I consistently get 18-19mpg in nearly 100% city driving and 24mpg on the highway loaded running 75-80mph. I'm pretty hard on the throttle too with WOT on nearly every highway entrance ramp and merge lane I encounter daily plus some WOT on the back roads (usually 2nd-3rd gear sprints from 40-80mph). With the 5AT it's really easy to run up to 40mph quickly too. With that said, after taking my G (full tank) to my dealer last Tuesday, they disconnected the battery to do some warranty work. Sure enough, just like I've seen on this VQ and my prior VQ Maxima, my MPGs plumment (2-3mpg lower) after an ECU reset because the car runs really really rich for about 4-5 days and the car feels lethargic. It was actually so bad that I could smell raw fuel for the first couple of days. Today I filled up and only got about 16mpgs in city driving I'm sure the sub 30 degree weather and winter oxygenated fuel isn't helping things either.

 

Ummmm.....BMW V8 3.0? Do you mean 3.0 inline 6 or 4.4 V8? Just giving you a hard time

 

How many miles? Maybe you need to try and sell your G here in the Kansas City area I was doing a search for 03 G35 sedan asking prices within 200 miles of Kansas City and nearly all of them had asking prices of $24-27K depending on mileage and options. Miles ranged from 20-40K. Only a couple were in the sub $22K range and those 03s had over 60K miles and were base leather models.

 

I always get better mpg after a reset.

 

I will give you a commission to sell it out there - problem is it's hard to show the car from there while it sits in PA. I have just under 30k miles. Also the mods make it harder to market as a 4 door. I figured E-bay was the way to go but thats where the highest offer of $18,400 came from. I have all options but nav and the body kit.

 

Speaking of running rich - anyone with mods check thier spark plugs ever? I was hoping to get in there this weekend. How hard is it to get a couple plugs out to check them? THe last time I changed out plugs there was wires and a distributor and stuff...

 

It's easy. Remove the all weather connector from the coil pack and remove the two small coilpack securing bolts. Then pull out the coil pack. Remove the spark plugs.

Do not try to use a Phillps head screwdriver to remove coilpack bolts because you'll strip the head. The bolts are soft and you can't develop enough torque to free them loose with a screwdriver. I believe the bolt head is a 8mm.

 

Odd because the VQ ECU, like any other late model ECU, reverts to the original A/F and timing base map. This means reduced timing and richer A/F ratios until the ECU learns the conditions and driver input. This base map is neither good for MPGs or performance. I'm not saying the ECU is some elaborate super computer, but it does utilize very safe running parameters after a reset simply to save the motor. Nissan doesn't want the ECU to be in maximum performance mod after reset because this could be detrimental to the engine in oxygen rich environments. The engine could run excessively lean and experience severe detonation.

It usually takes about 40-50 run cycles until the ECU has adjusted to the more ideal timing and A/F tables for maximum economy and performance. I've seen this with my ODBII logger too. After a reset, the fuel trims are rich as hell and the timing is pulled quite a bit and it usually takes quite a while to restore things back to what I call "normal".

 

If you are trying to save money to put aside to have more in the future for another car, you are better off keeping what you have now. Every time you buy a new car you lose a bunch in depreciation immediately that you never get back (at least with normal cars-it might be different with a Ferrari). So that's another reason to keep the G!

I agree that the real-world MPG difference will never make up for the expense of a new car also. Also, I'd bet that the insurance for a new Avalon is more than an older G (but I could be wrong).

Have fun with the G!

 

DaveB, the 530i back in 94' had a V8. Its a test mule for the coming 540i in 95'. It had the same engine and same transmission except it had a smaller piston to restrict the displacement to only 3.0 It would of been a easy mod to just buy a set of piston from 540i and engine/trans chip to make it a 4.4L 540i. But after I shop around its about the same price as if I just trade in my 530i for a new 540i due to parts and labor for BMW are overly expensive.


*** Yeah, I know its stupid. Why would they put a V8 with only 3.0L of displacement. The maintenance cost a fortune for me as I'm paying the same price as 540i. Damn Germans.

 

I had no idea BMW made such a small mass produced V8.

 

I like the new Avalons. IMO, they look just as good if not better than the ES330. In regards to the MPG, Toyota always way overshoots it in their specs (more so than other manufacturers). In real life, I bet it is no better than the G.

 

If memory serves me right, only the 94' & 95' had the V8.

 

m500,

I will have to agree with several posters on this thread. I would get one people mover (i.e. minivan) and keep the G. I have a Toyota Sienna minivan for my wife to cart our 3 kids daily. I use the G35 for my daily commute to work. Plus, with the latch system in the back seat, it's easy to put in and take out a child seat in both cars. You'll see in your backseats where the kids seats should be placed. For my older kids, I just need a booster seat that just sits on top of the seat and they use the adult seatbelt.

Most of the time you will be using the minivan with your family so get something reliable. When I need to use the G35 for kid transportation is when one of them has a conflicting event. Even in those circumstances, I will be transporting 1-2 kids in the car and the other will be with my wife in the minivan.

Also, the post above about depreciation is right on. Most car owners will only come out on top when they drive their car for long lives. Those who keep swapping their cars will lose out in the trade in and then pay double on a marked up new car. I would stick it out on the G35. I put Blizzaks on and the car has been a tank in the snow out here in Pittsburgh. I definitely will be driving this car until it completely $)@! the bed.

 

aalvilla,
Keeping my G is my conclusion as well. But in the back of my mind I still wondering around looking for the next best thing. That's why my G still don't have its new Wheel on after 2 years. I need to make my decision now as my OEM tire only going to last about another 3000 miles.