Over the past few years I've noticed a few things:
1. Nissan/Infiniti seem to rate their cars power ratings
all over the place, when in fact usually many of the
3.5 VQ powered cars put out about the same power in reality.

2. They change the list weight of their cars from model year to
model year, even though nothing really has changed.

IE: For 2005 the G35 curb weight rose by about 90 pounds compared to
the 2004 models. With just cosmetic redesigns and retune of the engine
for more power (doesn't add weight) I can't understand how the
car could of gained 90 pounds. But maybe they did some structural
reinforcing or something??
BUT for 2006, there was absolutely ZERO change to the G35 sedans (with the exception of optional Bluetooth) but Infiniti NOW lists the G35 sedan's curb weight as 3472 (or 40 pounds LESS) than the 2005.

Come on Infiniti, which is it 3472 or 3512 because there is no difference between the 2005 and 2006 models.

Another example is the Nissan Altima SE-R
For 2006 the curb weight is listed as 3335 lbs
For 2005 though it's weight was 3279 lbs.

So the Altima SE-R gained 56 pounds between 05 and 06 and the
only difference is the availability of satellite radio (this is an option though and therefore isn't listed in curb weight...and let's be honest the satellite radio recievers weigh only a couple pounds...I have Sirius in 3 of my cars).


So what gives with Infiniti/Nissan??? Why can't they simply list the ACTUAL weight of the cars and NOT change them from year to year, when the car hasn't changed?
Sorry for the rant, but it's one of those things that I've never understood
with them and it keeps popping up whenever I look at the spec pages of
their cars.

 

I'm with you. It makes no sense. According to 2 Motor Trend articles and my DMV, my 2003 G35 "Leather" weighs in at 3,350lbs "wet". I have a very hard time seeing where all the weight came from in the 05. People like to say "oh, it has beefed up bumpers for crash worthiness". BS. Have any of these guys looked at the bumper beams on these cars? They're alumnium and foam. How much can that really weigh? I know the steel bumper beams in the Maxima weighed 35lbs in the front and 25lbs in the rear. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aluminum is usually lighter than steel Infiniti made no claims to increased crash worthiness on the 05 either so I think this is just one of the many myths on G35driver.

The only things I can see that gained weight on the 05+ is the larger 18" wheel tire upgrade; however, according to 3 people on this Org, the 18" combo weighs more less the same as the 17" Sport wheel combo so there is techinically no additional weight from the 18s. Okay then there's the slightly larger rotors. That's maybe 3lbs for a total of a 6lb gain. The LSD on all Sport packages would gain another 2lbs maybe. Maybe there's some more sound deadening? Okay, I'll give that 20lbs. Now we're up to 28lbs.

So how in the hell did they go from 3,350lbs to 3,512lbs? That's 162lbs.

By playing around with my 1/4 mile ETs and MPHs, it makes perfect sense that my car is running the way it is assuming the typical stock whp/wtq of a 03/04 5AT and my track setup (1/4 tank of fuel, no spare, ~120lbs less weight). Seeing that 05 5ATs are getting somewhat similar numbers (within .2-.3 seconds) as me, I'm inclined to believe that all of these cars are closer to 3,350-3,400lbs depending on options.

If you really want to know, go weigh the car on a truck scale. That will tell the truth to within 1%.

 

I have a client with a big scale... I might go weigh my 2005 6MT sedan for kicks.

Speaking of weights... I like how the sedan and coupe weights are EXACTLY the same... not even a pound difference! I'm sure they are similar, but I doubt the exact same.

 

Yeah, that's the other thing.
In 2003/04 Infiniti listed the Coupe as being about 100 pounds HEAVIER
than the Sedan. I could somewhat understand that because it's got a
different body among other things. So, it only goes to reason that
the two cars would weigh differently.

To me, that was one of the reasons Infiniti gave the Coupe the extra
20 hp and 10 ft-lbs of torque in the first two years. Too make up
for the extra weight (and to separate it as the more 'sporting' of the two cars.

Than BAM, suddenly in 2005 the two cars weigh the same....ironically (or maybe not) just as they give the sedan the same power as the coupe.

Again, maybe this was a ploy so new customers won't say, "hey, why spend the extra grand or so on the Coupe, when the sedan has the exact same power now, same sport package suspension, and weighs 100 pounds less...therefore making it the more 'sporting' of the two.

Trebien, if you do weigh your car, let us all know.
And be sure to remove any "junk" out before hand and list
how much gas and such is in there.

I have a scale not too far away either, it's a CA DMV certified scale, but
I think they charge like $35 for the "certificate".
Maybe I'll swing by there someday soon too.
I have a 05 5AT sedan.

 

who knows, maybe it's to throw off people that's into the power to weight ratio thing.......

 

18 Inch Weels and tires will add weight vs the 17s (2005 6MT sedan compared to 2004). Including the significantly larger brake discs used in 2005 v. 2004. That is part of it, but some other thoughts, different materials used in manufacturering that can't be seen like sound proofing materail added or items to improve crash test ratings and performance.
I know that through 2004 MY there were few tests done that I could find from the IIHS or NHTSA for frontal offset or side impact crashes.

 

See post #2. I addressed everything you just said All G sedans, regardless of year, have the same unibody frame and side impact bars in the doors and upper rail.

 

It would be nice to get more information on weight since it's important when it comes to performance. It seems some manufactures use dry weights (no fluids) instead of more accurate wet weights. You also have to wonder how much difference there is from a base car to a fully loaded one.

 

Base? As in the 03 cloth model or just the typical "base" leather G35? While I don't have direct experience with the weight of the G35 optional components, I do have experience with the Maximas and many of the option components seem to be the same shape and size and I do know those weights.

Moonroof w/motor : ~30lbs
Power seat equipment (compared to manual seat) : ~15lbs
Navigation: ~3lbs
6MT : 35lbs over the 5AT
Rear spoiler : ~10lbs
Auto/dual zone climate control : 1lb
17" rims vs the 16" rims on the 03 base model : 20lbs overall
Reclining rear seats : ~5lbs maybe
Option full size spare : 20lbs

Overall, it appears to me that a cloth base vs full optioned G35 sedan has a weight difference of around 135lbs and most typically optioned G35s will be within 50lbs of each other. The full size spare is a pretty rare option.

I've gone to the track with a friend that has a base cloth 03 5AT (no power seats, 16" rims, no spoiler, etc) with a Z-pipe and Kintex plenum. His best is a 14.50@97.5mph with a high 2.1 60'. The same day I did 14.32@97.8mph with a 2.15 60'. He weighs 280lbs vs my 180lb frame. He also left his spare (30lbs) in and has a 10" sub enclosure with two amps and some other audio stuff which probably added 50lbs to the car. My 03 is a fully loaded 5AT (aero, sport, premium). I'd venture to say his car with him in it weighs about 100lbs more than my car, but probably has a little more power because of the plenum. Off the line, his car is a little slower to react, but as the speeds increase, his car makes up the difference and we basically trap in the range.

 

This same thing has also been of interest to me for awhile.
Fortunately, MOST manufacturers list the curb weights of EACH
model and their prospective trims.
Again, Infiniti/Nissan is NOT one of them.

But as Dave pointed out, optional trim is very similiar from one manufacturer
to another.
As he stated, a power moonroof will weigh in the 30-35 pound range, pretty
much standard across all cars with "standard" size power moonroofs.
As he also pointed out, I have no doubt that the 2005 model year redesign brought up a weight change...as they changed the car and use different parts/materials now. But I HIGHLY doubt it was a 90 or so pound gain.
I could understand 25-30 pounds with the points he listed.
And as he stated, I've also weighed the 18 inch sport wheels and compared them to the 17 inchers...they are within a pound or so of each other.

Some manufacturers might only list the curb weight of their "base" model
then their "limited" (or fully loaded model).
IF they offer options for a base car that puts the "base" car somewhere in between, it's easy to do the math and figure an approximation for
what the "base" car with options now weighs.

Again, in my experience with owning dozens and dozens of cars, driving
hundreds of others and being a car nut for 20 years now, in recent
memory, Nissan/Infiniti is the only manufacturer I know that bounces
their curb weights around and makes you REALLY question what the weight
of our cars really is.