more info snipped from a review:

"The magnesium paddle shifters are standard on the G35 Sport, along with drilled aluminum pedals, sport seats with thigh extensions and driver's power bolster adjustments, a sport steering wheel with specially colored stitching, 18-inch wheels and tires, a unique front fascia, a viscous limited-slip differential, and unique tuning for the car's electronic stability system. Options exclusive to the Sport models are a four-wheel active steer system."

 

if they reveresed the bumpers i would have bought a sport instead of the journey. love the journey bumper

 

Well I just got back from the dealership and I ended up getting a Journey. Here were my choices:

1. Ivory Pearl Journey / Wheat-Aluminum Interior, Premium Pkg, Nav Pkg, Tech Pkg, Sport Wheel & Tire Okg

2. Lakeshore Slate Sport / Graphite-Aluminum Inetrior, Premium Pkg, Nav Pkg, Tech Pkg

3. Platinum Graphite Sport / Graphite-Aluminum Interior, Premium Pkg, Nav Pkg, 6-Speed (No Tech Pkg or Automatic)

The lakeshore slate looked alright but they didn't have one in that color to look at so I was unsure. Plus the car is at a dealership in northern California and they would have tacked on an extra $500 to the cost for the car to be shipped down here. The platinum graphite color was very nice - especially with that interior color but it was missing the tech package and had a 6-speed versus an automatic. The ivory pearl color was the one that kept catching my eye from the beginning. I have never owned a white car before and there was just something about the color that catches my eye. Anyways, it has everything I want minus the sport. I took a hard look at the two sport versus non-sport and they felt and drove the same. I don't think I would have really used the paddle shifters that much so it would have been for the seats really. I will give the sport seats credit that they are very nice but I couldn't justify $1,100 nicer. Timing works out good for me as the car is already enroute to the dealership and should be here on Tuesday so I should be picking it up sometime Wednesday. Thanks for everyone's help!

 

Great! We will however be requesting some pics......

 

is the suspension same on journey and sport???

 

Great choice butterwm, I'm sure you'll love your new G!

 

Just another thought. I bought my Journey after a lot of thought about the same topic. I bought it on Jan 15th and there was snow on the ground. Concern #1 was if you drive on four seasons like I do you will need snow tires or have to replace yours with All Season tires. Good luck finding them in this odd size, btw. You can find plenty to 245/45 18's but not many 225/50 18's for the front. #2 the price on the sticker will not translate to an apples to apples comparison in actual cost. I bought my Journey for $2000 off sticker but they would give me $0 off the G35S. So what seemed like about a $1000 difference when using the ole calculator in reality became a $3000 difference. question #3 was how long would it take to get one. For me it was 8 weeks.

What you gain are sport seats, paddle shifter, Brembo brakes, better front spoiler and a few other things. I liked the low gloss rosewood and you cannot get it on the sport. I do not like the brushed aluminum. I think it looks less refined. I know it's a "sport" and metal is cool, I just prefer the wood. That's how I decided on the Journey.

PS: I could not get the sport wheels quickly enough either and if I could I would have still needed All Season tires, so I purchase after market wheels today and think I came out really well with a custom look.

 

Butterwm-
Congrats on the new ride...you'll like the Ivory pearl...especailly w/ the wheat interior. This is the same color combo I had in my 03 Coupe...you'll like it...you'll get tons of compliments.

I just picked up my Black on Black 6MT Sport today...thought I'd try black on black for a change. Such a sweet ride.

DEZ

 

enjoy.

personally, i've never bought a car without the sport suspension (when available) and i've only bought one with automatic (i'll never make that mistake again)

 

The paddle shifters are really not useful in everyday driving - the automatic is very very smooth. However, the paddles ARE very effective when the car is being driven hard. The car responds almost instantaneously to the shifts, and they occur much more smoothly than when putt-putting around town. The delay you speak of simply does not exist when driving the car hard.

 

Usefullness, I guess that is debatable. I have found myself using the paddles for 90% of my driving now. I find that not only are they more fun and engaging, it also keeps both hands on the wheel.

 

Thanks...good info. Did any of you guys buy the extended warranty when you bought your car? I'm just curious what you paid for the warranty? The dealer started out at $2050 for the 7-year/100K mile/$100 deductable and the most I could talk them down to was $1900.

 

I didn't. Just don't keep my cars that long. I usually dump my cars at about 60K-70K miles.

The only thing I did get was the tire and wheel warranty...and the only reason I got that was because they'll cover my Piaa 19's. We have light rail construction all over Phoenix, and it's only a matter of time before I destroy another $800 rim on some uneven pavement or a poorly placed road plate.

 

Ok, useful was probably a bad choice of words. The paddles clearly encourage you to keep both hands on the wheel, but I've found that the shifts just aren't as smooth in normal driving as the automatic is (in either mode).