Handling of the new G35

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Mar 17, 2007 | 01:07 PM
  #1  
I have 07 G35 Sport and seem to get quite a bit of oversteer if I drive the car hard. Even around town I often feel the back end slide out if I'm punching it to get into traffic. The VSC doesn't seem to do a good job of helping out with this either (read not impressed with VSC at all).

Bottom line - great stable car that I'm very happy with, but the back end does seem loose. I was thinking maybe some springs would help but I really don't want to deal with scraping. Better tires maybe?

I may be being a bit unfair as I came from a Corvette Z-06. I'm afraid I'm overdriving the car a bit.

I would love to hear your impressions of this. Does the car feel unbalanced to you?
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Mar 17, 2007 | 01:14 PM
  #2  
I like the fact that there is enough power to step the rear out under pressure, and wouldn't call it unbalanced. Maybe try tuning with more air in the rear tires than the fronts, or larger tires all around. Without spending a lot of $, changing the ride height at least, it ain't remind you of a z06. Then again, after 300 miles down the highway, it also aint gonna remind you of a z o6!
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Mar 17, 2007 | 01:26 PM
  #3  
I like the way the VDC doesn't jump in at the slightest bit of the wheels breaking loose, which impresses me about the VDC system, you don't have to turn it off to enjoy some good spirited driving. I recently passed the 1200 mark and had a good back roads run, the weather was dry, but cold (in the 20's) All I can say is that it can handle more then I'm willing to throw at it and I'm sure when the weather warms up more for me, it will take even more. driving in rain or hitting sand, the car definitely seems light in the rear, but on good pavement it's like sticky tape on the road.
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Mar 17, 2007 | 01:34 PM
  #4  
coming from a coupe i think the coupe handles a little better. i believe the coupe sits slightly lower from what i can tell. better tires or springs should help the handling quite a bit.
a lil off topic: i have a set of 05 350z spring, would this help the car? maybe a lil lowered?
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Mar 17, 2007 | 01:52 PM
  #5  
Quote: I have 07 G35 Sport and seem to get quite a bit of oversteer if I drive the car hard. Even around town I often feel the back end slide out if I'm punching it to get into traffic. The VSC doesn't seem to do a good job of helping out with this either (read not impressed with VSC at all).

Bottom line - great stable car that I'm very happy with, but the back end does seem loose. I was thinking maybe some springs would help but I really don't want to deal with scraping. Better tires maybe?

I may be being a bit unfair as I came from a Corvette Z-06. I'm afraid I'm overdriving the car a bit.

I would love to hear your impressions of this. Does the car feel unbalanced to you?
Interesting - my experience is:
  • Yes, the G will kick the back end out easily in slow (<3rd gear) corners
  • However, VDC kicks in well before it gets seriously out of shape. For ~10 degree+ angles, have to turn VDC off
  • When VDC comes on, it straightens the car out very quickly (i.e. works for me)
  • On the race track, the handling is just slightly understeer - pretty close to neutral really.

I've gotten the G seriously out of shape in the rain on a bad road - with VDC off. Don't turn it off in the rain...
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Mar 17, 2007 | 01:56 PM
  #6  
+1 on the vdc in the rain... keep it ON.

Like the other poster, I find it a good balance... keeps the dirve sporty but not too uncontrolled.
I'm getting squawks on those damn painted lines on the street.
In California they seem almost a foot wide or more - I know I've marked up quite a few of those around town.
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Mar 17, 2007 | 02:03 PM
  #7  
the car felt pretty balanced to me when i took a short drive last sunday (angels crest hwy for you socalers). i had vcd off but i didnt take the car to the its limits, as im no willing to find that out on that particular road plus it was my first time there.
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Mar 17, 2007 | 02:16 PM
  #8  
I've not yet set aside the time to test different tire pressures - good idea.

Any suggestions?

One other thing I've noticed - with VDC off, I have a better feel for what the car is doing - more predictable but less of a safety net. Versus with it on, it seems to slightly get away and then come back - less predictable but more safety.
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Mar 17, 2007 | 02:37 PM
  #9  
Quote: I have 07 G35 Sport and seem to get quite a bit of oversteer if I drive the car hard. Even around town I often feel the back end slide out if I'm punching it to get into traffic. The VSC doesn't seem to do a good job of helping out with this either (read not impressed with VSC at all).

Bottom line - great stable car that I'm very happy with, but the back end does seem loose. I was thinking maybe some springs would help but I really don't want to deal with scraping. Better tires maybe?

I may be being a bit unfair as I came from a Corvette Z-06. I'm afraid I'm overdriving the car a bit.

I would love to hear your impressions of this. Does the car feel unbalanced to you?
I came from a Z06 into the G. This is not a Z06.. I wouldn't try and drive it like one. Warmer weather should help with traction... The VSC on the S car is tuned to not interfere when you want to play some. It's similar to the competition mode in the Z06.
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Mar 19, 2007 | 09:13 AM
  #10  
That is interesting. Every magazine review I have read talks about the cars slight understeer.
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Mar 19, 2007 | 09:54 AM
  #11  
Wait for some aftermarket sways. That way you can tailor the suspension without having to worry about a drop. A front-only sway will definitely reduce oversteer, or a stiff front and medium rear setting will do the same. That being said, I like the car's behavior as it is.
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Mar 19, 2007 | 12:23 PM
  #12  
Quote: Wait for some aftermarket sways. That way you can tailor the suspension without having to worry about a drop. A front-only sway will definitely reduce oversteer, or a stiff front and medium rear setting will do the same. That being said, I like the car's behavior as it is.
+1 on the sway bars. Those may do the trick. As someone coming from the coupe, all I can say is that the handling of the sedan is much more than I expected from a 4-door car. I was very impressed with the handling. That, coupled with the sport seats, the 18" wheels with summer tires and sport tuned suspension, made me feel as if I'm still in my coupe, only with 2 extra doors.


....oh and yeah: better interior and more gadgets
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Mar 19, 2007 | 12:48 PM
  #13  
I'm going to set aside some time later this week to play with tire pressures. I'm thinking that's got to be the bigger part of my issue, because my cars *** end is very unplanted.

With so many good reviews and comments it's bound to be something unique to my car. What tire pressures have you guys had good luck with? I'll start with your baselines and evaluate.
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Mar 19, 2007 | 02:23 PM
  #14  
Chances are your Z06 had less weight and rear tires that were 50% wider...

Hm.
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Mar 19, 2007 | 04:07 PM
  #15  
Quote: I have 07 G35 Sport and seem to get quite a bit of oversteer if I drive the car hard. Even around town I often feel the back end slide out if I'm punching it to get into traffic. The VSC doesn't seem to do a good job of helping out with this either (read not impressed with VSC at all).

Bottom line - great stable car that I'm very happy with, but the back end does seem loose. I was thinking maybe some springs would help but I really don't want to deal with scraping. Better tires maybe?

I may be being a bit unfair as I came from a Corvette Z-06. I'm afraid I'm overdriving the car a bit.

I would love to hear your impressions of this. Does the car feel unbalanced to you?
You are talking about understear not overstear, which mild understear is a plus for fr cars. Also, our traction control is called the VDC. The car feels very ballanced to me, much better than the z06 (I drove one of these for a week while my cousin was out of the country). I mean, our car uses modern suspension and qualifies as a mid engine car because the engine is tucked behind the front axels.
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