Infiniti G35 Sedan 2006 and earlier

stsurbrook

Thought you might want to check this out. Should be somewhat representative of the Coupe's features:

http://forums.freshalloy.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=19&t=000137

Scott

texastim

I was all set to get another QX4 in a few months when my lease is up until I drove the G35 today. If I go with the car I have a little concern about the rear wheel drive. Last rear wheel drive car I had was a Mazda 929. During an ice storm, I did a complete 360 at only about 20 mph on the freeway...not a good feeling when the back end starts to fish tail. I would appreciate any real life experiences with icy, snow or wet weather as to how the traction control and weight balance on the G35 perform. I still wouldn't want to take the G out in the ice (because of the other nuts out there) but sometimes its unavoidable.

n3m

I think that I can speak for most of the G35 owners out there, that we haven't actually had much experience with snow or ice yet.. but I seem to remember a while back that somebody from Montana commented that their G35 plowed right through the snow up there without too much hassle.

As far as handling goes in the snow/ice, I think as long as you use some common sense in deciding when to take the car out.. a good set of winter or allseason tires, and smart driving should help. And if there comes an unexpected situation, let's hope the VDC/traction control does it's job!

When it comes to WET handling, I think it handles fairly well. The traction control keeps the tires from not spinning too much, and the VDC keeps the rear end in check (at least that's what I have experienced when pulling a hard right in the rain)

corkfish

17 years old and driving a $30,000 car. That's not strange, that's bizarre. In high school we'd see kids like that and the typical response was "what a waste of machinery". I can only imagine what the insurance costs are.

boomer23

Looking for Coupe pictures? You say you've searched the web. Have you searched Freshalloy.com?

This picture originally came from "Shipo" here on Edmunds who drives a BMW 530i, but saw the Coupe in the parking lot at his work, at an Infiniti opinion survey.

Scroll down to the actual picture, rather than clicking the Yahoo link in the first post.

http://forums.freshalloy.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=25&t=001295&p=

Freshalloy has other links to Coupe pictures, as well.

Regards. Boomer

bke986s

The August issue tested the G35, 330 and CTS - the G35 came out on top again. They rated its handling and appearance as superior to the 330 - they actually said the 330 was starting to look "pedestrian". Interesting part of the last paragraph -

The G35 is finally the car that outperforms, underprices, and outshines the longterm bogey BMW 3 Series. Eventually, we'll be treated to a manual transmission - first in the G35 coupe, and later in the sedan. When that happens, who'll care a darn about the taillights except for the BMW you just smoked?

robmarch

I really think the G35 coupe is one of the nicest looking cars I've seen in a long time. I'm not a big fan of the revised 3 series headlight treatment, also. I think that the coupe is well positioned to pull a significant market share of 325 and 330 coupe buyers, with great performance, great looks, 6-speed manual, a nice interior, and a usable back seat and trunk. If I was in the market for a 2 door, this would be at the top of the list, no question. This car will also draw many buyers who were looking at the CL, and aren't set on front wheel drive. And, it's an incredible bargain at base price, since there's only one engine.

If the 6-speed sedan gets here before the end of the year, I'll take a hard look at it against the WRX.

nvedrani

I'm curious as to what the insurance is going to be for a "brand new 17 yr old" driver in a $30k+ car? must be like about $2500-$3000 a year?

baylorbear99

I doubt the insurace will be $2,500-$3,000/year because his parents probably won't list him as the primary driver.

jww551

You've probably heard the old adage about not "assuming" as it makes an [non-permissible content removed] out of U and ME. Well, unless any of you personally know this 17 year old young man, I'd say you are making asses of yourselves. There could be many reasons why he's buying the car. There are 17 year olds that make good buck programming on the side, or have their own business and on and on. He could be buying it with money he saved, or money he inherited or any of a thousand other sceneries.

How many of you have four or five year loans on your car and stretched your budget to the max to buy it? Give the guy a break.

hicaira

...but experience, or lack thereof.

I've held my tongue (or fingers) on this because - disclaimer here - I'm very biased on this issue:

I'm a dad.

/begin rant/

It is absurd and completely irresponsible for any parent to give their child a deadly weapon. Handing the keys of a 260 HP RWD sport sedan to an individual who can't even legally vote or smoke is paramount to child endangerment. 17 year olds do not, and can not, have the experience behind the wheel or the emotional development to drive it within their limited abilities.

I remember being 17. I was a good kid. I drove like an idiot. Bad enough in an underpowered '72 Toy P/U, downright dangerous in my mom's 400 Charger. Driving safely was never on my mind. Sex was (still is, just less so now days). The only rationale I needed then was that to have a car was to increase opportunities for sex. No car = no sex. End of story. Better car = better chance of sex. Simple math for the testosterone driven.

Problem with adolescent testosterone is that it does not stop at the quest for sex (and as a dad of daughters that's scary enough). It makes the already easily confused male mind into a jumble of random stupidity: no judgement, no fear, no concept of "actions = consequences".

And this is the creature I want to give a sports car to? A used 4 cyl Camry or Accord or normally aspirated Volvo - maybe. A street legal race car? Are you outta your mind!?

Listen; it bothers me enough that I have to share the road with morons in Expeditions that steer with their knees while dialing the cell phone but do not expect me to endorse something that is - statistically - even more dangerous. The only demographic group that even approaches 17 year old kids in accident rates are those who have had their vision, hearing, perception and reacion time impaired by the ravages of age. The only solice there is that you kill less people driving 25 MPH in the 45 zone than the 17 year old does driving 90 in the 45 zone. Maybe you want to share the road with this guy, but I do not. Further, maybe you want your daughter sitting in the passenger seat with this guy, but I don't.

/end rant/

I really don't care if anyone agrees with me or not.

Oh, and if your son shows up at my house for a date with my daughter driving a sports car, van, lifted 4wd p/u or suv, I have one thing to say: "I have a .45 and a shovel and they will never find your body"

HiC

riez

hicaira... I concur. Know my 11-yr-old son and 9-yr-old daughter aren't going to get a sport sedan or coupe from me. Certainly not at 16 or 17 years old. When I turned 16 in 1979 I had to share a rusting 4-door 1975 pastel blue Ford Maverick, with low power 200CID 6-cyl, with my two older brothers. Talk about a piece. But it did get around and in cold winters.

Adults should have serious sport sedans or coupes when they can afford to buy them, register them, pay taxes on them, buy gas, pay insurance, afford maintenance, etc.

blueguydotcom

I attended a private high school and we had all manner of vehicles dotting the parking lot. Camaros, a full spectrum of 911s (brand new to 20 years old), 944s, BMWs, Acuras, MBs, the then hot 3000 GT VR-4s, Supras, 300ZXs, and every other basic car you could imagine. Just because a kid had a car that was a rocket, that didn't mean he was a screw off.

One guy I knew received a '91 911 for getting a 4.0 his first two years of high school. Outrageous? Perhaps. But if he's a responsible kid, it's no big deal as he's not going to do anything too stupid with it.

If the parents can afford it and they think the kid deserves a fancy car, let him have it. It's not my business to get up in theirs. The amount of damage an irresponsible kid can do with a 1979 Surburban is really no different than if he's guiding an 02 Mercedes SL500. The only real difference: adults are offended that a kid has a sweet ride. Some kids are dangerous, regardless of the car they're piloting.

BTW, for the record, my first car was a POS 1983 Ford EXP that I bought with my own money and worked on constantly. Argh. I hate American cars.

atluskane

Ok i'll try to explain myself for all those responses to my post

First off no offense but the kids in hs that say that would probably jump to get a car like that if they had the opportunity. I just don't think it's very economic to get a sports car that only has two seats or very little room for 4, plus little cargo room.

Second I will not be listed as a primary driver

Third thanks jwww for backing me up

Forth I'm not a testosterone filled sex machine... well not completely but when it comes to driving my parents pretty much embedded safety in my head. Just the thought of me getting into an accident and having to deal with my parent would scare the crap out of me. Plus right now I do share my sister's Volvo s60 and while it isn't a street racer like the g35 it does give me a what's to come feeling. Oh yeah and one other thing not all 17 year old's are sex driven mad men who like to do 90 in school zones in my opinion.

Finally my parents did carefully weigh the consequences and agreed that I was mature enough to drive the g35

In conclusion I just wanted a fast, capable, nicelooking car that wouldn't be showed up by a souped up civic or accord. Is that too much to ask for?

pat

Okay, let's give this a rest now.

We can think anything we want to think about whether any given person "should" have/buy/be given any given vehicle, but unless we are dealing with members of our own family or others we know very well, we really can't know the whole story. Nor is it really our business.

This is a G35 message board, not a parenting discussion. The guy is looking for conversation about the G35, not to get beaten up because of either his age or any decisions made or not made by his parents.

Let's just see if we can welcome atluskane as a G35 enthusiast -- which is the point of this conversation we are having here.

Thanks!

Pat
Sedans Host

wale_bate1

"In conclusion I just wanted a fast, capable, nicelooking car that wouldn't be showed up by a souped up civic or accord. Is that too much to ask for?..."

Not in the least!

So long as you are paying for it, the insurance, upkeep and storage of the beast, you should live and be well!

It's a wonderful car...

bhn

I placd an order for g35 luxury package/ winter and/or sport I requested black/ black or silver black. the order was place 4 weeks ago. The dealer has no idea when he can deliver the car. The dealer is North Shore infiniti. Ramsey infiniti will not have the car till August 1st. I am frustrated. I spent months researching and test driving cars ( 8 to be exact). I reached a conclusion and I can not get the car. I am waiting for the car because I think it offers a great value, driving expierence, and looks good in the driveway ( where it will not spend much time). Thanks for tolerating my ranting. I think this forum has made the decision making process easier. The opinions as well as links and information have been extremely useful. I hope tp join the owners crowd within a reasonable time period.

prayerfor

Couldn't it be argued that an inexperienced driver out to show off would be less at risk for causing a disaster by being in a car with *better* performance characteristics? Anyone can drive dangerously in any vehicle; you just get to the dangerous point more quickly in less capable ones. I'd rather somebody be out hotrodding in a G35 than in a giant SUV that is ill-equipped for emergency maneuvering, is more prone to rollovers, and takes forever to get stopped once you've gotten it going too fast. The overdriven SUV is the one I'm worried about, not the agressively driven G35...

wale_bate1

"Couldn't it be argued that an inexperienced driver out to show off would be less at risk for causing a disaster by being in a car with *better* performance characteristics?..."

As long as said driver never pushes the performance envelope of the car, the answer is yes. If you push the envelope in a less capable car, you'll likely lose confidence at much lower speeds and in less demanding situations to begin with. A '73 Pinto won't give you the confidence to drag race a bicycle, much less take corners at any kind of speed. The more capable the car, the more severe the results of overstepping the limits, and the more conducive to reaching those limits in the first place.

peaceofmindapa

the G-35. Not for safety reasons at least. There is just as much chance of a young person (as well as any age person) wrecking their car while talking on the cell phone as there is hot rodding around. I am just jealous that when I was 17 I had a beat up old Datsun 210 that spent more time on the side of the road than on the road...LOL. Can I be your long, lost, older brother? I want a G-35 too.

hicaira

correct. I would have the same (or worse) rant for a 17 year old getting an Excursion with a 6" lift and 35" mudders. All cars are potentially deadly weapons and are even more so in the hands of inexperienced drivers. To put it another way, I'd rather the kid have a .22 than and M-4. When he has demonstrated the safe handling and usage of the .22, he has earned the right (with his own $$) to graduate to a larger calibre.

Again, just my opinion.

Host: I see nothing wrong with a conversation that may save the life of our 17 year old G35 enthusiast. Someday, late at night perhaps, he'll be sitting at a traffic light. Maybe there will be a light rain falling. Some guy in a 'Stang SVO will pull up and gun his engine. Looks will be exchanged. The light will change, and our 17 year old friend will remember that he is mortal, lucky to have a great car, generous parents and freinds who care for him. While the SVO fishtails out of the light, our friend will drive with caution and bring him, and his shiny new G35, home in one piece.

HiC

lenscap

"In conclusion I just wanted a fast, capable, nicelooking car that wouldn't be showed up by a souped up civic or accord. Is that too much to ask for?"

I'm going to guess those words did not come out right. You sound like an intelligent and responsible teenager, but those words don't reflect that.

A mature attitude would be who cares if somebody shows you up at a light? Does that somehow make them better? And if they do, are you going to then go even faster, trying to beat the other guy at all costs?

That is dangerous thinking and a recipe for disaster. I know because a friend of mine was run over and seriously injured by a driver who did not want to be shown up by the guy next to him. He was so intent on proving he had the faster car he wound up running a red light and striking her. After three leg operations and one year of physical therapy, she's lucky to be alive and walk.

Again, I don't think you meant what you said. But unfortuneatly all too many kids (and adults) do think that way.

blueguydotcom

The G35 has VDC, so no fishtailing or wheel spinning at the light anyway.

>>A mature attitude would be who cares if somebody shows you up at a light? Does that somehow make them better? And if they do, are you going to then go even faster, trying to beat the other guy at all costs?<<

Who said at all costs? He said he just doesn't want to be shown up by a kid in a Civic. Nothing wrong with a little bit of pride. Dang, lighten up.

>>That is dangerous thinking and a recipe for disaster. I know because a friend of mine was run over and seriously injured by a driver who did not want to be shown up by the guy next to him. He was so intent on proving he had the faster car he wound up running a red light and striking her. <<

The guy ran a red. Is this any different than the businessman who runs a red because he's in a hurry? (I see it all the time...especially members of the VIP club - Bimmers, MBs, Lexus, etc). Racing was not the culprit here, stupidity was.

atluskane

I'm sorry to hear that lenscap but I think that as long as you hold limits to yourself with your car then I believe that it's alright although there are times when it is unappropriate. I think it is a matter of caution and looking at your surroundings. But however I do respect your opinion

cdnpinhead

that a lot of this is driven by a combination of jealousy & conservatism.

My kid drives an old Honda Accord (which he runs in Solo II, so go figure). I drive a Lincoln LS. Our family isn't particularly flashy, not that we could afford to be, at least to the degree discussed here.

Having ridden either motor scooters (anyone remember Lambrettas?) or motorcycles for my first five years after getting a license, I'm always stunned by the largesse of parents who present a new driver with a high-dollar vehicle. Our kids went to a high school where this was fairly common, but still, to me, amazing.

To each their own, I guess, but many of us who live in Arizona (and I'm guessing other folks in the "red" area during the last election) think that it's important for people to earn things. Others, of course, feel differently.

Hang in there, kid, and be careful. Have fun, too!

atluskane

I live in AZ too

tonyg35

Yet another Great comparo review for the G.

"The G35 is finally the car the outperforms, underprices and outshines the longtime bogey BMW 3 series" MotorTrend August 2002

http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~everblue/_mtg35/index.html

riez

cdnpinhead... Maybe it has something to do with highway fatality statistics? Per NHTSA, in CY 2000 41,821 people died and 5.3 million more were injured, along with 27.6 million damaged vehicles, costing nation $230.6 billion. Keep in mind that people under 21 years of age and those older than 75 years of age are much more likely, statistically speaking, to get into or cause accidents.

tonyg35... Comparison used a BMW 330i with automatic transmission and without Sport Pkg. Hardly an enthusiast's model. MT's car had Premium Pkg and Steptronic AT. I remember days when automotive press raved about Merkur XR4ti and Infiniti G20 over the then seriously underpowered lowly 318i. Auto industry doesn't stand still.

g35guy

BHN-I also ordered a sport/prem/winter/aero/nav car--black/black or blue/black. They told me straight up that it was a no deal unless Japan was building it. So my order was placed a month ago and I know I have another month to wait. I don't quite understand why your dealer cannot give you an expected delivery date. Once my car was ordered, my dealer got a confirm and expected delivery date within 48 hours. I'd make sure your dealer isn't trying to match up your request to inventory they already have ordered or are going to try to exchange with another dealer when it becomes available--make sure they have ordered a car specifically for YOU. Can any dealers out there explain exactly what goes on in the backroom for these "special orders". If I wait two months and MY car doesn't show up, I'll have more rage than I had when I logged into Edmunds and read message after message about some 17 year old and whether he should drive a nice car or not.

peaceofmindapa

In that article from Motor Trend about the CTS, 330 and G-35 do they list the in-dash CD player as "what's hot" for the BMW? IS that a big deal? Doesn't the Infinity have a 6 disc in dash CD player? Now that is hot. I have one of those in my explorer (part of the upgraded Pioneer stereo that came with it) and I love it. Are they that low on "HOT" things for the BMW that they had to list that? I hope not. LOL

verozahl

When an Acura RSX-S has 6-disc CD player and automatic climate control and metallic paint standard, BMW looks silly. What, I should pay double for RWD? This is why the Infiniti G35 should exist.

robmarch

verozahl - I think that nissan saw the huge RWD hole between the CL-s/TL-s and the 330. I agree that it's questionable to pay extra for metallic paint and (until a couple of years ago) a cd player in a >30k car. But, they're not having any problems selling them

On the subject of cars for young adults, I was recently involved in helping to select a car for a 17 year old.

The requirements were:

4 doors
front wheel drive
ABS
side airbags
automatic transmission (though she really wanted maual)

The cars I suggested were

Toyota Corolla LE
Honda Civic EX
Nissan Sentra GXE/SE-R
VW Jetta

Her favorite was the civic, with the jetta a close second. I thought the civic was the best compromise, expecially when priced at invoice.

The civic had a very user friendly interior, a nice transmission, and came with a sunroof, included in the EX. I was very impressed with the overall competence of the car, and several times thought to myself...this car is too nice for a 17 year old! It's probably too nice for me! I quickly came to my senses and realized that I was picking out a safe, reliable, versatile car for someone I cared about, and wanted her to have the car for a long time. Just like the parents everyone is discussing here, I'm sure.

Young guys and girls, the more experienced people know how easy it is for a driving enthusiast to get into a little trouble, even in the previously mentioned civic powerhouse. we also know how tough it can be to resist, when you have a car that's way more capable than the roads you're driving on.

p.s. get the least flashy color you like, trust me. You don't want to be the guy at my high school who got a brand new bright red sports car for his 16th birthday that everyone else lusted after, and was too scared to drive it because of the extra police attention it gave.

blueguydotcom

Why would you force something as horrible on a person who WANTS manual? You're tacking on a $1000 option the owner doesn't want. That makes no sense.

robmarch

I didn't force anything on her, sorry I wasn't more clear. She wanted manual and I taught her how to drive a manual, but the person buying the car set the automatic transmission and other requirements.

blueguydotcom

Why would someone buy a car for another person and make that person get a useless and expensive option? Was this a mom/dad thing where the buyer couldn't drive stick?

afty

A lot of parents believe that driving a stick is dangerous for a new driver. They believe that it is too distracting and/or encourages aggressive driving. Perhaps that is why the girl was required to get an auto.

robmarch

not to mention, it's not useless if there are other people who may have to drive the car that can't drive stick. That was the case here, so she'll just have to take my car out whenever she has a chance to keep her manual skills up btw...it was my mother buying the car for my sister. It was nice because I took her out to look at the cars and she ended up picking the car I thought was the best fit and picked a nice color also.

Maybe in 4-5 years the G35 or GTR will be here with AWD and 6speed, that she/I can pick up used and we can have a family project car:)

blueguydotcom

ROFL...manual too distracting. That's a hoot.

Rob, I did mention "Was this a mom/dad thing where the buyer couldn't drive stick?" so I sorta figured out it was related to one of the parents being unable to drive. Thank God my parents never bought any of my cars...I always loved the fact that my mom couldn't drive my vehicles and my dad was scared to do so.

BTW, I read on freshalloy that Infiniti might set the starting price of the 6 speed G35 coupe at 33k with all sorts of useless junk...brembo brakes, 18 inch factory (ick) wheels, LSD. If so, Infiniti probably lost a sale here as I just wanted the G coupe with leather, moonroof and a 6 speed...I can mod it with nice wheels later. Brembo brakes, no thanks.

atluskane

if you had your choice whould you pick the coupe or the sedan

stanny1

What's not to like on a G35 Coupe with factory 18" wheels, Brembos, and LSD? LSD is necessary for performance driving, Brembos are a bargain from the factory (have you ever priced them a la carte?) and factory wheels are usually trouble-free although heavy.
I've had a bunch of aftermarket wheels and they are mostly a pain. Leaks, wrong offset, most even heavier, and almost impossible to find replacements after a couple years. Also, you take a hit on resale because dealers know they are a pain. If you exceed 18", the ride suffers, the tire price and life is outrageous, and if chrome is what turns you on, chrome is a pain and adds weight.
True aftermarket wheels that offer any performance advantage cost more than you want to pay, because weight savings is the biggest improvement you can buy. Plus 1 and Plus 2 will give you a handling improvement that would take NASA instrumentation to measure.
I'll take a factory 18" wheel any day but replace the cheap, all-season compromised tire with a summer only performance tire which would yield a better performance improvement by itself than just a wheel transplant.
The current wheel philosophy in the brain of the average enthusiast is a myth propagated by the wheel merchants.
The two parameters that you usually don't find in wheel ads that are of utmost importance are offset and weight. And weight savings means an expensive FORGED wheel.
But the average and even the above average Joe buys a wheel based on looks.
That's why you see such abortions as 24" chrome wheels on Navigators (I guess it matches HIS jewelry) that render the SUV neither Sport or Utility anymore.
Then there's the Eclipse,Civic and Integra that's had it's springs cut but has bitchin' chrome wheels.
I just laugh as I pass these bobbin up and down guys who have to stay in the right lane.
Like what do your wheels really say?
"Gee, I just turned my car into a lower performance vehicle. But it looks cool (except when I try to drive it)".

gregfocker

A manual tranny is a distraction? Quite the opposite for me. All my cars have been manuals until my last one. With the automatic I found myself doing other things instead of paying attention to driving. Quite dangerous if you ask me. I am not saying that all drivers would be like this but for me I am safer with a manual. Just ask my wife who originally told me that I should drive an automatic. Now she says that I must drive a manual for my next car. I must agree. In addition, I have so much more fun driving a manual tranny. I somewhat lost interest in driving when I had the automatic. It just wasn't as fun...

blueguydotcom

>>LSD is necessary for performance driving<<

I've pushed a G35 sedan with just the simple VDC and aftermarket 18s and it offers as much as I want or need for now. The LSD is a neat idea but in practice I can't see it as very useful given the VDC.

>>Brembos are a bargain from the factory (have you ever priced them a la carte?)<<

The sedan slows from 60 in 110 ft. That's plenty fast enough. Save the brakes for people who use them.

>>Also, you take a hit on resale because dealers know they are a pain.<<

Um, sell through a private party. You get more coin that way.

>>I'll take a factory 18" wheel any day but replace the cheap, all-season compromised tire with a summer only performance tire which would yield a better performance improvement by itself than just a wheel transplant.<<

I agree with new tires but I'd want wheels that are distinctive and have some bling bling to them. Current Nissan wheels are too sedate and not distinctive enough.

>> are offset and weight.<<

I know my friend's momos have the correct offset. As for weight I can't comment as I do not know. The G's handling improved drastically with the switch through. If it added any time to the 0-60, so be it. I'd sacrifice .3 seconds for better handling and better looks.

Sorry, I'm just not in favor of spending 33k on the G35 coupe and then having to shell out another 2k for nice looking wheels. I'd rather blow 30k on the car out of the shoot and get it as I desire from the start.

hvan3

On TV Monday night: The G35 sedan and BMW 330i go toe-to-toe.

As soon as the new Infiniti G35 sedan arrived in the showroom, it started making quite a name for itself. So much so that Motor Trend decided the time was right to do an in-depth comparison to name the king of the sport sedans. Be sure to watch the G35 take on the BMW 330i and the Cadillac CTS on "Motor Trend Television," airing on the Speed Channel, Monday July 1 at 7 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) and again at
12 a.m. PST (check your local listings).

You'll see how the G35's 3.5-liter V6 engine, race-inspired
zero-lift* aerodynamics and curve-embracing, multi-link rear suspension all come together to create a driving experience unlike any other.

dane4

I had a chance a long while ago to talk to people in both the Insurance and Law enforcement arenas... They both had exactly the same views

Its not the red car that gets more attention, it's the driving styles of people who prefer to BE in bright red cars that does.



Faenor/Dane4

blackky

Am I the only one who is very upset with the oil dipstick setup on the G35. How can Infiniti make such a nice car and then give it a dipstick that is useless. By the time I get it all the way out, the whole stick is covered in oil and I can't tell how much is in there. It appears that the dealer over filled the oil but I don't trust the stick enough to drain the excess. Any advice or anyone having the same problems.
Also, for those of you who do your own maintainence, what is the best way to access the underside of car that sits so close to the ground. I've only had SUVs so I haven't had this problem before. Do I jack it up? And if so can I use the jack that came with it or do I need a different kind. Also where do I place it so all the oil drains properly when doing oil changes. Sorry if these seem like dumb questions but I don't know that much about cars. Thanks in advance for any responses.

peaceofmindapa

Have you thought about taking your car to the dealer for service? I mean hey, you just payed over 30,000 dollars for a car....pay 31 dollars for the oil change and let someone else do the dirty work. There is a post in here another guy just made about his first oil change. The dealer changed his oil, filter, 21 point inspection, washed and vacuumed the car---all for 31 dollars. Just thought I would throw that at you. Didn't know if maybe you thought it would be more expensive for service or anything.
Personally, I take me Explorer to Wal-Mart. I shop while they do the oil change and I kill two birds with one stone. Maybe I need to be more 'manly' but I have not known where the oil filter was on my last three cars.
One more note. I believe I recall someone stating that you have to take an undercarriage plastic guard thing off to find/get to the oil filter. Sounds like way too much work for me. But if you're destined to do it yourself, look for somethng to take off and the oil filter is behind that. Hope I helped a little? Ken

stanny1

You need to go to Sears and buy at least a two-ton hydraulic jack. Also look around for some really good jack stands. Buy four so you can raise the car evenly. Don't scrimp on the equipment! It's only your life and you'll have this stuff for 25 years. You'll save the cost in doing your own maintainence.
Pick up a few good oil filters. Oil filters are kind of a joke anyway, because they bypass so much and take out only the large rocks and bird nests anyway.
In the back of car magazines and club sites for Nissan, you can always find a Nissan or Infiniti dealer advertising parts for 20-25% off. Often, oil filters are a loss leader.
I always buy my parts from out of state. I save on the sales tax which pays for the shipping. I've saved thousands on dealer parts this way for all my cars (especially my wife's Volvo).
Next, after break-in, get a good synthetic oil. I used to use AMSOIL, but it's so hard to get. So now I go to Costco, where I can find Mobil 1 in 10-30 or 5-30 weights for $21.99 for a case of 6.
Also, be sure to check with your Infiniti or Nissan dealer to see if you need any kind of seal or washer on the oil drain plug. It is wise to change it on every oil change. This is probably the biggest omission made by the DIY guy. Even the oil change places goof up on the washer/seal replacement thing.
You'll find that raising the car up a bit and evenly with 4 jack stands makes the car drain the way it is supposed to. Drain your oil after a good long drive to make sure it's warm. Synthetic oil is good for at least 5,000 miles but while in warranty follow the rather wasteful manufacturer's recommendations based on Dino oil's short 3,000 mile life (based on the limited life of viscosity improvers not needed so much in syn oil).
Remember, only 60% of the quart of Dino oil is oil. The rest are additives to counteract Dino oil's natually poor characteristics like water contamination, sludge making, poor high temp performance, coking around the top piston ring (which is the #1 engine killer after overheating).
In contrast, Syn oil is built molecule by molecule for the job. Also, there are real syn oils and Dino oils that are modified and called Syn. Castrol is on this lower end.
Check oil in the morning before you start the car, when the oil is cold. You shouldn't have as many dipstick problems then because Dino oil is thicker when cold (one of it's bad characteristics caused by the presence of water in the can when new (they can't get it all out in the refining process and Dino oil has an affinity for water). Remember,for every gallon of gas you burn, you get a gallon of water from combustion. Dino sludge, anyone?
Mobil 1 is factory fill on some cars. But I prefer to break-in the car for 5,000 miles on the best Dino oil and during that change the oil twice to remove contaminants.
If you use Syn oil, the inside of you engine will be clean enough to eat on in 150,000 miles.

cloth

Let the car sit for 20 min. then check the oil. To change the oil, you will need to either jack up the car or put it on ramps, then remove the plastic pan(14 bolts), the rest is easy, oil filter is right there. I don't do every oil change myself, probable 2 out of 3 because I like to see what's going on with the engine. Small oil leaks, small coolant leaks, that most dealers overlook to avoid warranty work are brought to their attention and fixed. That tray can catch a lot of oil before it ever drips on your driveway, it would be nice to know of a small problem before it becomes a big one. And although Infiniti offers great service, sometimes the guy changing the oil overfill/under fills, or just doesn't take the care that you would on your own car.

blackky

Thanks for the info but I actually enjoy doing my own maintenance. Also, I don't trust anyone else to care for my vehicles like I will. Only when I can't handle a situation myself do I take it in to a dealer. At that point all I can do is ask them to please use vasoline.

stsurbrook

Regarding oils, I'd recommend you take a look at the following URL:

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com

He has a very good site with a lot of information, but it could be organized a bit better. You can get much information regarding various types of oils and which oils are actually fully synthetic and which are blends. So far as I know, there is only ONE fully synthetic oil available for cars and it isn't Mobil One, regardless of what their advertising says.

In fact, with their latest release, it is not much better than the best "dino oils".

As for oil filters, the only one that I have heard you should stay away from, consistently, is Fram. I'd stick with the Nissan/Infiniti brands just to avoid warranty hassles.

I use Schaeffers oil and plan on getting an oil analysis on the next oil change to confirm how far I can take the oil between changes. Figure why do 3750 mile changes (heavy driving schedule) if I can get 5000 or even 7500 miles (light driving schedule) out of the oil. My driving is ~60-70% highway, with little rush hour, so don't think I'll need to change more than every 5000 miles. Just that much less hassle.

My dealer charges $50 for the oil change, so I can see how you can save some money. However, with a free loaner car and "hand car wash", it is worth it for me to save the time and hassle.

I also plan on getting an oil analyses (~$30 each) every 3rd or 4th oil change to make sure that the engine and oil is holding up fine and head off any potential problems.

Oh, to protect yourself for warranty issues, BE SURE to keep your receipts and mark in your maintenance manual when you have been doing your oil changes. You may also want to call your dealer's service department to let them know you have done an oil change (date/time, milage) so they can put it in the computer.

Sounds like you are interested in doing the best you can for your engine, so doing a bit of research, in advance, doesn't hurt. Good luck!

Scott