Infiniti G35 Sedan 2006 and earlier

gabman

What's happening to the Acura site. There have only been 20 new threads posted since Feb 28/02 compared to 242 on this site. Do you think all those TL owners are worried that they are no longer the only ones on the street with 260 HP?

You know it is very sad that I even noticed this,I NEED MY NEW G35. Hope I get it today.

i006129

I've been driving a J30 for several years and ever since they discontinued the car, I've been hearing that they were coming out with a redesign in 2003. The J30 had the Z engine in it, rear wheel drive sport sedan etc. I like my J, but it's getting long in the tooth and the G35 looks like the answer. I just can't figure out why they are calling this thing a G?

Kirstie_H

A major midwestern newspaper is interested in speaking with folks who have anecdotes and opinions on rear wheel drive vs. front wheel drive in winter driving conditions.
We're also looking for people who recently switched one way or the other and what they like/dislike about what they're driving now.
If you are interested in participating, please provide your city/state of residence and your daytime phone number to jfallon@edmunds.com no later than March 20, 2002.
Thanks as always,
Jeannine Fallon
PR Director
Edmunds.com

35fan

It's not for business cards. It's for electronic cards - for toll booths and other keyless entry gates.

gabman

Go figure, thanks for the info, would never of thought that. We don't have any toll boths left here, just pot hole infested roads. But the holders do say "Business Cards" on them.

storyteller

FWIW the exchange of business cards is a solemn and important matter for Japanese businessmen. It is important that both parties exchange the cards with the proper amount of dignity. To the Japanese, the casual way Americans toss off business cards is rude and sloppy.

gandhim3

FYI, Toyota has been "lighting" up their ignition key-surrounds for the past decade or so. I got a '93 Camry that has that feature.

afty

My parents' '95 Maxima also has the lit-up ignition key surround, as does my '02 Altima. Nissan has been doing it for a while too.

stooge2000

Exchanging business cards is an important ceremonial act among almost all Asian businessmen, not only in Japan.

gabman

Being in International Trade I am well aware of the importance of business cards to our Far Eastern Friends, I just don't think it is so important to plaster them on the roof of ones car as taxi drivers do with their blank receipts.

As far as Ignition key lighting, I wasn't aware that there were that many cars that light up when you just touch the exterior door handle or that they light up with such a presence as to create a complete ring around the key hole which stays lit well after you exit the car as to create a nite-light effect.

jlan

The exchange of business cards is a very important part of business in the far east, and is done very solemnly and ceremonially - during meetings and in the office or conference room. It is not done sitting in one's car!

I raised this business card holder issue a number of posts back, and also think it is a tacky add on with no real purpose except to make the headliner look cheap.

The inclusion of a business card holder is just another weird and useless interior element in this car such as the little nook next to the passenger's left leg. Still don't know what that is for except to collect dirt.

gabman

I think having such a holder is a great idea,keeps the cards neatly stacked and clean.
However I think it should not be visible to the naked eye. The one that is located under the passenger's visor is perfect. To acess it you have to pull down the visor so it is not readidly visible, however the one above your head which is clear for everyone to see and which is designed in a way that 3/4 of your card is visible is very tacky.

tco99

I think the overhead card holder is a perfect place to put parking lot stubs. I have lost parking lot tickets one time at the long term parking lot at the airport. I forgot where I put it after a week away on a trip. Cost me a fortune.

jlan

You and I agree. The card holder on my current and last car was under the center armrest. It is a great place to keep insurance cards and the like (and business cards if so inclined). Handy, but invisible.

BTW, glad to see your excitement in the post about driving and ordering your car. I am anxious to drive this car as well. My current Infiniti is an ok commuter, but stirs no souls. My last vehicle that got me thriled was a SUV, but we won't go there on this board (remember I am in Texas where real men drive trucks). I am hoping the G35 fills that bill again.

gandhim3

Real men know how to drive. Unfortunately, most of the drivers in Houston are complete morons.

As for the card holder under the sun visor, you just ahve to be very careful the a front passenger does not pull the sunvisor sideways near the windows while the windows are open - or all those cards would fly away.

As for the ring around the ignition key, that is exactly how Toyota does it, and I suspect most other manufacturers as well. Nothing new.

dafreak

I just heard from a dealership in Winnipeg that I was trying to buy the G35 through...he said he just received the letter from infiniti and he cant sell me a car...i think that is [non-permissible content removed]...we, as consumers, should be able to buy the car anywhere we want, especially if it saves me 7K...i am really upset with infiniti and am re-thinking my purchase of any of their cars...at least i got a free clock out of it...

gabman

Don't be pissed off about it just be smarter than they are. Go find a leasing company in Winnipeg to buy the car from Infiniti and then resale it to you. You will not find to many manufacturer's that will sell you directly in the U.S. as that is the purpose of Franchise agreements. This is not unique to the automobile industry. Go try and get a Rolex dealer to ship you watches from Canada to USA or a perfume company. Dealers are only franchisee's and have to abide by the rules.The dealer has tons of money invested in his franchise as do the U.S. dealers, they will not risk the wrath of the manufacturer just to sell A car.

gabman

The card holder is not attached to the passengers visor , rather it is on the roof of the car hidden by the visor, that is what is so unique about it. It is not one of these pocket jobs attached to the visor , that is old news. It is a plastic box designed and printed "Card Holder"

maybeg35

This won't be solved by your "buy from a leasing company" idea and is the ultimate deal killer IMO.

gabman

Take a look at the warranty book on most cars. It states "North American Warranty" Only company I know that actually came out with the position that they would not honour the warranty is Honda.
I am not so sure that mfg's denial of warranty would hold up in court, however who wants to be going to court about a warranty (Lawyers I guess)

maybeg35

since it comes out of Dallas, Texas.

pdrumans1

Maybe it is as stated several posts back

"It's not for business cards. It's for electronic cards - for toll booths and other keyless entry gates."

I have a key card for our parking garage that is the size of a credit card. This would make more sense.

jwilson1

you guys' cars arrive REAL soon.....when the conversation deteriorates into discussion of a card holder.... well, at least I've enjoyed a good chuckle for the past few posts. Actually, it hasn't gotten this "good" since people were awaiting the MR2! I came for some basic info but have stayed because I've enjoyed the enthusiastic fantasies of victories at LeMans and victories over the proven greats and, now, cardholders.

But now I'm getting worried. If some of these cars don't come soon, we may not be able to let some of you out in public!

Take care.
Joe W.

gandhim3

If you thought thie recent stuff was entertaining, go back a little deeper and read about the debate that raged on real estate agents.

68bullitt

Don't you guys think that Infiniti sent that letter to its Canadian dealers not to sell cars to U.S. residents and that letter to U.S. dealers not to service Canadian cars because they have been diligently monitoring this board? There has been so much talk on this board about heading up north to buy a G35 that Infiniti must have panicked and decided to nip this idea in the bud. Had we kept this discussion low key and maybe communicated via e-mail, it would have been kept from the prying eyes of Infiniti management and dealers. Now the cat's out of the bag and the idea of buying Canadian and saving some bucks is blown. :-(

68bullitt

I, too, think this is a great feature for holding parking garage plastic electronic entrance cards. It'll be right there next to the driver's window where you need it to swipe the reader. I keep mine in my armrest right now (because there's nowhere else to stick it) and always have to fumble for it when I enter or exit from my office garage. The G35 will save me this aggravation.

It would be great for holding highway toll cards or parking garage slips and receipts, too.

dafreak

well, I just got another call from a delaership in Canada who said they have not received such a memo and that they will sell me a car...she is faxing the agreement as i type...not only is it a G35 BUT IT IS COMPLETELY LOADEED with nav, sport tuned suspension, aeor package, etc., all for under 30K US dollars...as long as they sell me the car infiniti can not do [non-permissible content removed] to me...ive heard talk about not honoring a warranty but i dont think that would be legal under such a circumstance...

dafreak

also, if they are monitoring these boards they should know that there arent that many people lokoing to do this and that they will probably lose more then gain by doing it...

blueguydotcom

Which dealer was this? I have a friend interested in this car and he's amped at the sub-30k price. My email is kflaig@blue-guy.com

dafreak

well wouldnt you know it...not more then 15 minutes after they faxed me the purchase agreement the salesperson calls me and tells me they just got the letter and she couldnt sell me the car...im really pissed off...i love the G35 but infiniti has gotten under my skin...anyone have any alternatives to suggest...???...

lofquist

I have confirmed that all Canadian Infiniti dealers were just sent a letter detailing that as of Mar 4 (Monday) they are not to sell to US customers anymore. The warranty will not be honored in the US on any vehicles sold after that date. Basically, Infiniti has started to play hardball like the other manufacturers have.

It was 18 months this week that I went to Canada to get my Pathfinder and the total now stands at seventy others that have told me they used my help to do the same.

Buying in Canada has been an open topic on a number or Edmunds boards for a long time and I seriously doubt that the discussions here in the last two weeks promped Infiniti management to make this change. But of course ya never know.....

So here is the situation. If you can find a dealer willing to sell to you and are either comfortable with no warranty or having warranty work done in Canada, then go for it. But with the stern statements in the letter, I'd bet you won't find many dealers who will talk with you.

It's been a fun ride. With most people saving $4000, that adds up to over a quarter-million dollars saved by just our little group. Too bad the G35 could not be part of it.

-Jon

gabman

My black on black G35 will be awaiting me tomorrow afternoon at 3:30,so if you guys will excuse me I will be gone at 3 EST tomorrow.

stooge2000

Walk! Don't run. And come back to tell us all about your new G.

hvan3

It's my fault. Several weeks ago, I complained to Infiniti Product Manager about the uglyness of the G35 rear end. I invited him to read the Edmunds message board (provided a direct link for him). Anyway, I guess management has been reading this board about exporting G35 from Canada to US.

The good news is that I have a sister that lives in Canada. She can buy me the G35 and change ownership afterwards. Nah nee nah nee nah nah! You can't touch me!!

norcalmike2

OK, here's the plan. We all pitch in three grand and buy a vacation home in Canada. We all use the Canadian home address on our G35 purchase agreements. We all buy a G35 at a great Canadian price and we end up with our very own elite Canadian time share. On the other hand, according to the demographics, we are all making 95K a year. It's only two weeks pay to make up the US/Canadian price gap. I for one don't mind working the extra couple of weeks to have a hassle free US car.

35fan

This is like a kid waiting for Christmas. I'll be gone four days, so hopefully will be distracted. I'm only afraid there will be two or three hundred messages to read when I get back. And how will the continuing story of the Canadian Infiniti Blockade work out? Will there be war?

Riez, where are you? You need to show up with some dope slaps.We're all "nervous and giddy."

But seriously, this is a great board. See ya'll next week.

heatmiser1

I put off purchasing a 330i to see what the G35 would be all about. If I liked what I saw I was planning to purchase a G35 in Canada to save some money on the front end to make up for the terrible resale values Infiniti products have traditionally received. The G35 has great potential to be a hot new product and will hopefully maintain a reasonable resale value but only time will tell. However, their track record does not look to promising.

At this point I am leaning back towards the BMW 330i since I believe the net total cost of ownership (purchase price less resale after 3 years) will be less expensive than the G35. In addition, I can get a manual tranny today instead of waiting until fall.

Something this coming Tuesday when I test drive the car will really have to sway me to the G35 over the 330i and make me believe it is truly worth more money than the BMW driving experience.

dafreak

although i can afford buying the G35 in the US its the principal of it all that pisses me off...i too was considering the 330i at one time and will re-consider it again...for the extra 5K im gauranteed making it back on the resale end...ill still test drive the G35 but im reluctant now to give my business to Infiniti...and i hope they are reading this board...

scotth501

why don't we just buy an entire island and put a test track too? Say "Non-coconut island" -- approx 13 acres, 40 minutes from Halifax? Only 75,000 Canadian.

http://www.vladi-private-islands.de/sales_islands/sites/pricelist.html

On topic: Has anyone put 3 people in the rear seats with the reclining option? Does that work, or does the premium package convert the G35 to a 4 person car?

norcalmike2

Now that we have business card holders to debate, we can put this whole prop rod "issue" to bed. Perhaps next week we can get into "Those new fangled tail lights are just too bright!" safety issues. Speaking of Infinti and lights. The desk clock gift is definately an Infiniti clock. You can't see squat when its dark ;-)

68bullitt

Don't count on that 330i holding its value in 3 years when you are ready to get rid of it. If the G35 is indeed a hit, as we all expect it will be, you may see the resale values on BMWs drop like a brick. Why would anyone pay more for a used 330i or 530i when you can buy a new G35 for less? And the G35 has more power and more room to boot! Goodbye BMW.....Hello Infiniti.

1971

I to called a Canadian dealer today and he emailed back with the bad news. That really bums me out.
Can anyone give me some prices that they have negotiated for the G35 as I will be buying one in the next 2 months if I like the test drive as much as I enjoyed seeing and sitting in the car. I saw it at the Columbus autoshow and they were not going to let anyone in the car but I begged/pleaded to let me in. I was extremely impressed. So much more room than the 3 series.
The back seat can sit 3 relatively comfortably.
Thanks for the pricing info. in advance.

tco99

What "principal" are you pissed off about? Your only "principal" is to think of ways to kink the system. If anyone should be pissed, it should be the people who works for Infiniti and Nissan North America. You live in the United States. Why don't you support the economy and buy in the US too? I think the G35 is one of most affordable performance-sport sedan to come out in a long time. If you don't think you can afford a G35.. you sure shouldn't be loooking at a 330i. In regard to resell, I just priced out a lease at the dealer. The leasing companies are giving this car a 59% residual for a 15k mi/yr lease for 36 months. How much better can you do on a 330i today? (residual a few years are over-inflated)

norcalmike2

If I was a smart man I'd be buying land someplace instead of a fancy new G35.

blueguydotcom

>>anyone should be pissed, it should be the people who works for Infiniti and Nissan North America. You live in the United States. Why don't you support the economy and buy in the US too? I think the G35 is one of most affordable performance-sport sedan to come out in a long time. If you don't think you can afford a G35.. you sure shouldn't be loooking at a 330i.<<

Sorry, but we don't owe nissan or anyone who works form them an extra 4 or 5 k of our hard earned dollars. If we all thought we could grab a Bimmer 4-5k cheaper up north, a lot of us would do it too. It comes down to paying a sensible price. If I can get the same product for substantial savings and a little more effort, common sense tells me to do just that. That's why I buy many, many things online...no tax, far lower prices, etc.

And it's not about affording a 330i, it's about saving money that needn't be spent. It's silly to think that we're forking over 35k for a loaded G35 when Canadians are getting the same car for 30k. It's akin to the people who pay MSRP or OVER (LOL) for a car when no matter what manufacturer makes the vehicles, there's something incredibly insulting about handing a dealership several thousand dollars for doing nothing.

BTW, this Infiniti letter is a lawsuit waiting to happen. So the first Canadian who buys his car in his homeland and then takes a job in the USA is SOL? And if Infiniti tries to block his warranty work, lots of eager lawyers probably will pounce on the company.

dafreak

and, if you want to suppoort the economy why dont you go buy a chevy...as a consumer i should be able to shop for the best price, no matter where that might take me...could i import a skyline from japan...???...something tells me that i could...im really disliking this move by infiniti...

68bullitt

Yup, you can make a lot more on real estate than you can buying a car. Especailly here in Silicon Valley. But let's not return to more discussions on real estate agents, OK?

Wow, I get the honor of being post #2000. Do I get a prize? How about a free G35?

scotth501

They're giving them away in... you guessed it! Canada!

http://www.investorrally.ca/

Scott

tco99

Yes you are right. We don't owe Nissan or it's employee an extra 4 or 5k of our money. My point is simply that if the company decides to enforce its franchise agreement it has with Canadian dealers, dafreak and others who tries to circumvent it shouldn't act all indignant and talk about "principals."

>>It's akin to the people who pay MSRP or OVER (LOL) for a car when no matter what manufacturer makes the vehicles, there's something incredibly insulting about handing a dealership several thousand dollars for doing nothing.<<

If you think you are being insulted, don't pay. No one says you have to be the first to get this new toy.

In regard to the "warranty letter," I have spoke to a few people in the know who say that it's really directed toward brokers and non-Nissan dealers who tries to import the car. Lawsuits? I don't think any of us have actually read the warranty book for a 2003 Canadian car. Maybe this warranty policy is spelled out in legalese in there. After all, the warrantor for Canadian cars is NCI not NNA!

gabman

The joke is on you man. Your sister will have to pay provincial tax and federal tax as much as 15.5% of the price of the car car and guess what man.....you don't get it back when you export the car....talking about jokes.