Yesterday, I decided to take a Sunday afternoon stroll around Jackie Cooper Imports and was surprised to find three 2005 Q45's on their lot. They were all Premium models, two Black Obsidian with the chrome 8-spoke wheels and one Desert Platinum with the 7-spoke (FX35) wheels.
Impressions. The interior upgrades were subtle but nice. Modified seat bolstering and piping, chrome surround of the gear selector and slight contrasting panel surround for the HVAC/Audio/NAV controls to name a few. I do however prefer the Natural Wood trim of the 02-04 over the 05's darker finsh. The Blond Wood trim has been discontinued.
The exterior. Well the rear was ok. Didn't really scream Avalon but didn't immediately bring to mind G35 either. The Q45 insignia seemed to struggle for a spot on the deck lid due in part to the redesigned angled tail lamps with the new for 2005 inverted Avalon/G35 style wing reflectors. Hooray that someone in Tochigi has apparently rubbed a little pimple cream on the obtrusive rear view camera housing as it is now much smaller and mounted over the license plate instead of just to the side of it as on the 02-04's. It is not mounted directly in the center though as it is on the FX35/45 and LS430. The reworked lower valance wasn't too bad but made me want even more for either single or twin exhaust tips on both sides instead of just the twin tips on the left. Thin chrome strip around the body is okay but could live without it.
The face. After seeing the pics on the internet and in product literature, I liked it. Then I didn't like it. Back and fourth. I do. I don't. Well, I sort of. After seeing the 05 Q in person. Lower front bumper is nice with fog lamps. Love the new (different) headlamp assembly. The Grille. Jason Burtman was right! A little too in your face for me. Could have kept the 02-04 grille design or went with the updated JDM F50 Cima grille with the Infiniti emblem of course mounted in it's present location. Or even one squeezed into a more narrow G35 style grille, with the lower edge raised and moved slightly away from the crease edge of the bumper, and the upper edge lowered just the right amount.
So basically, my impressions have not changed too much from just seeing pictures of the car to actually seeing it in person. But I wanted to reserve final judgment until I got to see one live and in living color. I remember when I saw the M45 in person for the first time. Black with chrome wheels. Ooooh! Nonetheless, I'd still rather have a 05 Q45 than an A8 or Phaeton, 745, XJ8, LS430, or S430/500 of the same year.
Danisiti 1
Modified by TgduMg at 5:05 PM 9/29/2004
Arrival of the 05 Q
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driverdriver
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Re: Arrival of the 05 Q! (TgduMg)
Is the '05 Q a full redesign or is it a tweaking of the Q released in 2002?
Re: Arrival of the 05 Q! (driverdriver)
Just Tweaking. To tell you the truth, I realy cant tell the diference. Q should do a full redesign, that is if they dont kill the Q.driverdriver wrote:Is the '05 Q a full redesign or is it a tweaking of the Q released in 2002?
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szh
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Re: Arrival of the 05 Q! (louiegz)
They have killed it ... the 2005 is the last Q.louiegz wrote:Q should do a full redesign, that is if they dont kill the Q.
Z
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AZhitman
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I can't imagine the G35 being improved upon much... I picked up an 04 sedan (loaner) this morning, and DAMN.
I've put over 6K miles on G35 sedans (loaners) over the past 2 years and that car CONTINUALLY impresses me. Although the styling has already started to look dated (to me), it's such an incredible driver's car. Fun, fun fun.
I've put over 6K miles on G35 sedans (loaners) over the past 2 years and that car CONTINUALLY impresses me. Although the styling has already started to look dated (to me), it's such an incredible driver's car. Fun, fun fun.
Re: (Jesda)
Who would rather drive a front drive glorified Sentra then a proper RWD car with a powerful V6? This is a no brainer. The G35 is much more of a drivers car than the G20.Jesda wrote:Though some would argue that the original G20 was a better driver than the new one.