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Comments
Qx4, compared to my VQ30 and 5 speed manual, I thought the G35 was much smoother. But maybe I just lack ability, or patience. Maybe both. I'm not sure how it compares with other Nissans, but I thought it was noticeably better than an auto Audi S4 I test drove recently.
Gas mileage. I agree with those who think it could be better. But if the cost were the determining factor, I'd probably drop the premium, sports, xenon combo I've been looking at and just go with a base model.
rshaw11, that brings me to the VPP. It's the vehicle purchase program by Nissan corp for suppliers and other vendors. The nice part is -- even if you qualify for the vendor discount, it's up to the dealers to decide if they want to offer it. Until today, all 3 in Dallas were telling me they weren't even though the corporate program was approved for the G35 upon introduction in March. I got a call from one of them offering the VPP on base models, but not the premiums. They claimed to have 50-60 on the lot to chose from. Since I had money to buy when the first ones arrived, and they told me to wait, I figure I'll offer them the same thing and wait a couple of months to see if I can get the program price. Plus it'll give me a chance to go check out the new Passat W8 and hopefully get some more info on the M45. Maybe the info on the Infiniti Navigator package or whatever it was called will better understood. I'm still mostly confused by what is supposed be "standard" on the G35 with the fall offering (HP up to 285?)
Scott
"When the engine coolant temperature and outside air temperature are low, the air flow from the foot outlets my not operate. Air my flow from the "DEF" outlet. However, this is not a malfunction. After the coolant temperature warms up, the air flow from the foot outlets will operate normally."
Makes me think it is smart enough to turn on the mirror defrosts. I do know it won't blow cold air unless I manually override the auto settings. The mirrors must take the same "hint" and just do their thing. There was no mention that I could find of how to activate or deactivate the heated mirror option specifically.
Scott
Still, it has made me a verrrry happy G owner
Desert Plat, Premium, Winter, Xenons, Wood, no Nav
realsox3: Have you driven the TL-S. The G35 feels quicker around town and has more room. I could not even fit in the TL drivers seat (6'3") without my head literally leaning in towards the sunroof. Then there are styling issues. I personally like the G35 better from every angle than the TL. I felt the G35 drove better (smoother/quieter/faster) and looked better; plus of course I could fit in it.
OK, I can say more...
I picked up my Desert Platinum/Willow leather/no sunroof G35 last Wednesday (got a great deal!), slapped on my Maxima's new performance tires and 17x8 alloys and left So. Cal. for the Napa Valley on Thursday.
Avoided the Freeways and the cruise control as much as possible to help with the break-in, but still didn't baby it too much. Fuel mileage 21-23 mpg with spirited driving, about 2-3 less than my '98 Maxima SE (auto) would have gotten...not bad for a new, much more powerful car. The handling is phenomenal even without the sport package (the 235/45x17 Firestone rubber helps of course).
Half way through the twisty Big Sur coastal area we got into a "contest" with a BMW 528i Sport who wanted to see if I could keep up with him through the tight curves and narrow bridges...we chewed on his back bumper until the road straightened just enough to allow our extra ponies to wake up. Bye-bye Beemer! Ok, that was my wife driving and me trying not to get carsick...damn her luck for it being her turn at the wheel.
Final thoughts...this is what "having your cake and eating it too" is all about!
Thanks for posting on your deals. Keep those numbers flowing guys it will give those of us yet to take the plunge more negotiating power. I live in Greeville SC and personally know the Manager at the local Acura/ Infiniti dealer. Because I'm looking at a loaded model, he didn't think he could do better than 500 off MSRP. While I like the guy, Money is Money and I will travel to save an extra 1k if needed.
I have linked this discussion into that folder, but it will always reside here in Sedans.
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
KarenS
Host
Owners Clubs
MSRP 36,185 Selling Price 34,185. Down payment 5,000. No money factor or residual percentage given. So, from previous posts, let's assume that the money factor is 0.00255 and that the residual percentage is 58%.
Depreciation charges are ((34185-5000) - (0.58x36185))/36 = $228 per month.
Interest charges are ((34185-5000) + (0.58x36185)) x 0.00255 = $128 per month
Total = $356 per month; with 6% sales tax it's $377 per month.
So that makes about $35 per month in fees, or $1260 over the life of the lease . . . so something is wrong.
Coolg, how about you help me out again?
tpell1, how about posting the money factor and the residual?
I believe that here in Southern California Infiniti is leaning heavily on dealers to stick to msrp on the G35 with the threat of cutting future allotments. A few dealers outright said that couldn't go lower, some offered small AAA discounts ($400 to $700). One offered to match the CarsDirect price (about 1k off a higher content car) listed in my area but admitted to taking heat for it.
I went directly to the fleet manager of the dealer where I had found my rare car (I had been already been told no to less than msrp on several earlier visits there by salesmen) with an offer. Since I didn't have a trade-in, she had to work a little "accounting magic" to hide my discount while still showing a msrp sale!
Dealer here have the cars and want to sell them, but act like their hands are tied. You might need to find other ways to get some money back (free or cheaper dealer add-ons, more generous trade-in $$$, free servicing, extended warranties, etc.) rather than asking for a straight discount.
Good luck!
BTW, a good resource is leasecompare.com
The lease prices appear to be slightly on the high side but it gives us an upper bound for negotiations with dealers.
Good luck with your search.
Well, you'd think by now I could read and type numbers or something. With the Infiniti sticker sitting right in from of me.
MSRP 28,950
Premium Package 2,200
Winter Package 630
Sunroof 1,000
Xenons 550
Wood Trim 250
destination chg 545
Total 34,125 (just as you said)
The original what I paid $$'s were right.
I got the car at Infiniti of Pleasanton in the East Bay, N.Cal.
Also, whats the deal on switching to a synthetic oil at the first fluid change, sounds like a few of you have really got religion on this subject
http://www.auto.com/industry/ghosn25_20020425.htm
Or another way to look at it - Nissan and Renault have merged in all but the name.
Also, I am reading that highly optioned cars are in demand. If you want one of the less loaded cars, you might be able to get a good discount, especially as stocks build up and the car gets a bit less "hot". Use Cars Direct or another on line service to request pricing from a variety of dealers. The fleet managers respond quickly with pricing and you might be able to play one dealer against another.
These things are old news to frequent readers, but some of you newer folks might find them useful.
Good Luck, its a great car!
Only two things are inevitable, death and taxes...
Scott
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/
Here is a link to his FAQ about synthetic oils. Looks like I will be buying Mobil 1 for my next (first) oil change.
http://pub27.bravenet.com/faq/show.php?usernum=2240725418&password=&catid=1381&action=showcat
Also, he has an interesting link (buried in the web page (see above link) just above) for a product to keep the engine clean and running well. See below:
http://www.auto-rx.com
Hope the rest of you find these links interesting. I did when it comes to keeping my G35 running in top for (for MANY years to come).
Scott
PS. I have no financial interest in any of the links/firms above. I also do not make any claims as to the accuracy of the information, just state that it is my OPINION that the information seems good. (Don't you just hate this litigous society...
Frankly, I was dissapointed by how the car looks and the interior ergonomics. Nothing seemed to inspire a "sport sedan" image. The exterior look was too "chunky" for my tastes. Besides the much criticized rear end, I am not a fan of extra-wide chrome around windows and front grill (prefer "shadowline" trim). The side body panels and doors also seemed oversized, flat and "chunky". Sorry I can't articulate better, but I know what I like when I see it and the exterior of the G35 is way, way down on the list that I would put the BMW 3 or 5 series near the top of.
I also found the seats and interior aesthetics less than inspiring. When the salesman indicated that the weakly bolstered, high riding seats were "sport" seats, I took him into the parking lot and had him sit in my S2000. Granted, not a fair comparison, but that's what a sport seat is. I would never mistake the seats in the G35 for the sport package ones in a 330i or 530i. The rest of the interior was ho-hum. Not bad materials or workmanship, just not aesthetically inspiring.
Please be assured that I am a big Nissan/Infiniti fan. I have a 1995 Maxima SE 5-speed with 124k miles that runs like new (thereby enabling me to get an S2000 as a fun car). It's just that I was hoping to see something in the G35 that would give me an alternative to BMW for my nest sedan purchase. To me, the G35 looked and felt like an alternative to an Acura TL-S or Lexus ES instead (neither of which I would ever consider). I'm not sure that the upcoming six speed will be able to overcome this first impression. I am still interested in giving it a test drive, however.
Has anyone here actually been leaning towards a BMW 3 or 5 series (especially manual transmission, sport package versions) and been pursuaded to go with a G35 instead. If so, enlighten me on your thoughts. Thanks.
One question in the brochure when the show the interior the security light by the clock says security to the right of the security LED in white letters. Does any body has this, mine doesn't? Personally I think it looks better (cleaner) without, I’m just curious.
At the dealer they had a Silver/Willow with sports package. First sports package I've seen at my dealer. I saw every color but blue so it looks like that is the rare color right now. In the showroom the also has another Silver/Willow with custom wheels and tires and extra wood inside. One thing I found horrible about the wood was the car did not have the winter package yet the wood had the cutouts for the heater seat buttons. So there’s wood on the console and there’s these 2 black rectangle cutouts right there it really looks terrible. Do they make the wood without these cutouts and the dealer just doesn’t have a clue or what? I did like the extra wood on the windows/lock switches that looks pretty good, IMHO.
Personally, having been a "car person" for many years, I still like to take it easy for the first 1K and then change the oil. My thoughts on this are that if there is going to be any debris at all, it will come loose in the beginning.
At 1K, I change to synthetic. IMO, there is nothing you can do for an engine that is more important than keeping it properly lubricated. Currently, synthetics are the best available so that's what I use. If you do use a synthetic, be sure it is an "ester" based synthetic. This type adheres to surfaces better and provides the best lubrication on start up.
Speak for yourself. I have a son who's only about 5 years your junior and am thinking that as hot as the Sedan might be, I'm waiting for the G35 Coupe and have reoccurring visions of an SVT Lightning as my next truck.
I'm just over 900 mi (just over 1 week old...heh).
Mileage: Last tank
25% city
25% 2 lane with aggressive passing
50% highway trip @ 81 mph
21.2 mpg (I will try next tank with AC on ECONO to see if it makes a diff)
I have to check, but I think the EPA does their ESTIMATES at 65 mph (who can go that slow in this car)
I did notice that the G35 is more susceptible to cross winds than my previous A6 was (this is probably because the A6 weighs about 600lbs more!!)
The most surprising thing that was listed was that Mobil 1, though it SAYS "100% synthetic" on the front, it really isn't. After the "100% synthetic", it has an asterick and on the back is a matching asterick that says something like, "... exclusive of carrier oil". However, the Mobil 1 web site claims that their product is so good that you should be able to go to the maximum interval, as recommended by the manufacturer, between oil changes, regardless of how you drive. Hmmm...
The problem is that, apparently, about 96% of Mobil 1 is a petroleum-based "carrier oil". This means that only about 4% of Mobil 1 is actually synthetic.
Apparently, the term "synthetic" is only a marketing term that has no legal (or oil content) standing. Almost any oil can claim to be "synthetic" if they have SOME synthetic materials. UGH!
He also has some links on his "... oil shearing" link that shows how different oils perform.
Finally, he has a link to http://www.synlube.com which claims to be a 100% pure synthetic oil (it should be at the price they are charging...) and, when used in combination with their special oil filter, NEVER needs to be changed, just kept topped off. Pretty amazing, if true. Any brave souls out there?
I think I'll use something like Schaefer's synthetic oil and actually DO oil changes.
Scott
PS. Standard legal disclaimer: I have no financial interest and make no claims about the validity of what the listed web sites claim. Use as your own risk. Etc. Etc. Etc.
We are at 2700 miles on the car and she loves it. She thought it was a fantastic traveling car, not tiring at all.
I see an oil change coming up in about 2-3 weeks...
Scott
I've been a BMW fan for years, and it took me a couple of drives, and three visits, to get used to the G style. ONce I got used to it, I really started to enjoy it. The ride was different; first time out, it was real good. Different from, for example, a sport pkg. 5 series, closer to the regular suspension and clearly taking aim.
I've gotten to think of the BMW design as "classic," and the G design as contemporary. All I can say is try it again. Obviously, it's not meant for everybody.
Take care.
Joe W.
I just got back from a 2700 mile trip (Tampa>New Orleans>Huntsville>Knoxville>Atlanta>Melbourne)in a loaded Millenia (rental w/3000 miles on it). When the roads were smooth, it was VERY quiet and solid. But when the road was grainey (esp that gravel base surface - UGH!!), it was SO LOUD! (I've been in less noisy 737's!!!) It got very OLD very very fast. One of the reasons I knocked the Altima off my list was that the reported road noise was rather loud.
BTW, For SE folks, you HAVE to go on route 129! (runs from TN (so of Knoxville) through the very western tip of NC, into GA. I only wish I was in a G35, or S2000, or ANY roadster! Man-o-Man, what a twisty, beautiful, and hair-raising road!
Speedracer was so right...DON'T test drive the G35 until you are ready to buy. Like him, I can't quit thinking about this vehicle!
Allen (;>D)
This isn't a shot at the design, and not meant as an insult to BMW owners. Perhaps someone could point out the details that I am obviously missing.
This certainly explains why some people bought Yugos and Heather Locklear married Tommy Lee.
As for the Bimmer, there's something feline and sinewy about them. The wheels pushed to the corners help with that image, but its the bulging fenders and the limited amount of rubber with 18s that really helps solidy that image of purposeful, restrained, almost elegant power waiting to pounce. Every time I see a 3 series I think of tiger or leopard crouched, waiting to lunge forward for the kill. The multiple character lines etched down the sides of the car keep it from having the typical slab-sides that seem to mar 99% of the vehicles on the road. It's a stunning combination of angles and curves as the 3 series really doesn't have much in the way of horizontal or vertical surfaces. Every portion of the body seems to lean or bulge -the M3 takes this to a whole new level making it the most striking car on the road, IMHO.
Once inside the car, it's all about the most important person: the driver. Everything falls to your fingers instantly. Every switch feels solid. There are no seams. Parts fit tightly and in an austere, yet borderline luxurious manner. No extra frills. No stupid Lexus-esque doodads or busy, Caddy-like touches. The interior's geared toward making the driver happy and giving him control of his car.
But that's just me. I love German designs (MB, BMW, Porsche, Audi) and can't think of a single American or Japanese car made today that even comes close to having the same purposeful, yet striking designs inside and out. NSX, S2000, G3430, 350Z, Skyline GT-R all look like cheap toys even next to a humble A4.