Infinity G35 6M Coupe - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blackmercedes · #1 06-09-2003, 11:13 PM

Okay, I'm slipping on my flame-proof undies for this thread.

This evening, for the first time, I had a chance to drive the G35 Coupe. To sweeten the experience, it was the 6 speed manny-tranny version.

Yowza! For those of you that feel the G35 is somehow missing some of it's 280 ponies, my seat-o-the-pants dyno says otherwise. This is one fast car. I am sure it's running 5's in the 0-60 dash. It launches hard, hooks up well, and has ratios well spaced for the torquey V-6. This car can make the speedo twist pretty rapidly.

It sure is a lot of car for the money. $50K here is less than the base for the C320, and the G35 has 18" wheels that are as nice as any aftermarket units, MASSIVE Brembo brakes that not only brake like you've thrown an anchor into the ashpalt, but look super-cool too. The Brembo label has lots of street-cred too.

The interior is very cool. Not reserved in the usual MB manner, but really innovative unlike some other Japanese cars. The materials are expensive feeling, and every gadget is included.

Handling? Is the 350Z better? It's tough to believe this car rides on no-sidewall 18" tires. The damping is perfect, and the suspension is very precise. A nice back road tool, allrighty.

Allright, I'm done gushing. What didn't I like? Tough one! The exhaust note is luxury car, not performance coupe. Could have a bit more uumph to it. Given the demographics though, maybe it's the right move.

Maybe it's just the car I drove, but the clutch was a little on/off for me. Given the performance capability, maybe a stiff clutch is needed. Feels a little too much like my old 911. (Except the pedal is not coming out of the floor!)

Rear visibility sucks, but so what! Press the loud pedal and forget most everything behind you.

Flame statement! -- I would pit this car against a W124 E500 in every performance measure without hesitation.

And here's the kicker! It's $15K less than the much-slower CLK320. It's $10K less than the definitely-slower 330Ci.

I see why they can't paint them fast enough.

#2 06-10-2003, 01:33 AM

hey john,

that 919 you lust after will leave that sled in the dust for what, about $12K canadian?

the differential could throw one heck of a shindig.

blackmercedes · #3 06-10-2003, 09:07 AM

Actually, the dealer I bought the 750ACE from has a new 2003 919 "on sale" for $9750, from MSRP of $11,000.

On the highway my wife noticed how long it takes for the ACE to pass a line of traffic. The other day she said "you need a faster bike."

Music to my ears!

Saturday afternnoon is going to be a negotiating day. btw, I checked on the added insurance on the 919, and it's not bad. Full insurance on that machine is $540 a year. I'll probably self-insure the collision part as insurance companies only pay out about 20% of the real worth of the bike anyway. That will bring the premium down to about $350, which is what I'm paying for the 750.

(I have 21 years with a bike license and 10 year claim free, 6 year ticket free, etc...)

need2speed · #4 06-10-2003, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by blackmercedes
Flame statement! -- I would pit this car against a W124 E500 in every performance measure without hesitation.

No flames here, John.

I suppose the disappointment would be if, after 13 years of development, a current model car couldn't improve upon the "classic" W124036! Sounds like a winner, though....

TTaM · #5 06-10-2003, 07:09 PM

One of the nicest cars on the road, IMO. The 919 is one of the nicest bikes on the road IMO. Actually, I say go get a Suzuki SV-1000S. Now that is a great bike...

#6 06-10-2003, 09:13 PM

I've always loved and driven small sports cars. Always been in love with the classic Zs since my brother had a 240-Z in high school.

Regardless, I LOVE the G 35 and would take it over the new Z anyday. Nissan has really come back with a lot of great products.

I noticed an earlier model Infinity today. It had door handles that would have looked more at home on a Sentra. No wonder they went so far into debt a few years back. Vanilla even at their "luxury" class.

Glad they've changed.

akry · #7 06-13-2003, 02:43 AM

Actually, I would put G35 Coupe 6MT slightly above 500E/E500 in terms of performance....... I, too, had a little drive with 5AT G35 Sedan and G35C 6MT...... And IMHO, even in stock form, G35C 6MT gives me the impression of E46 M3.... Probably not as "precise" as M3, but close enough......In fact, I found G35C to be too good.... Just way better than I expected..... The weakest part of the car would be its interior as some of the controls are just don't feel right(not totally converted for left-hand drive, IMHO), and some interior pieces are not exactly high-quality.... But for $50K fully loaded with Nav, it's a good deal..... In fact, probably best bang for the buck in the class.... Consider that a CLK320 equally equipped would be 15K - 18K more.... In CDN $$ of course... hehe

blackmercedes · #8 06-13-2003, 07:06 AM

I wasn't "comparing" the G35 to the E500 in any way, except to give people an idea of the performance of the car. Remember that while the W124 V-8 monster is an old design, it better have been good. Back in 1992 it cost $110,000CDN.

I just am amazed at the value in this car. While it's true you can get a WRX STi for the same dough, the WRX is primitive in comparision.

With equal drivers, an E46 BMW M3 would be able to show it's tailights to the G35, but not by the margin the price difference would suggest. Also, the BMW has been hit hard with reliability issues and I know a few M3 freaks that admit that the E46 is tough car to own.

However, I still think the biggest bang for the performance buck, even though it's a $70K car is the Z-06 Vette. Too bad it's a GM product. In second place, despite being $110,000 is the E55. A sedan that can run pound a 911 into the ground and give a 911TT a serious run? For less than an entry level 911? AMG won't be able to bolt those engines together fast enough to meet worldwide demand for that car, bad economy or not.

blackmercedes · #9 06-13-2003, 02:09 PM

I would love a mint early 70's 240Z. Too bad Nissan hadn't discovered a little thing called "rust proofing" yet.

For those that criticize the G35 cars for being susceptible to rock chips, you must not have driven a late model Mercedes. I can't imagine anything being worse...

placo1 · #10 06-13-2003, 03:47 PM

I'm also a fan of the new G Coupe and I must say it's about time Infiniti put out a car worth buying. I like the direction their headed and hope they continue, nice to see a Japanese manufacturer build a car that is not only reliable but also fun to drive. (No flames please!)

On another note I don't think it's fair to compare the G Coupe to a 500. Performance no doubt will be better on the G but at least the 500 has a trunk and can seat four in supreme comfort.

Now if I could convince my wife that she would look better in the G Sedan over her CRV I would be all set.

blackmercedes · #11 06-13-2003, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by placo1
Now if I could convince my wife that she would look better in the G Sedan over her CRV I would be all set.

Yeah, my wife really liked the G35, and we thought pretty hard about trading the Subaru in on it. The problem is that we have become used to not having a car payment. With the G35C equipped the way we like, it would mean financing about $25,000. Now, that's not a bad place to start when you're buying a $50,000 car, but it's still more than we want to be borrowing right now. The $850 a month is a nice thing not to have to pay when we're still a single income family.

jamesnj · #12 06-13-2003, 09:16 PM

John, thanks for the incredible review which really outshines anything I've read about the G35.

The G35 is a heavy car!!!

I'm wondering if you think the G35 is the Toyota Supra of today. From what I've read the G35 seems to fit the niche that the Supra filled in the 1980s and early 1990s. The main complaints you see in old reviews of the Supras is that they were considered by many to be too heavy. I noticed curbweight of the G35 is almost 3500lbs and the older Supras weighed in at a little over 3400lbs.

Has anyone here driven both 4th Generation Supra and this new G35? Similarities, differences?