Infiniti G35 Sedan 2006 and earlier

cdnpinhead

Thanks, Ray. Very helpful.

The G35's on my "what if my LS had to be replaced tomorrow" list. Fortunately, my car doesn't need to be replaced tomorrow, or for the next few years, with luck.

pisciotta

Just wondering if anyone can feel the increase in horsepower between the 04 and the 05?? if all the power is on the back end??

3zx

HI.
I know there are big differences b/w G35 and Accord but when disregarding all other factors.
I just wonder which one is more quiet b/w these two cars (especially on the freeway). Is there any big difference in noise b/w the two cars? is the difference ignorable?

colonel35

I've found the G35 sedan to be quieter than my 6-sp coupe, probably because of the skinnier tires. Nevertheless, the Accord is a very smooth car, and, although I'm no audiologist, from what I've observed the Accord is definitely quieter. If silence is your most important criterion, the G35 isn't worth your consideration.

3zx

Thanks for the reply
I just found a data about interior noise level of some cars. It says g35 is 69dba and tl is 67dba. I think tl and accord have almost same level of noise. then is this a big difference between 69dba and 67dba?

lmacmil

By definition, 1 db is the smallest loudness differential that the human ear can perceive so there will be very little difference in 2db.

aeg

I have some interest in the G35 AWD.I have had Volvo's for years and safety is a big issue I like the car nice room for its class,handles quite well and ample power. However, I read some crash test data that suggests that this car does not hold up well to a rear end crash or should i say the passengers have a high likelihood of having head and neck injuries.I believe a 2004 rwd was the test model. Can anyone give me feedback about the safety of this car either the result of testing or real life experience.Appreciate it.

ggs1

i am new to this forum and would like some input. i am considering purchasing a g35 but the nearest infiniti dealership would be ~ 1.5 hours away and the nearest nissan dealership will not work on infiniti's that are under warranty.my other choice is the bmw 3 series which has a dealership nearby. i would appreciate any feedback. thanks

carjim

The new BMW 3 series will be in showrooms in May. A lot of changes including the I-Drive (optional.) You might want to wait until then in order to get an oranges-to-oranges comparison.

lmacmil

I am in a similar situation. The Infiniti dealer told me that the local Nissan dealer could do non-warranty work. I doubt that there's much to the normal maintenance schedule other than oil changes and tire rotations.

I plan to buy used but I know that, if I bought new, the Infiniti dealer that is 100 miles away will pick up the car and leave a loaner when service is required. You should check to see if your dealer would do the same.

I think the G35 will have somewhat better reliability overall plus will be cheaper than a comparably equipped and comparably performing 3 series.

c3po33

I could not find the skyline data anymore link is dead but this is from IIHS:

http://www.iihs.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/html/0307.htm

colonel35

The decibel scale is a logarithmic one, and I don't think human perception has anything to do with its calibration. A 10-decibel range represents a 10x factor of noise; 70db is ten times louder than 60db, for example. I'm not sure about the Accord vs. the TL, but the TL is noticeably quieter than my G35 6speed at cruise and at full acceleration, no doubt.

buffaloes

My wife has a 2003 Accord V6 Sedan with the 240 hp, I just bought a 2005 g35 sedan Friday. The Accord is significantly quieter under acceleration and anytime when using the throttle. It also has lower RPM's at 70mph, by about 700 rpm, but at these highway speeds, the sound difference is not noticeable, unless you are in the backseat, where you can hear more of an exhaust note from my G35. I find however the sound from the g35, while louder in most situations is a much more pleasing sound, being more of a powerful growl than anything else.

buffaloes

Unsure about the premium package, but my '05 without premium package will play CD-R's with music burned from ITunes perfectly.

lmacmil

You're right on the logarithmic scale but not much else. A 10 db difference in sound pressure level represents a doubling of perceived volume. A 10 fold increase in power is required to achieve a 10db increase in volume. 70db is twice as loud as 60db but requires 10x the power (e.g., if a 1 watt amplifier could produce a 60db SPL, 10 watts would be required to produce 70db.)

equan1

Agree with lmacmil re ∆10dB is perceived as 2X louder. While a ∆1dB is just noticeable, a change of 2 or 3 dB is definitely noticeable. At my age, I'd prefer a quieter car. In fact, that is one of the reasons I did not purchase a G35. I was surprised at the sound level in comparison to a BMW, and especially compared to the TL. Too much boy racer for me.

lmacmil

I'm curious, did you test drive the 3 cars over the same route or was it just your perception on the routes you drove that the G35 was noticeably louder? I haven't driven a TL yet but the G35 didn't seem particularly noisy to me. The 330i seems a little too small and a lot too expensive so I've ruled that one out.

equan1

I drove the G35 and the 330i sedans over the identical route. I did not have a sound level meter so it's based on my unreliable perception. The route is a combination of rough, rolling, uneven surfaces in a farming area merging into quality (smooth) yet curvy roads. I found the G35 unexpectedly noisy but that may be partly due to my expectations that Japanese cars are quiet. I did try out the TL a week earlier. My brother purchased one based on value (banker) and he drives cars like they were Buicks.
All cars are compromises and I agree that the 330i seems to be the smallest and certainly the most expensive (and likely the least reliable, though the current E46 is quite reliable). There's no doubt I like the handling dynamics of the BMW best. I found the driving dynamics and handling of the G35 to be surprising good - I liked it a lot. I would be happy with the '05 version of this car.
In summary:
Handling: BMW, G35 (close 2nd), TL
Quietness: TL, BMW, G35
Value: TL, G35, BMW
That said, the TL is a perfect commuter's car.
After all is said and done, I ended up purchasing a car with even a louder sound level: a 330Cic. It's for my wife and the size of the convertible suits her perfectly. She loves it. (I have the larger 540i)

lmacmil

Thanks for the thorough review. I'm leaning towards G35 or TL based on the value equation plus am concerned about BMW reliability. Also, I owned a Bimmer before they were fashionable (a 1968 1600) so I can say I've been thru my BMW phase. The only problem for me for the Infiniti and the Acura is that the dealers are 100 miles away if I needed warranty service. Decisions, decisions.

colonel35

I brought my '03 coupe 6-sp in for a new nav screen, and I got a 2004 G35X loaner with about 11k miles on the odo.

 

Overall, I was impressed. It was raining fairly hard on the afternoon commute, but the traction was amazing. Granted, at 35k miles, my original tires are due for a change, and the summer tires do not excel in wet conditions (although they resist hydroplanning well), but the AWD system worked wonders. I almost gave it full throttle on a couple of relatively low-speed, 90-degree turns--conditions under which my coupe would easily oversteer on anything but bone-dry roads--and the X just held on without drama. Same thing for accelerating up a slight incline in the wet. Very impressive.

 

The added bulk of the system was barely noticeable in normal handling, although the brakes--not the Brembo's I'm accustomed to--felt a little mushy. And the auto tranny felt more confused than I remembered the normal G35 sedan auto's behaving. It held lower gears well, but hunted for gears quite a bit when challenged and was slow to react to throttle inputs. Perhaps I'm just more used to shifting for myself.

 

Lastly, I sat down in a new 2005 G35 at the deal showroom. Honestly, it was underwhelming. Sure, there were some modest improvements in material feel and ergonomics, but they were very minor overall, and still fall well short of, say, the TL.

lmacmil

I'm going to be looking at used late 03 or 2004 models. What's the easiest way to determine if the premium package was included? The Bose stereo?

 

Question #2: how does a dealer come to have 43 used G35s, 30 of which are 2004 models, most with less than 20,000 miles? Are these mostly program cars or do you think lots of people are trading after a year because they are unhappy with the car?

rayainsw

"43 used G35s, 30 of which are 2004 "

 

They may be Service Loaners. My closest Infiniti dealer has quite a large fleet of loaners - all now G35s, I believe.

 

Cheers,

- Ray

Thinking that'd likely be more "fun" for me to drive for a day than the Lincoln Town Cars I typically have when I drop my Lincoln LS . . .

msiseng

I have a 2003 Sedan with the premium package. It was one of the first off the production line and had some issues my selling dealer, Jim Coleman Infiniti in Bethesda, MD, could care less about.

 

My new dealer, Passport Infiniti in Alexandria, VA, fixed everything and helped to modify the car into a very fast screamer without voiding the warranty.

 

Just love beating those BMWs and Porsche Boxters. Unfortunately, my wife wants to get an SUV with a cargo area and 4WD, so I will sell this soon and will really miss it.

 

The 2003 premium group adds: "dual-zone climate control with rear vents, driver seat memory, a power passenger seat, automatic headlights, an auto up/down feature for front and rear windows, an upgraded sound system and manually reclining rear seats. Other items and packages include a Sport package, a navigation system, high-intensity discharge headlights, a Winter package and an Aerodynamic package."

 

Source: Edmunds First Drive: 2003 Infiniti G35. Could not pull the URL and it is in the "Car Reviews" section.

 

I think the 2004 added some 2003 premium items to the standard items list?

 

If you are looking at used, these cars do not take much of a depreciation hit, so be careful of dealer price-jabbing.

pat

>> Source: Edmunds First Drive: 2003 Infiniti G35. Could not pull the URL and it is in the "Car Reviews" section.

 

It's linked on the left side of the page in the Helpful Links box.

sueny

I'm planning on buying an '05 G35X after the holidays. I decided to download the owners manual and read it thoroughly so I'll know everything about the car before I take delivery of it. I was concerned about the following statement on page 2-30: ****

"Caution: The cigarette lighter socket is a power source for the cigarette lighter element only. The use of the cigarette lighter socket as a power source for any other accessory is not recommended."

****

I was planning on using that outlet for my Gamin GPS unit. Should I be concerned? I know there's another outlet in the console, but the dash is a more convenient location, and I'll sometimes need the console outlet for my cell phone.

javajam66

Hi all,

  

I'm a newbie totally and I'm at a crossroads. I'm trading my Lexus GS300 in and am considering the G35 as its replacement. I've always lusted after the coupe but like the way a sedan feels. So basically, since I haven't test driven the coupe can anyone give me some ideas? I currently have a deposit on a 2003 G35 sedan with navigation and under 20K miles for about $26K but I spoke with another dealer who can get me just about the same deal on a coupe. Any and all feedback is welcome!! Also, does anyone think the pricing is too high? I want to negotiate some more but don't really know how much more room there is.

  

Thanks!

lmacmil

Can't comment on coupe vs. sedan but I think that price is too high for a 2003. I've seen 2004s advertised on dealer websites for only $1000 more (without nav though so maybe that's the difference.)

colonel35

Regarding the price, spec the car out here on Edmunds to get a good idea of what the fair market value is of the car, with all the options.

 

As for coupe vs. sedan, I suspect most will concede they prefer the coupe's lines, but many/most required the practicality of four doors, additional back-seat room (especially headroom), and a three-passenger bench, so the sedan won out for them. It simply depends on your needs.

indydriver

Is this really the best sedan out there for $36K?

rfmaster

Just burned couple of CD-R for my 04 Sedan with Bose premium package. Works just fine and sounds great. I only wish that they had direct CD-R MP3 playback as well.

rfmaster

I paid 34k OTD, in Southern Cal for RWD 04 sedan, leather, plus premium option C. Net price was below invoice (plus 1.9% 36 month from IFS).

rfmaster

Cigarette lighter element typically draws a lot more current than Gamin GPS unit. One way to verify this to measure a current drawn by the cigarette element. This can also be calculated by measuring resistance of the cigarette element with a DVM. Ohms law can be used to calculate current draw:

 

I= V/R

 

where V is voltage (12.8 volts)

R is a resistance of the sig element measured with DVM (Digital Volt Meter)

I is current in Amps

 

My guess cigarette element will draw couple of Amps. GPS unit on the other hand should be less than 100 mA (0.1 Amp)

 

Enjoy

lmacmil

"Is this really the best sedan out there for $36K?"

 

It is for some. Whether it is for you is only a question you can answer.

tim_hooligan

"Is this really the best sedan out there for $36K?"

 

Can you define "best"? This word might have different meanings to different people. Best might be performance, maybe value, maybe looks, maybe creature comforts, or perhaps a combonation of all.

 

Best is truly subjective, and something that only you yourself can define.

 

Personally, I say YES. I get AWD, zippy performance, decent value, excellent service and warranty, all in a comfortable & safe package.

 

There are cars out there that cost twice as much as the G35x that I might argue aren't "better" than my G.

 

If you're looking for the fastest car, this isn't the best.

If you're wanting pure luxury, this isn't the best.

If you seek snob appeal, this isn't the best.

 

Which begs the question, what are YOU looking for in a car at the price of $36,000?

 

-hqqligan

indydriver

You are right that ultimately I will decide what is best for me. My company is eliminating our company cars and going to a car allowance. I will have to buy a new car by March 1, so I have plenty of time to research, test drive, check the forums, work the dealers etc.

 

The only requirements from my company is that the vehicle be an '05, a four door sedan and cost at least 90% of the $30K "basis vehicle". Of course, since it will be my car, I can spend more. While I love performance and handling capability, the fact of the matter is that I roll up a lot of highway miles in the course of my job. I'm trying to keep my heart from overruling my brain. The two vehicles currently at the top of my list are the G35 and the TSX. I have sat in both cars but test driven neither as of yet. I'll be going to our auto show next week to investigate these and others further. I know as much as one can learn about these two vehicles from reading all the mag reviews, pouring over the brochures and I'm just getting plugged into the forums to seek owner's input.

clpurnell

Your old company car was a 300M correct? If I were you I would go for either a G35 or G35X(AWD). I cam out of a G35 and into an Inffiniti and would never go back. If you thought the 3.5 in the 300 was nice wait till you get a taste of the G35.

 

I like the TSX but feel the four cylinder would be lacking for you after a while. Also coming from a pretty torquey car and going to a high revving four (presumably automatic) probably wouldn't be too apealing. I have 30k on my FX35 and the thing rides like brand freaking new. At this mileage on my 300 it definately didn't feel new. It barely felt safe. I traded it in at 40k.

 

Also the dealer treatment from Chrysler to Infiniti will be night and day. Good Luck and hope you didn't get snowed in too bad.

indydriver

You have a good memory. Yes, I did drive my personal 300M as my company ride for a few years (my 17 yo daughter is now enjoying it). When we went to company cars, they kept me in the DC family with an Intrepid ES (top of the line).

 

As far as the G35 v. TSX, either way, I would get the MT. I grew up on motorcycles and MT cars and miss the intimate involvement and satisfaction from driving well in a sporting manual transmission car. You are correct in that I would be disappointed in an auto TSX but I think (remembering I haven't test driven yet) that I would be very entertained in exploiting the high-revving four via a six speed manual. The lower buy price and better gas mileage would work in my favor every month on the allowance program. But....knowing that a true sporting vehicle should be RWD and seeing that the G35 6MT will be up to 298 hp in the '05 model is hard to ignore. Even before driving it, I am confident the G35 is very satisfying on the performance and handling front. I would be interested in some owner's comments on G35 comfort, ride on the highway.

lmacmil

I have driven both TSX and G35 automatics. No comparison on power. The TSX felt like a typical 4 cyl., virtually no low end torque which equates to very sluggish acceleration in normal driving. I didn't try manual shifting and I'd guess that the 6 speed would provide adequate acceleration but there's nothing like having 250 lb-ft of torque on tap.

 

These two cars are also on my short list but I'd go auto with the G35 due to my stop & go commute. From what I've read, I think the TSX will provide 5-6 mpg better mileage.

podochigae

Took delivery yesterday of my new 2005 G35x, white and stone interior, premium package. I enjoy the car a lot - a big step up from my 1996 Maxima SE. Love the attention to detail about Infiniti. The stitching on the front seats and even on the trunk mat (G35) was a nice touch, too. Also like the intelligent key fob and the aluminum console.

 

I looked at the 2004 TL, 2004 Maxima and 2004 G35. The Maxima was a quick no - the ride was too harsh. The TL was nice, but I liked the engine of the G35 better. The TL was more luxurious and had more amenities, but the engine seemed a bit more sluggish to me. I liked the interior of the 2005 G35x better than the 04 model.

 

Very nice car and fun to drive - am happy with my decision. Had to 'adjust' the compass a bit (different zone), but that was minor. Wished they had the MPG rating (included in the navigation package).

pkl123

Would you mind sharing the deal you got ?

lmacmil

Congrats on your new wheels. Please post your mileage after a month or so of driving. Thanks.

indydriver

I agree wholeheartedly if you're only considering autos. But like I said earlier, I am only considering MTs. This keeps the TSX in the equation. The mags have raved about Acura's shift quality and complained about the G35's. The power, especially of the '05 MT (boosted to 298) is certainly the primary factor in the G35's favor. I note in the brochure that all MTs apparently come with the sport suspension. Does anyone out there have one yet? The brochure says "winter 2005" availability.

podochigae

I posted the details in the buyer-price discussion forum. The dealer asked that I not post the final price, though.

knr5

I have a 2003.5 6MT with about 17.5 k miles on it now. I love the shifter -- both shifter and clutch have a substantial, quality feel to them. They are not low or "no" effort types common in many other MT cars, particularly from Japan (and even BMW). You should have no complaints if you love stick shifts as I do.

I also have good news for you on the highway ride part. The ride is firm and very stable (at speed). With the aero package (rear wing and diffusers) there is very little wind noise. There may be intrusive road noise depending on the surface (and your tires?). In fact, the surprise of my 19 month ownership experience has been how civilized the G is for long distance travel. My local commute is very short - under 100 miles a week. We seem to opt for the G whenever we head out of town.

Best of luck car hunting!:)

indydriver

Thanks knr5. I appreciate the positive comments. Guess I'll have to find out for myself with a test drive.

ms0972

Hi!

I have the same problem you do. I commute every day to work and when I researched this car I thought 26mpg were reasonable. But I'm seeing a huge difference from my previous car (Honda Accord) to this one. I spend 2x much fuel for the same commute.

 

I purchased the car recently, and although I'm happy with everything else in the car, I am considering trading it in for a more economic car.

indydriver

I visited both Infiniti dealers in my area. First problem...lots of unsold 2004 stock...which has made them reluctant to order '05s heavily. The few '05s on the lots are coupes or sedans with autos. Was told today that they cannot order '05 6MTs until the first week of January which means an April delivery date to the Midwest. Supposedly, there are only half a dozen cars landed in the west coast port of entry.

riccary

Go Infiniti !

gmk519

I just got the 05 G35x with premium package, and it is MP3 compatible. No need to convert to WAV. I simply plays tracks moving from directory to directory. Haven't quite figured out if there's a way to put your songs in any particular order, but I have probably close to 100 songs on one CDR and they play fine.

 

GMK519

dieter

I took delivery of my 2005 G35X several weeks ago as well and couldn't agree with you more. I too considered the 2005 Maxima SE and 2004 Acura TL with just about similar opinions as yours. I choose the Diamond Graphite with Graphite Leather and Rose Wood Trim, Premium C package and full size spare and trunk mat. I paid 34,600 plus 199.00 for fees and 320.00 for a 4 year registration. With 6% NJ Sales Tax my bottom line was 37,201.50. I love the car and couldn't be happier with my purchase. My question is, how did you adjust the compass ? Good luck with yours.

Thanks