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Comments
First let me say congratulations on your A6 purchase.
I shopped the sport/luxury/performace/blah/blah/blah segment very seriously for 4 months before going with the G.
In the end it was down to A6 3.0 Quatro with everything but nav and G35 with everything but nav and sport tuning. The final #'s for the A6 were MSRP $41,875, Cost to me $38,500. The G's #'s were MSRP 34,925, Cost to me 30,160 (due to VPP). So there was a serious financial value on the G for me. But beyond $$ ....
On the pure feeling side, I'd have to say that the A never won me over, I always felt like I was talking myself into it. IMHO it is a decent looking car, but not very distinctive. Performance was ok, but not very thrilling ... I am definitely with the prior poster who said there was not much push over 60 or 70 ( the CVT was a lot more fun, but I am shy of new technology ... i.e. CVT with so much hp/torque). I also did not feel that the A was that hot in 0-40 zone either. The A road feel also was kind of strangely loose/sloppy. Also, the dealer experience at my local AoA shop was pretty std slick dealing, car sales crapola.
On the other hand the G grabbed me immediately in the looks dpt. and boy did my eyes pop at the first serious acceleration (0-40 thru 65-90 ???) and 3g freeway merge cloverleaf maneuver during the test drive. I have really gotten jazzed about RWD feel (have not driven RWD since my '72 Dodge). To me the G just stands out in handling, acceleration and general aesthetics. I would also say that the Infiniti dealer experience was actually enjoyable for me, best by far of any I have had in 22 years.
Anyway, the good news is we can all get the cars we wish to afford. Without any chest beating, I am able to afford cars in most major categories, and after driving more that 10 vehicle makes/models, am a very happy G owner. My biggest automotive anxiety is getting past my 1k break in period so I don't feel so bad pushing this car to it's very enjoyable limits.
happy driving
It does help mileage a lot.
As for options, I strongly recommend the NAV system. I live three miles from work and make six turns but still, it was just too cool not to have. Good luck, you just can't go wrong with any color/configuration G35 you choose!
- Holding single button can affect a device in two ways only - during the power-on, or after the power on. Holding after did not work, so I tried holding it in the power on sequence.
My mistake. I guess I must have been cross eyed reading A4 instead of A6. I would have to agree with everyone on this board that the G35 would be a better pick over the A6 from a financial perspective as well as performance (over the 3.0).
Blinker indicated that he had problems after the warranty...as most cars do (something about Murphy's law there). I had a Sabb 900 turbo that was the same way before I got my A4. However, I leased my A4. So my maintenance is fully covered under warranty. Hopefully I won't be spending my time at the dealership with a loaner!
Yes, the Infiniti service far outweighs that of Audi (from what I have read). However, I made it a point to speak with the Service Manager when I got my vehicle...had that gone shabby I wouldn't have picked up the pen to sign. Nonetheless I will agree with all of you on that point as far as service is concerned.
But I guess we can wait and see what the cars are like in 3-4 years. Of course I will be turning mine in and picking up something new. Who knows what then.
Oh..and let's not get started on leasing vs. buying for crying out loud.
Enjoy your G's evrybody as much as I will enjoy my A4!!!
I am leaning toward the regular suspension, but just need to know.
How are you owners finding the willow leather?
Does it get dirty quickly?
At 1200 miles I took my car in to have the oil changed. Not necessary, I just like to run synthetic. When I made the appointment (for first thing in the morning) they asked if I wanted a loaner. I said "Why, you're doing and oil change. How long will that take?" I was told about an hour and informed that a car doesn't leave the service department until the mechanic checks all the fluids and completes a general inspection. When I pointed out the car was only three weeks old, I was told that this was Infiniti and a car didn't leave the service department until they were satisfied everything was ok. They even offered to wash it. All for the price of an oil change which, by the way, was exactly the same price I used to pay at Jiffy Lube for a synthetic oil change on my SUV.
By the way, all the loaner cars were I35's but they told me they were going to have some G35 loaners in a couple of weeks. I laughed at the thought of them putting some old lady who brought her I30 in for service in a G35. Kinda Scarry.
- exterior : The car has style...excellent
- Interior : Very nice design....Looks good
- Ride : A bit stiff for people who are not interested in preformance and looking more into luxo-mobiles. I guess thats why its called sports sedan.
- Value : Probably why its in the driveway now
- Engine : POWERFULL.....VQ reliability
- Tranny : Still getting used to the 5 speed auto, seems like it shifts way too often.
Other top notch virtues: Stability + handling
All in all, the best car for this price range. In fact this car feels like its 10k-20k (canadian) more expensive that its worth.
Having owned two other VQ engines, i know that these will last at least more than 200,000km+ without ANY problems. Not minor and Not major.
Best car for the price range, if anything, its a bit too sporty for some buyers.
2003 G35 canadian premium (which includes winter package, xenons, full spare, etc.)..regular suspension setup.
It is pretty much the same engine, but its probably tuned differently. I haven't looked at any dyno graphs yet to check out the power distribution across the rev band.
I'm sure that there are few technical differences that justify the added torque, slightly more power and possibly mainly the aggressive tranny and gear ratios which account for the differences in gas milage.
i dont' see any flaws, its a 260HP 260ft.lb torque engine and the VQ engines are known for their efficiency. Do they not usually make it to the world's top 10 engines becuase of their combination of Power+Smoothness+Efficiency? At least the 3.0L VQ was.
As a potential owner, I definately am concerned about the mileage that is being seen by owners. Taking advantage of 260hp is great, but so is buying a Japanese car so that when you set the cruise at 75 you are getting 26+mpg
The fact is that 3.5L is a lot of volume and to get that 260hp/260torque you have to make sacrifices. Comparing to a Corvette isn't an apples and apples comparison because it is lighter and has MUCH taller gearing which allows it to cruise on the highway at 70mph at about 1800RPM. Yeah, you will get better gas milage in a situation like that...
We also have a Dodge Durango and it gets 12-14mpg city and ~15-16mpg highway. If we get on the gas at ALL we can easily see the south side of 12mpg. But then again, it isn't in the same class as the G35 either.
Let's look at the numbers:
G35 (19/26mpg)
~15000 miles per year
19mpg = 790 gallons @ $1.75ea = $1382.50
21mpg (best est. overall) = 715 @ $1.75 = $1251.25
26mpg = 580 gallons @ $1.75ea = $1015.00
Difference between worst case and best case senario's = $367.50 / 52 weeks = ~$7/week
Acura 3.2TL Type-S (same HP, lower torque, less acceleration(!), better mpg's, 19/29mpg)
~15000 miles per year
19mpg = 790 gallons @ $1.75ea = $1382.50
23mpg (best est. overall) = 655 gallons @ $1.75 = $1146.25
29mpg = 520 gallons @ $1.75ea = $910.00
Difference between worst case and best case senario's = $472.50 / 52 weeks = ~$9/week
Real world driving mpg's (based on best est. overall mpg's) difference between the "better" mpg Acura and G35 = $105.00 per year. Sorry, but the mpg numbers just don't make enough of a difference for me to sacrifice the enjoyment I get out of driving this wonderful car so that I can save $100-200 per year in gas bills.
BTW, here in Memphis, TN, premium gas is selling for ~$1.55/gallon, which means that the difference for me is even less...
Smiles while driving? = ~Priceless...
Scott
PS. However, when/if Honda ever actually delivers that hybrid concept car that has 400hp and gets 42mpg, THEN I'll consider changing...
How many Vette drivers pull 24 mpg combined? Honestly. You ever taken a V8 out and really slammed it around for half an hour. Your gas is gone. If you're judicious you can get those numbers but if you're opening up the throttle, you'll never see anything north of 15 mpg.
>>Please spare me all you "purists". The G35 is a performance sedan. It competes with the 3 series. Almost all modern V6s get at least mid 20s mpg. I am not complaining about city surburban driving. I'm talking about the long trip on cruise control.. If one get something around 19-20 mpg, the performance sedan is not performing.<<
You bought a performance sedan and now you're complaining about the mileage? If you got a Ferrari 360 Modena would you moan that it lacks a rear seat too or requires extensive work?
>> The G35 should be able to provide both types of performance. Maximas and Altimas get upper 20s (same engine)<<
Tuned differently, different gear ratios and with different exhausts. Good grief.
>> and TL/CLs get near 30 is this situation. <<
Now you're talking about a torque-less FWD car with Honda's penchant for snooze-inducing 5th gear ratios? If you want your G to pull those high numbers guess you'll have to change the good ole ratios.
>>If there is a problem here, Infiniti should know it and maybe make adjustments. <<
I'm pretty certain those crafty kids at Infiniti are well aware of how their ratios are impacting MPGs. They probably weighed it all and decided they'll go for on-tap performance and a shorter 4th and 5th, thus sacrificing the mileage you so desperately crave. If you want to get 30 MPG with a 260 HP/260 lb-ft torque car I guess you'll have to make some adjustments to the transmission or change your driving style.
>>I want good handling, good acceleration (when i choose) and reasonable cruising mileage. <<
I want Porsche 911 Turbo performance in an M5 style car with a Hyundai price and Lexus reliability. You can wish in one hand and...(I think you know the rest).
>>Bluedotguy. If you want to be a purist, go buy your M3 <<
I'm an ardent fan of the G, bub. You're the one knocking it over something you KNEW to be an issue before you bought the car. You bought the G with its 19/26 sticker and knew those numbers represented sedate driving with shifts at 2100 rpms and cruising at 55-60. Perhaps you'd be happier with the TL-S...it's got some measure of performance and your Holy Grail 29-30 MPG freeway numbers.
I have a car that's supposed to get 25 city/31 highway. I consistently get 24-25 mpg with 40/60 driving. Of course I almost never shift before 4000 rpms and I don't mind paying 1.90 a gallon for premium because I enjoy pushing my car and I recognize it's my driving style that nets those numbers.
Maybe you should take a little responsibility for your choices? You bought the G (know the numbers) and you drive it in a manner that's obviously not conducive to generating EPA mileage. Live with it.
Hmmm, maybe I should update my numbers (used those that CR uses). Still wouldn't make a bit of a difference for me with regard for my decision or the top end ~$200 difference per YEAR between the Acura and G35...
Scott
Way I see it, 10 years ago I was paying $1 a gallon for regular, so paying close to $2 for premium in SoCal seems like inflation's not that bad.
Paul
El Cajon, California
No I have not bought yet. I will buy a 6 speed. Hopefully Infiniti will be sensible enough to make 6th a bit taller than the auto 5th and therefore I will get better highway mileage. For the record as i have said in the past I am not concerned about in town driving. But the highway mileage is a range issue (not economic) issue for me....
Ok all you purists fire away.
ya know on ZCAR there was one purist who was very concerned the new 350Z was too cheap. Not exclusive enough....geez
I have 1300 miles on my G35. I drive highway, city and a lot of rush hour. For the first 1000 miles I averaged around 20.5 which I considered pretty good. With the engine broken in, I changed to synthetic oil (my favorite) and reset the fuel economy. For the last couple hundred miles or so, I have been averaging 22.6. I can't ask for more than that although it still seems to be improving. I might add, I am well known for my lead foot, so this car isn't being babied.
Finally, any comparison to Acura is bogus. If you want to compare the TL, compare it to the I35 front wheel drive family car, not the G35. Even then, IMO, the TL comes up short.
The bottom line - the numbers were on the sticker. If you get within three or four mpg of the EPA mileage, you are doing well - in any car. Considering you saved from $5k to $10k over anything remotely comparable, you should be able to live with the gas comsumption. Assuming you drive 15,000 miles a year (above avg), pay $2 a gallon for gas (very high), you get 22mpg and wish you got 26mpg, that's an extra $8/week in gas costs. You bought a $30k+ automobile!!!!! QYB...
I agree the gas mileage isn't great but it's good enough. If the G35 (my next car - coupe) averages 24 mpg. in the real world, that sounds about right. Even though the G35 has a 5-speed automatic, it's gearing is such that you guys are getting 0-60 in 6.2 sec. as opposed to mine that takes about a second longer.
I don't see where the complaining is coming from. If anyone here wanted a car w/ better gas mileage, why didn't you buy that car? Geez, let me think... RWD/260HP/Roomy/Handles great/Cheaper than competitors. Oh, I see why you bought the G35...so quit complaining, thanks.
http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2133.shtml
But Motorweek and its reviews is very reminiscent of the Wings series of aviation shows on the discovery channel... No matter how much evidence is stacked to the contrary given historical performance... That particular show was always able to put a very positive spin on any plane
If the aircraft was Particularly horrible, you always new it because they ended the show with positive words to the effect i.e. "Despite its moderate drawbacks, the XXX still had the distinction of the most runway taxi miles of any aircraft in WWII... Because of this, it was truly a great plane!" *laughing*
Faenor/Dane4
our 1995 3.0L VQ maxima has "real-life" fuel consumption rating equal and sometimes better than our 1996 accord 4 cyl (non vtec).
and i seem to recall that the 3.0L VQ was praised for the combination of power and fuel efficiency.
however, the G35's engine seems much louder than our maxima 3.0VQ and our QX4 3.5VQ!!!!
the shifts are not as "Seemless" either...
ok i know this is just knit picking. Its a great car and top notch engineering.
any comments and feedback?
Winter Package - Sport
Heated front seats and outside mirrors, all-season P215/55VR17 17-inch tires, full-sized spare tire with matching alloy wheel,
Maybe they work from the heated seat control automatically...
G35, Premium,Winter,sunroof,Nav,Xenon,Wood. MSRP for that setup is $36,185 and invoice price is about $32,600.
I got an offer at $34,185 which seems pretty good. My question that I know next to nothing how they end up at a lease payment and if they are tacking on a lot of money there.
The lease quote was for 36 mo, 12K mileage and $5,000 down and the price was $412 inc. tax
I need to lease the car since I will need a larger car in a few years with kids and stuff and going against grain with larger down payment because I like the lower montly payments because I am self-employed and don't necessarily get a check every two weeks.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks
you got 260HP and 260ft.lb to help you remember that its well worth burning every liter you put into the G35.
Go to leaseinfo.com and click on Start, lease calculator.
I meant to say leaseguide.com
The pricing you mention through VPP in your earlier post was MSRP of $34,925, and your cost of $30,160. $4,795 discount from MSRP through VPP? Is there a typo in these numbers somewhere?
Looks like you and I are looking at the same vehicle options etc. Where did you negotiate a price of 34185? Wouldn't be in the South East by any chance would it. Has anyone gotten any significant discount off MSRP in the SE region. While I agree the G35 package and price are nice, I haven't paid MSRP for a car lately and don't want to if I can help it.
This means the two choices are 225/50-17, which is about 1.5% smaller diameter, and 225/55-17, about 1.5% larger. Both are probably OK.
I was looking for some increased grip and turn-in response. A slightly rougher ride is OK, but I didn't want a noisy tire. The Pilot Sport A/S got good marks on tirerack.com, and I was looking for any G35 owner who had used these tires.
-- Joe
Her Prius: "AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!... Go Faster!"
My G35: "AAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!... Slow down!"
Everyone needs to remember that next time they think about gas mileage, You can't have your cake(gas) and eat(ignite) it too... :P
Faenor/Dane4
"in a race, It's enough to make you the first loser" :P
---
"Its not the car, its the driver that counts"
"That's true, but what counts more is the G35 is the best car AND it has the best driver..." :P
---
"Braking distance isn't all that significant..."
"Yup, right up to the point where you make contact..." :P
---
"What kind of mileage does it get?" *sarcastically*
"1000 smiles to the gallon" :P
---
"It looks funny"
"I think you look funny too, but you're ok aren't you?"
"I don't like it, I don't like the way the rear end looks"
*I bit my tongue, harassment laws and all that*
---
"Why did you get a white one?"
"I didn't, it used to be blue, but I hit a corner and pulled so many G's the color flew off" :P
---
"The heat protector material here under the hood is not as nicely done as on the Audi"
"You're really grasping at straws aren't you?" :P
---
"Its not all that much cheaper..."
"Ever notice how they won't let you into a concert if you're short a quarter on the admission? Define 'not much cheaper'"
---
"But it's Japanese, it doesn't "talk" to you while driving like a bimmer"
"It does, you just don't understand Japanese, Verstehen Sie?"
Everything of course was in more than good natured jest... I just thought it awfully funny going head to head with the German auto "Clique" LoL!
Faenor/Dane4
Gas milege = 20 mpg (half city/hwy)
My smiles per gallon = priceless
Tony,
Thanks!