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Edit: oh, for the auto? That's quick. The Altima was clocked around 7.1-7.3 seconds from what I've seen.
-juice
What is the G35 front/rear weight distribution on the wheels? I'm currently dealing with 51/49. I can't remember what the Miata was, but it's good as well.
-juice
Anyway, here is my impression:
CON:
1) As stated before, there is a bulge on the driver side. It's not the plastic part where the cigarette lighter is. The bulge is on the side carpet wall. My right lower leg touched the bulge side carpet wall.
2) On the front passenger seat, there is a bulge on the carpeted floor. Basically, the passenger would have to extend his left leg to avoid stepping on the bulge carpet floor.
3) The interior door lever is made of plastic. It's similar to Altima grey door lever. I much rather prefer chrome plated interior door lever. However, the exterior door handle is chrome plated. Need consistency.
4) The square trunk lid reminds me of Nissan Stanza. Yuck.
5) The glove compartment is very small. You can barely fit a 10 disc cd cartridge in there.
6) To open the rear trunk, you have to reach into the glove compartment and press the release trunk. I prefer left side of the driver seat for quick and easy access.
7) I do think it's tacky to have foot brake pedal on a Japanese car.
7) Rear seats do not fold down. However, there is a small opening in the mid back seat rest to put skis in the car.
PRO:
1) A homerun vehicle for the price.
2) Ergonically, I think it's well design interior. Good workmanship and good quality leather (in fact, I think the leather is better than my friend's 540i). Also, nice "thump" sound when closing the doors.
3) I had the driver seat pushed way back. I then sat behind the driver seat. Plenty of room in the back. I"m 5'10 and my knees do not touch the front seat.
4) The cool part is that the rear seats recline! Awesome!
5) Good size trunk to put luggages for a family of four.
My overall impression is very positive. Since we weren't allow to drive it, I can't comment on the performance on the vehicle. I also brought my friend with me who knew nothing about the introduction of the G35. He was absolutely pleased after checking the vehicle out. In fact, he's contemplating on buying G35 this year.
Knowing what the G35 looks like both exterior and interior, I"m going to hold out for the G35 coupe. I will make my decision then.
Recommendation: STRONG BUY rating.
1) Aero Package/power sunroof
2) Winter Package, Power sunroof, Bose audio.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
*falls off chair laughing*
Build your own...
As far as I can tell, rules for options are not yet in effect.
hopdevl
Click on "thumbnail". At the very end of the slide, there are two pics of the color and package option. Everything you need to know about the G35 (except for performance) is on the 2 slides.
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/marketbuy2002/lst?&.dir=/Cars&.src=bc&.view=l&.last=1
May now have to go in on the 18/19th and look at G35 closer before I place my order on the ES300 after reading the posts on the board today. I have a GS300 and am very partial to the updated safety specs on it versus the I35 but hate to give up the rear wheel drive aspect. Just getting old enought to want more luxury/style than the I35 offered.
http://www.carseverything.com/content/article/1401/
Scroll down to technology:
Unlike most designs, the role of the engine in the FM platform is not simply that of a power source. It is also an integral part of the vehicle package and is directly related to the G35’s handling, stability, ride quality and interior comfort. Positioning the G35’s compact, 260-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine in the front mid-ship position (so that its center of gravity comes just after the front axle) results in an optimum front/rear weight distribution of 52:48.
The front-wheel portion has deliberately been made two percent heavier, instead of using a 50:50 split, so that the front wheels are already pre-loaded at the time a steering angle is applied to them as the G35 enters a curve. The weight distribution becomes a 50:50 balance when accelerating while coming out of a curve. “This enables the driver to enjoy the superb cornering capability and acceleration performance that one might expect to find only in front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports cars,” said Mizuno.
I'll wait to test drive the car. If the actual performance is what everyone seems to hope for and lives up to the hype, then the car may be worth a second look.
I love PR people! I married one.
FWIW, the rear reclining seats may allow more varieties of child seats to fit in more snug. Often you have to use towels or noodles for padding to get the angle right, the G35's can be power adjusted. Nice for parents.
-juice
DL
The G35, IS 300 and now the 2003 CL-S have that titanium trim. Supposedly this makes it more of a "sport" car, but I for one want sport AND true luxury. Why can BMW build very sporty cars with beautiful wood-trimmed interiors but other makers can't? The Japanese car that comes the closest to fulfilling both needs is probably the Lexus GS 300/430, but it's more money.
IMO, the G35 should have had an interior like the Q45. Supposedly Lexus will be addressing this issue as well with the next IS.
Any Japanese car manufacturers can make the interior more luxurious, but at what price point will the consumers pay for the car? If the G35 was priced similar to the BMW and have the same quality interior, would you choose the G35 over the 330? Heck no!
Japanese cars are all about "value"...more bang for the buck. The G35 is for the cost conscious consumers who want performance vehicle at a "reasonable" price. If Infiniti loads luxurious interior to please a small percentage who demands luxury, then it will be unaffordable to the masses. What else do you want for a $28,900 sports sedan with leather?
IF you are so disappointed with the interior of the G35, I suggest you shop for the 330i. I hope you can afford it!
In the TL and my Frontier it is on the dash.
I am strangely annoyed by this...
TIA...
hopdevl
-juice
Yeah, I would! I'd still choose the G35 over the BMW 330i because the G35 is significantly larger than the 330i and has more power (260HP vs. 225HP and 260 ft-lbs torque vs. 215 ft-lbs). In fact, the G35 is larger than the 5-series in wheelbase and interior space and close in exterior dimensions. The G35 has the potential to be a 540i 6-speed at half the price (almost a $30K savings). $30K may not be a lot of money for some people but it is to me.
Bottom line is for those that really want a BMW and all that comes with it (e.g., status, image, aura, high maintenance costs, reliability problems, etc.) you should just buy one and leave the G35s for the rest of us that are smart enough to understand the inherent value of a driver's car and are not swayed by all the hype. It's your money, so it's your call.
The March 2002 issue of Motor Trend has a 2-page "First Drive" on the G35. But all they can do is ESTIMATE price and performance. They already criticize it for lacking the manual transmission, which they somewhat sarcastically note will "be added 'later' in model year" and "be available at a later date". And, yes, they do say some nice things about it. BUT they haven't even put it thru its full paces nor run it in a comparison test against likely and natural competitors.
As for comparisons to BMW 3 Series, keep in mind that initially you can have your G35 only ONE way: 4-door sedan automatic. No manual. No 2-door. No touring/estate. No convertible. No AWD. No optional engine. There are about 10 different 3 Series models that can appeal to a very wide variety of owners.
I'm not sure where this person is coming from, but if I could get BMW (performance) & Audi (interior) with Nissan quality, I'd be there with bells on. . .and may be. Many would happily pay more than the Maxima crowd are comfortable with -- more than the I35 as well, for that matter.
68bullitt has apparently not endured the school-of-hard-knocks learning experience over decades to illustrate that Asian quality/reliability is not even approached in Europe in the performance/luxury segment. However, an excellent point is raised: What's going to happen to the European mistique when an Asian manufacturer breaks the code on performance and interior quality? Some on this board look for a 250 - 270 hp engine in a vehicle with ~equal front/rear weight distribution, rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission. In a perfect world, we'd also get LSD and sporty colors. But it's still interesting to contemplate what happened to Mercedes-Benz and other brands when the Lexus and Infiniti were first introduced. The marketing gurus in Japan decided to first go after the sofa folks, then (much later, as it turns out), to go after the performance crowd. This is going to be interesting.
Is there anyone else on this board who would buy a Lexus GS tomorrow if it had a manual transmission?
By the way, the "Hun" reference in the title is meant in jest. I'm as German as the day is long.
Even though I could afford a Bimmer, to be honest I'd be a bit afraid to get one. Maintenance and repair costs are probably high, and I do whatever I can do on my own. Reliability isn't up to the standard Infiniti has set.
So I would lean towards Infiniti, at least if the products are on par with each other. Then consider that a well equipped G35 will sell for the price of a stripped, less powerful 330i, and I can see the appeal.
I attended the BMW Ultimate Driving Event this year, and sampled just about every model. They are very nice, but they are also hyped up a lot.
-juice
If I recall correctly, BMW did not introduce all those models simultaneously. The coupe came one year after the sedan, and the touring came two years after the sedan. And the AWD version came almost three years after that. So only trump card would be the manual. And Infiniti management stated at introduction that there will be a manual - a six-speed vs. the BMW's five speed.
I respect and admire BMWs. I am impressed by their engineering and performance. But BMW cannot sell a 260-hp six cyinder car for under $30K. I try not to look at name plates, I look for value. And the G35 has that in spades.
????????????
Please re-read my post #1026. I'm pro-G35 because I believe it should have HIGHER quality/reliability than the BMW. I did mention that "high maintenance costs" and "reliability problems" comes with the BMW. However, your post seems to suggest that I feel that Asian cars do not have the same level of quality/reliability as European cars. But, in fact, I am of the opposite opinion and agree with you. Just wanted to be sure that was clear to this board. :-)
BTW, the original post about buying the 330i over the G35 if price/quality was the same was NOT by me.
BTW2, I have owned BMWs and Audis in the past but not an Infiniti (yet).
I also don't understand the placement of the lighter, the lack of a place to sit things such as phone, the small opening on the other side of the console (next to the passenger's left leg) which appears to be nothing more than a dirt collector, and what's with the "card holder" above the driver's door. Some may think this is "cutting edge" design, but both my wife and I walked away from the car unimpressed with its overall presentation.
Before I saw the car, I was prepared to order one based on the available written information and photos. I have now decided to wait to drive it as well as see how R&T, C&D, etc. review the car.
Finally, I don't think this car will be the sell out all the hype is suggesting. I attended the VIP night of the auto show here, and NOBODY was looking at this car. Give this car 3 months on the dealer lots, and I believe you will see substantial discounts off MSRPvjust like on other Infinitis.
I have friends who owns M3, M5, and 540i. I hate the dark charcoil interior. It puts me to sleep. LOL Either way, I'll smoke the 330i guys at the light with the G35 coupe.
Anyways, I'll probably end up with just the premium package + body kit. The sports tuned + spoiler is nice, but I'd rather get the body kit. Both makes it a bit steep...
My comments, as regards quality, were directed to hvan3.
I still maintain that the first company that combines the performance bits I mentioned earlier (260+/- hp, manual transmission, RWD or AWD and ~50/50 weight distribution) with Asian quality and reliability will own the segment.
I could be wrong, but don't choose to afford to find out for the next year or so.
I'll be monitoring this (and several other) boards to see how all this plays out.
Yes, marketing works (at least for the ignorant masses) and that's why marketing people make the big bucks.
But don't let me stop the arguing. It is fun...
GO PATS!!!
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
Just saw on freshalloy a guy getting 3% off invoice from a dealer in Dallas.
You ordered your's with wood, did the dealer advised how much and where?
That is more power and the same torque that GM gets out of the 4.0L Northstar.
Looks like a winner. Lets hope the Infiniti dealers don't get greedy.
Also, I would buy a GS400 in a heartbeat if I could get a manual. And it would probably come with LSD. The G35 may not. The IS300 has LSD. I think the Maxima has a Torsen. What's this with no LSD in the G35?
Nevertheless, give Nissan some credit here. They did engineer the Skyline GT-R, and they know what they're doing. Read the Autoweek article. Read the article in C&D, read the article in R&T, read the MT article. I think you'll find BMW has some serious competition here.
From MT:
"It's almost a joke how many non-European companies have attemped to distill and reproduce German ride and handling gestalt, but this is as close as anybody has come thus far."
"Way to go Infiniti. The G35 offers value, performance, and good looks to the boot. You've coalesced all the right sport-sedan ingredients, and we like the way it tastes."
The Infiniti WILL be faster than the 330i, and it will be cheaper. According to MT, it handles pretty damn well too. And the materials will be top rate. This is a serious contender.
The gist is they loved it! Here's a quote from them about the upcoming 6-speed manual putting to rest concerns about poor Nissan MTs in the past:
“You didn’t get to drive the six-speed manual,” said Crahan. “The Z transmission will be the best you’ve ever seen. The S2000 is the best out there now, but the S2000 has no torque. When the Z car comes out it’ll have the best shifter feel on the market, better than Porsche, BMW, everyone.” "
I can't wait to try that shifter! If it's indeed better than a BMW shifter, I'll be in heaven.
All the bases are covered in the early reports. Lots of front AND rear legroom. A bunch of torque and a lower price to boot.
I would imagine that the G35 will be cheaper to operate over the long run.
When the G35 coupe comes out, it'll be G35 coupe vs. M3
BMW:
-It really does have a better interior, better options, and probably will still have better handeling (its a BMW)
-If price is no option, then an M3 will smoke the G35 but the thing does cost 45grand YIKES!
-I wouldent be surprised if BMW decided to boost the HP to 260+ to compete
-Brand image, it matters with the chicks (no offense to the hitched people)
G35:
-Best price on earth!
-more HP and performance then 330 for less dough
-Reliability is a non issue since we havent ever had a G35 in existance.
-I would still buy it.lol
-unique front styiling.
If you have to depend on a car to get girls then God help you because no one else can. :-)