G35 Coupe

The Infiniti G35 Coupe was first launched as a 2003 model towards the latter part of 2002. Based on the same chassis as the G35 sedan and Nissan 350Z, this vehicle was intended to be a more upscale version of the 350Z with appeal to a more mature crowd. Wheelbase was extended to allow for usable rear seats.

The model that I own is a 2005 model. It is an automatic with all of the optional equipment including Navigation, sport suspension, aero package and premium package. There are a lot of avenues for you to find out the specs of the cars, what I’m hoping to provide is experience gained from actual ownership.

2005 upgrades

Since many people do cross shop used cars with new ones, I wanted to devote a paragraph or two to pointing out the differences between the 2005 and older G35 coupes. The biggest visible difference is in the interior. In response to Press criticism about the low-rent interior, Infiniti has revised the trim level. Real Aluminum inserts replace the silver painted plastic on the center console and door handles. The clock has been moved further up in the dash so it is still visible when the Navigation screen is open. The seat back tilt lever has been relocated further up the seat side for easier reach. Lastly, the stereo system now plays MP3 CDs and has revised rotary controls for easier use.

On the exterior there are few differences to distinguish a 2005 from previous models. Those that order a sport suspension package will now have 19” forged wheels available to them. And, there are new exterior colors available for 2005. But otherwise, you’d be hard press to see any differences.

With respect to mechancials, people purchasing the 6 speed manual transmission version will get an extra 18bhp bump to 298. The automatic continues forward with 280bhp. Brembo brand brakes are no longer available as an option. While Infiniti has not officially mentioned why, owners with Brembo brakes did complain about short pad life and expense of maintenance. Lastly, a stiffer sport suspension option was made available for 2005.

If you are considering a used G35 coupe from previous years, what I’ve just talked about are the main differences. It’s up to you to determine whether a brand new car is worth the additional money.

Handling and Performance

This is perhaps the hardest thing to quantify. Performance is relative. Each person uses a different baseline for comparison. For example, if you’re moving from a Mazda Miata you’ll have a different frame of reference than if you were trading in a Toyota Camry. As a result, my opinions in this area are highly personal and based on my car ownership experiences.

I found the car to handle well but not exceptionally so. At about 3,500lbs, this vehicle is not heavy (the BMW 330i coupe is a 100lbs less and the Mercedes SL500 is 4,400lbs) but feels a bit cumbersome. It would be most accurate to say that this is a true GT car, capable of eating endless miles of highway driving in complete comfort. But nipping in and out of traffic in town may be a bit tougher. Adding to this problem is a throttle that is not linear. The first bit of movement on the pedal causes a very large change in power. When slogging through traffic, this becomes quite a chore to control gracefully. It basically makes the car lurch at times.

My car was purchased with the optional Sport suspension and lateral grip was excellent. The electronic stability control coupled with the limited slip differential made it easy and safe to take those high speed sweepers at a very high rate of speed. The Bridgestone RE050A tires have amazing grip. What does this translate to for daily drivers? Well, you’ll love freeways and on-ramps in this vehicle, you may find zipping around 90 degree corners and in tight traffic to be a bit of a chore.

Overall, it’s performance is very safe and predictable, there are no rough edges to its behavior. Left to right transition happens quickly with little drama. Again, it’s really at low speeds that the car starts to feel large and awkward.

NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness)

My car has the optional 19” tires and sport suspension so a little drop in refinement is to be expected. On worn highways, the noise generated by the high performance tires does a good job of invading the cabin. Generally, it sounds like a dull constant roar. While bumps in the road are well suppressed, you do feel them through the cabin. If you do a lot of commuting, you should consider NOT getting the upgraded sport suspension package. The regular suspension and 17” wheels will probably give a much better (and quieter) ride.

So far no rattles but the passenger seat belt buckle can rattle if the passenger seat is in a certain position relative to the buckle and the side panel. You’ll know what I mean when you own the vehicle.


Interior Controls

Excellent. Infiniti did a very good job of control placement and tactile feel. Every major system is well labeled and easy to figure out. My rule of the thumb is if I actually need to pull out the owner’s manual, the designers have failed. It should be very easy to figure out without having to study up on a feature.

Stereo system - For 2005, the stereo system has been improved with an actual rotary knob for the volume control! Much easier for quick volume adjustments. All buttons are oversized and well labeled. Plus, all are backlight at night as well.

HVAC system – My system was a fully automatic dual climate control system and so while it’s easy to adjust, I typically set the temperature and leave it be. About the only thing I’ve noticed is that the temperature setting is not accurate. Where on other cars I typically set the temperature gauge to 72 for a comfortable cabin temperature, the G35 Coupe requires that I set the temperature to 66 for a comfortable setup. Further the heating algorithm is a bit aggressive and I actually felt a bit hot and flushed before the system settled back into steady state.

Instrument Cluster – All analog (save for the transmission indicator) and easy to ready. The only oddity is the orange backlit color. I wish it was red like Audi or BMW because orange is a bit odd and out of sync with this class of vehicle. Red has been the choice for BMW and Audi because it’s the best color for night vision. It causes the least amount of fatigue for drivers when switching back and forth between instrument lightly and watching the road. Orange, well I’m not sure where orange came from.

Steering wheel controls – Infiniti did a very good job with these. Located on both sides of the steering wheel, the controls are a combination of toggle levers and press buttons. Within minutes, they become second nature to use. And trust me, you’ll use them all the time. In fact, you’ll likely wear these down to a nub and never touch the stereo system buttons again.

Fit and Finish

How important is this to you? You have to decide for yourself because the truth is, the fit and finish is not the best. It is good but not excellent. For this section, I’ll use Audi and BMW as the benchmarks. What is important to note is that fit & finish should never be equated to reliability or durability of the car. It simply means that the car has been assembled in a tight and controlled manner. I only need to point to the terrible JD Power ratings on Volkswagen and Audi to prove my point. Their cars are assembled with a level of fit and finish that would astound you, but they are still ranked very poorly in terms of total defects.

On the exterior, I found the body panel gaps to be larger than I expected for a car of this price. Further, the hood on my 2005 was misaligned a bit so that the front lip jutted out a bit. I’ve refrained from taking it back to the dealership for an adjustment because these things are so difficult to adjust correctly. The paint is good but does show a bit more orange peel than on an Audi. Lastly, the plastic gas cap cover was sunken in a bit from the surrounding body work. Again, very slight but I’m someone that notices these things.

It’s interesting to note that once you’ve lived with the car for while, you’ll also notice all of the places where money was saved as well. As an example, peek in the area where the rear license plate resides. You’ll see that the bumper is not finished completely and the foam pads underneath are exposed and can be readily seen. Peer at the lower air dam and you’ll see the same thing. Now look at the two outside mirrors and notice that the molding lines are still visible after painting. These are not things you would find with an Audi or BMW. They’re very careful about finishing off these details.

On the inside, the story improves. For 2005, the quality of the interior parts improved. The center console has real aluminum cladding and so do the interior door handles. They’re cool to the touch and add a real touch of class to the interior. The quality of the plastic bits is generally good. However, there were a couple of places where I can see where Infiniti saved some money.

One example is the plastic frame around the power window switches. Definitely low rent plastic straight out of an econobox. The lower plastic cladding on the map pocket area of the door is another. Very fragile and prone to scratching. In a more subtle way, sit in the back seat and push on the side panel where the armrest is. The panel is very flimsy with no substance to it.

The leather seats are nicely put together but I worry about the long term wear on the leather. It doesn’t feel as substantial as what I’ve seen in BMW or Jaguars. Plus, after only a couple of hundred miles on the odo, I’m starting to see stretch marks on the perforated portions of the leather. Not so good. Note, I’ve heard comments that larger people have found their right thigh pinched against the seat controls during long trips. It doesn’t affect everyone but it does affect a number of taller people. Ensure that you’ve sat in the seat for an extended period before purchasing the car because you may have no recourse afterwards (Infiniti has no fix for this issue).

Navigation System

Not all navigational systems are created equal. And for new car shoppers, it’s extremely difficult to do cross brand or cross model shopping of the navigation system. First, it’s not described in detail either on the website or in manufacturer brochures. Further, the sales person typically isn’t as educated about the system either. Lastly, as consumers we’re not really sure what to look for. Having owned three different cars with navigational system, hopefully I’ll be able to help a bit.

First, the navigation system in this car is not as good as others that I have owned. There are two fundamental “gaps” in terms of its function which made the unit less useful than the one in Lexus cars (what I consider to be the benchmark of original equipment Navigational systems).

The first problem is the lack of a touch screen. The navigation system I had in the Lexus had a touch screen. This means you can quickly type in an address, choose from multiple menu options quickly and scroll through map features easily. Touch screens have become less common because European regulations requires that the screen be a certain distance away from the driver. Because it’s out of reach, a touch screen becomes impractical. This is a shame, a touch screen makes thing go much faster.

The second problem is the lack of mapping for smaller towns. On the Lexus system, most of the cities and smaller towns are fully mapped. However, Infiniti’s system only has the biggest two cities in the area that I live. While it normally does not affect me, it does make the system less than useful when exploring in my state. I’m guessing that the licensing costs must be different as I can’t imagine it’s a storage issue. Both system use a DVD based system.

In terms of minor items, the colors defaulted for map display at night is difficult to read. The navigational joystick feels flimsy. General the ergonomics are not as good as the class leaders. Even the “voice” used is a bit off. A combination of Japanese/British accents. Very odd. Plus voice notification happens way too often, this can be very distracting at times.

On the plus side, the screen is large and bright, even in direct sunlight. It also tilts so shorter drivers can adjust it for better viewing. The system is also faster to respond with an alternate route when you’ve deviated from the suggested path.

Miscellaneous

There were certain things about the G35 that I wanted to comment on but did not have an appropriate category for. I felt these were important items so have decided to add them to a Miscellaneous section.

Storage Space – In the cabin, storage is good but not great. There is a central armrest for tossing small items such as a cell phone or PDA into. Two cup holders between the front seats can also serve as a secondary storage bin as well. Infiniti has smartly relocated the owner’s manual storage to the trunk by giving you a vinyl storage case with Velcro strips for affixing to the side of the trunk. This frees up the glove box for other items.

If you do not order the Navigation system, you’ll find that your storage possibilities increases dramatically. The upper glove box where the navigation unit resides is now empty and available. Further, the popup LCD screen is now replaced with a enclosed bin big enough for sunglasses, iPod or radar detector.

The trunk is horrible. It is very shallow and awkwardly shaped. You would be hard press to fit much more than two carry on suitcases and a backpack. If you are considering this vehicle, pay close attention to the trunk size before you purchase. You may find this to be a deal-breaker.

Lack of park distance sensor – I find it odd because you can find this option on just about every luxury and near luxury car. These are sensors that help you gauge the distance between your car and the object behind you so that you can park in tight spaces. The G35 coupe is a prime candidate for such a device because of the high trunk lid and longer than expected rear. Fortunately, you can purchase aftermarket ones if you so choose. But, I did find its absence to be strange.

Heavy doors – I don’t think this is a deficiency of the Infiniti but rather a drawback of all 2 door coupes. The doors are heavy and can be difficult to control on an incline. Further, in tight parking spaces you’ll find ingress and egress to be more challenging.

Fuel Economy - This car doesn't get great fuel economy. If you do a lot of stop and go traffic, your situation will be further aggravated. I'm currently averaging about 16mpg with a mix of freeway and in-town driving. I am not an agressive driver normally (because I'm typically commuting) but I still get fairly poor mileage figures. As gas prices continue to climb, this is something that you need to factor into your purchase decision.

Summary

Overall, the car has been a very good. I have not had any mechanical issues with the unit thus far and I’ve gotten use to the large size of the vehicle. While some of the “cheapness” of the car does bother me at times, I have taken to judging the car from an overall perspective. And frankly, overall the car has been great. It was $6K cheaper than a BMW 330ci with the same equipment and loads cheaper than the Mercedes CLK. The styling is conservative and modern. I would recommend this car to others if they were looking for a near-luxury coupe.

Amount Paid (US$): 40000.00
Condition: New
Model Year: 2005
Model and Options: Sport, Nav, Premium, Areo