Second test drive of G35X - first one felt harsh due to 37 psi on four corners.

This time the psi was set to 31 - the car handled perfectly. Very little body roll, behaved very well in cornering, soaked up bumps very reasonably. Full marks. Steering is a bit stiff but that's the way I like it - not everyone's preference.

Other observations :

1. Interior finish is good but still not great - outstanding at the price point but still feels "entry level luxury". ie. this is a Tommy Hilfiger suit not a Canali suit.

2. Engine pulls very hard but the sound is still not music to my ears. Engine/tranny seems to hold revs after hard accelleration - very odd, not sure what purpose this serves but it makes for an obtrusive sound in the cabin.

3. Rear trunk opening is small - put my golf clubs with full sized driver in there, fit's in the trunk fine but you have to wiggle it through the opening.

Overall, it's still a car that could easily be priced 7-8k more and still be an amazing bargain - the fact that it's the same price as an 06 blows my mind.

But it still is an evolution of an entry level luxury sports sedan that is heavier on the sport than the luxury. I'm just not sure that fits my needs right now.

It's a lateral move from my TL type S (in class terms)

 

Very interesting real-life type write-up. I never thought of checking tire pressure on a test drive, that's an ok idea.

Can you fit two golf bags in the trunk? On a luxury car, that is a consideration. Too many guys have to end up driving their wife's SUV to accomodate the clubs. I just read an article in Bus Week how the mighty SUV has fallen from grace. Which commercial is it where the SUV stops short and the skin falls off, and there's a pickup truck underneath?

I agree with you on the interior, and hope it gets a little upgrade for the new coupe.

That motor sure is sweet. Imho the TL has a better interior than the G35, but the TL is FWD so overall the G35 is the more desirable of the two. Even with the return of the S Type TL....

 

Agreed, if i was choosing TL or G35, the latter would be an easy choice.

But I have a perfectly good car and I'm turning 40 - I need to treat myself to something a bit nicer.

Two sets of clubs would fit but I doubt more than that. The rear portion of the trunk is wide enough but once you go deeper, the wheel wells get in the way and make it very narrow.

 

It's crazy how such a difference in psi can make all the difference in a test drive. Glad you got that fixed and were able to test drive the car with the correct psi.

 

Of course it is, seeing that the TL is in the same class as the G35 (price-wise$30-35k).
But the G35 is a huge step up, over the TL.

 

In most ways yes it is. But the engine and transmission combination is much smoother on the TLS.

 

Why bother testing the car and making comments if you are really able and planning to move up in class?

 

So what are you considering for the "move up"? The dilemma seems to be that if you move in the Infiniti brand, you get substantially less performance with the M35X. So if the driving experience is less invigorating, is it moving up?

On the other hand, if you can do an A6 4.2 or something similar, it is a move up with excellent performance to boot!

 

I've sort of narrowed it down to three options :

1. Used CLS 500 - appeals to the emotional factor, i find it beautiful inside and out
2. GS450h - feels luxury, suspension mods can fix the detatched feeling, tree hugger factor is good as a daily driver
3. Keep my TLS and get a toy car - SLK, SL, Cayman, who knows?

 

Here are my thoughts on your treating yourself to something nicer....I think there is a time to do that. Perhaps a birthday, new job, some sort of milestone...Most of our lives we work pretty hard, and try not to be wasteful, and we analyze things and make choices, often going for bang for buck. Personally, I usually am on the quest for value.

My first major purchase where I said the differential was worth it was on my house--I paid a major premium on location, but still feel it was worth it.

A car is a pure luxury item...but if you find yourself financially in a position where you can ignore a premium for car x (car x is x 1'000s more than car y) and just buy it, it will be a rewarding experience imho. And once in a while we deserve those rewards...just my .02.

I like your third choice of keeping your TLS and getting a toy car...Did I see Cayman on your list? That would be fantastic. If you want a poor man's Cayman, then there's always the Z4 M Coupe, that was a blast to sit in.....good luck with your decision!