First Driving Impressions

[jackdar]

I drove to the NY Auto Show in April of 2003 and purchased a 2003 Black / Black 6MT with premium and aero packages in July of that year (after selling my 2002 WRX {black with custom wheels and custom leather interior}).

I drove to the NY Auto Show in April of this year to see the premier of the 2008 G37 and placed an order for a Black / Black 6MT with Premium, Nav, and Spoiler.

Today I got the chance to drive a "sample" that my dealer has had now for a couple of days (72 miles on the odo). This one was the darker grey and with light gray interior, automatic, spoiler, sport and nav package. It also had the splash guards.

From the outside, maybe I've seen so many pictures, although the overall shape is very similar, but to my eye it really seems totally different from my '03. The curve over the fender especially near the headlamp treatment is so much more dramatic than the upside down pontoon shape of the original. Overall, it works as a design statement....one that will grow into its own aesthetic just like each iteration of every other car.

Once I got inside, the first thing I wanted to check was the view out the front. One of my gripes with the current model is that as you look out, your view down the hood is impeded by the windshield wipers. I am pleased to report that the wiper blades sit lower in this new model and you get a better sense for the nose of the car...which gives the impression of a longer vehicle from the inside.

The materials of everything you touch is of a much higher (i.e., softer) quality than my '03. The ergonomics are first class....(almost to Audi standards)...certainly nicer than most BMWs (my other car is a 2006 BMX X3).

This is only the second time I have used a push button to start a car. Kind of a strange sensation. My concern with this new version was - would Infiniti take this car too far towards the "cushy" part of the luxury niche to attract more buyers (much the way I view the 335i coupe). I don't see much value - from a driver's perspective - in the push button (except that's the way Formula 1 cars start - I guess).

The seats have good controls that allow the seat to move lower than before. I am 5'11" and had no sense that my hair was touching the roof (this model did have the sunroof). When I went to get in the back seat, I was dismayed to see that they have eliminated the automatic movement of the seat forward when you release the back of the driver's seat. When I sat in back of where I had left the driver's seat, I had to turn my knees to the side and tilt my head to the side as well...definitely seems like there is less room in back.

The hood now opens with hydraulic shocks. The trunk - with the new spoiler - seems lighter than mine. Although the trunk has the same square footage, the opening definitely seems narrower from side to side. Now I have to take the driver out of my golf bag to get my clubs in the trunk; with this new car, I will most likely have to take the rest of my metal woods out first.

Once started, I was surprised at what I did not hear. I did not hear the same level of growl as I do in my '03; that could be because they have done a better job of sound insulation (isolation?). Once underway, you do hear more of a growl but it still seems much less noise - and almost of a higher decible level than my '03. You do hear more of the familiar "G Song" when you lower the windows.

The information display (between the speedometer and the tach) allows the driver to toggle through an active miles per gallon meter, and then trip-specific data including: mph, mpg, time traveled, miles traveled, as well as outside temperature....a nice addition. One disappointment - in my '03 the compass shows where you are headed relative to three directions (W | N E), the new car has a clear area on the rear view mirror that displays your current heading only. The nav system is way cool. I will look forward to learning all it can do as well as training the voice commands.

My actual driving time gave me a sense that this car is very composed and handles very well. With the sales rep along on back roads and streets filled with late afternoon traffic - I was not really able to really test its limits. But you do get the sense that you are driving a well-engineered, capable machine. The thing that impressed me the most is that the car was not as stiff as I thought it would be; nor did it feel as heavy as I thought it would. It had a light and nimble feeling to it that really surprised me. I did feel less than satisfied though - since both my cars are 6 speeds, I felt like I only experienced half the car I ordered. The joy of driving to me is the interaction with the shifter. As cool as the paddle shifters are, and even with the drop down into passing gear, there always seems to be that lag that you don't have to wait for when you "row your own".

At 56 years old, this is the first time I will have purchased the same car back to back. I really love my current car....and I must tell you I am a bit hesitant that Infiniti may have taken a lot of the edge off of this new version.

My sales rep gave me the VIN for my new car and told me it is "on the water" and will be here the last week in August or the first week in September. I will test drive it once it is here and fully expect that I will take delivery and will love it as well....Once I have a couple thousand miles under its belt I will provide an update.

Note 1: This is the first time that I have ever really gotten into blogs and forums. It has been fun checking in every day to see what has been added. I appreciate everyone who adds their thoughts and insights.

Note 2: Anyone know of someone looking for a clean, well-cared for black/black '03 6MT?

[KinsmanRedeemer]

Thanks so much for sharing your driving impressions...it was quite an enjoyable read.

[caltender]

Great read! I look forward to hearing more after you purchase/drive your new car. Thanks

[zozoka1212]

Awesome write up. Well done.

Looking forward to read from you again. Good luck with your car and enjoy it.

Zozoka

[Yimbie]

Thank you for the review! It's nice to see people putting input in their test drives.

- Yimbie

[Paradroid]

Nice review! Pleasure to read. Looking forward to hearing more from everyone as they test their cars. I will be chiming in with my own views once I spend some time behind the wheel.

[BFD99]

i also drove one today, it was much nicer and so much smoother than the g35s that i have driven. i instantly noticed that much of the road noise that i was hearing in the 2003 g35 that i noticed was gone, and the handling was very crisp and the power was right on, very quick and strong. one of my favorite features was the rear active steer. that car is one quick turning car! i feel that i could turn it around on a neighborhood street without ever backing up! Another thing i really loved was the backup camera with the lines on the screen to show you where the car will go. Overall i am in love with the car and wish the dealer would have had a 6MT there to drive to, but i was lucky enough to get to drive this one anyways, seeing as the salesman drove the car down from the patio outside of the dealer, which is a raised patio from the parking lot and we had to drive out around a Mercedes S500 or 600 that was for sale to get it out. So go drive one and you will know what im talking about!

[Yimbie]

Thank you very much for your input, BFD99.

- Yimbie

[BFD99]

another thing i forgot to add is that driving this thing at 100mph feels like 50 in any other car, you would not know you are going that fast if not for the speedo, and when going any fast speed, the steering never gets gittery or anything like that, always has a very nice planted feel to it, yet is very quick and nimble when you turn the wheel a little bit.

[InfinitiFreak]

another thing i forgot to add is that driving this thing at 100mph feels like 50 in any other car, you would not know you are going that fast if not for the speedo, and when going any fast speed, the steering never gets gittery or anything like that, always has a very nice planted feel to it, yet is very quick and nimble when you turn the wheel a little bit.

That sounds awesome, I can't wait until mine get here!

[Yimbie]

another thing i forgot to add is that driving this thing at 100mph feels like 50 in any other car, you would not know you are going that fast if not for the speedo, and when going any fast speed, the steering never gets gittery or anything like that, always has a very nice planted feel to it, yet is very quick and nimble when you turn the wheel a little bit.

Wow the salesman let you drive up to 100mph?!?

- Yimbie

[BFD99]

yeah all he said was if you get a ticket, you know of course that we don't pay for that. I said yep, and then he told me where the HiPo usually hang out.

[Yimbie]

yeah all he said was if you get a ticket, you know of course that we don't pay for that. I said yep, and then he told me where the HiPo usually hang out.

Hehe. Glad you enjoyed the experience. I can't wait until I drive mine after the salesman delivers it to my house.

- Yimbie

[jackdar]

I travel quite a bit for my job. I am in the northern suburbs of Detroit today and called the local Infinit dealer and arranged to stop by to drive their G37 (Journey with Auto, Sport, Nav, Intelligent, Spoiler).

This was my second test drive (see earlier post). Being the second time I was over the initial awe and could focus more on how well the car drove. I was able to push it harder and found it amazingly stable, responsive and fast. I jumped on the brakes on a quite side road which activated the seat belt pre-tensioners....which really emphasized the stopping power. At the end of my drive I felt very positive and even more anxious to get mine. As I was driving off in my Camry from Hertz, I looked back and saw the shiney medium gray beauty and to me the more I see the car now - especially its side profile - it has the look of a very good looking car....almost "super car" looks....and certainly much better looking than the 335 coupe.

Speaking of which, I stopped by the local BMW dealer and had planned to test drive a 335 coupe (for comparative purposes only). As it turns out, the dealership did not have any coupes on the lot and weren't expecting any more the rest of this month (which the dealer associated with the high demand for the cars).

[Kendahl]

Wow the salesman let you drive up to 100mph?!? - Yimbie

Thirty years ago, I was looking for a car to drive in SCCA Showroom Stock racing. One of the candidates was a Mazda RX-3 coupe. The salesman insisted on taking the wheel first so that he could show me how to drive it. What he showed me was 0 to 90 mph, full throttle to red line in each gear. Then, we traded places and he sat comfortably in the passenger seat while I blasted around tight curves in a nearby, lightly travelled commercial area. Some car salesmen are cool.

[BFD99]

yeah a couple of years ago i stopped by a local used car lot and was looking at a ford lightning, and the salesman asked if i wanted to do a test drive, so i said sure, we took it and i ran it through its paces, a couple of 0-100s and a short burnout or two, his words were, "don't tell them that we did this" and we took it back and that was it, gave me his card, said if i had any more question for me to call, didn't ask for my number or anything. Nice Guy.

[stejus]

Speaking of which, I stopped by the local BMW dealer and had planned to test drive a 335 coupe (for comparative purposes only). As it turns out, the dealership did not have any coupes on the lot and weren't expecting any more the rest of this month (which the dealer associated with the high demand for the cars).

I also keep hearing this from BMW dealers. I want to test drive both the 335i coupe 6sp and G37 6sp on the same day. The funny thing is i see lots of 3 series, but very few (2 to be exact) 335i coupes on the road.

Where are all the 335i coupes going if there's a huge demand?

[Yimbie]

Where are all the 335i coupes going if there's a huge demand?

Hmmm... you make a good point there. lol I don't see a lot of 335is around here I live or even when I go around LA. Maybe I'm just missing them.

- Yimbie

[nogoodname007]

people that have a BMW in my area seem to have that " I'm better than you" attitude. its annoying

[Yimbie]

people that have a BMW in my area seem to have that " I'm better than you" attitude. its annoying

I have to agree with that. I guess it's just a thing that goes along with many BMW... and Mercedes owners.

- Yimbie

P.S. My dad does the same with his Lexus LS.

[nogoodname007]

That fine with Lexus, because all Japanese cars are good and reliable.

BMW and Mercedes aren't that great anymore, i think they're losing it, the majority of the people who buy these cars are only interested in the Brand name.