Infiniti G35 Sedan 2006 and earlier

swsms

Personally, until we see the G35 in person, it's hard to make a judgement call on how the rearend actually looks. The G35 may not have the best looking rearend, but the car overall is a great step in the right direction for Infiniti. How many high quality vehicles can seriously compete against the BMW 3 series that are less than 35K? RWD? Excellent handling and V6 engine? Spacious interior? (Oops, the 3 series doesn't have that!!)Great stereo? Runs forever without having to take out a second mortgage for repairs?

I'm off my soap box! Carry on....:)

xmf314

Although the rear end of the G35 doesn't look appealing in photos, I saw the vehicle at the Los Angeles auto show and to me the rear looked great in the flesh. I thought entire car was stunning. In terms of styling Nissan has a winner here.

b_dogg

My 1995 G20 has been so rock-solid reliable that it seems almost crazy to give it up and spend 30+k on a new ride. I really don't think the G is underpowered at all. It seems very happy at 85+ mph and anything beyond that is asking for a big ol ticket.

BUT, what a new ride the new G is. Can't wait to see one in person this weekend at Peninsula Infiniti in Redwood City, CA.

Hmm, still can't decide if I am more of a luxury-performance, or performance-luxury guy. To G or to I. That is the question.

My girl has a '95 Maxima and that thing hauls a**. It is so fast and smooth that I'm sure the I35 would be mind blowing too. But the G has those slick 'missile-like' lines and looks awesome in BLACK! Black with the tan leather...goony goo goo!

Ugh...can't...decide...but I do know that Infiniti will be getting my new car dollars. They are the best auto company eva!

Rock on,

BJ

maybeg35

I posted this on freshalloy too.
Went to Peninsula Infiniti in Redwood City, CA and saw the G35. It was the one from the LA show. It was silver/black/Nav/no xenon.
I Love it in general. I have no problem with rear end at all, as the matter of fact I like it. The tail lights are cool with the small lights making up the overall lighting. The NAV is great but keep in mind it does not have a touch screen like the Lexus, it uses a joystick. It zooms, gives directions, even if all you have is a phone #. Very nice size at 6.5".
Red to orange gauges are easy to read. Info is displayed on the dash screen as well as the NAV screen if that is up. The screen on the NAV also tilts to allow better viewing in diff. sun conditions. Has the trip computer for range, MPG. Seat was very comfortable and well designed. Certainly no compromise in the seat as per 330 where they notch out 3/4 of the back to get leg room. Seat controls on the console side of the seat facing up. Sound system was the Bose and it was OK, def. plenty of bass. The steering column tilts and telescopes manually and the gauge cluster moves with it.
I had a 330I and the trunk is def. bigger in the G35. They say 14.8 cu. ft. but it looks a lot smaller than the Xtype (16?) perhaps because of the depth. This one had the donut spare. There is no folding rear seat but you can put your skis through a locking door behind the rear center armrest. I personally would like to have the folding seat but the recliners are cool for your passengers. The center armrest has the first aid kit storage velcroed in it. As mentioned the hinge/strut arrangement does not encroach into the trunk.
The front end is kind of S2000 looking to me with the outward flare just behind the front wheel well,I like it. I was told there are two cylinders in front of the front axle axis. So because of this there is an irratating bulge that hits my right leg between the ankle and knee. This is because of the trans, bell housing, whatever, because of the placement of the engine so far back. I swore I would never buy another foot tunnel arrangement that reminded me of my 95 Vette experience, but I might. Try it yourself maybe it's me.
Ok some stuff I did not love besides the footwell thing. These could be mine only because I am asking to much. This is a prototype so maybe the production will be diff. Anyway I hate prop rods this one had them. The doors open almost 90 degrees and they need to to be able to screw yourself into the rear seat. I wear a size 13 shoe and there is not 13" to get your feet in until you can get to a position where you can stick your feet under the front seat. After that there's room and then you can recline your seat if you choose. It may show #'s in inches on the site that make it seem larger but the 330 seemed like it had more leg room. The cabin space feels large and unconfining. I put the seat in a comfortable driving position and then got in the rear seat and it was really tight, but what I didn't realize until pointed out by the very informative sales person that the driver's seat goes all they way back when you remove the key. After realizing this I did it again and this time turned off that feature and it was much more roomy.
I took some pics which I will post as soon as I can. They are big so I have to work on them.

stanny1

Simply, you should be able to tell the difference at the first corner. Or just try to do a controlled four wheel drift or power slide in the I35. If you live through it.

bobbyknight

don't do that 4 wheel drift around me!

stanny1

Actually, I do them all the time in my Lincoln LS Manual. But don't try it in a FWD car. You need near 50-50 balance. Power tail-out, four wheel drifts, side-sliding, intentional over-steer, all are the same thing and are the fastest way around a corner. You can accelerate and steer at the same time. Something a FWD cannot. A spinning tire has little traction or steering control. That is the object with the rear wheels of a RWD. But trying that with a FWD is deadly. You just have to go around the corners more slowly with FWD. If you lose the front end cornering with FWD, there is no remedy except pray, slow down and hope the tires regain traction. With RWD, you merely turn into the slide or apply power to the rear wheels to straighten out the car. But the RWD car is not as prone to go into understeer as the FWD is. With FWD, they call it "terminal understeer" for a reason. The last car I bought, I did a four wheel drift on the first corner at really low speed to see the car's control, response and recovery (transient response). The salesman almost took a dump in the car though. I can't wait to get a G35 six-speed to "dance". Handling is the most inportant characteristic in a car. It can save your life if you know how to drive around a problem instead of into it. Most people do not explore either their car's or their own handling limits. Most cities have SCCA Solo2 sloloms. Anyone can run their car in a safe, controlled environment at little cost. They will even loan you a helmet. I expect to see a lot of G35's there in the future. I've never seen an I35. But I am not surprised. Maximas are rare to non-existent also. So are the Honda boy-racers you see all the time. Guess they are all looks and no-go.

maybeg35

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/mike1650/lst?.dir=/G35

Click on thumbnails and then the pic for a large view

norcalmike2

Did you say the steering wheel telescopes manually? I knew that it tilted with the instruments but have read nothing about it telescoping. Did you have an opportunity to actually manipulate the telescoping function or was this something the salesman told you? I know that the new Altima tilts and telescopes manually but there is nothing in the G35 literature that mentions the telescoping feature. I sure hope that feature is on the G35. In fact I caught myself more than once saying "The Altima telescopes but not the G35?" Great pictures! Thanks.

dl7265

Any one know why yahoo is asking for a password ?? i dont even have yahoo, was hoping to view maybeg 35 pics ;(

DL

sunilb

So, are you saying that there was less backseat space or more than the BMW?

btw, thanks for the detailed low-down!

maybeg35

For sure in my case there was less leg room with the seat in my driving position in the G35 than the 330i. But remember that's with my position it might be fine in yours. I wonder what they use as a gauge for the knee space distance. I know the distance quoted is greater than the BMW but in my real world that is not the case.

maybeg35

I don't now what's wrong with the pics deal but if you email me I'll send them to you. builder1@email.com

68bullitt

maybeg35, great photos. You must have used a high mega-pixel digital camera. Some nice interior shots, too, with minimal reflection from the flash. The only thing I didn't like from what I saw was the cheap prop rod for the hood. You would think that an Infiniti luxury car would get the gas pressurized lifters like the trunk. I hope this is only because this car is pre-production and the production model would have them. I noticed this car has the titanium center console trim which is part of the Sports Suspension Package but it didn't have the 5-spoke wheels. Do you know if it has the Sports Package?

BTW, did the dealer happen to mention how long this car will be at Peninsula Infiniti? I might try and stop by this weekend.

canadacraig

I really appreciate you taking the time to post a detailed message [on your first impressions of the G35] AND for sharing [with all of us] those great photo's. Thanks. I'll admit - that 'thing' sticking out of the side of the center console [and jabbing into your leg] just might be enough to keep me from buying the G35.

Don't people WITH legs design cars anymore?? lol

Craig!! )

maybeg35

The production car may have struts for the hood and they may carve the front seats to give more leg room. I don't know what they can do about that "thing" sticking out but I really don't like the idea of my right leg being forced to the left when the gas is on the right. I hope it is not there just for the cig. lighter. I guess a lot of people in Japan still smoke. It does have a power socket in the console.
Car is there through today.
Pics were with my Christmas present to myself Sony DSC-75 3.3M
BTW I asked and this car is not the Sport Package.

norcalmike2

maybeg35

I physically moved it myself and I thought it did telescope and tilt but I could be wrong. Your're right about the tilt but now that you mentioned it I'm blank regarding the telescope. I'm going back there today to try to get my wife as interested in it as I am. I'll check again.
BTW check with local dealers re. this car as all the dealers in my area are going to have this car for 2 days each at diff. times. I went to Peninsula cause they had it first. It was in Monterey before this dealer, after Redwood City I think Concord, Pleasanton, San Jose.

rezo00

did that work

CCOOL it workes..

rezo00

I dont know why peeps dont like the rear I think it looks good: MAYBEG's pic!!!

maybeg35

I called my dealer and Glenn told me that the proto they have does not telescope and the production sheet that he has says the same thing. Too bad I would have liked that. I'm sure the day after I buy one they will start offering it.
Mike

cybersol

I went into the Redwood City dealer today to check out the G35.

Overall impression: I really want to drive this car.

Comparing notes with maybeg, the steering wheel tilts but does not telescope. I put my foot on the brakes and gas, and from my normal driving position had no problems with the bulge. As for roominess, the driver's seat in this version is very low to the ground like a sports car, so your legs end up extending more outwards. This leaves little room for the passenger behind the drivers side, somewhat bigger than the S4 and near the 330i from my driving position. But the passenger side has PLENTY of front and rear legroom, so I guess the seating arrangement less sporty. The trunk is very spacious for a sports sedan. Overall the car felt solidly built.

maybeg35

The "bulge" I am speaking of can be clearly seen looking toward the gas pedal from the back seat.
Notice that you can't even see the right part of the pedal because of the "bulge" I mentioned. I def. felt it and you can clearly see it in my pic.
Check it out.

I added one more pic called G1 that I had to enhance cause the flash was off. Photoshop Elements is great!
Mike

cybersol

I even went back to the infiniti dealer this afternoon after checking out the interior space of the Acura TL-S. The buldge was very visible sitting in the driver's seat. But like I said before, for me it just does not get in the way. If I usually put my right ankle to the right of the gas pedal, then it would be a problem.

The second time I also noticed that the drivers seat can raise significantly so you are in a much less sporty position. This results in more rear leg room, but the sporty position feels better to me. Overall comparing the room directly to the TL-S, I noticed the following: TL has more leg room between the rear seat and front seatback, but the area under the seat is much more usuable in the G35, and the headroom in the G35 is much better.

j1g35

Ordered a sport sedan today w/leather (without the sport suspension) and with premium package/sunroof/xenon/winter/wood/full size spare. I am a nubie to this forum. My concern about the car is: what is the "lump" at the side of the console, and will it cause a problem with the accelerator leg, If so, can it be removed without hurting the looks of the car? My dealer had no knowledge of the lump.

Has anyone gotten a date when dealers expect to get a car?

maybeg35

Congratulations!

azstan

Just went back to Infiniti.com and tried to price a G35. Now I can't get access to the area or that has the equipment and prices.

Am I doing something wrong...or are the Dealers suppressing this information?

b4z

Thanks for the pics. I am concerned about the bulge by the console also.
How would you rate front legroom? It seems to have a lot.

j1g35

My pre-order car (post #677) was $34,125 MSRP plus tax and documentation. The dealer showed my an Infiniti printout giving MSRP data for all configurations. I was given no discount, but the dealer is giving one year free maintenance.

maybeg35

This isn't the most irratating one though there is actually another one between this one and the floorboard that hits me between the ankle and the knee.

dl7265

Hard to tell , it allmost looks like the key goes there ? but i guess thats covered up by the steering wheel.

DL

maybeg35

jvv

Happened to stop by an Infiniti dealer today that had a G35 'passing through' - not one of the floor demo cars that others have already reported on.
While I did not drive it, some dealer people were and they were impressed. The engine sounded nice enough.
This one had a spoiler on it - which I had not seen yet in any of the pictures. I know that some here don't think highly of the whole idea of spoiler in the first place, I thought it looked pretty good on the car. Probably 8-10" deep (wide) but very thin vertically. Runs the whole width of the trunk and is slightly curved.
For those that don't like the back-end, take a look at the spoiler and see if it makes things look better.

norcalmike2

I too drove over to the Infiniti store today in Redwood City. I know I am a sick sick man because I live two and a half hours away from Redwood City. The sales staff were very helpful. Sadly, I confirmed that there is no telescoping feature on the steering wheel. That's OK though. With the large center console padding it was easy to find a comfortable driving position. From there, I started talking to the sales staff about the bulge that maybeg35 told us about and about the pictures he took. The sales staff all started to chuckle about this guy with big feet and a camera. They were totally convinced that maybeg was a Lexus spy and quite relieved to hear that he was just an enthusiast like the rest of us. Now I have a new delima. I ordered a base luxury because I like cloth, but after sitting on the leather and finding out how many adjustments the power drivers seat has I am just not sure which way to go right now. I was surprised when I looked at the double bulkhead fire wall. I expected it to be like the Mercedes design. It's just cheap sheet metal that at best will keep some heat off the battery and maybe dampen just a little noise. Zero structural benefits. Overall the car definitely feels solid. I have a funny feeling the G35 at Redwood City had the sport suspension. I pressed down on all four corners to see how the suspension travel was. Definitely no "bounce" on that car. I could barely push the fender down let alone seeing how it bounced back. The sales staff agreed with me noting that the tires were "w" rated with the non sport 17" alloys.

maybeg35

I do drive a Lexus though and I do have big feet which I mentioned earlier. So you felt no bulge?
Are you 5'2" with puny feet? Just curious.

norcalmike2

maybeg,

I was wearing size 8 Danner hiking boots. Those boots are kind of clunky but I had better access to the gas pedal than my current Solara. The gas pedal on the Solara is a little high and my foot is constantly slipping off the pedal. That little bulge is definitely there but does not seem to get in my way. I was amazed how high you could adjust the drivers seat if one was so inclined to do so. The sales guys were not slamming you or anything. They were genuinely relieved to hear that you were not a Lexus spy. Thanks for the e mail and the additional photo. Is that you climbing into the back seat?

rezo00

OK a number of people suggested that the G35 would look better with out the L tail lights and the license plate on the bumper...so a little Photo shop magic and ta da the new rear (its a little messy though):

maybeg35

I needed the seat all the way down to have about 1 1/2" above my head in clearance. I'm not complaining about that though.

sunilb

is no one else upset about the way that Nissan is selling these cars-- in order to get the "one" item... you have to get 1/2 a dozen other items and pay for all of them. Case in point: in order to get the "Sports" pkg, you have to get leather... then you have to get a sunroof... etc.

If I wanted, just cloth with the sports pkg and the navi system... Nissan won't sell it to me! (not to mention that I'd still wish they'd offer the manual tranny now, instead of in the fall... didn't Lexus make this mistake with the IS300?).

azstan

I agree! Wish Nissan were more flexible with its priceing of options. If I could get G35 with cloth, Premimum Packgage and possibly Navigation...I would have already ordered one.

I have dogs that like to "car ride" and they love to dig and scratch leather seats. Cloth seats are mandatory in our family.

Cover the seats with a blanket? Then...why spend the money on leather?

maybeg35

I don't get it, I would think you would protect either seat equally. Cloth is also absorbant so wouldn't you put something down for slobber and stuff anyway?

azstan

My dogs do not "slobber and stuff", they are terriers and will dig and would scratch the leather. Thus I would want only cloth seats...which was the original subject of my post...not my dogs.

It is hoped that Infiniti will relax their marketing of the G35 such that cloth seating will be availble with other options.

cayennered1

Apparently Nissan uses this technique so that it can market allegedly low prices for its vehicles while actually selling
them at much higher prices.

The same approach is being used on the 350Z. While you can get a nicely equipped Z for 26K, if you want leather add at least 5-6K for an option package with all kinds of things that you may or may not want.

So those 26-27K prices may look good but if you want leather or some other not so unusual option you may very well end up with a number of quite unusual options and a price tag that would choke a horse.

hvan3

<<So those 26-27K prices may look good but if you want leather or some other not so unusual option you may very well end up with a number of quite unusual options and a price tag that would choke a horse.>>

Yeah, I was thinking about getting the new Z. I only wanted leather seats. The package starts at $33K just so that you can have leather seats!! Yet again, for $33K you sure get a whole lot of car for $33K. Not even S2000/Boxster/Z3/CLK can offer what the new Z offers for the price.

I wish Nissan start offering packages for what the consumers want rather than stuffing it down our throats with useless options we don't want.

ateixeira

It's going to be interesting to see how dealers order these (loaded or basic). One of the criticisms of the Jaguar X-Type is that there are no $30k samples sitting in dealerships. They reach $40k and most are $35k or more.

That would be a mistake if Infiniti did the same thing. They ought to have at least 20% of them under $30k.

-juice

dl7265

How about buy a base and have leather put in ? My only concern is with the seat side airbags, but due to my "magnetic personality lol " i cant own CLOTH SEATS due to the nasty shock i get ! The only cure ive found is leather seats which do not transmit and static elect.

DL

hvan3

In my opinion, aftermarket leather seats are better quality than the OEM because I get to customize my leather preference.

Why pay $33K (with leather) for the new Z when I can choose the $28K package and have aftermarket leather seats put in. I definitely don't want 18" wheels along with that $33K package option. Anyone who opts for those 18" wheels are getting themselves in trouble for maintenance costs.

troyy2k

Do the rear seats fold foward on the G35, allowing a passthrough from the trunk???

oxmead

The seats didn't fold on the one I saw, but there was a small armrest size passthrough.

lsc

They do have some funny packaging. If I were them, I'd take a quick lesson from Acura/Honda. Very simple and very effective.

The cloth seat, low price leader is no different than how Lexus markets their cars, though.

I personally think, it doesn't matter how they package or price their cars. Someone will complain about it.