Never had a noise problem with either my 1986 or 1999 Maximas so expected as much with my G35. I do love the car though, Infiniti please fix it before winter!
...from someone who queried Nissan is that a fix for the AC noise will be announced before the end of the month, and not unexpectedly, will involve a whole new compressor design, and thus a swapout on the old compressors that are affected. Will not be cheap for Nissan, and will not be fast, but this is still more evidence about the risks you run with an early-build car.
Thus far, our NUMMI-built '03 Corolla, with 3500 miles on it in 5 months [March build and delivery] has been trouble-free, but others have had problems with noises in the dash area that may have been traced to the mounting for the front struts [which are just forward of the dash]. As good as these guys are, they are not capable of being perfect...
Does anybody know when infiniti will be making xenon headlights standard on luxury leather and when they will be adding the moonroof to the luxury package? Thanks
Well, I have joined the ranks of G35 owners. I traded my Honda Accord in on a Twilight Blue with Premium package, Winter package (I could have done without that in South Carolina), Xenon headlights, and graphite leather interior. I will be taking it on a short vacation trip tomorrow, so we will see how it performs (within the breakin schedule guidelines). We are now a completely Nissan/Infiniti family, with my wife having a 2002 G20 and my daughter a 2000 Sentra.
"thus a swapout on the old compressors that are affected"
I wonder if Infiniti will only change the compressors in cars in which they've verified that the noise occurs. From what I've read, this is an intermittent problem. (I haven't heard this in my car, but it's only 2 weeks old with 500 miles on it.)
...they're not going to spend the money to replace the compressor on a car where the owner has no complaint. That only makes sense. This is a maintenance item, not a recall. If you don't speak up, I doubt they are going to come find you.
"...they're not going to spend the money to replace the compressor on a car where the owner has no complaint. That only makes sense. This is a maintenance item, not a recall. If you don't speak up, I doubt they are going to come find you. "
I wouldn't expect them to find me. However, if I bring the car in and say that I've had the problem, will they do the swap without actually hearing it for themselves?
If everyone is having this problem, then why not just rate the car poorly and tell everyone not to buy it? This way car maker will consider this into a serious concern or else they lose their reputation.
it's funny, when you can't complain about reliability, comfort, performance, etc., you're left with noises. And, honestly, not having heard the noise myself, I can't comment on how annoying it is. I'm sure it's much worse in a quiet car like the G35, rather than a slightly noisier car like my 1st gen Nissan Altima. I might not ever hear it
But, it doesn't sound like a reason not to buy the car to me, just a reasonable customer concern.
After reading the reviews of the Z, and hearing how much they loved the combo of VQ, RWD, and MT, I am very interested to see how much of that performance translates into the MT sedan and coupe. The G35 seems to be doing exactly what Nissan/Infiniti intended, shaking up the sport luxury market with a reasonably priced excellent performer.
It isn't in every single G35. SOunds like I have been lucky. I live in Dallas so the AC runs constantly when I am driving. So far no noises. Keeping the fingers crossed though.
It definitely does seem to vary by vehicle. In our G35, you can only notice it if you shut off the stereo and are driving, say, on the freeway. In our car, if we have the A/C on and then shut it off, the "road noise" is less and when you turn it back on, it gets louder.
The point is that, in our car at least, the A/C noise is pretty low and is in about the same frequency range as the road noise from the tires as it is passed through the body. So far (~9000 miles), it does not seem to be getting worse and the A/C works fine. However, it does made this luxury sport sedan a bit less quiet than it could be... which is something that can/should be addressed if the Infiniti "customer experience" is all they crack it up to be.
Oh, while the noise is there, there is NO WAY I would trade this car in on any other within $5K of it, even if the other car was given to me. I was driving by a 330i Sport yesterday and thought to myself that I was really glad I didn't buy that vehicle (higher price, same/lower performance, much less room).
Your post was very well put. I agree with your assessment of the G35. I am very proud of my red G and wouldn't trade it for anything else, it drives beautifully when the A/C is off but when it is on it is a real disappointment due to the horrible clatter which is most noticeable during acceleration, it isn't bad when cruising on the freeway but most of my driving is local in town driving and the noise really takes the fun out of driving it, in fact sometimes it sounds like the car is about to fly apart! That is very bad and totally unacceptable! On the fresh Alloy forum there is a poll on the noise and over 60% of the people say they have the noise and are waiting for a fix. I have had my car for five months now and nothing has been done to fix the problem to date. I would think Infiniti would take this problem seriously and fix it in a timely manner. If they don't Infiniti will really lose a lot of sales. 90% good isn't good enough!
I am a huge fan of the G35 and intend on buying one when my lease is up on my '00 Altima in Jan '03. I test drove a G35 recently and instantly knew I was going to end up with one.
The more people that notify Infiniti that there's a problem the more apt they will be to correct the problems.
To KD6AW1..you stated that you have had the problem with your G for five months and nothing has been done to fix it. Not knowing the full details of your case.... If the service manager is dragging his or her feet, go over their heads to the district manager and if that doesn't work go to the regional level. That should turn some heads and get the results you should have received the first time around the problem cropped up.
I once had an '84 Chevy CRAPmero that was nothing but as a piece of junk from the first turn of the key. Bottom line is that I was swift in complaining and documented everything that was said and done to and about the car. I kept my cool during some pretty heated debates with the idiot that ran the service department and once I went over his head to the district manager I had them eating out of my hands. I traded the car in after 2 years and bought a Mazda 323 that lasted for 10 years and 123k. That car never gave me any problems and was as solid as the day I bought. Looked just as good too :-)
Sorry for the ramble, but I just want people to know that they have the power to get things done the right way and in a timely manner. Especially when you shell out 30k to 37k or any amount for a car.
I will be picking up my G35 tommorrow. It has Garnet fire exterior & willow leather interior and is loaded with Premium, winter & wood packages and also the Navigation system. Just thought I will share it with you guys.
I have been fortunate in not having the noise problem, but I have been thinking about the comments Infiniti has not responded as well as they should have. I agree based on what Ive read.
A thought I had is that one reason may be that Infiniti/Nissan is so loaded with new products, that there attention is elsewhere. Also, Ive read that G35's are selling at a rate of around 3,000/mo. If so, there are only about 20,000 on the road so far. (Enjoy the exclusivity while it lasts!)This means we are just a speck of dust in the overall Nissan sales volume.
Certainly their lack of response is not good. While there are not many of us, Infiniti/Nissan SHOULD go out of its way to fix this problem, as high performance cars sell as much by word of mouth as by traditional advertising. Clearly the sales of the G35 sedan, coupe, and 350Z could be hurt if poor reliability or customer service becomes widespread.
Having said all that Im looking forward to my annual 1000 mile vacation tomorrow in the car WITH my new Escort dectector Ill just have a pad over the power seat controls so I can sit straight
Fog lights are usually located in the front bumper. But on the G35, they're where the headlights are. Anyone know why that is and what the pros and cons are?
First, j_walker, I don't want to start a debate here but fog lights are 99% cosmetic and 1% functional (IMHO). Thus, moving them up 8 or 10 inches higher than the average set of useless fog lights has pretty much no effect whatsoever. My guess is that Nissan saved a few bucks by co-locating them with the headlight cluster.
Now, as far as all the complaints on the AC noise, I think some of you (peete, et al) are being a bit unrealistic when you slam Infiniti for "not responding quickly". How fast do you expect them to respond? Consider what it takes to fix a problem of this nature:
1. Acknowledge a problem exists (they have done this) 2. Identify the probable cause of the problem (done, I guess - AC Compressor?) 3. Replicate problem in controlled environment to confirm assumptions (done, I hope) 4. Engineer fix with part supplier 5. Manufacture prototype with fix. 6. Bench test prototype. 7. Tweak engineering, as necessary 8. Field/stress test prototype 9. Go back to # 4 if not successful 10. Re-tool/train manufacturing plant for new design 11. Test first-run of re-tooled line 12. Mass produce parts for (in this order) a) Product in assembly lines (still at factory) b) Product at dealers 13: Write and publish TSB for replacement.
Now, I don't know where Nissan is in this process (at least #5 or #6 by now I hope), but I think it is unreasonable to expect it to take any less than a few months from the time they identify the problem. That in itself probably took them a couple of months. I'm sorry, but this is one of the risks we take when we are early adopters (I know this all too well in more ways than I can count). If you simply MUST have a first year car, then expect to be a beta tester for the line.
I'll thank you in advance for de-bugging my 6speed sedan.
PS: If you are a 350z 6M or a Coupe 6M buyer, please work the heck out of the tranny for me. I'll expect you to work all it's glitches out in time for me to get it in the sedan.
Just picked up may Ivory Pearl G35 (Premium - Canadian Version) and I LOVE IT! Believe it or not I bought it from a Cadillac Dealer (long story) - had a CTS on order but cancelled after reading about and then driving over 140 miles to test drive the G35. The CTS just does not compare - particularly the engine/refinement. I would like to thank everyone who posted to the board. Gave me alot of insight into the car and held me over while I waited the two weeks to get the G. By the way - no A/C problem that I can tell, however only have 300 kms on car. My only quibble is an annoying rattle in the driver side door that is most pronounced during med to hard cornering. One last question - I do not have an Infiniti dealer in my city - just a Nissan dealer - will an Nissan dealer service an Infiniti G35?? Just curious before I start calling around (I work in the U.S. - I wonder if I could bring it to one of the local Infiniti dealers even though it is a Canadian vehicle? Thanks in advance for any info.
Fog lights are different than driving lights in a couple ways. Fog lights are designed/intended to illuminate the road just in front of the vehicle and to the side of the road. They do not attempt to shine down the road because the purpose is to shine UNDER the fog, illuminating the road and not the fog (light shined into a fog produces a "whiteout"). Because of this, for foglights to be useful, they HAVE to be low to the ground, preferably below the bumper (in the front air dam space). This is because there is almost always some clear space between the ground and the fog (much like there is with smoke in a room, why you are told to get down on the floor in a fire).
Driving lights (and headlights) operate differently. They are intended to illuminate down the road (and enough to the side) so that the driver can see obstacles far enough away to be able to react to emergency situations. This means that headlight low beams should illuminate about 25-40% further than fog lights (greater illumination reach should not be necessary with fog lights because you SHOULD be driving slower , but not so far to the side. Also, to get that further illumination, they should be mounted higher (why they are mounted above the bumper and so they can be focused slightly downward). Highbeams and "driving lights" are strictly for distance. They produce a bright, narrowly focused beam. Driving lights should be mounted in the bumper (or between the headlights) to maximize distance, but not higher to aviod TOTALLY blinding oncoming traffic. There are no benefits (but there is danger) of mounting driving lights lower. The danger is that with a lower mounting, to get similar distances, the lights must be set almost horizontally (rather than slightly down, with higher mounting), increasing the possibility of blinding oncoming traffic.
While this isn't intended to be a comprehensive tutorial on fog lights I hope this helps. IMO, the foglights in the forward lighting cluster (headlamps, etc.) of the G35 are for show/checklist purposes only.
Ask your dealer to reference tech bulletin ITB 02-021, which addresses noises in the doors. Also be aware that some owners have opened the door panels to discover OBVIOUSLY loose fasteners [screws and such] that, once tightened, immediately solved the problem. [Yeah, I know, very unlike Nissan, but there you are, anyway...]
I don't have a G-Tech, but measured my 0-60 several times with a stopwatch. My G35 consistently does about 7.5 sec. VDC and a/c were off, temp 70F, sea level, transmission in D, 1/4 tank gas, 175 lbs driver, 3000 miles odometer. Also tried manually shifting, with no difference. Tried moderate brake torqueing, didn't help much.
I've seen several owners report low 6s 0-60 time, and I don't understand why mine are so high.
A G-Tech would be a little more accurate, but +/- a few tenths doesn't explain such a large difference between 6.2 sec and 7.5 sec.
Have you guys measured your 0-60 time? Wondering what you're getting. What technique did you use, and what were the conditions?
Haven't timed mine, but could the problem be the "adaptive" (learning) transmission? If you are driving like a Sunday driver 95% of the time, the tranny learns that and emphasizes low-g starts. Maybe a week of stoplight to stoplight darting would help?
Personally, I have ALWAYS hated learning transmissions! I learn them much more readily than they learn me (even worse when you have two alternating drivers) and when I want to have some "fun" they often get in the way. Give me a "sport" (performance) mode anyday. At the least, adaptive in normal mode and a sport (performance, non-learning) mode for when I want to have more fun.
I don't think it's the adaptive transmission. I tried manual shifting, and it didn't make much difference.
I hope some people try this and post their times so we can see what's going on. I'm a little concerned I've seen a few report mid-7s and a few report low-6s, with nothing in between. It's very premature (which is why I want more data), but that bimodal distribution could imply an engine management problem on certain cars. It's subtle (car still feels peppy) so few would notice it without doing a timed test.
If anybody has done 0-60 tests, please report your time, technique, and conditions.
I've done numerous 0-60 runs with my g-tech, my times 5.73 to 6.32. the fastest times were with VDC off, tranny set in manual position 3, brake torque to 3000 rpm and floor it. I'm at sea level, best times were on a cool foggy day with 1/4 tank, and I'm 210 lbs.
In your 0 - 60 time you mention that you set to 3rd gear (manumatic mode)- do you shift or from there on up to 5th - I am just starting to experiement!
you'll reach 60mph just as the car is shifting 2nd to 3rd, so no I do not shift up from 3rd. The manumatic mode is a joke in the G35, its only use is to hold lower gears when your driving in the twisties. When you're flooring the car it will not shift gears until redline, even if you tell it to via the manumatic mode.
Think Car & Driver's "street start" statistic is probably a better measure of what the average driver will do. Starts car's time with it rolling at 5 mph. This is something any driver can do. Compare your result in this test against C&D's.
All the other published 0-60 mph times are with very aggressive launches based on their attempts to find exactly what RPM launch works best for track and tires. Average driver doesn't spend all day smokin' the rear tires to see what combination of RPMs works best. The various magazines usually have a footnote that explains how they get best 0-60 mph time. They don't care if they drop a tranny.
I agree with you, stsurbrook, how hard can it be to have a sport button? Let the computer figure out how to get the best gas mileage on my mon - fri commutes, and let me switch to fun mode for the weekends
Yeah, very frustrating when it is just a matter of a switch and a bit of computer programming. Oh, well, it IS the first year in the US. Hopefully, they will get this worked out. I, personally, am planning to buy a 6-speed when I finish my dissertation (about 18 months) and all the suspension and performance goodies should be out in full swing. I'll be adding them as Nismo additions to protect my warranty...
Just took delivery of a G35 Sedan today. twilight blue, willow Interior, Premium package, Wood trim, xenon...etc. I had a quick question for some of you guys...
I noticed that the Xenon package has the blue tinted High Intensity Discharge Xenon Bulbs for the normal projecting beams, but the fog lights appear to be Halogen. Is this assumption correct? If the fog lights are halogen, is there a benefit to having the foglights be Halogen vs. Xenon? Or are they a different shade of Xenon? If there is no benefit, is there a way to retrofit the fog lights to be xenon colored as well? Thank you.
the 6-speed sedan is very tempting, but I'm not sure I can hold out that long. I'm really leaning towards the WRX right now. I'd have to see an official announcement of an AWD MT G35 to make me wait for the G, at this point. I would love to drive the 6-speed sedan and make it a competition, but it seems like they won't be out until the beginning of next year
I test drove a WRX and a G35 back-to-back. The WRX was a great car -- lots of power, good handling (although the stock Bridgestone RE92 tires would have to go), and easy aftermarket performance mods. However the difference to the G35 was just day and night.
The WRX has a functional but somewhat spartan and downscale interior, the doors rattle at little when closed, etc. Subaru spent the money on the drivetrain, not the interior.
The G35 provides almost the same performance, yet is much quieter, smoother, has lots more low end torque. The interior exudes luxury compared to the WRX. It's just a vastly more refined experience.
A base (non-leather) G35 isn't that much more than a WRX. I'd probably take a cloth seat G35 over a WRX. The G35 auto isn't that bad. It's very responsive and the engine has so much torque you have instant power at any speed and RPM, unlike the WRX where the turbo has to spool up. I really liked the WRX, it's a great car. But the G35 gave me both performance and luxury so I got that.
If you haven't already you should test drive a G35, even if you want a 6 speed. You may be surprised at how well the auto works.
Latest issue of AutoWeek has a nice article on their 1-year use of WRX. They put on lots of miles and enjoyed the car. Lots of praise and decent reliability, but they had concerns about interior materials and long-term durability.
Many dollars cheaper, much smaller engine for the "same" performance, though turbo. Many people can't afford the +7K for G35. However, to some people it's a gas to drive at a bargain price.
People who are looking at a G35, are not looking at cloth, with some exceptions. Just like for the most part people looking at BMWs do not look at leathette.
I'm probably one of those in the "exception" category. I figure that a 27K-29K G35 is better than a 27K-29K Altima, though that may be comparing apples to oranges.
The thing I'm debating is if the G35 is the best bang for my buck at that price...
You might want to re-read robmarch's earlier message (#5999) where he stated he was trying to make the choice between the WRX and G35, starting this comparison thread. Regardless, the price difference between the base G35 and top of the line WRX is minimal ($1500 (cloth) to $3000 (leather), given equivalent trim and auto trans). Also, I could not find any information that indicates that the WRX is available with leather, making the cloth G35 a good comparison vehicle.
For the extra money, you get an equivalently or slightly better performing G35 (to the auto WRX) with much better warranty/service, improved interior/ride quality, and, IMO, a better looking car. Of course, opinions differ...
...which is what I plan to do. Early reviews have mostly been raves. The EX V6 will have all the safety features and 240 hp [rumor has it that the engine will actually do more than that on premium fuel, but they only publish the regular gas rating], with a generous interior and all the options standard for less than $26k.
And, at the end of 3,4,5 years, its resale value will probably be higher, as well.
Real-world performance differences between these two cars are going to be so narrow you can barely slip a piece of paper through...but I expect to get lots of negative feedback for this observation. So be it...
I too am only interested in the basic cloth G35, and refuse to spend more than $27k for this next purchase. I was EXTREMELY impressed with my test drive of the G, but for many reasons, want to wait to try the new Accord before making a final decision. Anyone concerned about the financial aspects of this business should make a point of looking at them all - the WRX is a real performer, but rude and crude by comparison to either the G or the Accord, at least to my eyes and ears.
I was a little on the early side leaving work yesterday and on the way home there is a large asphalt lot off to the side of the road. I believe it used to be some kind a large parking area for a strip mall that was recently torn down and slated for new construction. (I just moved into the area)
The surface is relatively flat with the undulations indicative of long disuse, and is spotted with patches of gravel sized stones and loose dirt... There were also quite a few areas that were pock marked with deteriorating asphalt (very small potholes and cracks)
I thought that this would be the ideal area to try some manuevers in the G35 since it was wide open and apparently abandoned...
I took the car carefully into the car sized break in the fence and proceeded to just drive about slowly, making sure that there weren't large potholes that might damage the suspension if I hit one.
I started out by doing some moderately hard braking on some of the more gravel and dirt covered areas and that was alot of fun! I really like the sound of the ABS working and one of the most impressive displays was when I purposefully braked hard with two wheels in some dirt and gravel and the other two on a much cleaner side of the pavement... You could most definitely hear the ABS working hard on the gravel side and it was just a very reassuring experience to stop in an absolutely straight line! (More in a bit on why I can't go back to do some gravel braking turning manuevers later *smile*)
As the confidence built up I started doing higher and higher speed turns on the slippery stuff... At first the car just wanted to track along the curve I was asking it too, and it seemed wholly unremarkable... The Slip light would flicker as I apexed a turn and there was not much evidence at all of wheel slip.
That's when I tried the next run and for fun decided to see if I could get the car to "spin out" with a VERY abrupt application of throttle.
I went into the corner as before and saw the slip light flicker as before, and that's when I STOMPED on the accelerator... and... "nothing"
I pushed the pedal all the way to the floor and at first I thought that I had damaged the car because there was only a minimal increase in engine power and I thought for CERTAIN there was far more grip to be had, so throttle should at least be more there then it was...
I stopped on a clean part of the lot and punched it a few times in a straight line and the throttle seemed fine...
"Ok" I thought... Something is amiss here... I hit the VDC off (which I understand turns VDC "most" of the way off and started the next run into the gravel and dirt turn...
I was intent on gunning the throttle as I hit the hardest loading on the tires but then it happened!
Even before I got to the point where I was going to apply throttle, the back end fishtailed away accompanied by the sound of crunching grating gravel and before I knew it, I was looking backward in the exact direction I had just come from.
It hit me at that point that the car had been working hard to maintain control with ABS and Throttle even when I still thought the car had plenty of grip! I got out to look more closely at the suface and my foot almost slid out from under me on the pea like gravel and I saved myself from falling on my [non-permissible content removed] by grabbing onto the top of the door! *laughing*
The whole time I was doing the turn test in this area I had thought the throttle was feeling kind of "flat" but couldn't quite peg if it was.
From my assessment now, the car was most definitely holding its line ONLY with 4-wheel ABS and computer throttle feathering (I noticed some slight cycling of the engine noise but thought it was frequency beating between the ABS drone and the engine...
I tried a few more turns of this type and confirmed that the car felt wholly in control on this treacherous surface and would go no faster than a speed that seemed less than it could have been to stay in control (in my later proved, errant opinion)
I have since deferred my speed judgements to the VDC in unpredictable cases such as these... Because if it had been only me and no computer intervention with the same surface on the street, I would have been in alot more trouble than landing on my butt LoL!
VDC is just an incredible thing! Driving skill is of course a huge advantage, but driving skill can't prepare you for that patch of gravel or black ice that you DON'T see
Have fun all!
Faenor/Dane4
Oh... the reason I can't go back is because a bit later on a cop drove by and told me that I was trespassing Oh well... there goes the testing area
I just test drove the G35 and wow! I'm very picky with the feel of cars (it has to feel juuuuussssttt right). The handling, the power, the comfort, everything was great.
The dealer told me that starting next month, Infiniti won't be producing the G35 with cloth anymore and there is NO budging on the price (hmm, I wonder why).
The dealer I went to (Kelly Infiniti in Danvers, MA) also said that all the G35's they're ordering are coming with the sunroof option. So the min. price for a G35 at this dealer is 30,495. Kinda sucks for those of us who don't want to spend that much, but I have to say that this car seems to be worth it, though my wallet doesn't agree.
Since I signed up for a purchase plan to buy the WRX at invoice, I'll compare invoice prices. That assumes that I could find a dealer willing to sell a G35 around invoice, but no comparison is perfect I'll compare the automatic version of the WRX sedan to the cloth G35, to make up for the fact that there's not a direct cost comparison to the future MT G35 yet.
The invoice on the WRX is $23,409, the G35 sedan is $25,377. I think that $2000 buys a lot of luxury, size, comfort, and possibly styling (always subjective). Losing the AWD for RWD is an advantage to some, disadvantage to others. I like AWD.
I think the cloth G35 makes the car accessible to performance appreciative drivers who aren't looking for a loaded luxury vehicle, but still appreciate a well balanced, roomy, performance sedan. It compares in price to a loaded accord or altima, and if you don't care about leather, probably is comparably equipped.
My bottom line would be, if that $2000 difference was available to go from the manual WRX to a manual G35, then this would be a very tough decision. If there was a $3000 difference between the WRX manual and a MT AWD G35, we wouldn't even be having the discussion
This comparison goes out the window if the rumor that the manual will only be available with leather and sport package holds. (I vote sport package yes, leather no)
Even though they're not direct competitors, I think there are a lot of drivers who would appreciate both great cars.
reading previous posts on the I35 before i converted to the G, people have talked about the difficult to find tire size for the I35; doesn't the G35 use the same tire size and wouldn't that pose similar problems? (I35 owners cite emergency situations about needing new tires on a long trip, but getting hosed by tire dealers who have to special order that size)
Yes both I35 and G35 share come with 215/55-17 tires, which is an odd size with few choices.
However 225/50-17 and 225/55-17 will fit the same rims with a small speedo error, well within VDC and ABS tolerances. Across these three sizes there are numerous choices.
...here who has expressed interest in the cloth base car, the tires there are the oddest size of all: 205/65x16, which [for example] TireRack doesn't list as available from anybody, including the OEM Bridgestone EL42. As a substitute, with virtually identical rolling diameter, 215/60x16s are much more widely available from several manufacturers.
The risk you run, as noted above, is very real in being stuck in Nowhere, North Dakota with a ruined tire that no one can readily replace, and the prospect of having to replace all 4 with a different, if compatible size, and a cost of $500 or more. As time goes on, of course, alternatives will develop, and I assume the OEM EL 42s will eventually become more widely available, but for now, Nissan has dealt base car buyers a strange set of tire cards...
If I trade in my 2001 Nissan Pathfinder LE (15K miles) and 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GT (118K miles), would that cover the cost of a G with Leather and Sunroof package?
You can find out by pricing the vehicles here at edmunds.com. Typically, dealers will give between wholesale and loan for trades. If they are giving more than that, then they usually are charging more than they have to for the new vehicle. (One of the reasons why Consumer Reports suggests getting your best price on the new car before even mentioning a trade as then you will see how much it is really worth.)
Does anybody know how to turn the VDC off permanently, or at least have it stay off even when you restart the car?
I find the VDC interferes too often (I should probably slow down).
I think it would be more useful in the rain than dry. It would be nice if it were connected to rain sensing wipers and then automatically turn on (It would also be nice to have rain sensing wipers that automatically rolled up the windows and closed the sunroof)
Comments
Thus far, our NUMMI-built '03 Corolla, with 3500 miles on it in 5 months [March build and delivery] has been trouble-free, but others have had problems with noises in the dash area that may have been traced to the mounting for the front struts [which are just forward of the dash]. As good as these guys are, they are not capable of being perfect...
If you aren't yet an addict to Freshalloy.com and G35DRiver.com, be sure to check them out.
Enjoy your new car and keep us posted on how it is going.
Boomer
I wonder if Infiniti will only change the compressors in cars in which they've verified that the noise occurs. From what I've read, this is an intermittent problem. (I haven't heard this in my car, but it's only 2 weeks old with 500 miles on it.)
I wouldn't expect them to find me. However, if I bring the car in and say that I've had the problem, will they do the swap without actually hearing it for themselves?
But, it doesn't sound like a reason not to buy the car to me, just a reasonable customer concern.
After reading the reviews of the Z, and hearing how much they loved the combo of VQ, RWD, and MT, I am very interested to see how much of that performance translates into the MT sedan and coupe. The G35 seems to be doing exactly what Nissan/Infiniti intended, shaking up the sport luxury market with a reasonably priced excellent performer.
The point is that, in our car at least, the A/C noise is pretty low and is in about the same frequency range as the road noise from the tires as it is passed through the body. So far (~9000 miles), it does not seem to be getting worse and the A/C works fine. However, it does made this luxury sport sedan a bit less quiet than it could be... which is something that can/should be addressed if the Infiniti "customer experience" is all they crack it up to be.
Oh, while the noise is there, there is NO WAY I would trade this car in on any other within $5K of it, even if the other car was given to me. I was driving by a 330i Sport yesterday and thought to myself that I was really glad I didn't buy that vehicle (higher price, same/lower performance, much less room).
Scott
The more people that notify Infiniti that there's a problem the more apt they will be to correct the problems.
To KD6AW1..you stated that you have had the problem with your G for five months and nothing has been done to fix it. Not knowing the full details of your case.... If the service manager is dragging his or her feet, go over their heads to the district manager and if that doesn't work go to the regional level. That should turn some heads and get the results you should have received the first time around the problem cropped up.
I once had an '84 Chevy CRAPmero that was nothing but as a piece of junk from the first turn of the key. Bottom line is that I was swift in complaining and documented everything that was said and done to and about the car. I kept my cool during some pretty heated debates with the idiot that ran the service department and once I went over his head to the district manager I had them eating out of my hands. I traded the car in after 2 years and bought a Mazda 323 that lasted for 10 years and 123k. That car never gave me any problems and was as solid as the day I bought. Looked just as good too :-)
Sorry for the ramble, but I just want people to know that they have the power to get things done the right way and in a timely manner. Especially when you shell out 30k to 37k or any amount for a car.
Good luck to you.
A thought I had is that one reason may be that Infiniti/Nissan is so loaded with new products, that there attention is elsewhere. Also, Ive read that G35's are selling at a rate of around 3,000/mo. If so, there are only about 20,000 on the road so far. (Enjoy the exclusivity while it lasts!)This means we are just a speck of dust in the overall Nissan sales volume.
Certainly their lack of response is not good. While there are not many of us, Infiniti/Nissan SHOULD go out of its way to fix this problem, as high performance cars sell as much by word of mouth as by traditional advertising. Clearly the sales of the G35 sedan, coupe, and 350Z could be hurt if poor reliability or customer service becomes widespread.
Having said all that Im looking forward to my annual 1000 mile vacation tomorrow in the car WITH my new Escort dectector
Now, as far as all the complaints on the AC noise, I think some of you (peete, et al) are being a bit unrealistic when you slam Infiniti for "not responding quickly". How fast do you expect them to respond? Consider what it takes to fix a problem of this nature:
1. Acknowledge a problem exists (they have done this)
2. Identify the probable cause of the problem (done, I guess - AC Compressor?)
3. Replicate problem in controlled environment to confirm assumptions (done, I hope)
4. Engineer fix with part supplier
5. Manufacture prototype with fix.
6. Bench test prototype.
7. Tweak engineering, as necessary
8. Field/stress test prototype
9. Go back to # 4 if not successful
10. Re-tool/train manufacturing plant for new design
11. Test first-run of re-tooled line
12. Mass produce parts for (in this order)
a) Product in assembly lines (still at factory)
b) Product at dealers
13: Write and publish TSB for replacement.
Now, I don't know where Nissan is in this process (at least #5 or #6 by now I hope), but I think it is unreasonable to expect it to take any less than a few months from the time they identify the problem. That in itself probably took them a couple of months. I'm sorry, but this is one of the risks we take when we are early adopters (I know this all too well in more ways than I can count). If you simply MUST have a first year car, then expect to be a beta tester for the line.
I'll thank you in advance for de-bugging my 6speed sedan.
PS: If you are a 350z 6M or a Coupe 6M buyer, please work the heck out of the tranny for me. I'll expect you to work all it's glitches out in time for me to get it in the sedan.
Your efforts are appreciated,
HiC
-- Joe
Driving lights (and headlights) operate differently. They are intended to illuminate down the road (and enough to the side) so that the driver can see obstacles far enough away to be able to react to emergency situations. This means that headlight low beams should illuminate about 25-40% further than fog lights (greater illumination reach should not be necessary with fog lights because you SHOULD be driving slower
While this isn't intended to be a comprehensive tutorial on fog lights I hope this helps. IMO, the foglights in the forward lighting cluster (headlamps, etc.) of the G35 are for show/checklist purposes only.
Scott
I've seen several owners report low 6s 0-60 time, and I don't understand why mine are so high.
A G-Tech would be a little more accurate, but +/- a few tenths doesn't explain such a large difference between 6.2 sec and 7.5 sec.
Have you guys measured your 0-60 time? Wondering what you're getting. What technique did you use, and what were the conditions?
-- Joe
G35 Premium/Leather/HID/Winter
Personally, I have ALWAYS hated learning transmissions! I learn them much more readily than they learn me (even worse when you have two alternating drivers) and when I want to have some "fun" they often get in the way. Give me a "sport" (performance) mode anyday. At the least, adaptive in normal mode and a sport (performance, non-learning) mode for when I want to have more fun.
Scott
I hope some people try this and post their times so we can see what's going on. I'm a little concerned I've seen a few report mid-7s and a few report low-6s, with nothing in between. It's very premature (which is why I want more data), but that bimodal distribution could imply an engine management problem on certain cars. It's subtle (car still feels peppy) so few would notice it without doing a timed test.
If anybody has done 0-60 tests, please report your time, technique, and conditions.
-- Joe
All the other published 0-60 mph times are with very aggressive launches based on their attempts to find exactly what RPM launch works best for track and tires. Average driver doesn't spend all day smokin' the rear tires to see what combination of RPMs works best. The various magazines usually have a footnote that explains how they get best 0-60 mph time. They don't care if they drop a tranny.
Scott
I noticed that the Xenon package has the blue tinted High Intensity Discharge Xenon Bulbs for the normal projecting beams, but the fog lights appear to be Halogen. Is this assumption correct? If the fog lights are halogen, is there a benefit to having the foglights be Halogen vs. Xenon? Or are they a different shade of Xenon? If there is no benefit, is there a way to retrofit the fog lights to be xenon colored as well? Thank you.
-Poon
The WRX has a functional but somewhat spartan and downscale interior, the doors rattle at little when closed, etc. Subaru spent the money on the drivetrain, not the interior.
The G35 provides almost the same performance, yet is much quieter, smoother, has lots more low end torque. The interior exudes luxury compared to the WRX. It's just a vastly more refined experience.
A base (non-leather) G35 isn't that much more than a WRX. I'd probably take a cloth seat G35 over a WRX. The G35 auto isn't that bad. It's very responsive and the engine has so much torque you have instant power at any speed and RPM, unlike the WRX where the turbo has to spool up. I really liked the WRX, it's a great car. But the G35 gave me both performance and luxury so I got that.
If you haven't already you should test drive a G35, even if you want a 6 speed. You may be surprised at how well the auto works.
-- Joe
People who are looking at a G35, are not looking at cloth, with some exceptions. Just like for the most part people looking at BMWs do not look at leathette.
The thing I'm debating is if the G35 is the best bang for my buck at that price...
For the extra money, you get an equivalently or slightly better performing G35 (to the auto WRX) with much better warranty/service, improved interior/ride quality, and, IMO, a better looking car. Of course, opinions differ...
Scott
And, at the end of 3,4,5 years, its resale value will probably be higher, as well.
Real-world performance differences between these two cars are going to be so narrow you can barely slip a piece of paper through...but I expect to get lots of negative feedback for this observation. So be it...
I too am only interested in the basic cloth G35, and refuse to spend more than $27k for this next purchase. I was EXTREMELY impressed with my test drive of the G, but for many reasons, want to wait to try the new Accord before making a final decision. Anyone concerned about the financial aspects of this business should make a point of looking at them all - the WRX is a real performer, but rude and crude by comparison to either the G or the Accord, at least to my eyes and ears.
The surface is relatively flat with the undulations indicative of long disuse, and is spotted with patches of gravel sized stones and loose dirt... There were also quite a few areas that were pock marked with deteriorating asphalt (very small potholes and cracks)
I thought that this would be the ideal area to try some manuevers in the G35 since it was wide open and apparently abandoned...
I took the car carefully into the car sized break in the fence and proceeded to just drive about slowly, making sure that there weren't large potholes that might damage the suspension if I hit one.
I started out by doing some moderately hard braking on some of the more gravel and dirt covered areas and that was alot of fun! I really like the sound of the ABS working and one of the most impressive displays was when I purposefully braked hard with two wheels in some dirt and gravel and the other two on a much cleaner side of the pavement... You could most definitely hear the ABS working hard on the gravel side and it was just a very reassuring experience to stop in an absolutely straight line! (More in a bit on why I can't go back to do some gravel braking turning manuevers later *smile*)
As the confidence built up I started doing higher and higher speed turns on the slippery stuff... At first the car just wanted to track along the curve I was asking it too, and it seemed wholly unremarkable... The Slip light would flicker as I apexed a turn and there was not much evidence at all of wheel slip.
That's when I tried the next run and for fun decided to see if I could get the car to "spin out" with a VERY abrupt application of throttle.
I went into the corner as before and saw the slip light flicker as before, and that's when I STOMPED on the accelerator... and... "nothing"
I pushed the pedal all the way to the floor and at first I thought that I had damaged the car because there was only a minimal increase in engine power and I thought for CERTAIN there was far more grip to be had, so throttle should at least be more there then it was...
I stopped on a clean part of the lot and punched it a few times in a straight line and the throttle seemed fine...
"Ok" I thought... Something is amiss here... I hit the VDC off (which I understand turns VDC "most" of the way off
I was intent on gunning the throttle as I hit the hardest loading on the tires but then it happened!
Even before I got to the point where I was going to apply throttle, the back end fishtailed away accompanied by the sound of crunching grating gravel and before I knew it, I was looking backward in the exact direction I had just come from.
It hit me at that point that the car had been working hard to maintain control with ABS and Throttle even when I still thought the car had plenty of grip! I got out to look more closely at the suface and my foot almost slid out from under me on the pea like gravel and I saved myself from falling on my [non-permissible content removed] by grabbing onto the top of the door! *laughing*
The whole time I was doing the turn test in this area I had thought the throttle was feeling kind of "flat" but couldn't quite peg if it was.
From my assessment now, the car was most definitely holding its line ONLY with 4-wheel ABS and computer throttle feathering (I noticed some slight cycling of the engine noise but thought it was frequency beating between the ABS drone and the engine...
I tried a few more turns of this type and confirmed that the car felt wholly in control on this treacherous surface and would go no faster than a speed that seemed less than it could have been to stay in control (in my later proved, errant opinion)
I have since deferred my speed judgements to the VDC in unpredictable cases such as these... Because if it had been only me and no computer intervention with the same surface on the street, I would have been in alot more trouble than landing on my butt LoL!
VDC is just an incredible thing! Driving skill is of course a huge advantage, but driving skill can't prepare you for that patch of gravel or black ice that you DON'T see
Have fun all!
Faenor/Dane4
Oh... the reason I can't go back is because a bit later on a cop drove by and told me that I was trespassing
The dealer told me that starting next month, Infiniti won't be producing the G35 with cloth anymore and there is NO budging on the price (hmm, I wonder why).
The dealer I went to (Kelly Infiniti in Danvers, MA) also said that all the G35's they're ordering are coming with the sunroof option. So the min. price for a G35 at this dealer is 30,495. Kinda sucks for those of us who don't want to spend that much, but I have to say that this car seems to be worth it, though my wallet doesn't agree.
The invoice on the WRX is $23,409, the G35 sedan is $25,377. I think that $2000 buys a lot of luxury, size, comfort, and possibly styling (always subjective). Losing the AWD for RWD is an advantage to some, disadvantage to others. I like AWD.
I think the cloth G35 makes the car accessible to performance appreciative drivers who aren't looking for a loaded luxury vehicle, but still appreciate a well balanced, roomy, performance sedan. It compares in price to a loaded accord or altima, and if you don't care about leather, probably is comparably equipped.
My bottom line would be, if that $2000 difference was available to go from the manual WRX to a manual G35, then this would be a very tough decision. If there was a $3000 difference between the WRX manual and a MT AWD G35, we wouldn't even be having the discussion
This comparison goes out the window if the rumor that the manual will only be available with leather and sport package holds. (I vote sport package yes, leather no)
Even though they're not direct competitors, I think there are a lot of drivers who would appreciate both great cars.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1852747075
A bit too rich for my blood...
Scott
However 225/50-17 and 225/55-17 will fit the same rims with a small speedo error, well within VDC and ABS tolerances. Across these three sizes there are numerous choices.
-- Joe
The risk you run, as noted above, is very real in being stuck in Nowhere, North Dakota with a ruined tire that no one can readily replace, and the prospect of having to replace all 4 with a different, if compatible size, and a cost of $500 or more. As time goes on, of course, alternatives will develop, and I assume the OEM EL 42s will eventually become more widely available, but for now, Nissan has dealt base car buyers a strange set of tire cards...
Scott
I find the VDC interferes too often (I should probably slow down).
I think it would be more useful in the rain than dry. It would be nice if it were connected to rain sensing wipers and then automatically turn on (It would also be nice to have rain sensing wipers that automatically rolled up the windows and closed the sunroof)