I complained about the driver seat a while ago and after another 10 days with the car have found the controls not as bothersome and no longer pain inducing. I guess I've tuned it out. On the other hand, I still think the placement of the power controls is in the catagory of something that seemed innovative but upon further review needs some modifications. I doubt people are buying the car just because of the innovative seat controls BUT they certainly could be turning down the car because of them -- not a good equation.
Who said that a car manufacturer has to make a car that appeals to all people?? I find the seat controls logical and practical. I can't help it if the obese--sorry, those a "bit larger"--can't fit nor do I think that Infiniti should worry too much about it. Buy a used Q45 or Malibu or Maxima or something that fits you.
I've read several comments about dealers not dealing below MSRP. I'm in So. California and was shopping around for the G35 and dealers were offering $500-$1500 below MSRP. I finally ended up buying the G35 from a fleet manager at Metro Infiniti in Costa Mesa for $32,000 (b4 taxes, lic, etc.), MSRP was $33,565 for the Desert Platinum, Premium Leather, Sunroof, Wood Package, and Xenon lights. I don't know about other parts of the country but they are going below MSRP here in SoCal. In addition, sales rep was nice (take your time w/ no pressure).
slasher617 - if you are looking for an Infiniti that is a closer match to the A4, then look at the G20. I know this isn't going to make any Audi owners happy, but a G20t might make you smile. The G35 is much more car than the A4 (I've driven both).
One thing that I DID notice about the G35 is that its handling abilities are such that they are easy to NOT notice. The car handles with such aplomb that you don't realize that you are taking corners at 3-5mph faster than other cars you drive. Also, I was unaware that an A4 at $29K had stability control, shorter braking than ANY car outside of out-right sports cars, and handling that, on a G-pad and slalom, equals or outpaces anything in even close to its class. Can you guess which one my wife bought?
Seriously though, it might be better to compare the Audi to something that is more in its class. Many have recommended the Subaru WRX, if you are interesting in outstanding performance for the price.
Also, it is a shame to hear about the poor treatment. My local dealer had that attitude, but the dealership we bought from (they actually were able to get the car we wanted), was "Infiniti(ly)" better. Outstanding. Just wish they weren't ~225 miles away...
Oh, I should mention that our local dealership's service was outstanding. Quick and professional for the first oil change, with a loaner, if needed.
ultrahertz - I hear you about the seat controls. Like you, I experienced significant discomfort the first two weeks of driving the car. However, my hip has since become numb to the seat control's intrusion into the seating area.
maxcat1 - Ok, we understand that YOU don't have a problem. Great. We can accept that. Why don't you try opening your mind and accept that others don't share your build and realize that Infiniti is the ONLY vehicle that has seat controls in the seating portion of the seat. Gee, I wonder why no one else is doing it? Maybe because they don't want to turn away customers.
I certainly agree that it would make more sense to place seat controls in, for example, the center console. I feel this way because (1) it is possible in hard cornering to slide over the controls and (2) drinks can be spilt in the controls too easily. I don't believe that the controls should be moved because I'm too large any more than I think that the speedometer lettering should be enlarged because my vision is poor.
Presumably, Infiniti knew when they brought a vehicle whose ergonomics reflected the needs of the smaller Japanese driver that they might not be able to accomodate some larger American drivers.
Maybe instead of expecting the whole world to adapt to the increasingly fat American who requires larger and larger vehicles maybe we should ask ourselves the simplier question of why we can't fit? In case you think that I'm exaggerating the size of Americans ask anyone who has recently visited France or Italy to contrast the size and eating habits of European vs Americans. It is so pronounced that you can usually spot Americans walking around a major European city simply by their size. Pretty sad.
In any case, I'm sure that Infiniti will correct their oversight so that they can better accomodate our size in a future model. I'd be willing to bet that this will happen long before we start downsizing ourselves and our vehicles.
I know off topic but I also beleive one of the reasons Big SUV's became very popular we have many fellow Americans who are "weight challenged". Saw a guy must have weighed somewhere north of 300 drving a Honda Civic the other day. Talk about unsafe at any speed, steering wheel was right below his third chin!
Slasher, please think twice about the Audi A4. I own a 2000 A6 twin turbo quattro, and all of the statements here about reliability (or lack thereof) are true. What is worse is that Audi seems to hate their customers, and delights in angering and alienating them by having an arrogant attitude and refusing to do anything about fixing the many problems with their cars. Audi has to be the worst carmaker on the planet regarding customer satisfaction. The car itself (when not having problems) is world-class, tops in refinement, fun to drive, but reliability is terrible. NEVER own an Audi outside of the bumper-to-bumper warranty period (three years at this time). I leased mine for three years, so am safe. Unfortunately, the wife (who is the main driver) wants to replace it with an Allroad when the lease expires.
I test drove a G35 when I was on vacation in Connecticut, and the salesman knew that I would not be buying the car there because it was not my hometown. He let me drive it as much as I wanted and took a lot of time, with no pressure, to tell me about the car and answer my questions. All in all, it was a great experience. I thought so highly of it that I wrote to the owner of the dealership commending the salesman. I loved the car, and may end up getting one when the lease on my other car is up next year. I have owned two Hondas, two Toyotas and a Lexus, and have never had any mechanical problems with any of them. The nearest Lexus dealership is in Indianapolis (60 miles away) where I bought the car (RX300), and I have never been back to the dealer in the two plus years that I have owned the car. Japanese cars are great as far as reliability, but the Toyotas and Lexus are boring to drive, not fun at all. I find a comparison of A4 to G35 strange, since A4 is tiny, with a small backseat, etc. and the G35 as a much bigger interior and slightly bigger exterior. The G is far superior, in my opinion, not even taking into account the lousy Audi reliability. I agree with others that a G20 or Maxima, WRX or even a Camry/Avalon would be a better choice if you don't want a sporty sedan or the G has too much power (is there any such thing??). As for me, the only viable alternative to the G35 will be the Cadillac CTSi with the Corvette Z06/LS6 engine next year, if it happens. The CTS is not as good of a car in general, but that engine would more than make up for its shortcomings, as torque and horsepower cover a multitude of sins. Otherwise, it will be the G for me.
With the 2nd baby on the way, the G35 was one of the only cars that I could fit an infant seat behind me (long legs). So getting the G35 postponed the mini-van purchase, for at least 2-3 years.
The A4 I think is a very good competitor to the G35. I previously had a 99.5 A6Q and a 97 A4Q. The 97 A4 did start to develop problems (86K mi). I had to have the thermostat changed twice in 1 year, and they didn’t cover it because I went over their miles (They only warranty work for 1 year and 12K mi).
My 99.5 A6Q was more reliable than my 96 Civic. I think the new A4 should have the same reliability as the A6 since they share so many components. I may have gotten lucky with my A6, but I drive pretty hard (all the time) and the A6 was flawless. The maintenance free warranty is very nice too.
Haven’t driven the new A4 so I can’t really compare it to the G35, but it does look really nice.
I bought for about the same price at the Costa Mesa dealer near the end of March, but I had to come up with a three-car deal in order to get the price down that low, that early in the game.
My experience with the staff being very pleasant was the same as yours. Did you buy from Jim Krarup? Heck of a nice guy and no pressure.
Ok... I know I should have calmed down weeks ago, but I just can't help it!
At a stop light and a Mustang of some variety, lowered, stereo blasting, and engine reving is right beside me... I had classical playing and rolled up my passenger window which seems to have irritated him...
He gave me the meanest glare, Geez! I don't even know you guy!
So the light turns green and you guessed it... I stomped on the accelerator as did he... Quite a bit of wheel spin on his side, which made me nervous because his back end got all twitchy right next to me...
By the middle of the block we were doing almost 70 and approaching the next red light... He was a good car length in front of me and I was backing off rapidly... I pressed firmly on the brakes and heard the rather loud drone of the ABS working.
I came to a hard and abrupt halt about 10 feet from the line at the stop light and was rather shocked to see a cloud of white tire smoke as he went sliding right into the middle of the intersection sideways! After he came to rest, he couldn't back up and he couldn't go forward as a car from the cross street pulled right up to his car, stopped, and layed on the horn for about 30 seconds...
A bit of yelling and some "finger" gestures and he does a slight manuever (almost lighting the tires up again) and he goes left down the cross street.
He gave me one final gesture and another rather mean look, and I smiled and shook my head...
The gratifying thing is that I never felt "worked" or out of control... Everything felt smooth, as opposed to his botched second shift (I heard the grind), and woeful car control on the deceleration.
I know I know... it was a stupid move on my part, but its leaving my system rapidly. This is just years of pent up emotion driving around an underpowered SUV...
Sometimes going fast means you have to stop fast too... I'm glad Infiniti got both sides done well...
stsurbrook: The G20 is the same size as my civic now and I was looking for something bigger. Both the A4 and the G are bigger than my civic. I have been hearing a lot about the reliability factor around every turn on this board. I said I would keep investigating and I was planning on testing the G and the dealership near me again this weekend. As for the braking distance, if you don't drive like a maniac and can anticipate the moves of those around you like a good driver should be able to do, then giving up a few feet of braking power should not be a problem.
gearhead100: I will take your words of warning as I have taken all the others. My objective here is simple or so I thought. I want a fast, fun, reliable car that keeps me wanting more for a price I can afford. I didn't think this was too much to ask. Apparently I was wrong. My search will continue. As for a lexus, only the 430 would do and that is way over budget right now.
ivan_99: Thank you for the words of comparison between the A4 and the G. As for your 96 civic, mine has 117K miles on it and still running smooth. My search will continue until I find the car I love at a dealership that I can work with at a price I can afford. Thanks again.
Thanks for all the comments, I will keep them all in mind as my search for my perfect car continues.
I don't recall you saying where you are located. Numerous people have had pretty good luck at getting the price down. I got a pretty good deal the first week they were available. Now people are talking about getting 1400-1500 off MSRP. That would put a premium package, Sunroof, Xenon sedan in the 31.5K range. That's about 500-700 more than a similarly equiped A4 1.8T.
I know a few people have talked about how the dealership would not come off MSRP so they went to a broker and got 1400-1500 off within days. You might want to try that route. www.freshalloy.com has a G35 forum that has a topic "How much did you pay for your G35" where people relate what kind of deal they got, with whom and where. You try a look see.
I am in Tysons Corner Virginia right outside Washington D.C. I will definitely check out the board, but for a car that is so hot that they refuse to budge from MSRP, why is it that I have only seen two of them on the road? I will take the car for another spin and reevaluate my opinions then. I will also check out that board you gave me and see what I find, thanks. I never thought hunting for a new car would be this difficult.
So you got a 38K VW Passat...???...Well at least there wont be many on the road, except for all the other 4 and 6 cylinder Passat's that it looks like...Dont get me wrong, the Passat is a great car, my wife drives a 2001 Passat...It would just seem hard to imagine spending that kind of money for a W8...VW would have done better to give the W8 its own body style...
stsurbrook: Your right about the G20 and A4 comments, the G20 Sport does put grins on it's owners faces. And, I know first hand how much A4 owners don't want to hear about their cars being compared to the G20. I have fought that battle with them many times here on Edmunds.
Slasher617: Although, the G20 is a about and inch or so smaller then the A4 in most exterior dimensions, it doesn't translate to the interiors. Once inside, the G20 has about the same or more room in almost every direction including trunk space. So, do you just want a car to look bigger? On the other hand, the G35 is significantly bigger, both exterior and interior, then either the G20 or A4.
I wanted a car that actually was bigger than my civic due to the fact that I have been hit from behind in the car twice now and been injured both times. I wanted something bigger to protect me in case another careless driver decides to speed up into my stopped car in traffic.
Boomer23- I bought the car in mid March from the fleet/internet manager, Darin Osborn. He actually gave me a quote over the net. The dealer that has poor customer service in my opinion is the Infiniti dealer in Cerritos.
On my way into work this morning I was stuck in traffic, moping, and generally observing...
I came upon a BMW 530i on the side of the road with its hood up and the well dressed business-type man staring quizzically at the engine...
I thought to myself... "Heh"
about 20 minutes later in the same traffic jam and their on the side of the road is an Infiniti G20 with its hazards on, hood up with a Business-type woman looking quizzically at the motor..
Slasher, I had a very similar experience to you. I am on my second Audi a 2002 A6 3.0, turning in a '99 A4 1.8TQ, and yes I did have a number of small annoying problems with the A4, all fixed under warranty. I have 5 friends with Audi's and none of them had any problems.
I went to drive the G35, and to keep it short, at the end of the test drive, I said I'll take it! And we sat down to get down to the nuts and bolts of the deal and they gave me the MSRP only route. I sell for a living and the attitude of the vendor can make all the difference (from cars to multi-million dollar systems) and that completely turned me off.
Even though I had a number of problems with my first Audi, the attitude and attention, service etc, I received from Audi was excellent. And the experience of driving the car is second to none.
DaFreak- Just as an FYI, it is very common in Europe to get the same car with multiple engine configurations, in fact you can even get the Mercedes CLK in either a 4,6 or 8 cylinder config, you used to be able to do that in the S-class and 7-Series BMW's as well. Not sure if VW will be able to pull that off in America, but then again it is an inexpensive German V8!
Well, I can see that there is some "Hurray, I'm slim, I'm great. You're fat, you such and shouldn't complain going on here."
First, I have 24" thighs, 17" calves, and a "bubble butt" from playing tennis and weightlifting (at one time was working out with ~600lbs for sets of 4-6) for years. I've NEVER been able to weight less than 186lbs (at 3-4% body fat, immersion test) and am happiest at ~220lbs. What's interesting is that over the years, my hip measurements haven't changed by more than 1-2", regardless of weight. It just so happens that my hips are the problem.
What I find interesting and important about g_car's comment is that a MUCH smaller Honda Civic was able to seat a "north of 300 lbs" person. Probably without major discomfort or that person would probably have not bought the car.
I agree with maxcat1's statement that the positioning of the G35's seat controls would have been better on the (roomy) center console. Why intentionally minimize space. In fact, there are only two "major" complaints I have about the G35. First, is the position of the power seat controls. Second, is the lack of mirror memory to go with the seat memory.
As you can see they aren't very significant, are they?
OK, I'm NOT knocking the G35. Both my wife and I LOVE the car. However, this implied weight biggotry is beginning to wear. Those people who are heavy have just as much of a right to drive as anyone else.
As stebu noted, the G20t is slightly smaller in overall length, but according to the audi.com and infiniti.com web sites, the G20 is slightly larger in all dimensions. Also, it gets better gas milage, has a LSD, and is about $4K less than the A4 1.8t (the G20 is $24,449 edmunds.com TMV ($26,212 MSRP).
The A6 really is a better comparison to the G35, but is geared toward a different market.
I picked up a factory G35 front end mask... I won't put it on until the cars front end is so dinged up that it looks better with the mask on I've heard to many stories about masks ruining paint by grinding dirt into it with vibration.
But in case anyone is interested, I put it on once and it fits VERY well, is tight, flat and very sturdily made. It also looks like you might have to go 140 to make the thing flutter in the wind! It's battened down in every conceivable place!
With the observation help of my wife in the passenger seat, it seems that overwhelmingly, the people on the road that pull up alongside to "check out the car" and who turn to look behind them as they pass on the road for me, are almost exclusively Volvo drivers!
Maybe someone needs to start a "G35 vs Volvo S70 T5" forum LoL!
Incredible! Someone posted a link at the end of their message in the G35 vs BMW330i forum and I thought... "Alright, I'll take a look and see what the erudite German touring car crowd is saying..."
Well, after a few comments like "Dethrone me *itch" and E46 drivers with mad "skillz", and "G35 ain't got nuthin'" I decided to head back here...
Whew! How do people that can afford refined automobiles get to be so unrefined?
I know it was just a small segment of the site, and perhaps not indicative of the rest, but I'll check later when my ears stop ringing...
Since I was the one who cause the big rear end controversy , I had to get the last word. Yes, what that guy said was ignorant and hateful. Nonetheless, he was wrong. I fit just fine in Mustang GT seats, so its the Infiniti, not me. Im trying the base model tomorrow. If it fits, its a total steal at the price. Ironically, the other car Im looking at is a Volvo:) Best seats in the world, regardless of butt size!
My comments were not directed towards you. BTW there are too many fat Americans with fat butts have you seen the latest heart disease numbers. Obesity kills 3-4 times the number of folks per year than smoking. Lets get back to talking about cars.
Read earlier about the discount from MSRP in Costa Mesa and am trying to get more stories from owners out there. I do live in So Cal and am going tommorrow to help a friend buy a G35 with luxury package. WE both own qx4's and have had no problems whatsover....my only concern has been the high depreciation. I don't see any dealer subsidized leases and it has been a while since I researched the infiniti lineup. I am very impressed with the g35 and am hoping to get her the car at 1-2% over invoice.
That has got to be one of the funniest threads I've seen in a long time. However, I think faenor is right about drawing conclusions about the 5 posters on that thread, but only those 5.
I didn't buy a BMW to race people. I bought one for myself, to drive something I've never driven before. I could care less about the 0-60, if you want to smoke me have fun wasting your gas. If 0-60 and top speed were my goal, I probably could have sprung for the extra $10 grand and gotten the Vette or the 3.2AMG! (ack!) Or maybe waited until next year and saved a bunch and got the SRT-4. Oh well. There's always the twin-turbo 3L engine to look forward to.
Drove a G35 today. Love it! Trying to decide on color Silver or White. Also, wondering about the Bose stereo whether it is worth the $900? (it did sound awesome) .. but can I do better on my own at an aftermarket car stereo store.
Anyways.. dealer was nice but "stone-walled" me on price. (not a penny below MSRP).
Anyone know a dealer in San Francisco area or East Bay that will deal..?
that G35/BMWlink you posted above is pretty funny...BMW owners are in for a rude awakening...they dont have a chance in the near future if you look at 0-60 and 1/4 mile numbers, especially when the manual comes out...oh, by the way, i pulled up next to a 330 the other day...when the light turned green we both took off at full power....within 4 seconds he promptly backed off the gas and enjoyed the beautiful rear end view of the G35...i normally would say well he didnt want to go but this guy must have been no older then 25...if he could have taken me he would have-no doubt about it...you have to love that kind of respect...BMW has a reputation as the "ultimate driving machine" but the G35 will change all that...kudos to Infiniti for coming out with such a great car....things will only get better...i can not wait until they go after the M3/M5...
I'm also from the bay area, which Infinity Dealers have you tried? The only one I've gone to is in Pleasanton California and they wanted Full Boat, but sounded willing to deal if I were gonna buy it today...blah. Sacramento may be a better choice or perhaps LA. Depends how far you are willing to go for a good deal.
Let me race you in my Subaru turbo and you'll be eating my rear lights. No one has the market on 0-60. Wait until the SRT-4 comes out. Those kids that spend $19,000 to buy those cars will be laughing in your face as they blow right by you at a stoplight. I personally would love to pit my 330i against your G35 at a track and see who comes out the winner. These games of street racing are childish and dangerous to say the least.
Yes. I actually live in Roseville CA (Sacramneto CA). They have selection of G35 (mostly White and Silver) all marked up $2000 above MSRP. The sales guy was "giving me a deal" at MSRP! I persoanlly have a probelm paying list price for anything. (although I do like/love the car).
I don't mind driving 100 miles or so to find a deal...
I considering buying a G35. I want to buy a car that I can get aftermarket upgrades. What are peoples guesses on the future availability of suspension and engine upgrades. I guessing that there will be some engine upgrades since the engine is used in Altima, Maxima, G35 and coupe and 350z.
Drove it yesterday. The base seats are very comfortable, even the salesman was surprised. A high quality "suede" type cloth. They definately are not sport seats however, very Ford like. Still they grip very well and arent mushy. The adjustments are good too.
The care is tremendous, and the breaks are the best ever. Still, on the highway the steering wheel vibrated a lot. When I mentioned this to the salesman, he stated that the "front rotors are probably warped due to the salt air encountered during the boat ride from Japan." Sounds fishy to me. The car had 10 miles on it.
The dealer was very disappointing. Would go below sticker, but the same slick games as any regualr place. The "internet Manager" was a commissioned sales person who tried all the tricks. I walked out in frustration. Ill go somewhere else and get one.
A story for every occasion! Did he say that the car would run ok after you scraped the salt off the rotors?? Maybe they lash the base models on the deck and protect the premium models below.
...and I decided on a G35. I traded-in a 99 VW Passat 1.8T, so I had some experience with that engine. Although I loved the Passat (decent acceleration, handling, value for the $, and those cool indigo blue dash lights), I have to say that there is no comparison to the G35. This new car is sweet, and just keeps getting better the more I drive it. Now I'm just looking for reasons to run errands!
I've been reading this board for awhile and appreciate all the information and opinions that people have stated. I did plenty of research on various makes/models before deciding on the Infiniti. For most people, spending in the $30K range is a lot of money for a car so I wanted to be sure I got the best car for my money. I seriously considered the Acura CL (because of the 6-speed), Audi A4 1.8T (5 speed), Saab 9-3 Convertible (great deals right now through Saab), and the Infiniti. I also threw in a new Passat for comparison. I have to say the Infiniti wins hands down. I was almost convinced to go with the Audi before I drove the Infiniti. I have to say there is no comparison. I love the power and handling the Infiniti provides, and the looks and comments I get on the car make it worth every dollar spent. It is truly a satisfying car to drive and own.
The Acura was a nice car, but did nothing for me visually. It looks so generic, like so many other cars on the road and always left me wondering, is it an Acura?, a Toyota?, a Honda?...well, you get my drift. Fun to drive, but I don't think the interior materials were superior to any of the other cars I tested.
The Saab was great, and nothing can beat the feel of driving with the top down and the wind in your hair, but I live in the midwest and honestly wouldn't have the top down for the majority of the year. Plus, with a new 9-3 right around the corner, who'd want the old model?
The Audi almost had me sold. I was already familiar with the 1.8T engine and had very few mechanical problems with my Passat. I test drove the car and found it to be perfectly acceptable and quite a bit of fun. I think the styling is classic, the car is comfortable and it has plenty of space to fill my needs. I think the deciding factor was that with the G35, I feel like I got so much more for my money...powerful V6, great stereo, real leather seats, racy styling, 17" wheels, and too much other stuff to mention. Great value for the money...plus I'm the only one in my town with one.
I ended up with a brilliant silver lux/leather package, with sunroof, upgraded Bose system, and winter package. The sticker was $32,025 and I was happy to get the dealer (Infiniti of Lisle, IL) to knock $1000 of the sticker price. Guess there are better deals to be had out there, but here in Illinois, I'm happy with the deal. The dealership was professional and didn't really pressure me. I was able to leave and come back with the numbers straight in my head for what I wanted on my trade-in and my payments and we came very close so I'd have to say my experience was good.
Anyway, just wanted to share some of my experiences since everything I've read here helped me to make my decision. Hope this info can help someone else who might be struggling with the same decisions I did. I'm a total new car nut and love reading all about them. After the VW, I swore I'd never drive anything but German cars, but with the Infiniti, I think I've managed to get the quality and feel of the German car with the reliability of the Japanese.
Thanks again! Good luck to anyone searching for a new car. There are so many good ones to choose from these days, but I highly recommend the G. Just test drive one and you will be sold too!
Comments
One thing that I DID notice about the G35 is that its handling abilities are such that they are easy to NOT notice. The car handles with such aplomb that you don't realize that you are taking corners at 3-5mph faster than other cars you drive. Also, I was unaware that an A4 at $29K had stability control, shorter braking than ANY car outside of out-right sports cars, and handling that, on a G-pad and slalom, equals or outpaces anything in even close to its class. Can you guess which one my wife bought?
Seriously though, it might be better to compare the Audi to something that is more in its class. Many have recommended the Subaru WRX, if you are interesting in outstanding performance for the price.
Also, it is a shame to hear about the poor treatment. My local dealer had that attitude, but the dealership we bought from (they actually were able to get the car we wanted), was "Infiniti(ly)" better. Outstanding. Just wish they weren't ~225 miles away...
Oh, I should mention that our local dealership's service was outstanding. Quick and professional for the first oil change, with a loaner, if needed.
Scott
maxcat1 - Ok, we understand that YOU don't have a problem. Great. We can accept that. Why don't you try opening your mind and accept that others don't share your build and realize that Infiniti is the ONLY vehicle that has seat controls in the seating portion of the seat. Gee, I wonder why no one else is doing it? Maybe because they don't want to turn away customers.
Sheesh! 8^/
Scott
Presumably, Infiniti knew when they brought a vehicle whose ergonomics reflected the needs of the smaller Japanese driver that they might not be able to accomodate some larger American drivers.
Maybe instead of expecting the whole world to adapt to the increasingly fat American who requires larger and larger vehicles maybe we should ask ourselves the simplier question of why we can't fit? In case you think that I'm exaggerating the size of Americans ask anyone who has recently visited France or Italy to contrast the size and eating habits of European vs Americans. It is so pronounced that you can usually spot Americans walking around a major European city simply by their size. Pretty sad.
In any case, I'm sure that Infiniti will correct their oversight so that they can better accomodate our size in a future model. I'd be willing to bet that this will happen long before we start downsizing ourselves and our vehicles.
I test drove a G35 when I was on vacation in Connecticut, and the salesman knew that I would not be buying the car there because it was not my hometown. He let me drive it as much as I wanted and took a lot of time, with no pressure, to tell me about the car and answer my questions. All in all, it was a great experience. I thought so highly of it that I wrote to the owner of the dealership commending the salesman. I loved the car, and may end up getting one when the lease on my other car is up next year.
I have owned two Hondas, two Toyotas and a Lexus, and have never had any mechanical problems with any of them. The nearest Lexus dealership is in Indianapolis (60 miles away) where I bought the car (RX300), and I have never been back to the dealer in the two plus years that I have owned the car. Japanese cars are great as far as reliability, but the Toyotas and Lexus are boring to drive, not fun at all.
I find a comparison of A4 to G35 strange, since A4 is tiny, with a small backseat, etc. and the G35 as a much bigger interior and slightly bigger exterior. The G is far superior, in my opinion, not even taking into account the lousy Audi reliability. I agree with others that a G20 or Maxima, WRX or even a Camry/Avalon would be a better choice if you don't want a sporty sedan or the G has too much power (is there any such thing??). As for me, the only viable alternative to the G35 will be the Cadillac CTSi with the Corvette Z06/LS6 engine next year, if it happens. The CTS is not as good of a car in general, but that engine would more than make up for its shortcomings, as torque and horsepower cover a multitude of sins. Otherwise, it will be the G for me.
The A4 I think is a very good competitor to the G35. I previously had a 99.5 A6Q and a 97 A4Q. The 97 A4 did start to develop problems (86K mi). I had to have the thermostat changed twice in 1 year, and they didn’t cover it because I went over their miles (They only warranty work for 1 year and 12K mi).
My 99.5 A6Q was more reliable than my 96 Civic. I think the new A4 should have the same reliability as the A6 since they share so many components. I may have gotten lucky with my A6, but I drive pretty hard (all the time) and the A6 was flawless. The maintenance free warranty is very nice too.
Haven’t driven the new A4 so I can’t really compare it to the G35, but it does look really nice.
we seem to have said the exact opposite.
My experience with the staff being very pleasant was the same as yours. Did you buy from Jim Krarup? Heck of a nice guy and no pressure.
At a stop light and a Mustang of some variety, lowered, stereo blasting, and engine reving is right beside me... I had classical playing and rolled up my passenger window which seems to have irritated him...
He gave me the meanest glare, Geez! I don't even know you guy!
So the light turns green and you guessed it... I stomped on the accelerator as did he... Quite a bit of wheel spin on his side, which made me nervous because his back end got all twitchy right next to me...
By the middle of the block we were doing almost 70 and approaching the next red light... He was a good car length in front of me and I was backing off rapidly... I pressed firmly on the brakes and heard the rather loud drone of the ABS working.
I came to a hard and abrupt halt about 10 feet from the line at the stop light and was rather shocked to see a cloud of white tire smoke as he went sliding right into the middle of the intersection sideways! After he came to rest, he couldn't back up and he couldn't go forward as a car from the cross street pulled right up to his car, stopped, and layed on the horn for about 30 seconds...
A bit of yelling and some "finger" gestures and he does a slight manuever (almost lighting the tires up again) and he goes left down the cross street.
He gave me one final gesture and another rather mean look, and I smiled and shook my head...
The gratifying thing is that I never felt "worked" or out of control... Everything felt smooth, as opposed to his botched second shift (I heard the grind), and woeful car control on the deceleration.
I know I know... it was a stupid move on my part, but its leaving my system rapidly. This is just years of pent up emotion driving around an underpowered SUV...
Sometimes going fast means you have to stop fast too... I'm glad Infiniti got both sides done well...
Faenor/Dane4
Anyway, I now have a 2002 W8 Passat. I posted some details on the Lincoln LS board, since that is what I traded.
I will probably be posting on the Passat board now from time to time.
Cheers,
- Ray
Who is now looking for excuses to add more 'break in' miles to the W8 . . .
gearhead100: I will take your words of warning as I have taken all the others. My objective here is simple or so I thought. I want a fast, fun, reliable car that keeps me wanting more for a price I can afford. I didn't think this was too much to ask. Apparently I was wrong. My search will continue. As for a lexus, only the 430 would do and that is way over budget right now.
ivan_99: Thank you for the words of comparison between the A4 and the G. As for your 96 civic, mine has 117K miles on it and still running smooth. My search will continue until I find the car I love at a dealership that I can work with at a price I can afford. Thanks again.
Thanks for all the comments, I will keep them all in mind as my search for my perfect car continues.
I know a few people have talked about how the dealership would not come off MSRP so they went to a broker and got 1400-1500 off within days. You might want to try that route. www.freshalloy.com has a G35 forum that has a topic "How much did you pay for your G35" where people relate what kind of deal they got, with whom and where. You try a look see.
Mike
Slasher617: Although, the G20 is a about and inch or so smaller then the A4 in most exterior dimensions, it doesn't translate to the interiors. Once inside, the G20 has about the same or more room in almost every direction including trunk space. So, do you just want a car to look bigger? On the other hand, the G35 is significantly bigger, both exterior and interior, then either the G20 or A4.
I came upon a BMW 530i on the side of the road with its hood up and the well dressed business-type man staring quizzically at the engine...
I thought to myself... "Heh"
about 20 minutes later in the same traffic jam and their on the side of the road is an Infiniti G20 with its hazards on, hood up with a Business-type woman looking quizzically at the motor..
I thought to myself... "DOH!"
Faenor/Dane4
I went to drive the G35, and to keep it short, at the end of the test drive, I said I'll take it! And we sat down to get down to the nuts and bolts of the deal and they gave me the MSRP only route. I sell for a living and the attitude of the vendor can make all the difference (from cars to multi-million dollar systems) and that completely turned me off.
Even though I had a number of problems with my first Audi, the attitude and attention, service etc, I received from Audi was excellent. And the experience of driving the car is second to none.
DaFreak-
Just as an FYI, it is very common in Europe to get the same car with multiple engine configurations, in fact you can even get the Mercedes CLK in either a 4,6 or 8 cylinder config, you used to be able to do that in the S-class and 7-Series BMW's as well. Not sure if VW will be able to pull that off in America, but then again it is an inexpensive German V8!
First, I have 24" thighs, 17" calves, and a "bubble butt" from playing tennis and weightlifting (at one time was working out with ~600lbs for sets of 4-6) for years. I've NEVER been able to weight less than 186lbs (at 3-4% body fat, immersion test) and am happiest at ~220lbs. What's interesting is that over the years, my hip measurements haven't changed by more than 1-2", regardless of weight. It just so happens that my hips are the problem.
What I find interesting and important about g_car's comment is that a MUCH smaller Honda Civic was able to seat a "north of 300 lbs" person. Probably without major discomfort or that person would probably have not bought the car.
I agree with maxcat1's statement that the positioning of the G35's seat controls would have been better on the (roomy) center console. Why intentionally minimize space. In fact, there are only two "major" complaints I have about the G35. First, is the position of the power seat controls. Second, is the lack of mirror memory to go with the seat memory.
As you can see they aren't very significant, are they?
OK, I'm NOT knocking the G35. Both my wife and I LOVE the car. However, this implied weight biggotry is beginning to wear. Those people who are heavy have just as much of a right to drive as anyone else.
I'm done with this thread...
Scott
The A6 really is a better comparison to the G35, but is geared toward a different market.
Scott
But in case anyone is interested, I put it on once and it fits VERY well, is tight, flat and very sturdily made. It also looks like you might have to go 140 to make the thing flutter in the wind! It's battened down in every conceivable place!
Faenor/Dane4
Maybe someone needs to start a "G35 vs Volvo S70 T5" forum LoL!
Faenor/Dane4
Well, after a few comments like "Dethrone me *itch" and E46 drivers with mad "skillz", and "G35 ain't got nuthin'" I decided to head back here...
Whew! How do people that can afford refined automobiles get to be so unrefined?
I know it was just a small segment of the site, and perhaps not indicative of the rest, but I'll check later when my ears stop ringing...
Faenor/Dane4
Peace
WE both own qx4's and have had no problems whatsover....my only concern has been the high depreciation. I don't see any dealer subsidized leases and it has been a while since I researched the infiniti lineup. I am very impressed with the g35 and am hoping to get her the car at 1-2% over invoice.
thanks in advance,
Jason
Faenor was refering to this link from a G35 forum at freshalloy.com
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?s=d9fcdb395f5b154d1e6577b394496284&threadid=6623
I didn't buy a BMW to race people. I bought one for myself, to drive something I've never driven before. I could care less about the 0-60, if you want to smoke me have fun wasting your gas. If 0-60 and top speed were my goal, I probably could have sprung for the extra $10 grand and gotten the Vette or the 3.2AMG! (ack!) Or maybe waited until next year and saved a bunch and got the SRT-4. Oh well. There's always the twin-turbo 3L engine to look forward to.
Drove a G35 today. Love it! Trying to decide on color Silver or White. Also, wondering about the Bose stereo whether it is worth the $900? (it did sound awesome) .. but can I do better on my own at an aftermarket car stereo store.
Anyways.. dealer was nice but "stone-walled" me on price. (not a penny below MSRP).
Anyone know a dealer in San Francisco area or East Bay that will deal..?
Great car... hoping to find a deal.
No, it's not funny.
I'm also from the bay area, which Infinity Dealers have you tried? The only one I've gone to is in Pleasanton California and they wanted Full Boat, but sounded willing to deal if I were gonna buy it today...blah. Sacramento may be a better choice or perhaps LA. Depends how far you are willing to go for a good deal.
-Steve
I don't mind driving 100 miles or so to find a deal...
I guess I'll keep looking...
Anyways..Still trying to decide White or Silver!
I may give them a call.
aftermarket upgrades. What are peoples guesses on the future
availability of suspension and engine upgrades. I guessing that
there will be some engine upgrades since the engine is used in
Altima, Maxima, G35 and coupe and 350z.
TIA
Alan
Good luck,
Tony
The care is tremendous, and the breaks are the best ever. Still, on the highway the steering wheel vibrated a lot. When I mentioned this to the salesman, he stated that the "front rotors are probably warped due to the salt air encountered during the boat ride from Japan." Sounds fishy to me. The car had 10 miles on it.
The dealer was very disappointing. Would go below sticker, but the same slick games as any regualr place. The "internet Manager" was a commissioned sales person who tried all the tricks. I walked out in frustration. Ill go somewhere else and get one.
What a motherlode of bullshiiiite. Sounds like a Ford dealer, not an Infiniti dealer.
Paul
I've been reading this board for awhile and appreciate all the information and opinions that people have stated. I did plenty of research on various makes/models before deciding on the Infiniti. For most people, spending in the $30K range is a lot of money for a car so I wanted to be sure I got the best car for my money. I seriously considered the Acura CL (because of the 6-speed), Audi A4 1.8T (5 speed), Saab 9-3 Convertible (great deals right now through Saab), and the Infiniti. I also threw in a new Passat for comparison. I have to say the Infiniti wins hands down. I was almost convinced to go with the Audi before I drove the Infiniti. I have to say there is no comparison. I love the power and handling the Infiniti provides, and the looks and comments I get on the car make it worth every dollar spent. It is truly a satisfying car to drive and own.
The Acura was a nice car, but did nothing for me visually. It looks so generic, like so many other cars on the road and always left me wondering, is it an Acura?, a Toyota?, a Honda?...well, you get my drift. Fun to drive, but I don't think the interior materials were superior to any of the other cars I tested.
The Saab was great, and nothing can beat the feel of driving with the top down and the wind in your hair, but I live in the midwest and honestly wouldn't have the top down for the majority of the year. Plus, with a new 9-3 right around the corner, who'd want the old model?
The Audi almost had me sold. I was already familiar with the 1.8T engine and had very few mechanical problems with my Passat. I test drove the car and found it to be perfectly acceptable and quite a bit of fun. I think the styling is classic, the car is comfortable and it has plenty of space to fill my needs. I think the deciding factor was that with the G35, I feel like I got so much more for my money...powerful V6, great stereo, real leather seats, racy styling, 17" wheels, and too much other stuff to mention. Great value for the money...plus I'm the only one in my town with one.
I ended up with a brilliant silver lux/leather package, with sunroof, upgraded Bose system, and winter package. The sticker was $32,025 and I was happy to get the dealer (Infiniti of Lisle, IL) to knock $1000 of the sticker price. Guess there are better deals to be had out there, but here in Illinois, I'm happy with the deal. The dealership was professional and didn't really pressure me. I was able to leave and come back with the numbers straight in my head for what I wanted on my trade-in and my payments and we came very close so I'd have to say my experience was good.
Anyway, just wanted to share some of my experiences since everything I've read here helped me to make my decision. Hope this info can help someone else who might be struggling with the same decisions I did. I'm a total new car nut and love reading all about them. After the VW, I swore I'd never drive anything but German cars, but with the Infiniti, I think I've managed to get the quality and feel of the German car with the reliability of the Japanese.
Thanks again! Good luck to anyone searching for a new car. There are so many good ones to choose from these days, but I highly recommend the G. Just test drive one and you will be sold too!
Rob