Dammit!!! I want this manumatic tranny! Not because it automatically selects 1st from a stop and requires you to upshift all the time, but because this tranny rips off super quick shifts. That's the biggest gripe I have about my 03's 5AT, it's lethargic, especially on a WOT 1-2 shift. This is why I let my 03 5AT tranny do it's own 1-2 shift at the track and then I shift the 2-3. With this 04.5, I can hit the 1-2 at redline with no real major delay If I shifted my 03's like this at WOT near redline, there's a huge lag before the tranny fully engages 2nd. It feels almost as if 20% of the power is cut momentarily. I call it torque management and the 03 and 04 5ATs did this.

The upshift/downshift throw is also significantly shorter than my 03s. I've fixed most of this problem on my 03 by simply bending the metal "tangs" on the shifter solenoids a bit.

As for speed, it feels just as quick as my 03 with the Z-pipe (14.3@98mph).

Another frustrating thing is the 04.5 is put together better. It doesn't rattle. Granted is nearly a 2 year newer car, but it's clear Infiniti did add additional felt tape, etc to quell interior noises.

The 04.5's drivetrain feels rougher and the engine isn't as smooth. It's hard to explain. It's nothing horrible and I could live with it.

Oddly the 04.5's steering wheel feels thinner. This has to be my imagination though.

FYI, my 03 is in the shop to get new brakes under warranty (hopefully), reprogram the TCU for the issues I listed above, noisy A/C compressor, rocking driver's seat, popping side front windows, noisy rear deck, and fluttering headlights over bumps.

 

I find your experience interesting. To be honest, Cheryl's tranny takes ages to shift. I know the grounding kit didn't do anything for you, but I'm planning on installing a set on her car in the next couple of months.

I obviously don't have as much experience with it as her, but I can't delay my 1-2 shift at anything beyond 6400 otherwise it will bounce the limiter.

 

Talk to the dealer to see if the TCU can be reprogrammed on the '03.
C.

 

Interesting to hear your differences of the two cars.

I feel that out of all model years, the worst put together are certainly the '05s. Creaks, rattles, you name it! Drivers seat slides almost an inch under hard braking/acceleration. Passenger seat shakes non-stop.

The '03.5 nad '04.5 loaners that I have driven (which I know have been abused before) felt much more solid. In terms of auto tranny's, the '05 has the best because of the [optional] LSD and the automatic revmatching, but the older models I've driven seemed to have much crisper shifts...

 

Vodkarocket, I have not had any strange rattles or the seat issues on my 05 yet. My 03.5 had just the rear view mirror rattle and that was it. You are right on the mark with the tranny comment. The 03.5 tranny shifted horrible with a huge delay on 1-2.
The biggest difference is where the 05 makes it's power in the mid-high rpms rather than all the power down low coming out of the gate and having the slip light come on all the time on the 03.5. It is more drivable and user friendly now. There's my two cents.

 

I love the rev matching of the 05 5AT in my X, especially when I downshift going into a corner. I have no sloppy shifts when in manumatic mode at all. All shifts are fast and crisp.

 

my 03 shifts better then 05 i had as the loaner, the 05s dont have anything to offer except the exterior bumpers, i have the nismo kit so i dont care for the 05s at all, except the center console, its nicer in the 05s. Thats about it

 

At first I thought I was imagining the seat moving, but I finally got fed up and told the dealer and they replaced some spring under the seat and all is well now.
Also, I was thinking to my self today while driving home that this is the quietest my car has ever been. No squeaks, or creeks but it's like ~15 outside.

 

I find my '05 much better than my '04, in many ways, my '04 had rattles, popping seat, my '05 thus far, 4k, 5 months has had only some very minor rattles, all fixed so far, and nothing else, much better than my '04 at the same age!

 

If you like the 04’s then try an 05! Shifts are crisp and the car just feels stronger in the upper ranges. Plus the exterior and interior changes are HUGE improvements. The 18” wheels are pretty cool also. Jeez what is there to not like about the 05’s?

 

Extra weigh and a more diminuitive front end.

 

you have to see the service customers that bring their cars in and get brand new 2005 loaners w/ less than 1000 miles on them. they never want to pick up their car ever again!

 

OMG you'd think the HUGE improvements would be like comparing two different cars. You're entitled to your opinion but for me a front fascia change and new rear taillights do not add up to HUGE exterior improvements. And for the interior, I'll give you that it's a little stark in the 04's, but you make it sound like your 05 is a friggen Jaguar. Give me a break. The 04 to 05 changes were modest refinements. 95% of the 05 car is the same as the 04 car.

 

Here we go again : (

03/04 owners bashing 05 models. 05 owners bash back against 03/04 owners. Can't we all just get along?

 

I couldn't wait to get out of the loaner and back into the 03.5. Only thing I wish for is the rev limiter. A lot of that has to do with the loaner being a base vehicle tho.

All G's are great!

If I had my way I'd get the rev up motor in my 03 and put the motordyne kit on it. Seems to be a neck snapping combo. Interior Schminterior. We 03 and 04ers have got nothing on that rev up motor.