Hey all,
You guys have a great forum here. The layout is similar to the other 11ty billions forums Im on so its easy to navigate. Plus so far from reading through threads there doesnt seem to be much immature vibes. I may not have read enough, who knows.

Regardless, the lease on my A4 is coming up within the next few months and Ive driven the crap out of a lot of cars. I love my car but I hate my dealership. I also hate how many problems Ive had with my car. The biggest problem is no matter how much I want to get rid of it, I still like it better than any car I test drive.

So far Ive driven:
A4 (same as what I know just updated with better engine)
TL 6mt(too soft)
s60r 6mt(too slow)
9-3 aero 6mt(too american)
350is (only available in auto but too small)
g35s 6mt (in the lead)
c350 (only available in auto and new model around the corner)

No matter what anyone says, I dont want a BMW so dont even suggest it. I hate my local dealer and they are far from being reliable. I just havent felt inspired by any of the cars Ive gotten in.

After my two test drives in the g35, this is how I feel:
~Whats with the super springy clutch? Most annoying for any tactile feel of engagement point
~Why is it so hard for cars these days to have split-folding rear seats? Pass thru for what - skis? Couldnt fit my snowboard.
~Traction control works amazingly but car is a sideways queen without it. Sure thats fun but I already have that in my M3. Quattro in my A4 rules all and its hard, really hard, to handle like it with anything else.
~Didnt really feel the "Swell" of acceleration, passenger said she did though
~Aftermarket support - is there any? I know its new but I want ECU reprogramming, exhaust and new sway bars.
~beautiful from all angles except viewing c-pillar to rear - very generic japanese style.

So here I am with this dilemma. I really dont want FWD but the new TL type-S is super tempting and the dealer is 5 mins down the road. Infiniti dealer is 35 mins away.

How many test drives do I need to convince myself the g35 is the one?

 

I don't own the car so I can only answer some of your questions. I have driven it on several occasions now, however. The lack of folding rear seats is due to Infiniti's goals of retaining rigidity, I believe. Or at least that is the speculation. The aftermarket for this car will be pretty good much like the last gen. Just give the companies a little R&D time. In my opinion, I felt the "acceleration swell" but some do not. I find that it is beautiful for all angles but again, that's my opinion. I think some of these issues are a result of nitpicking...we all do it. Look at the big picture. This car offers 3 series like performance with tons of technology for a price that can't be beat. In the end, it is your opinion and if you feel the TL suits you the most than go for it. There is only so much we can help you with. Good luck.

 

I tested a number of cars before I decided to get a G35x. The rear sets don't fold down for a number of these cars (probably the majority if I recall). The reason being that it helps the cars pass or do better in some government crash tests. Some have bars in the seats to help protect the rear passengers in the event of a crash.

 

My pat answer is that the G35 is the best automotive value in an Asian-sourced (read:reliable) rear drive configured sports sedan. Since you own an M3, "value" may not be that important. That said, have you tried an M35/45? Higher in the pecking order, plusher, larger, and pricier, but still a reliable value.

 

Right, this I get but heres the rub: both my A4 and the 9-3 are the only two in this segment that have folding rear seats and yet are the only two cars with perfect crash test ratings. Does that mean other companies cant make crash-worthy cages without a simple bar through the rear seats? Sounds like a bunch of hogwash to me.

Oh also for S&G's, the TL doesnt have folding seats but the smaller(cheaper) TSX does. Should I now assume the TSX is safer because it doesnt need the solid rear seats to create a more solid cage?

 

If the folding seat is a deal breaker... then the G35 is not your car.
Try the FX45. Talk about great AWD !!

 

I have just gone through a similar process - I drive an M3 but it's reliability stinks and has since less than 80K KM's. Test drove A4, TL (not the TL type S), 335i, G35 & and IS 330.

I chose the G for a few reasons:
1) power and handling were very solid. Car has a great feel that will undoubtedly confuse people who are chosing between the significantly higher priced BMW, let alone when compared to A4, TL & IS.
2) way more standard goodies - although some may need some refinement (i.e. compact flash navigation for instance), they have the best intentions and will hopefully offer some tweaks with future firmware updates.
3) looks very sporty and aggressive - in my opinion, the best looking of them all (understanding that this is a VERY subjective assessment)
4) reliability record is excellent - accepting that this is sort of the 1st model year and may have a few issues that will come out of the woodwork... but the 335, A4 & TL-S are newish too, I believe. Either way, I expect it to shame my M3 in this regard.

Tough call as they all had things that were good and not as good.

Summary:
A4 - felt like it lumbers a bit, nice interior and looks nice - solid AWD
335 - fast and nimble - simple interior, too expensive for what you get
TL - nice interior, handles well for a FWD car, almost undoubtedly will be reliable
IS - sweet interior but not as appealing exterior, no MT option (except on the underpowered 250)
G - may not have been the best in every category but was great in all categories - interior, exterior, performance, price, expected reliability.

It was close between the TL & G but G had the edge in the 'intagibles' category.

 

Folding seats isnt a dealbreaker, just an inconvenience. I was only stating the facts about it being a safety thing sounding fishy.

In terms of the M*5, its too big a car for me and out of the price range. Im not necessarily looking for best value or bang for the buck. I do want most fun to drive factor. The problem is Ive been jaded driving only German cars for a while and you cant beat them for driver feel. However, creeping up on that is my need for reliability which the German cars dont have. Yes, I know its a give and take which is why Ive been looking at the nicer japanese cars. If I wanted a truck Id probably get the new MDX but I need a car with good MPG for commuting.

 

If you're talking about the Mercedes C350, it IS available with a manual transmission. I have driven one, and it was a pretty nice car.

Also, if you don't want/need to have the "newest" thing, the fact that a new model is on the way can only work to your advantage.

 

~ Boy is that the truth on the traction control; the G will swat sideways at the drop of a hat (or pedal )

~ Actually to me the G's acceleration is quite linear, which is corroborated by the dyno. There's no sudden spike, so you don't feel a "hit" - it accelerates very smoothly (and fast, don't get me wrong).

Regarding the TL, here are the questions to consider:

• At max performance the G will win; in <90% acceleration / handling etc., the TL-S is a good choice. Which is most important to you?
• I had a Max before this, and grew tired of the combination of high horsepower and FWD (wheelspin, wheel hop, oversteer, torque steer). From what I hear, the Acura does a good job at controlling these, but it's starting from a less effective point (again at max performance).

Good luck!

 

Almost every car in this segment is good. There isn't really a bad one in the bunch.

You are going to have to decide which of the small negatives you dislike the most.

If you want the German driving feel, with the expected reliability of a Japanese car, you are looking in the right place.

The G35 splits the difference between the 335i and IS350 IMO, which are both superb cars.

 

Well, safety is at least the general excuse given for cars that don't support folding seats. Could they have been designed to have as good a crash worthiness with folding seats? Probably, but I suppose everything is a tradeoff and each car's designers have different priorities. My old Volvo also had folding seats and was considered one of the safest cars for getting into an accident. For me, the non-folding seats wasn't a big issue, since I could use my wife's SUV for hauling large items.

If you need a car with good MPG, I don't think the G35 is for you, unless your definition of good MPG is (hopefully) high teens low twenties (actual mileage may be lower if you like driving aggressively).

I also seriously considered the TL. I'm sure it would have been very reliable. Not as much "goodies" for the price but I would have been happy with it. The G35x won easily since I wanted AWD.

I also considered the IS250 since it was an AWD. However, it was way TOO SMALL. If I wanted a car that small, I would have just gotten a 'sports' car and not a 'sports sedan'. I didn't consider the IS350 since I wanted AWD, and even if they had an AWD option, it was way too small.

I supposse, if you live in NJ, AWD isn't a priority, but where I live, it's definitely warranted.

 

This is the truth!

The road feel, steering feel, and overall solid nature of everything in the new G35 is very impressive. Plus it'll likely be very trouble-free compared with the competition. It feels like a bank vault on wheels, just like a BMW but thousands of dollars less.

BTW, I don't see how the TL could be a serious consideration based on overall comments from the original poster. The TL is a prettied-up Accord, no?

 

I read the folding rear seats were ditched for weight saving issues. Sure, cost cutting benefits probably helped as well, not to mention a resulting stiffer chassis.

 

Just .02 more. I traded my 528i for the '04 TL (new) and I kept for 4 long months until I traded it for the G. To me, the FWD factor of the TL was VERY evident, having come from 5 years of RWD; nice car otherwise, though.

This may be WAY off your mark, but have you looked at Subaru? The interiors are now first-rate, and the turbo4 is in the 250hp/250lb.-ft. neighborhood, and if memory serves, most are available w/ a manual tranny.