Test drives in the G37 6MT and 335i

[furui]

My trusty ol' Z3 won't cut it for long. It fits me like a glove, and it has plenty of power and handling to get me into lots of trouble. But, I would like room to transport items larger than groceries. Sorry, little buddy, but I need bigger and better.

After careful consideration, I whittled down to two candidates: the Infiniti G37S 6MT Coupe and the BMW 335i Sedan.

Now, you are probably wondering why I selected the sedan. The reasons are simple, really. I don't mind the look of a sedan (maybe I am aesthetically blind, but the E90 3-series does look a lot like a slightly slimmed down 5-series--which is a good thing to me). And, I don't understand why I would want to pay BMW significantly more for less car. Also, the sedan has similar performance compared to the coupe.

I first went down to Irvine BMW and had them sit me in a 335i Sedan with iDrive navigation, premium, comfort access, active cruise control, and iPod connector (~$45k). The interior was beautiful and spacious. The upgraded leather was wonderful and the dash was clean. The iDrive controller appeared gimmicky to me at first, but I do like it. I love the fold out cupholders and the climate control for the back seats. Trunk space was more than ample. The car had many little excellent touches that you would expect from a luxury car manufacturer.

The car started up quite anticlimactically. The engine is really quiet. I gave it a few good pushes of the throttle, and a muffled meow emitted from the exhaust pipes.

However, the timid sounds are deceiving. As I pulled out of the dealership, I pushed the pedal to wide open throttle. The car pulled very hard from 1k RPM all the way to redline. It was as fast or faster than any stock M3 I have been in.

I pushed the clutch in to catch the next gear. However, I was given a surprise as I let the clutch out. The car lurched as the clutch made sudden, violent contact with the pressure plate. In fact, I found it really, really difficult to shift gears smoothly in the 335i. Braking was also very touchy. Touch the brake pedal just a little too hard at slow speeds and the car slams to a stop. Another thing I did not like was the electronic turn signal stalk. I prefer the older, manual click up or down turn signal stalk.

I am sure I could get used to it within an hour, though. But, it just didn't feel anything like the smooth clutch and brakes in my Z3.

After taking it down a few more roads and letting it loose to feel the rush of pure acceleration, I left the dealership to seek the 335i's rival.

It was in Torrance at South Bay Infiniti that I found the G37S waiting for me. I got into a G37S 6MT that was loaded with every option except for 4WAS (~$43k).

Now let's rewind for a second. 4 years ago, I really wanted the G35 coupe. I loved the interior and how everything was setup. But, the G37's amenities really make the old G35 feel like merely a high-end Nissan.

The touch screen display is beautiful. The 3D navigation with speech and voice recognition is seriously cool. The back up camera is a very nice addition, however the audible sound did not function in the car I tested. The sports seats are top notch, although a bit too soft for my taste. There isn't as much space in the cabin as the 335i, but there is more than enough space, and I ended up having to move my seat up pretty far to reach the pedals. I must admit the 335i cabin felt more refined than the G37's.

My only real complaint? No African Rosewood is available in the G37S 6MT trim. I love the look of that Rosewood in the G37 Journey.

Turning on the car opened my eyes. The car doesn't start subtly like the 335i. Instead, the car growls to life as if it about to pounce onto its pray. The big cat sound doesn't stop there. Give the gas a push, and the car declares itself king of the jungle with a roar.

However, when I took the car out onto the road, I wasn't floored by the new engine's power. The exhaust growled furiously, but I wasn't feeling the acceleration that I expected to come with it. In the end, I was impressed by the new 3.7 liter V6, but not as impressed as I was with the 335i power-plant.

What did impress me a lot was the feel of the steering, clutch, and brakes. The steering was very connected to the road, and the turn radius is excellent. Just like my Z3. The clutch was smooth as butter, and gear shifts were quick and effortless. Just like my Z3. The brakes were smooth, yet very responsive. Just like my Z3. In fact, the G37 feels more like an good old bimmer than the 335i does!

In the end, the car that was most comfortable to me while I am sitting in the driver seat wins. The 335i's leather is perfect, and the armrest is located in just the right spot. The console doesn't feel as cluttered. The engine produces a rush of acceleration that is in the same department as the old M3 and even the RS4. The 335i just ekes out as slightly better in my book.

Where does that leave the G37? Not far from the 335i. If I were more of gadget freak, I would not even consider the 335i. The loads of features would put joy into any technology lover. To all who are considering the 328i Coupe, I would seriously recommend the G37 instead.

But, a few years from now? I might miss that throaty growl enough to pick up the technology packed G37 coupe for my own.

I hope those who actually read this far enjoyed the post.

[carman63]

Nice Write-up. I enjoyed reading your comparisons between the G37 and 335i sedan, with some reference to your Z3. I'd like to make a few comments regarding your post.

Re: the desire to have more room to transport items. I'd think the G3 sedan would have been a better car to compare. The G37 has next-to-no trunk space. Coming from an Audi A6 myself, with a huge trunk, this is pretty noticeable. My VW GTI has probably double the space in its hatch, compared to the G37.

Re: the quickness of the cars (pulling very hard from a stop). In my experience, German car manufactures seem to be best at getting a good amount of torque throughout the rev range, whereas Japanese manufactures have a 'sweet spot' for the torque. Not sure why that is, but the Audis and VWs I've owned always impressed me with the pull they had from a stop light.

Re: the wood interior. My Audi had a nicely polished walnut wood trim, with a think coat of lacquer or something on it. And it was easily scratched. The aluminum trim in my G37, if it were to get scratched, wouldn't show it as well. The Infiniti trim seems to be more 'natural', i.e., no heavy protective coating, so I suspect it's even easier to scratch and would require more care to keep looking good over the years.

Re: the backup camera. AFAIK the G37's system doesn't beep. The first experience I have had with the Infiniti backup camera system was while test-driving an M35 last year, and that system didn't beep either. It just shows you your distance, and where you'll end up based on how the wheels are turned.

Re: the car's interiors. It's personal taste, to be sure. I think the interior of the BMW is more austere, and looks nicer as a result. It's less cluttered, and is understated. I think Audis have the best interior of any car I've driven, however. Again, it's personal taste.

The Audi MMI is probably the best (IMO) controller on the market. I'm not a fan of iDrive. The Infiniti seems a bit counter-productive in some cases, compared to my Audi, but I like it a bit better than iDrive.

Again, thanks for the write-up. I'm interested in what others have to say.

-Jim

[audtatious]

Very good

Once consideration concerning acceleration is TT vs NA. The G37 is primarily designed to have no noticable "sweet spot" altho the higher-end RPM band has the highest numbers. Acceleration should be relatively smooth up the powerband whereas the 335i has a post-spool sweet spot where you would notice the acceleration point.

The one thing I am disappointed in with the G is the lower TQ ratings than the VQ35 variants. The '07 coupe (VQ35DE) and '07 Sedan (VQ35HR) both have TQ ratings that are 12% below rated hp figures whereas the G37 is 18% lower (interestingly enough, the VQ35DE in my Maxima only has a 3%TQ decrease based off listed HP numbers). Having 330hp/291tq would be more appropriate. I am wondering if Nissan is running a de-tuned ECU map in order to allow them to more easily bump HP/TQ increases over the next couple of years.

Who knows. BMW has a +30-40hp piggy-back available at this point and I wonder what aftermarket manufacturers will be able to do with the G37 (besides turbo).

Yes, I'm rambling

[furui]

Re: the backup camera. AFAIK the G37's system doesn't beep. The first experience I have had with the Infiniti backup camera system was while test-driving an M35 last year, and that system didn't beep either. It just shows you your distance, and where you'll end up based on how the wheels are turned.

The Audi MMI is probably the best (IMO) controller on the market. I'm not a fan of iDrive. The Infiniti seems a bit counter-productive in some cases, compared to my Audi, but I like it a bit better than iDrive.

Ah, the dealer insisted it had an audible system and it was just not working in that car.

The Audi MMI is an excellent system. I like the smaller interface located behind the steering wheel and would rather not have to look over into the center console to monitor car operation or select music.

[verycomplex]

Very good insights.

I also compared the two and agree with some of your opinions and observations. However, one area where I really disagree is with the interior. When I sit in the G37 I feel like I'm sitting in a high end sports car, which is really what it's supposed to feel like. (A side note: The G35 sedan is a bit more refined as a sedan should be and is probably a better comparison to the 335i sedan). I feel the 335i is a bit plain, but you can also call it refined (the European model looks better inside actually). So I don't get that same sporty, "drive me fast and have fun" feel when I sit in the BMW. That's just personal taste.

The other factor is cost. In pricing the options that I want it seems I'm saving a about $4,000 with the G37 and that's after considering the free maintenance that BMW includes. I mean come on BMW, I have to pay extra for leather?

I was surprised with my findings though. Because prior to shopping I was dead set on the 335i. But after sitting and driving the G37 I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe next time I'll go Bee-mer, but the cost has to be more equalized.

[marsb007]

The Audi MMI is an excellent system. I like the smaller interface located behind the steering wheel and would rather not have to look over into the center console to monitor car operation or select music.

I've been driving the 2008 A6 for a few weeks now (Maserati loaner), and compared to the G37 interface, it seems retarded.

I hate the multi-function scroll wheels on the steering wheel. To change stations you have to scroll once, to get it from the default screen to the preset stations screen, select what you want (even if it's the next station on the list), and then finally select it by clicking down on the wheel.

The alternative to the steering wheel mounted controls is the knob by the gear shifter, which i agree is way more intuitive than the steering wheel mounted controls. I have also found myself forgetting which way the wheel has to be turned to go up/down... I reverse them all the time!

FIY, changing stations on the Audi almost made me get in several fender benders already. In all my prior Lexus and Infiniti automobiles, all I had to do is push the steering wheel mounted controls up/down to select the next available station...