G35/37 coupe and winter driving

[JK48]

I'm seriously considering buying a coupe with a manual transmission. Given the rear wheel drive and the front loaded weight distribution, how will the car perform with 4 snows? I live in Boston so I'm certain to see some real winter weather.

JK48

[G_whizz]

I have an 07 Coupe but had an 05 Coupe previously... so I can tell you from experience.

Buy yourself a good set of winter tires, like Blizzaks, keep the VDC on at all times and respect Mother Nature.

You'll be fine!



Oh...and Welcome to NICO!!

[zozoka1212]

Welcome to Nico

Like G said set of blizzaks and good driving skill will take you thru the winter. Or you can wait and hope Infiniti comes out next spring with the AWD coupe.

Even better buy a sedan in 3-4 months and have the same engine 3.7 and be faster then the coupe. 2 extra door and more cargo can't hurt.

Instead of fear from the snow/ice/winter be happy and enjoy playing outside with your G35x,g35xS, Or G37x, G37xS

zozo

[heliochrome85]

here in indiana, i wouldnt be able to drive without the blizzaks i got for my car. It still can get squirrly if you give it too much gas, but for the most part, pretty well id say.

[telcoman]

I'm seriously considering buying a coupe with a manual transmission. Given the rear wheel drive and the front loaded weight distribution, how will the car perform with 4 snows? I live in Boston so I'm certain to see some real winter weather.

JK48

A couple of things to keep in mind prior to purchase. Although the coupes are a sharp vehicle, you cannot rotate tires.How many winter days in the Boston area would you estimate that are extremely miserable? How many of those could you either stay home or work from home?Do you have another vehicle FWD to use on those really bad days when you must drive?

Coupe or sedan, go for the 6 speed manual & drive carefully in bad weather.

Good luck

Telcoman

Telcoman

[Sentientbydesign]

A couple of things to keep in mind prior to purchase. Although the coupes are a sharp vehicle, you cannot rotate tires.How many winter days in the Boston area would you estimate that are extremely miserable? How many of those could you either stay home or work from home?Do you have another vehicle FWD to use on those really bad days when you must drive?

Coupe or sedan, go for the 6 speed manual & drive carefully in bad weather.

Good luck

Telcoman

Telcoman

Drive in reverse...instant FWD!!! lol.

The front weight bias is around 150lbs. Not really significant in a 3500 lb car.

[Magnet 2112]

Being from Mass and driving my 06 coupe for the first winter was an eye opening experience. The winter tire suggestion is a very good one because these cars are ice skates in the snow. The Potenzas were like having icecubes for tires. I am going to buy a 4wd beater truck for the winter. They are a dime a dozen right now and you will need to buy rims and tires so the cost would be close. Plus the roads are chunks of ice,sand,rock,and calcium carbonate. My baby will never see another winter. Hell, im lucky if I bring it out in the rain!

[runtd]

Yeah I bought my G37S last December here in Boston and the winter rendered it unusable with the summer tires it comes with. The Blizzaks are definitely worth it.

[Magnet 2112]

run you can't drive that new G out here in the winter. The road is like a buzz saw. I am seriously thinking of starting a fund so that we can buy you a beater. I hate driving into work at 5:00am because the rock salt and calcium are like driving on a dirt road. How about a 4wd toyota?

[Bob12046]

I have a G37S 6MT and don't like it. I have 4,000 miles and 36 more months to go on the lease. I went back to the dealer to trade it in for the all wheel drive sedan, but it can't be done (unless I come up with another $5K). Test driving is one thing, the daily commute is another. If it's going to be your main vehicle, I'd recommend the G35x sedan. I live in NY and am dreading the upcoming winter. Luckily my wife has a Lexus RX350 that I can use in a pinch once in a while. I pray it'll be another mild winter here on Long Island. I drove a loaner 2008 G35x sedan for a couple of days (computer problem with my G37) and didn't want to give it back.

[zozoka1212]

Every coupe owner thinks this way. At least in the cold climate.

G35x

Soooo much fun in winter time.

zozo

[smockers83]

I've only driven my coupe once in wintry conditions. I've stored it the past 2 winters because I've only driven during the winter with 4x4 and with the drivers and their winter driving abilities where I'm at, I'm more worried about them than me. Although this winter I may have to keep the coupe out.

Anyway, my one experience actually went quite well, albeit I was quite nervous at the beginning of it. Pretty big storm for the time of year and I was on a trip. Got to a point where I had to decide to either stop and store my car at a friend's house along the way and return on the way back or just truck on through. I trucked on through and made it fine through the worst of it where others clearly did not in cars that should have. So if you know how to drive in the winter, you'll be ok, just get the snow tires. The main thing about winter driving is not putting down more torque than what conditions allow for. Spinning tires are the last thing you want in most cases.

[snwbrdr435]

Best bet is to get another car to drive during the winter. Winters in mass can wreck your car especially in Boston. But if you want to drive your G in the winter take it easy and get a set of some winter tires. But that has already been said so i might as well say...

GO CELTICS

[heliochrome85]

just get snow tires and rims. the car is perfectly drivable with those. esp here in indiana where we get freak blizzards in march and april, let alone those in winter.

[smockers83]

just get snow tires and rims. the car is perfectly drivable with those. esp here in indiana where we get freak blizzards in march and april, let alone those in winter.

I don't know how your guys' blizzards are, but if they're like the "blizzards" of southern Michigan, I ask you to drive 8 hours north of the IN/MI border in the winter, particularly January or February.

But all of that aside because helio knows I'm just messing around, he does bring up another good point. If you have the larger rims (18s or 19s), try and get some 17s. Since they're smaller and therefore more tire sidewall, they're safer. Once the snow starts coming up over the side of the wheel you can get into big trouble. 17s with Blizzak's is you're ultimate best bet with the coupe. Otherwise get a beater for the winter.

[AFE712]

I beat you all for the winter weather I have to deal with!

-Front loaded weight distribution: Not that bad, my previous Lexus IS300 was wayyyy worse-You already mentioned snow tyres, so you will be in a more safe car than a hommer with 4season tyres...-powerful rear wheel drive with traction controls are all about the same in winter: a bit frustrating, but very safe! You will never be able to accelerate as fast as a front drive car from a stop, and it's worse if your'e not feathering the pedal.-Personally I disabled VDC in city once I acustomed with the G. VDC can make the brakes wear fast in winter. And it's fun too! On highway, keep VDC on, esp if lazy.-Agree with smockers83, so I think Brembo and 17" wheels don't fit? I have 17" winters but not brembos

-The worst thing is having a car with cheap ABS brakes. I had an Integra with ABS and barely could slow down. I had to remove a fuse. Illegal but it saved my life once.

[ACoupe]

We had a LOT of snow up here this past winter (southern Ontario), and I had just bought my G coupe in June. I have the stock Potenzas with 19" wheels.I bought the new Dunlop D3 performance winter tires (17" alloy wheels) and they did an admirable job, even if I had a few "WTF" moments of highway scares (accelerating gently on the highway packed with snow and the car decides to make my driver side window the windshield...).

[heliochrome85]

the D3s (3D?) are the best on the market. I got some clearance WS-50s from tirerack. i think they were like 80 a tire, and i had the sport rims off a G35 sport. Worked out great.

Lola with her winter shoes.

[ACoupe]

Dig those rims and the car's colour!!I got a pretty good deal on my winters. $1500, taxes and install included for all 4 plus the alloy wheels.

[Jacko3]

Waiting for Lola to come to daddy

[Sentientbydesign]

Waiting for Lola to come to daddy

Go play with your own car Jacko!!! lol

[heliochrome85]

LULZ

[smockers83]

I beat you all for the winter weather I have to deal with!

Oh really? I take that as a challenge (in good fun). How much snow do you get in a year, on average? Where I'm at, average is 175", however I think within the last 5-10 years its been 200"-325" (300-825 cm) each winter.

[AFE712]

Oh really? I take that as a challenge (in good fun). How much snow do you get in a year, on average? Where I'm at, average is 175", however I think within the last 5-10 years its been 200"-325" (300-825 cm) each winter.

You're right, I checked stats here and average is 132" (337 cm). Last winter was record of all times for Quebec with 180". Always in good fun challenge, I don't know for you but I have to drive different contry roads for 2-3 hours a day, wathever the snowstorm. Some days I would like to have the money for a spare Impreza for 10-20 days/ year... And I like too much coupe + rear drive to trade for an X. I know an X is faster, but I want FUN!!!

Hey, JK48, We want to know what you decided!?????

[BigMarc]

I had the same concerns but went ahead and bought the coupe anyways... I live in Philadelphia and there hasnt been much snow the past couple years. i didnt want 4-5 days of potential snow to affect my decision on the car i have always wanted. (always wanted a g35, fell in love with the G37) plus my fiancee has a FWD car and works close to home so i can always drive her in and take her car to work. I dont plan on changing the tires... if there is a dusting-1 inch on the ground is it going to be a big problem driving?? i just want to know what my boundaries are with the car and the snow with no snow tires...

[heliochrome85]

id say, dont risk it. basically, park the car during the winter months because you maybe able to leave the house, but it wont get back up the driveway if there is any snow. plus, the tires dont do well in the cold, let alone snow. I dunno what you are running, but i have Pilot Sport 2s on the car and they were HORRIBLE even with light snow.

[99QX4]

My baby will never see another winter. Hell, im lucky if I bring it out in the rain!

I had the unfortunate experience of getting stuck in a snowstorm this past winter. With the summer tires it was horrendous. However i am fortunate enough to have another vehicle to drive, especially in the winter. But now that the weather is sunny and warm, i take the G out 95% of the time.

[heliochrome85]

the only tinme i had to drive in the snow, it was to get my snows installed. it was so bad, they had to push my car onto the lift because the tires couldnt get traction.