and have been lurking on www.leasecompare.com and just realized that their quotes EXCLUDE taxes. UGH!

 

Nah, you cant get the sport suspension and tire pkg on the X, or the aero package, it sucks, im sure you can get some stuff dealer installed, because i kno you can get the aero kit installed by the dealer, it just not a factory option

 

Wrong.... I have the sport suspenion on my "X" I don't have the tires though, the aero kit for the 05 is discontiuned.. the only thing thats ava. is those underbody difusers...

 

Cool. Thanks for the clarification. Ideally, I'd get the GAWD with Premium, and then put on the stock 18 tire and wheel package in the summer months. That way I have the "softer" ride with the better looking wheels/tires. The '05 wheels, nice though they are, still don't fill out the wells sufficiently, IMO.

 

ok, well go to the infiniti website and try to build your own, theres no sport suspension package?? atleast not for the x

 

Infiniti specifically goes out of it's way to spell out that the X does not get the RWD sedans sport suspension. Several other factors also go against such a claim. One, the X does not use the same front suspension as the other G's and the Z, it is borrowed from a JDM platform that I cannot remember the name of, but it did not ring a bell when I found out. The FX use's the same front suspension as the G35X. This also means you cannot use any Z or G aftermarket front sway bar either. In addition the X rides .4" higher then the RWD sedans do, that from at least 2 different road tests of the car.

That does NOT mean that it can't have shocks that are tuned in simular fashion or spring rates that are likewise simular. The general opinion of a large amount of forum members that have driven BOTH cars is that the X's suspension is tuned in between the RWD sedans sport and non sport suspension. If any X owner would be willing to send me a single oem front spring and one oem rear spring. I will find out the spring rates and return the spirngs within 48 hours.

 

Oh, because the X uses a different front suspension, this cast's a large amount of doubt that aftermarket shocks or coilovers will work on the front. We do know that the springs can be interchanged however.

 

so wait we cant get aftermarket shocks?

 

Did you mean that it wasn't available in '05 for the X, specificially? Or for the '05 G35 in general?

I just placed an order for my '05 G yesterday and I specifically added the full aero kit (it's the reason I'd have to order, actually, as units with the aero kit haven't hit the shore yet (per my salesperson)). It's not in the official brochure for the '05 G (only the "aero package" (diffusors + spoiler) is listed, as I recall) but on just about any build-your own site you go to on the web, including the one for my dealer (Sewell Infiniti in Dallas), the aero kit is listed as available. See option codes AK1 and AK2 (one with spoiler, where you didn't get the aero package, and one without, where you did get the aero package).

 

It's a unknown at this time. If were lucky it's just the suspension arms that are different and not the shocks. I would be willing to pull a front shock/spring assembly off a car if a member were to drive to me in central Cal. I have two different oem suspension's sitting in my garage and a ready comparison would be easy. Or I could ship a pair of non sport spring/shocks to a X owner willing to see if they will mount up to his car, free. I'd only ask to be paid for shipping.

 

SCC which dealership in Chicago are you dealing with?

For leasing my rule of thumb (not entireley accurate) is for every thousand dollars you put down on a lease your saving $26 a month in payment (and vice versa). I tend too shy away from putting any money down on a lease and generally roll everything (including sales tax) into my monthly payment.

 

BritishBloke: This just occurred on Friday from Fields in Libertyville ($2500 off '05X with Premium). I haven't even stepped into the showroom to play yet, so I'm just trying to understand the local market conditions that allow such aggressive pricing to a potential customer that has no relationship to the dealer. I bought my '03 from Lisle, and my experience with them has generally been disappointing, but they are the nearest to me. I agree with your leasing philosophy, but also need to achieve certain monthly thresholds that allow sufficient wiggle room. My thinking has always been that no money down, means just that - no money down, even taxes rolled in. So I just need to figure out if the details will add up to a deal I can afford (my trade, car I want, $$ out of pocket, monthly payment, etc.) Reality is that I love my '03 but really want AWD. Do I need to do this? Nah. But if the financial hit is minimal, I'm moving forward.

Anyone care to share the details of their recent lease deals, I'd appreciate it...Thanks in advance.

 

SCC PM sent.