How should we drive a 6mt G-35 Coupe?

[Jacko3]

Sentientbydesign:

Thanks for the clarification between a web blog and a web forum. I am guilty of ranting off about my day. Anyway, how are you doing today?

[Jacko3]

Minmey15:

Try driving a 2008 Honda Accord Coupe V6 manual, which is pretty close in performance ot the G-35, and you will understood why i say that the G-35 is a little rough. The clutch system int he Honda Accord is extremely smooth and in fact, it does feel more like an automatic system than a real manual.

I love the G-35 Coupe simply becasue of its somewhat rough and untamed attitude. The 2008 Honda Accord V-6 is completely tame.

[Sentientbydesign]

ToysRus:

I agree that the seats aren't comfortable. I'm used to seats that recline completely and these are extremely limited.

You are a bit short though. Why don't you have your contact point adjusted on the clutch so it disengages higher in the pedal travel?

I really love the styling and performance of the G, but I have to admit that it isn't exactly what I wanted. I actually think I liked the 07 G sedan that I drove more than my 05 6mt coupe. The Sedan was an auto.

I don't like the clutch feel or the fact that it drags between 0-20 mph.

Jacko:

I'm pretty good today. I like your thread.

[Minmey15]

Minmey15:

Try driving a 2008 Honda Accord Coupe V6 manual, which is pretty close in performance ot the G-35, and you will understood why i say that the G-35 is a little rough. The clutch system int he Honda Accord is extremely smooth and in fact, it does feel more like an automatic system than a real manual.

I love the G-35 Coupe simply becasue of its somewhat rough and untamed attitude. The 2008 Honda Accord V-6 is completely tame.

I understand where you are coming from now. if you think G35 and Accord V6 are comparable, then I can understand why you would think G35 is race car like.

[Jacko3]

Sentientbydesign:

Thanks!

[slam]

I'm 5'7" and i know what you mean, i too have the same problems but for me i like being low in the any car so my seats are reclined which helps with the side boaster being in way of the shifter

[Focusedintntions]

ToysRus:

I don't like the clutch feel or the fact that it drags between 0-20 mph.

Jacko:

After like 5 mph you should have the clutch completely disengaged....if you're still feathering it all the way up to 20 mph no wonder its rough....not to mention you'll burn it out quick....This car is like butter to drive, very easy to mod clutch and very smooth throttle application....practice driving with it and you get good with it.

if you want something hard...try driving a built Focus SVT motor with a lightened flywheel and stage 4 clutch...... High rev 4 cyl motor w/no torque + very strong and grabby clutch = very difficult take offs.....but i manged to get them smooooth

[Sentientbydesign]

After like 5 mph you should have the clutch completely disengaged....if you're still feathering it all the way up to 20 mph no wonder its rough....not to mention you'll burn it out quick....This car is like butter to drive, very easy to mod clutch and very smooth throttle application....practice driving with it and you get good with it.

if you want something hard...try driving a built Focus SVT motor with a lightened flywheel and stage 4 clutch...... High rev 4 cyl motor w/no torque + very strong and grabby clutch = very difficult take offs.....but i manged to get them smooooth

After like 5 mph you should have the clutch completely disengaged....if you're still feathering it all the way up to 20 mph no wonder its rough....not to mention you'll burn it out quick....This car is like butter to drive, very easy to mod clutch and very smooth throttle application....practice driving with it and you get good with it.

if you want something hard...try driving a built Focus SVT motor with a lightened flywheel and stage 4 clutch...... High rev 4 cyl motor w/no torque + very strong and grabby clutch = very difficult take offs.....but i manged to get them smooooth

Actually, I feather it up until around 5-7 mph and then let the clutch in all the way. It will drag and sound like a big rig taking off. It similar when trying to speed up in a high gear with the RPMs being lower than 1500.

I took it to the dealer and they said it was typical and that the lightened flywheel may be to blame.

Anyone else have this issue?

[toysRus]

thanks for your input on the clutch adjustment. My clutch engages almost at the top of the clutch pedal travel. I was actually driving the car that way for a little while when i first got it and it was so much better.

I read a thread regarding why you should depress the clutch all the way to prolong the clutch life. with that being said, after reading countless of strings on manaual transmissions problems on the 03's and 04's i decided that i would rather be a little uncomfortable than having to worry about dishing out money on a clutch replacement. And this is the reason why i ended up moving my seat forward just so i can engage the clutch all the way to the floor.

[G_whizz]

Here is Joe's "how to" adjust the clutch

zerothread?id=257828

[BigWill]

Age is a privledge denied to too many people. I hope one day you too become an old guy, in a nice car.

AMEN brother. I remember being young, (yes, the memory has not gone completely yet!), and thinking that I would NEVER EVER drive a car that didn't have a manual transmission. Now, I believe that I have the best of both worlds... I can stop at Starbucks in the morning, get my latte, and enjoy a few sips while driving, or I can throw it in manual mode, turn off the VDC, and enjoy running the car up to red line in each gear... as well as that wonderful exhaust sound! Aging does not have to equate to boring. I think that as we get older, we just choose our thrills more carefully.

No hating here on those of you who LOVE the feeling of choosing every gear every time... because, as I was told once by a wise man, "Where you are, I once was; where I am, you will be"

Never say "never".

[Sentientbydesign]

I'll admit to missing my auto. And missing the spread out gears. Yeah I know that sounds lame, but in an auto, having spread out gears means when you mash it, there's no question of it downshifting and shoving you into your seat.

Now, I have to think about which gear to pass in. When on the FWY, going from 6th down to 5th gives me as much power as chewing a used piece of Jolt gum. Going down to 4th give the needed power, but then there's rev-matching involved... I think I'm just a lazy MT driver

To ToysRus:

I think if the contact point is adjusted to a higher position, you won't run into a problem by only pushing the clutch in part way.

BigWill:

How come that "boy" in your signature keeps moving so fast, but never loses weigh?

[BigWill]

BigWill: How come that "boy" in your signature keeps moving so fast, but never loses weigh?

You think he moves fast? You should see him eat a Twinkie!!

There, did you see it? Told you he's quick!

[toysRus]

i thought that too.. i mean this is not the first time i've had a manual transmission. I guess i'm a little paranoid as to all the transmission problems a lot of people are having with these cars.

anyhow, thanks again for all your input! love this forum!

aloha!

[ThuG LyFe]

alright, i just crossed over from the 240 forum to never seen before g35 forum!

today for the hell of it i went to test drive a g35 6mt and i was having mixed feelings. right now i have a s14 stock 5spd and after driving it (pretty much only manual car i've driven in my life) i must say i'm fairly used to it and a decent driver (i could rev match, heel toe, etc)

so i left the dealership and instantly i knew i was having trouble finding the engaging point of the clutch. i had to "feather" the gas to around 1k rpm to get the car moving and when i shifted the car shifted hard. granted this got better when i shifted faster later on and got used to the car more but i also didn't like the short shifter b/c my 240 has a longer more traditional shifter. i couldn't shift as smooth as my 240 and i also noticed that the car...altho having close to 300 hp wasn't fast at all. even comparing to my stock ka24de 240, it felt like my car was even a little quicker than the g, although the g felt more torquier and smoother, it didn't have the nimble acceleration of the 240. overall i would rate the car a 7/10 b/c it wasn't that fun to drive for me. i mean i can't really judge it after 15 min test drive but it wasn't very exciting to me. maybe cause everywhere you look you see a g35 coupe.

i mean the car is great, but for like 30k used...i would take a brand new s2000. i haven't yet to drive one yet but now THOSE cars seem like FUN cars. (past vtec at least in a nice mountain road with top down). but until i test drive the s2000 i won't say which is a better car.

[G_whizz]

Welcome to this side of the block.

What year did you test drive?

Sedan or Coupe?

MT or Auto?

If it was MT... try hammering it and shifting at 7000RPM's.That's where these cars shine. The clutch takes some getting used to, you can always adjust it as well.

Then tell me if it still felt sluggish...

[rn79870]

"Where you are, I once was; where I am, you will be"

I think I've found my epitaph...

Which caused me to practice a little googlefu...which directed me to...

On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in East Dalhousie Cemetery, Nova Scotia Here lies Ezekial Aikle Age 102 The Good Die Young.

In a Ribbesford, England, cemetery The children of Israel wanted bread And the Lord sent them manna, Old clerk Wallace wanted a wife, And the Devil sent him Anna.

Memory of an accident in a Uniontown, Pennsylvania cemetery Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake Stepped on the gas Instead of the brake.

In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery Here lays Butch, We planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger, But slow on the draw.

A lawyer's epitaph in England Sir John Strange Here lies an honest lawyer, And that is Strange.

In a Georgia cemetery "I told you I was sick!"


Modified by rn79870 at 8:54 AM 2/17/2008

[ThuG LyFe]

Welcome to this side of the block.

What year did you test drive?

Sedan or Coupe?

MT or Auto?

If it was MT... try hammering it and shifting at 7000RPM's.That's where these cars shine. The clutch takes some getting used to, you can always adjust it as well.

Then tell me if it still felt sluggish...

yea i didn't get to redline it b/c i was only test driving it for 10-15 min and it was a pretty crowded street with like 40 mph speed limit. it was a 6mt coupe and sure it was very powerful but def. felt heavy which should be b/c it is a luxury oriented car...i guess i like the feel of quick and lightweight cars more but hey, most cars feel fast when you redline it...overall it's a great car to some people i'm sure but for me the amount it cost doesn't seem to be worth the car you're getting. but i'm sure i'll get flamed since i'm in the g35 forum...

[G_whizz]

yea i didn't get to redline it b/c i was only test driving it for 10-15 min and it was a pretty crowded street with like 40 mph speed limit. it was a 6mt coupe and sure it was very powerful but def. felt heavy which should be b/c it is a luxury oriented car...i guess i like the feel of quick and lightweight cars more but hey, most cars feel fast when you redline it...overall it's a great car to some people i'm sure but for me the amount it cost doesn't seem to be worth the car you're getting. but i'm sure i'll get flamed since i'm in the g35 forum...

Fair enough ... Nahh... we don't really flame here... we save that for the 240 forum.

So you say the amount in cost isn't really worth the car your getting. Just curious, is there another car in the same class or around the same price that you feel is more bang for the buck?

[Jacko3]

Thug Lyfe:

Yes, the G-35 is a little heavy. Yes, it is sluggish at low Rpms and speeds. It is not fun to drive at low speeds and low RPMS. I agree with you on that count, and that is what makes the G-35 an unusual car.

As G-Whizz had suggested, take another moment and test drive the G-35 6MT. This time, flog the hell out of the car. I really mean this because, the G-35 was designed for flogging. The G-35 only comes alive somewhere beyond 4500 RPM. Again, this is unusual for most cars of that engine size.

And, If you really want to stand up on your seat, or you really want to see your ancestors standing before you, while you drive, get in G-35 6mt with someone who knows how to drive, and take a quick spin on winding and curvy roads. You will loose your nerves before the car will. Many times I have felt like I have lost the car on windy roads, and to my astonishement, the car is still firmly rooted to the road. Even when I once lost the car, it corrected itself effortlessly. It is these hidden attributes of the G-35 that are hard to evaluate on a routine test drive.

Thus, the G-35 is really a monster in disguise. I have never driven any car of the G-35s size that can maneuver through curves and circuits in such an effortless way. Tons of cars out there will probably beat the G-35 on straight line acclerations. But this is less so, after you have modificed the G-35 with new air intakes, spacers, plenums, and cat back exhaust. Modifying the G-35 6MT is a must for any G-35 owner.

I had no clue about how agile the car could get until I modified mine a little. And with soem modifications, the car actually looses a few pounds. I hope this helps.

[joe603]

Well said Jacko3! Your stock is rising #2....

I agree, the g35 really comes alive past 4k! If you want to be fast strait line, add FI.

[Jacko3]

Joe603:

Thanks! I spoke directly from experience, because I have a friend who has sworn never to ride with me again, so long as I have a g-35 coupe parked in my drive way. he said, he was deceived into going on a casual drive with me.

As everyone knows, I flog my car. And then, on top of that, I have a very merciless driving behavior in curves and turns with the G-35 Coupe. The G-35 Coupe is truely remarkable a car in curves and turns.

My friend was sweating after the ride. He was actually standing on his seat when we got back home. He scolded me like a child after the experience. My only comment to him was, the car just performed exactly how the manufacturers intended for it toperform. So, I asked him, why cage a little Lion all the time, when you can let it out of its cage, often? A little Lion needs exercise as often as it can get it.

I just don't see the G-35 Coupe as a practical everyday car. The G-35 Coupe and the 350Z are more toy than car. These are two cars that posses the driver in every experience. My friends told me that I would get tired of the car after a few months. Well, with the recent modifications I have made to may car, my love and feelings for my car has tripled. I really cannnot understand the feeling. Its like I feel like a different person (possessed), once I get into the car.

I am also beginning to hate rainfalls or any environmental constraint that will cause me to drive with my windows up or cause me not to be able to rev up to 5000RPM. I will not to seek help on this matter. I never intended for a car to possess my person. I am constantly seeking reasons to go out and do something so that I can drive the car, when in fact there was no need to go out, to begin with. This is highly unusual for a car.

I need to hear that sweet, sweet Stillen exhaust sound in all its auditory glory. The G-35 Coupe or the 350Z may not necessarily be the fastest cars on the road, but I can say with great confidence, that they are about the two most exciting hevicles on 4 wheels. Inspite of some flaws they may have, I think Infiniti had a winning formula in the feel, fit, handling, and power, of the G-35 Coupe and the 350Z. I don't remeber any cars of their size havng a good balance of these factors in one package.

What other cars may gain in power, the G-35 Coupe gains in handling, which really does make it a safer car to drive, under extreme conditions.

[Sentientbydesign]

THug Lyfe:

Don't feel bad about your assesment of the G35. I'm not sure why nobody caught on that you were driving a 6mt...He mentioned the clutch, engagement point, shifting...etc...

I agree with you about the car and I bought one No not really. My biggest complaint about the G is that it requires effort to drive it.

If you want to feel your seat compress, you have to work for it. I'm used to my I30 auto which had a few mods, custom intake, aftermarket muffler, and suspension. It is fast and sounds fast. It was agile despite having way too many miles on the chasis and having been in a couple of accidents.

I would go back to the dealership and test drive a USED 05 or newer 6mt coupe. And here's my prescription:

1. Take off slowly in 1st.

Once you're moving (10 mph) with the clutch engaged, stab the throttle. It will move very quickly. You'll get the same or similar feel out of 1-3 gear. 4th looses it's feel and 5th and 6th are just jokes at legal speeds.

2. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTLY OF ROOM FOR THIS ONE. Turn off VDC. It's a little button on the left side of the steering wheel (just below) next to the gauge light dimmer.

Now try taking off. You'll definately brake traction and I think the feel will be closer to your 240.

VDC-Vehicle Dynamic Control (someone correct me if I have the accronym wrong): "assists" you when you start to loose traction on any of the wheels. It will cut power and apply the brake "where needed" to make sure you go straight. It also happens to slow you down while taking off if it senses slippage.

So that will also make a little difference.

You may be asking why I said to test drive a USED G coupe instead of a new one. Well the reason being is that most dealers don't want you pushing the car to the limit when it only has 4 miles on it. Break in procedure indicates to keep it under 4k RPMs for the first 1,200 miles.

A used G with 20k or 30k will have already been broken in and the sales person will be a little more easy going about you pushing the car.

Ok, I shut up now.

[toysRus]

well said everyone!so, as you all know i'm new to the infiniti/nissan scene.. but not new to modded car scene. I've been searching for places to buy some after market performance products and there are tons out there... would like to know from all of your personal experiences as to which place to go for performance mods? i know there are some on NICO but i live in hawaii and would really like to deal with guys who can help me pick out parts that would work for me rather than talk to a sales guy who just wants to sell me something.

[G_whizz]

would like to know from all of your personal experiences as to which place to go for performance mods?

Ask for Joe at everythingg35.com. I'm sure all here who have dealt with him will agree... he's not "just a salesmen" ask him anything. He's very helpful and won't bs you.

be sure to tell him NICO sent ya!

[Jacko3]

Toyrsrus:

EverythingG35 has al you will need. They were nice and helpful. I bought my mods from them, except for the Stillen which was cheaper at that time at Stillen.com.

[Sentientbydesign]

I would call everythingG35 first. Especially since they are one of our sponsors. Their prices are pretty good.

I also happen to know the parts guy at Riverside Infiniti, here in SoCal. His name is Tony and he really knows his Nissan/Infinitis. He has a 350Z the puts down over 400 rwhp with a chameleon paint job and a bunch of other goodies.

[toysRus]

i was just looking through their online store! sweet! i'll give them a call...

just a quick one... i like the chrome look on the Z-tube and i was wondering if anyone have purchased it... i know that some intake uses a metal tube which i heard cuases heat soaking... i guess the question is if these chrome tubes are worth buying?

also, plenum spacers... brand and height??

THANKS!

[Sentientbydesign]

I would go for a plastic intake tube if possible. The harmonics might suck a little, but the heat issue is definately a benefit.

I think the concensus on plenum spacers is still out. You can get a blox 5/8" spacer for just over $100 on ebay or through a performance parts store.

The others are all over $200.

[grantman240z]

just a quick one... i like the chrome look on the Z-tube and i was wondering if anyone have purchased it... i know that some intake uses a metal tube which i heard cuases heat soaking... i guess the question is if these chrome tubes are worth buying? THANKS!

I bought the chrome z-tube when I picked up my Stillen intake...I really like the look!