Finally went out to drive one. All they had ready to go was the AUTO, which since I'm an OLD fart ( Almost 42 ) and Not really intersted in the Manual anymore, I was happy with. So out I went to see what the car was all about.

Impressions: Interior was nice, but not really on par with Acuras.
Gauges where all nicely placed; this one had
the NAVI. I like how it disappears into the dash.

Engine was Nice, but did NOT have the Howl of
our engine. Course I have a few extras on mine
so that had to be factored in as well. I loved the
feel of the rear wheel drive and the Cornering was
--as most have commented, EXCELLENT ! Turning
radius was a NICE suprise. Much less that our
"Boatie" front wheel drive Turning Radius.
I did NOT get above 65. The Infiniti is in a busy
part town, but this auto felt just a shade
slower than mine; course it could be the howl of
our engine that helped substantiate that feeling,
and as I've said: I have a few extras on mine.

Dissappointing that the Brembo Package DOES
NOT come on the AUTO cars. That is a Huge
minus. The car is just gorgeous from a profile and
it does handle well. The interior is NOT as bad as
a few have stated, just not on par with CL-S.

Would I trade mine for this ? No, not really, cars
are still too close in performace to go trading up,
but I admit $$ is driving that decision.

Right NEXT door is the BMW Dealership. Now there is where my heart was REALLY pounding. M3/M5s in the Show room !

House is paid off in 4.5 years. Wife and I are already talking: M3 will be our Mortgage celebration: Hopefully.

 

Caddy, did you feel it was larger or smaller than the CL for inside space?

 

Were you in Chattanooga??

There is something about the J32A2 engine which brings about a definite appeal and subsequent (and possibly unwarranted) dissatisfaction with other fine engines.

 

good review. I've never driven the auto G. Surprised about the engine note not being great...that's something i really enjoy about my car; it has a a deep throaty sound to it...maybe they don't share the same exhaust?

42 is an old fart? nah...55 is gettin into fart territory.

 

try www.infiniticrossovers.com

my site =) I love the G35.. but its more of a loaner car (and thats what I get for a loaner when mine gets serviced) i like the Acura CL better interior wise.. havent driven one yet =)

 

the g35 is more of a loaner car? that's kind of a snotty thing to say.

 

not snotty.. its just like what caddy said.. the interior just has this weird feel to it.. like a loaner car would. like i said... I love the G35... so dont get me wrong there... but 350z is sporty and the interior is nicer. =)

 

ha ok well then we agree on something then I guess when I think of someone referring to loaner cars, i usually think of a cheap base model car that no one wants to be in. The G is a relatively expensive car...hence my 'snotty' comment...sorry...misunderstood you I guess.

 

I would agree that the VQ motor doesn't growl like the J32A2. No argument there. I do miss that, especially when in the upper rpms and the CAI really starts to make some noise as well.

I haven't driven the auto, so I can't comment on the acceleration etc. but I can say without a doubt that my manula G is faster than my slushbox CLS. It doesn't sound faster, but just looking at the speedometer and noticing how quickly I get up to speed, there's definitely more power.

I really wish I didn't have problems with my '02. Damn, I miss that car.

 

has anyone listened to the g and z side by side? i'm just curious if the exhaust tone is different because my Z growls like mad; especially on WOT.

 

I haven't really gotten on my G yet, so I can't honestly comment on what it does sound like. I just crossed 300 miles today.

 

Hey Steve !

Yea, good ole Chattanooga, TN. Brainerd Road. Busiest street in the whole darn town.

Yep, Sound of our engine is still intoxicating. I can only imagine that the SC is the icing on the Cake.

PAPPY

It definately feels smaller Interior wise, and the Trunk is Super Small, but you can lay down the backseats for the space you need if your a twosome going on a trip. you can't do that in the CL-S. Front Seats hug you very nicely in the G35. No complaints here.

ZeroDay

Thanks, 55 ! Why you are definately an OLD fart then aren't you ! ?

FX45 Girly

I like the Looks of that Infinity FX45/35. Love the Wheels on those things and the Interior is just stunning. Alas my wife, whos got the "ITCH" for a Landrover Discovery just hates em.

I dont' get that same feel that G35 is "loaner" just that my Car, given all the Ammenities is just too close in every area to do that kind of a "tradeup". What's .2 or .3 seconds in the whole scheme of life ?

I would love to consider the SC, but the only other thing that I'm really thinking about at this point is ROTORA Brakes. I'm just a happy camper when it comes to my CL-S. Couldn't be more pleased.

SCRIB

That G35 is a fine Car, I'm sure that the 6Speed is all the more "BETTER" in performace. I would have loved to have taken it on a twisty course. If I would have been serious about trading up, trust me: I would have.

Here's another interesting comment my wife made. She stated that the G35 somehow seemed more of a Female sports car. Now before all you guys get your speedos in a wad, I don't necessarily agree, but it does have that UNISEX look. I think it fits the image of both sexes very well. Don't even know if that makes sense, but hey, I'm just throwing it out there.

I dont' think I can make that same statement with the CL-S, it just doesn't feel like it could fit both sexes like the G35. Mind you, I think of that as a PLUS for those in the G35, but, then again, the guys probably don't like to hear that sort of thing.
Oh it's probably just all in my head.

 

same thing happened to me. drove the G35, fell in love w/ RWD, drove the FX45, then the E500 and then landed in a 740iL sprt

 

haha in the real world no, i'm 29, but on this board i am considered by some to be ancient...lots of young whippersnappers here . I hang out with some 35/37 yr olds and I guess I don't see them as 'old heads'.

 

Once again, I'm the VICTIM of speed reading

My Bad

ah to be 29 again, on the precipise of youth, hopefully coming into an excellent decade thats a blend of youth and wisdom.

40s: I'm just hoping Wisdom takes some firm root and doesn't leave me !

Back to that G35. The Brilliant Silver color just didn't look as Impressive as our Silver.

I think the Diamond Graphite would look Very Nice.

I drove a RED one, and it looked Marvelous.

Best Color IMHO that I saw today: Caribbean Blue, Laser Red is a VERY CLOSE 2nd !

 

I drove both, and stock for stock the G seemed faster than the CLS when both are automatics. I think a CLS6 would take an auto G, but that was based on a butt-dyno, so who knows... on similar test drive courses the CLS6 was worlds more fun than the other 2, so here I am.

As for engine note, I did like the G sound better than the CL Auto, and I liked the G about the same as the CLS6 (which they say does have a differently tuned engine note, and I'd agree). What I like about the CL over the G35 is the quitness in the cabin when you're not working the engine - for idling and normal cruising, the engine noise is much lower in the CLS than the G35. My AEM CAI is on it's way, and we'll see if the idle noise stays the same, but I'm very much looking forward to hearing that VTEC snarl be even more pronounced once the CAI is in!

 

I saw a sedan today. it was a cop car in waikiki!!!

 

Wow, no Crown Vics over there

 

i've test drove the auto g35c too

the exhaust is alot throatier than the cl-s exhaust but the engine dont sound nearly as nice. the g was very nice around the corners but i usually dont take turns that fast, i just like to go fast in straight lines. i dunno maybe i'll like the twisties if i had rwd. would i ever trade my cl-s for a g?? FUCK NO

 

And, IMHO, it sounded nasty...

I loved the sound(I floored the shit out of it).

WWWWHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

Sounded awesome. I can only imagine with aftermarket pipes & intake...woo woo.

 

Since I have both sitting in the driveway, I got a good chance this afternoon to drive them back to back. IMO the G is quieter than the Auto CL-S with windows up and cruising. I only have 100 miles so no real WOT comparos yet. I still love the sound of the CL-S in high revs with CAI. What a sound. The G, from where I have had it (4000RPM maybe), had a different sound. I like the interior. I was never that enamored with the CL interior in the first place. Now, lemme say this....mine is black and it shows every spec of dirt. The G on the other hand is Willow and it is much lighter and I think cleaner looking. Other than not being a 6MT, I really have no complaints about my CL. I have had it 38 months and it is time to move on......