Hi all. I am strongly considering buying a used G35 or G35x sedan for my wife. We live in south Florida, so snow is not of any concern. We found a nice 2007 G35x on the market. Price and mileage are right, but I am a little concerned about the AWD option on the X model. From what I have researched, there is little variance in gass mileage, but the added components of the AWD make me worry about maintenance issues as the car ages. We usually buy our cars with around 60-70k miles and drive them for about 60k before selling them. Have there been many problems that creep up with the AWD system in the G35x or do you feel it is as reliable as the G35? Logic would tell me that the more complex the car, the more that can go wrong. But I have heard wonderful things about Nissaan/Infiniti in general, so perhaps this should not be a concern. Any input is appreciated.

-Chad

 

Its virtually the same car.

The only additional item is to change out the differential fluid on the AWD system in addition to the normal transmission fluid. Depending on who does it it is like $150-250 more at each service interval.

Besides that you have virtually no difference between RWD and AWD as far as reliability or gas mileage. I have not heard any problems at all with the AWD system. Its basically been the same system since 2003ish with the FX models and the G models. Seems to be pretty much bullet proof.

If you are interesting in modding out the car the RWD version is much more friendly as far as suspension items such as coilovers, braces, and springs, ect.

Also the RWD you can get a stick where as the X there is no manual offered.

Since your in FL I cant imagine why you would need an X.. But I bet it is better priced down there. Here in CO you can hardly find a non X version of the G35/37.

Good luck with your search.

 

Yea, a RWD would be a bit cheaper usually. Do you guys do snow driving at all or whats the use for the AWD down in FL?

 

In my 3.5 years on this forum I honestly can't recall anyone having a mechanical problem with this AWD system.
Gas mileage in all G's varies greatly with the leverage of the drivers right foot. If you drive 'normal' (often a difficult task in this car do to fun factor) you will see descent fuel economy for a 306hp V6.
According to many posts on this forum, the difference in fuel economy between the RWD and AWD is maybe 1-2mpg at the most. Again, it all depends how you drive. I'm sure there are a lot of RWD guys getting far worse mileage than me but at the same time, they are probably having more fun.
Is the X your looking at a US or Canadian model? Just curious because there are a lot of Snow-Birds living in Florida. Perhaps thats one way an X ended up in the Sunshine State.

PS
If you want to see some 'real world' fuel #s, click on the Fuelly icon in my Sig.

 

can't go wrong with either. the x will also help you with rainy wet conditions, dummy-prrof driving basically.

 

Thank you all for the responses! I am glad to hear that the AWD option on the X is tried and true with very few problems. We are still early in our hunt, and (given a choice) I will likely go for the RWD version for simplicity sake. But if we find the right car and is is the G35x, I feel better knowing that it is not an unreliable drive train. I look forward to joining this community once we find the right car and will be sure to post pics when we become a part of the G family.

-Chad

 

I have a G35 in Tennessee and couldn't be happier with it. The AWD drive Altessa unit is a derivative of the unit originally developed for the Japanese Skyline rally car which developed 400-500 HP. the unit is now used in a number of bigger, heavier Nissan vehicles, and is reliable in those more severe applications. In the relatively lightweight G35, with less power than the rally car, the unit is over-engineered, so the AWD should be robust if maintained by factory intervals with quality fluids.

Although you don't get snow in Florida normally, having the AWD option give you the confidence to travel in the North in the winter with no issues. But something to consider, that you have a LOT of in Florida, is sand. The AWD may save your bacon if you need to accelerate quickly out of an intersection or area where sand has collected and the 2wd will only spin one tire. The base/journey is only 2wd, the Sport version at least has limited slip. But for sand, rain, snow, I like the confidence of having AWD, especially when the wife is out in it. I find the system to be very transparent in its operation, and only comes into play when needed, but otherwise does not detract from the normal 2wd balance and handling dynamic. My only complaint about the car is that it understeers sightly more than the 2wd version, being set up for safety in snow/ice handling. But I plan to add the Hotchkiss bars when they come out which will mitigate that issue. Regardless, you will enjoy any G35. By far one of the best overall and best balanced car I have driven or owned.