Current Dodge Stealth owner considering buying G37....

[Vinny14369]

Hello,

I just registered for this forum even though I do not yet own a G37. The only Infiniti I have ever owned was a '90 M30. I was a big fan of the car. I am seriously considered purchasing a G37 in the relatively near future and had some questions.

Since 1999, I have been driving a '92 Dodge Stealth Twin Turbo. For those that aren't familiar, this vehicle has 300 Hp, AWD, AWS, etc...I love this car, but it's starting to put on some miles and know that I'll have to replace it one day.

I have been researching on-line for quite some time and am thinking that the G37 is the best bang for the buck. Would any of you know how the G37, if at all, compares to the Stealth? I understand they are different vehicles, but I am curious about the "driveability." Pros, Cons, etc...

Thanks in advance!

~Vinny

[ArEs23x]

Welcome to the forum, glad to have you aboard! Well of course the "G" is the best for the buck without a doubt, I would say its a great car without no one ever knowing its full potential, the acceleration on the car is awesome and its kind of a sleeper if you wanna put it that way or if thats what you meant.

Pros: Great reliable car, gorgeous, top 10 on the resale value list, power, luxury, comfort, basically all in all a great car.

Cons: Its kind of heavy and it sucks if your a really big man, the tallest i've heard someone drive this car I think was like 6'5 if I am not mistaken

[Vinny14369]

Thanks very much for the welcome and the reply. I'm 6'3" and one of the reasons I initially chose a Stealth was that I was actually able to fit very comfortably in the vehicle.

In addition, I've read that many buyers are purchasing this vehicle without the active steer option. I'm very used to having AWS and, to be honest, don't remember what it's like to drive a vehicle without this option.

Is this option worth the extra money or is it simply an option that may not be worth the price tag?

Thanks!

[Q45tech]

1995 was the epitome of MECHANICAL engineering, in 1996 OBD2 started the electronics revolution in vehicles where today 95% of the new features are electronics/software based.

It has proven much cheaper [for factory] to substitute electronics for complex heavy duty mechanical devices.

Remember the G series is the introductory bottom of the Infiniti line so mechanical things [robustness] were severely cost analysed to keep cost and weight down.

These statements apply across the board to all brands and models.......a MB nor a BMW is not what it was in mid 90's............even the Lexus is no where near the early models in brute robustness.

Your 92 300/307 lb/ft and 3802 pounds should be about or <equal in performance and mpg.

Remember the car you are giving up cost $33,000 in 1992 or $50,200 in 2008 dollars so expect less in some things.

[G37 Man]

1995 was the epitome of MECHANICAL engineering, in 1996 OBD2 started the electronics revolution in vehicles where today 95% of the new features are electronics/software based.

It has proven much cheaper [for factory] to substitute electronics for complex heavy duty mechanical devices.

Remember the G series is the introductory bottom of the Infiniti line so mechanical things [robustness] were severely cost analysed to keep cost and weight down.

These statements apply across the board to all brands and models.......a MB nor a BMW is not what it was in mid 90's............even the Lexus is no where near the early models in brute robustness.

Your 92 300/307 lb/ft and 3802 pounds should be about or <equal in performance and mpg.

Remember the car you are giving up cost $33,000 in 1992 or $50,200 in 2008 dollars so expect less in some things.

I would think suspension and tires would be a big improvement over a 1992?

[kevinf]

Hello, and welcome. I, too, owned a '92 Stealth Twin Turbo prior to purchasing my G37. I had the Stealth for about a year and a half and put 50,000 miles on it. Absolutely loved that car.

The G feels terribly slow compared to the Stealth when it is below 4k RPM, and for obvious reasons... the turbos. Above 4k it's exhilarating like the Stealth is down low and mid RPMs. Honestly I really can't say how the G pulls the same 0-60 numbers as the Stealth TT, as the Stealth feels like it has TONS more power in that competition.

The G37 gets the same (crappy) gas milage. I got 17-18 in the Stealth, I get 16-20 in the G.

The G is geeky-tech like the Stealth was way back then... ridiculous features, state of the art, ahead of its time.. so I'm sure you'll be delighted with that.

The G's 4-wheel steering feels much better and smoother than the Stealth's. The G's suspension feels like the Stealth's does in "Sport" mode (quite stiff), yet is still supple and livable. The "Touring" mode is nice in the Stealth for long drives.. you may miss that if you road trip your G.

The G being RWD adds tons of fun and loses the weight... but changes the usability of the vehicle for 8 months out of the year... at least in Colorado, or any other snowy state. That's a huge factor for some...

Bottom line? If you're looking for POWER like you have in the Stealth, sad to say the 335i is a way better bet due to the turbo's amazing power band. I say this, however, as a G owner who has never even set foot in the 335i...

Ask me any other questions you may have.

[Q45tech]

"I would think suspension and tires would be a big improvement over a 1992?"

Computers have allowed weight reduction via optimization of suspension the use of cast aluminum instead of steel has made the suspension more sensitive to impacts.......cracks instead of bends. Unfortunately this was made necessary by the added weight of larger brakes and wheels/tires

So it is primarily a wash!

Tires have improved some in 15 years but you get that anyway when you buy new tires on any vehicle assumming you buy top of line Michelin [PS2].........if you can get a fitment on old cars.

Suspension is less than 10% while tires [and the weight on them] are 90% of the handling equation.

[G37 Man]

correct me if wrong but traction control and stability control as well as ABSwere not available or little available in 1992?

From a straight line power is power but when cornering at high speeds the cards of today would out do one of 1992 regardless of AWD or not?

[Vinny14369]

Kevinf,

Thanks for the reply. It's nice to see someone who has been in shoes with regard to being a previous Stealth owner. One thing that I do enjoy about the Stealth is the Touring mode for the suspension. As you know, it's a nice smooth ride. The Sport mode, however, provides for greater handling at a higher rate of speed, but, as you indicated, felt each bump in the road. Since I use my car as a daily driver and am mostly in the city, I'm not a huge fan of feeling every bump in the road. Having said that, is feeling each bump in the road attributed to owning a G37 Sport? Let's say you have a Journey model, do you have smoother ride? Or, is there no difference in the ride between the Sport and Journey model?

Thanks in advance,

Vinny

[Q45tech]

"correct me if wrong but traction control and stability control as well as ABSwere not available or little available in 1992?"

ABS and traction control [TCS] were available on Infiniti in 1989 and many other premium vehicles. Stability control is an out growth of TCS system.

Research the effects of HICAS creating stability - a 1990 system.

[kevinf]

Yes, the Sport model does have a stiffer suspension. I would doubt the Journey edition would be as smooth as the Stealth is in "Touring" mode, but it'll probably be a lot smoother than the Sport model.

The Stealth was able to have such an easy going ride in Touring simply because it could be changed to Sport with the push of a button (or automatically changed to Sport by the computer above 90mph for safety reasons) -- I always felt unsafe driving spiritedly in Touring because it felt so disconnected from the road... so any car that doesn't have a selectable suspension setting (not many do these days? Corvette...?) will have some compromise in ride quality compared to the Touring mode of the Stealth since it has to be more responsive all the time.

[atlanta37]

Vinny et al,

Well, your post is a real throw-back for me. My first "real car" was a 1992 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4. I cannot describe to you how much I loved that vehicle. I bought it new for around $32,000 (probably paid too much) at a time when I couldn't afford it. But I was so eraptured with it I couldn't resist. The technology alone -- in 1992 -- was off the charts. In fact, in subsequent years as you probably know, Mitsubishi and Dodge eliminated a lot of that technology to bring costs down. So things like the "Active Aero" went the way of the dodo. The 300 hp was awesome and the look was perfect ... but I have to admit the car was pretty heavy and the turbo lag was a little hard to deny. The car had its limitations.

So, it has been awhile since I had that car -- I sold it to my kid brother years ago in near-perfect condition, and he's amped it up beyond all recognition. Since then I've bought a strange brew of vehicles, including a 1996 911 cabriolet, a 1998 BMW 750iL and a 2004 VW Jetta GLI (yeah, doesn't fit the mold, I know), just to name a few. But nothing has inspired me the way the VR4 did -- not even the cabrio that I admit I hardly drive anymore.

Then along came the G37. I was actually shopping the 350Z when I stumbled on it several months ago. I loved the 350Z for its acceleration, its track-born simplicity an its look ... but the interior technology was a letdown. I rent cars a lot on the job, and Hertz has a lot of 350Z's, so I've driven dozens of them. They accelerate and handle great, but they always remind me of an early 90's car inside ... not even as sharp at the 1992 VR4, frankly.

So like a true car enthusiast, I shopped everything else out there in the class ... the BMW, the Mercedes, the Lexus, the Audi, you name it -- even the Vette. I built a spreadsheet on the category that is embarrassing in its complexity. I compared them all, and the G37 won, hands-down, especially in three primary categories: Interior fit/finish/feel, technology, and value. It wasn't the fastest (the Vette can't be beat) and it wasn't necessarily my favorite overall exterior look (it was kind if tied for first place there), but the three areas I list above were no-brainers. Nothing comes close in technology, nothing was as comfortable inside (I am 6'2" and fit fine, and the seats are a true differentiator), and the price was at around $7,000 less than the nearest loaded competitor, the BMW 335i).

And, to your question, the car reminded me incessantly of a day long ago when I first fell for the VR4. It was ahead of its time then. The G37 feels the same way. Now that I've owned it for two months, I have my minot complaints like everyone does (the "new" voice recognition system could use a retrograde), but fundamentally I am as happy as I was at 22 driving off the Mitsubishi lot. And that feeling hasn't emerged since November, 1991. I'm kind of glad to have it back. Having said all this, I'll end with this note: I think I've found my next car already, too -- it's the Nissan GT/R. Wow. Can't say it any other way. I'll wait til 2010 -- the second year -- but once again I have a feeling I'm looking at the future of sports cars when I see that model. I think a lot of us who are enthusiastic G37 owners now are going to have a hard time denying the GT/R. We'll see, when the first ones hit the streets this summer. Twice the price, but perhaps more than twice the fun. Once again, the chase is on.

Hope all this ranting is useful. Bottom line: I loved the VR4, and I love the G37. I bet you will, too, for a lot of the same reasons. Enjoy the hunt.

[kevinf]

Wow, stunning reply. The things you stated about becoming an owner of the VR4 brought back a lot of my own distant memories.. I was 18 when I got the StealthTT (7 years used), but believe me I felt just as privileged and amazed!

If there were the supply of GT-Rs for me to bring my G back and lease one of those instead, I'd be all over it... Unfortunately, even with the news that they will lease them, I highly doubt it'd be a mere double the monthly payment of my G!

Good to see another past owner of the car that opened my life up to high performance vehicles.

[Vinny14369]

Thank you very much for the lengthy and comprehensive post. I appreciate your insight. I love my '92 Stealth and love, almost just as much, that I don't have a car payment. But, I also realize that it has high mileage and that I'll have to trade it in towards a newer vehicle. I've researched the G37 pretty thoroughly and I love it's lines and the luxury inside and out. I'm tempted to wait and have a look at the GT-R, but that is going to be way outside of my price range. It looks so great though...

Thanks again. I may post you additional questions in the future if you don't mind.

~Vinny

[rn79870]

The biggest mistake you can make is selling/trading in a car you really love. Put a cover over it and park it in your garage, then go buy the G37. Someday in the future, when you have the time, you'll take the cover off and drive it , maybe even restore it, and be very glad it is still in your family.

[TnBill]

The Dodge vehicle line will not be made after 2009. That is THE FACT. Does it give you a slight hint about what you should do with ANY Chrysler product??

[rn79870]

The Dodge vehicle line will not be made after 2009. That is THE FACT. Does it give you a slight hint about what you should do with ANY Chrysler product??

Are you saying that there will be no 2010 or later Dodge? I'd like to see a cite on that info if you have one...

[Vinny14369]

first, you clearly are misinformed. The stealth is virtually a mitsubishi 3000gt. There is nothing American about it. When you take it in for service, you have to go to a mitsubishi dealer. Second, I've had the car for 10 years and its a 1992. You're trying to say that a car which has been running for 16 years is not a good product. Thirdly, you are saying that Chrysler will not manufacture its dodge line anymore?! Look, I'm not a dodge fan but that statement is ludicrous. That's like saying Ford won't be making any more vehicles. Good thing for you that your comments, as inaccurate as they are, are protected by the 1st amendment. Your comment adds nothing to comparing/contrasting the stealth and the g37, but instead makes a hasty generalization.

[Q45tech]

Always interesting to examine the underside of a PREMIUM RWD early to mid 90's Japanese car with a modern [sic] version, You will see SERIOUS cost cutting in materials and use of aluminum vs steel to compensate for heavier options and safety items.

Computer programs and speed have made it possible to skin the animal down to the bare minimums............not a penny extra here and there just enough to survive the average non agressive driver until the 100k design point.

Whereas in 90's they just threw in extra metal to make sure......no longer!

After examining hundreds of 90-95 BMW, MB, Audi, Lexus, Nissan I always like to point out that mechanically these 90-95 were as good as it gets.

Currently 98% of all new options are electronic in nature and mechanicals get thinner and thinner. With a neww under warranty vehicle this doesn't mean much but for those who keep cars 12-15 years it is meaningful. Used cars in the future may be less able to sustain extreme longevity.

Today average mean age is 10 years [9.5] or a 1997 passenger vehicle, so half the 250 million are older than that.

[LuckyLuke]

mmm.. no i335.. I would consider the 370z.. that car is fast! if you can get nizmo version. it is even better.