Test Drive: 2003 Infiniti G35

I had a chance to spend a little bit of time with the 2003 Infiniti G35. This is the car that many automobile journalists had been writing about in terms of "wouldn't it be nice if Infiniti could build....". Well it seems that Infiniti has listened. The stats of the car are impressive. 260 hp producing 260 Ib-ft torque at 4,800 rpm. Rear wheel drive. Independent multi-link suspension both Front and Rear. Electronically controlled five-speed automatic with manual mode. Etc etc. And while stats can give you an idea , they really don't take the place of driving a vehicle.

I tested the G35 with the Sport Tuned Suspension Package which includes tuned springs and shocks as well as 17 in. wheels. In addition the test vehicle included an upgraded 200W Bose Stereo as well as heated front seats. Something that we really appreciate in the cold climate of Southern California. (You have to wonder about some of those dealers)

The car created two sensations almost immediately as I drove it off the lot. It has the absolutely best brakes I've seen on an automobile to date and secondly it has with what I like to call "sneeze steering" You sneeze at it and the car turns - that’s how sensitive it is. Both of these factors had me wishing that we were close to a winding mountain road so that I could really push the maneuverability.

In normal city traffic the G35 feels light-footed and very responsive. I  did not get a chance to really put the hammer down and see how those 260Ib of torque translate into "wow-factor". The short bit of acceleration that I managed to eek out of the traffic only told me that I need to drive the G35 again. My daily commuting vehicle is much heavier and feels considerably more powerful when accelerated, even though it might not be going as fast as the G35 did in that instance. Its just one of those things when you are sitting in 4500 Ibs hurdling  along versus 3000 Ibs.

One small issue with the G35 was the driver seat which had to have been designed for Japanese drivers, because my size XL U.S. butt was in danger of hanging off the edges. It's the smallest car seat I've ever seen. In all other respects the interior was nicely done. For some reason I really liked the analog clock sitting smack dab in the center of the console. In addition, the placement of a small digital readout strip across a good part of the center console was a nice design choice.

Overall I think this car is an excellent value for the money. The one that I tested was listed at $32,600 .00 and in my mind was worth it.  I do need to go back and try it again to get to the "wow factor" of this engine.

UPDATE : Second test drive. Found the wow factor!

I went to another dealer in a location that was a little more open and had some nice clean stretches of road. This time I drove a model with the Luxury Package. The steering didn't have the same instantaneous response as the first car. Rather it was smooth and gentle like any other good vehicle in this class. This particular G35  was lighter to maneuver than the BMW330 and the Cadillac CTS, and overall the car felt lighter but no less stable.

The radio in this one also seemed to have better quality leading me to think that the salesman in the first go around didn't know his Bose from a Bose.

Here is the clincher - this car has an awsome accerleration. Better than a BMW 330i and certainly better than the Cadillac CTS. Especially in "tiptronic" mode where you get to pick the shift-points and really get to red line it, the engine responds amazingly. It should be noted that the standard automatic transmission comes equipped with a learning algorithm that adapts to your driving habits.  This time I definetly found the wow factor. It was an exhilerating ride.

© Copyright 2004 Thomas Wagner. Last update: 5/2/2004; 7:24:17 PM. This theme is based on the SoundWaves (blue) Manila theme.