I drove and really liked an '07 Sport with the AT. However, I've almost always driven MT cars and really would prefer to get MT if I get a G this summer. My concerns are:

1) Lack of center armrest & rear vents: this is terrible--my 330i has an MT and has an armrest--how can Infiniti not have figured out how to do that yet and be on the 2nd gen car? I can understand on the 1st gen, but you'd think they would have thought of this by now... I have been monitoring my armrest usage in my 330 since the test drive and I really do use it a lot--I think a central armrest is something I would really miss. Considering this was the same situation on the 1st gen cars, I doubt this is something Infiniti will fix in this model. What do you guys think about this? I used to have a Saab years ago and there was a company that sold an add-on armrest that was an exact match to the interior--you would uninstall your low armrest, drill through the top, and mount a proper armrest--worked great, took about 20 minutes. Is there such a thing for Gs?

2) I've read on this forum that either the seat/mirror/climate/radio (whatever is all controlled) and/or the exit movement of the seat and gauge cluster (can't remember which) isn't activated in the 6MT cars--can anyone confirm/comment?

Thanks a lot--I'm really excited about the car, just concerned about a couple of things that I think would be small at first but might grow into larger annoyances. I've had three BMW 3 series, but I really think Infiniti has got a winner on its hands on this one--I just want to be sure I can live with it day-to-day, especially considering the local dealer is saying I'd have to order a 6MT.

 

Hi there,
well I've got my sport 6 spd manual just about 2 days ago and it has an arm rest in the middle but its smaller than that on auto models. I can see the reason for that, it makes shifts easier since the shifter it self is smaller than auto shifter so every time I shift I've found it to be comfortable trust me on this. I've had 3 bimmers in the past starting from ZHP then e60 530i and now with 330i for my wife and occasional fun. I have no regrets so far with g35 it's a fun car to me it feels almost like having something in between e60 and e90 in terms of how it drives at the same time its more raw than those new bimmers that are so refined that sometimes I find my self falling a sleep , while g35 has rougher engine and tranny yet responsive, fast and chassis absorbs most bumps without bottoming and no drama durring agressive cornering. Cant comment about tilt and moving seats as i have basic sport model with no premium but those things were always secondary to me my main focus is performance and overal drivinig experience and g35 is right there especialy for the price I got. Goodluck with your purchase and have fun with it.
Just my 2c, TPECT

 

I noticed the same thing when I test drove the 6MT. There is a center armrest, but it is waaay too low, and I found my elbow just hangin' down.

I ended up resting the side of my hand down near the base of the gearshift.

If I were going to go that route, I would've been looking to see if anyone made a center stack lid/armrest that was thicker, or somehow, came up higher.

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. Detracti: what did you end up purchasing? An AT G or something else?

 

I sucked it up and got a 5AT Sport. Supposed to get it next month.

It was hard to pass on the stick, but there's just too much traffic to deal with on my commutes, and the last time I had a car with a stick, I'd get the sore left leg all the time.

 

The manual won't have the rear ac vents, or the entry/exit assist feature where the seat slides back for getting in or out. That basically means that you're getting less feature for the dollar if you get the Premium Package. I don't mind the low armrest, and rear vents would be nice, but certainly not deal breakers in my book.

 

detracti:

Thx for your response--I hope you'll post in a few months how you feel about getting a 5AT when you would prefer a 6MT--I can learn from your experience!

Tbone: I can't tell from your response--did you end up getting a 6MT or a 5AT or a different car altogether? You seem to have the same concerns I did, just not as high a priority--I'd like to hear what you ended up with. Thx!