My First Impressions

[Ballardbeau]

Hey folks. I'm a newbie here and appreciate the information I've gleaned from this forum.

So a little about me...car freak, natch...former owner of a Mits 3000 VR4, BMW Z4, Corvette, SRT-4, Pontiac GTO, Mits Eclipse AWD turbo, Acura TL Type S and others...all within the last 5 years!

I obviously tend to swap cars often, and even though I've only owned my modified MazdaSpeed 6 (modified...CAI, catback) for under a year, I'm already prowling the dealerships for my next fix!

I was determined to buy a slightly used 2007 Corvette, but decided to take the G37 for a spin, which I did yesterday.

Don't flame me, please. No car is perfect and no one car is right for everyone, which is what makes cars so much fun.

Here were my impressions:

On the plus side, the car is a beauty, obviously. The interior felt very luxurious and was very well put together. The car drove beautifully and handled precisely. It was quiet and the suspension is superbly tuned for a combination of handling and comfort.

On the negative side, the car felt very cramped to me, and this coming from someone who owned a Z3. The car is too heavy and felt it. The blind spot is massive and only reinforced a sense of claustophobia. I'm only 5'8" and with a sunroof model and the seat in the lowest possible position, I barely cleared the roof.

And then there's the engine. Powerful, refined. and smooth? Yes, yes and yes. However, in my MS6, when I press the accelerator, the car leaps forward like a jet, kept beautifully under contol with 4-wheel drive and a LSD. In the Infiniti, it felt like I had to FLOOR the pedal to get the car to SERIOUSLY move. With the power of the engine and the weight of the car, I expect gas mileage to be poorer than what I'm used to also. By the way, the horsepower of my M6S is identical to the Infiniti, but has more torque...I think.

Another disadvantage is PRICE, and don't misunderstand me. At a MSRP of 35K this car is a serious bargain. However, I wasn't interested in ANY of the options ("Bluetooth? Nav? Side skirts and spoiler? If these features are important to you, right on, but they're not to me). I want an Infiniti G37 for the MSRP without the add-ons, as not only are they not important to me, but I'm not a wealthy guy.

Predictably enough, the salesperson told me that the car I wanted for the price I wanted "didn't exist" and the only way I would buy this car at the MSRP was to order one, which would take minimum of 3-4 months.

I liked the car. A lot. The question I'm struggling with is whether or not it's a comparable car to my MS6, which is quicker, roomier, has 4-wheel drive, every conveivable option, better gas mileage, a far roomier back seat and trunk, and was out the door for 26K!!! OR...do I wait, save my money and buy the Corvette?

Another car I'm following closely is the soon-to-be released 2008 Honda Accord coupe. Again, I know...apples to oranges compared to the Infiniti. The Honda is front wheel drive compared to rear and is obviously meant to be a more "luxurious" ride than than a true sports car...on the other hand, it's dead sexy, has a 268hp engine, and comes with every conceivable option out the door for 30K...not to mention Honda's familar attributes such as fit and finish, ergonomics, gas mileage, safety, resale value, reliability, etc. Actually, other than the front drive vs. the rear drive, these cars don't seem THAT dissimilar when I think about it. They are both coupes designed to provide a substantial amount of power and luxury and reliability for a fair price...one is geared more towards comfort and luxury; the other geared more for performance. The MAIN difference? The "prestige" factor and about $10,0000, given that the typical off the lot Infiniti sells for 40K.

I'm also looking forward to driving the upcoming Pontiac G8 from Holden, the GM division from Australia. Big, luxurious, 4-door sedan with a honkin' Corvette-derived motor for aroud 35K. My Pontiac GTO was very similar and proved to be a powerful and reliable ride. We live in great times for auto nuts!

I know, these are decisions only I can make. This is just my 2 cents and thanks for welcoming me to your community!

By the way, given my tastes in cars, any other recommendations in a similar price range? Basically I'm looking for the MOST POWER for the LOWEST BUCKS and the GTO and SRT-4 fit that combination to a "T." The upcoming Evo X and Subbie STI are considerations as well, although they are a bit too rough/raw for my tastes. At my advanced age, I like a little luxury with my performance!

Modified by Ballardbeau at 10:59 PM 9/12/2007
Modified by Ballardbeau at 11:04 PM 9/12/2007

[carman63]

Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you'll get quite a few responses, but allow me to toss in some quick comments on your post.

Re: headroom. I'm 5'7", 30" inseam, and I have lots of headroom. I keep the seat rake at probably 100 degrees, and am quite comfortable. Was the seat height raised when you were trying it out?

Re: power off the line. I definitely haven't had this issue, and I have the automatic. Then, I'm not really getting on it yet, as I have just over 400 miles on the car.

Re: finding a base model. The reality here is, according to the dealer order guide (it's in the thread marked "dealer only goodies" and the file has 'strategy' in the name), The lowest-cost model being shipped w/out special order is one with only the Premium package on it. So yes, you'd have to order one to get a base model, no options. I'm sure there are folks that coud spend a lot of time speaking about market research, etc as factors in why this is so.

[EDIT] Base model found locally. http://www.infinitioftysonscor...41574MSRP = $34, 965

For the money, the 2007 Vette is probably your best bet. 400hp, can be found for around $41K-$43K with the minimum options, and gets decent gas mileage.

Cars I considered in the same price range were:Audi TT (2.0 or 3.2, but 2.0 was my choice)2007 VetteAudi A5 (not in the US yet, unfortunately)2006 Boxster (new on the showroom floor, $42K down from $53K)

I was coming from an Audi A6 (FWD, not Quattro, which means I had a CVT transmission). So I had luxury, comfort, power (to some extent), and great gas mileage.

The Boxter dropped off my radar because a)it's a soft top and I have no garage and b) routine maintenance is a bit steep for me ($250 oil change, for example)

The TT was nice, but the nearest Audi dealer I'd trust for service is over 30 miles away. And, for the money, I thought I could do a bit better.

The Vette was nice, but once you start putting any options on the car you can climb in price quickly. And for $41K, the G37 pretty much had everything on it I would want.

I didn't shop Mazda, Ford, or any other GM product. Nor did I shop Chrysler/Dodge, although had the Challenger been available I would definitely have considered it.

Overall, I'm happy with my decision. The ony part I wasn't pleased with was not getting any $$ off MSRP But that's part of the 'fun' of being an early adopter (I also bought an iPhone when it first came out, and look what Jobs did with the price 2 months later.)

My .02....
Modified by carman63 at 6:34 AM 9/13/2007

[David1547]

If you decide that the G37 is for you, I have a black/stone 6MT with Prem, Nav and cargo net that I am selling at dealer invoice ($38,099).

[dmkozak]

I don't really want to bash you, but a lot of your "negatives" require more than just a test drive. To really learn about the car, you need to read about it.

modified MazdaSpeed 6 (modified...CAI, catback)

And then there's the engine. Powerful, refined. and smooth? Yes, yes and yes. However, in my MS6, when I press the accelerator, the car leaps forward like a jet, kept beautifully under contol with 4-wheel drive and a LSD. In the Infiniti, it felt like I had to FLOOR the pedal to get the car to SERIOUSLY move.

Your MS is controlled by a throttle, and you have made modifications to it which enhance the throttle response. The G37 is controlled by the VVEL, the throttle only works at idle and low rpm's. Yes, you do have to press the accelerator more to feed fuel and air directly into the engine. This has been discussed before, and will probably be discussed again. But, learning about something is probably a better way to understand and appreciate it than just jumping in blindly and comparing it to something you have personally modified to do exactly what you want it to.

Quote » Another disadvantage is PRICE [/quote]Price is always relative. If you can not afford something, you should not buy it. Simple.

Most of the rest of your post deals with how much car/power you can get for how little money. While you are a self-described car nut, it seems as though you are more speed freak than overall car enthusiast. You mention suspension/handling once in your post and you do mention brakes at all. Are you concerned about materials and build quality? It does not appear so.

Since you are interested in the most bang (i.e., speed) for your buck, buy an American car with the biggest motor you can afford. That should solve pretty much all of your requirements.

Quote » I want an Infiniti G37 for the MSRP without the add-ons, as not only are they not important to me, but I'm not a wealthy guy.

Predictably enough, the salesperson told me that the car I wanted for the price I wanted "didn't exist" and the only way I would buy this car at the MSRP was to order one, which would take minimum of 3-4 months. [/quote]Again, a little reading goes a long way. The "normal" wait for an ordered G37 is approximately two months. (Yes, your salesman did not want to order a car for you because, hey, he might be working somewhere else when your car would arrive and he would not get paid his commission!) Infiniti seems to only accept orders by the end of the first and third weeks of the month. So, if you miss an order deadline, you might be looking at two more weeks. On the other hand, ordering a stripper base, or were you talking 6MT Sport w/no packages, might be quicker because the factory does not need to install any options. Also, Infiniti has said they are shipping a bunch of no option cars to try and keep lower price cars in stock. But, again, your salesman did not want to look this up for you.

Your problem here is with your salesman, not with Infiniti. Let's be little fair here and not blame the car for a lazy salesman.

[Liam]

I don't believe the G37 is really a "sports" car - rather it's a "sporty" car. You know, something fun to drive and make you look good in it but it's not a Porsche or even a Vette - it's just neat car to own and drive. It's comfortable enough for longer trips and has has all the bells and whistles like Nav and bluetooth and backup camera but I would never put it in the class of the true high performance sport cars.

Just my opinion but I had a G35 for 5 years and loved it - traded for the G37 and have no regrets - I'm 64 and my next car may well be the proverbial Buick but for the time being I'm having a blast!

[Ballardbeau]

I don't really want to bash you, but a lot of your "negatives" require more than just a test drive. To really learn about the car, you need to read about it.

Your MS is controlled by a throttle, and you have made modifications to it which enhance the throttle response. The G37 is controlled by the VVEL, the throttle only works at idle and low rpm's. Yes, you do have to press the accelerator more to feed fuel and air directly into the engine. This has been discussed before, and will probably be discussed again. But, learning about something is probably a better way to understand and appreciate it than just jumping in blindly and comparing it to something you have personally modified to do exactly what you want it to.

Price is always relative. If you can not afford something, you should not buy it. Simple.

Most of the rest of your post deals with how much car/power you can get for how little money. While you are a self-described car nut, it seems as though you are more speed freak than overall car enthusiast. You mention suspension/handling once in your post and you do mention brakes at all. Are you concerned about materials and build quality? It does not appear so.

Since you are interested in the most bang (i.e., speed) for your buck, buy an American car with the biggest motor you can afford. That should solve pretty much all of your requirements.

Again, a little reading goes a long way. The "normal" wait for an ordered G37 is approximately two months. (Yes, your salesman did not want to order a car for you because, hey, he might be working somewhere else when your car would arrive and he would not get paid his commission!) Infiniti seems to only accept orders by the end of the first and third weeks of the month. So, if you miss an order deadline, you might be looking at two more weeks. On the other hand, ordering a stripper base, or were you talking 6MT Sport w/no packages, might be quicker because the factory does not need to install any options. Also, Infiniti has said they are shipping a bunch of no option cars to try and keep lower price cars in stock. But, again, your salesman did not want to look this up for you.

Your problem here is with your salesman, not with Infiniti. Let's be little fair here and not blame the car for a lazy salesman.

Yo, I appreciate your comments, but I gotta point a few things out.

First, I've read TONS about the car. I always extensively research any car I'm considering buying, including every test review I find from the 4 car mags I subscribe to, internet research, talking with owners and joining that cars' forum(s) where I read every single thread. I guarantee you I knew more about this car than the salesman.

No car is perfect, my friend, as I think you'd agree. You obviously love your ride and more power to you. As I said, I came away from my test drive very impressed.

That being said, I'm entitled to my impressions, which is that the car is too heavy, too slow off the line, has a huge blind spot and felt cramped.

You may disagree with my opinions, but it doesn't make me "wrong."

And you're right; my criteria generally is the most power for the lowest bucks. Of course I like a lot of power...who the hell doesn't? That being said, my 2003 'Vette and my '05 GTO weren't exactly poor quality cars. Quite the opposite, in fact. My MS6, built in Japan, unlike regular M6s, isn't exactly a Yugo either, so of course buying a quality car is important to me....but if that car makes more power for considerably less money than its competitors, and has similar or even better build quality, good on me!

For example, the GTO, built by Holden in Australia, was built like a tank and even the most rabid GM haters conceeded it had the best interior of any car GMC has ever produced.

As far as ride quality and brakes, when you're talking about cars I've owned...Acura, BMW, Corvette, GTO...what's the point in talking about them? They're all world class.

Thanks for the ordering info and I'll look in to that further.

[Kendahl]

Agreed. When I started shopping, my criteria were fast, handles well, comfortable and quiet. The G37 satisfies these criteria better than anything else I have tried.

The four different Porsches I tried performed very well, but were quite noisy and not very comfortable. Engine and tire noise were constant and obtrusive. The ride was rough on anything but smooth pavement and the seats were too hard to tolerate for a day long drive.

Although they did not perform quite as well as the Porsches, two G35s were much more comfortable. The only annoying noise was tire slap on pavement joints. The G35s were good enough that, in the absence of the G37, I would have bought one.