We wanted the best bang for the performance buck but we wanted some semblance of luxury so we opted for the Luxury Leather model with a brilliant silver exterior but no sun roof. We chose the graphite interior since it looked cool with the 'titanium'  console & accents, and we thought it would wear better than the lighter colored interior. This is a pretty rare option combo, especially minus the sunroof option, which offers less headroom and slightly more chassis flex.

We also wanted the G35 to be even more sporty so we opted for the sport tuned package which includes stiffer shocks, springs, and more aggressive wheels/tires at a bargain $425. We thought we could later add an aftermarket stereo, so we skipped on the Bose audio system. Actually, the head unit is just fine (which includes an in-dash six disc changer), we'll just upgrade the speakers, and add a powered subwoofer in the back deck, which already has all the holes and cutouts in place. We also ignored just about every other option. The goodies on the options list sounded neat but we didn't care to start racking up monthly payments. Our final sticker ended up being shy of $30k before taxes and license.

By now, you've heard just about every mainstream automotive magazine singing the praises of the G35. We're no less enthusiastic and possibly more so. The car handles exceptionally well around tight turns and corners with very little body roll. The car sticks to the asphalt almost no matter what you do especially considering the 3.5L V-6 VQ sends a whole lot of power to the ground. This VQ is a bit different animal from the one in the Altima and Maxima's V-6 in that it seems much more happy to rev and the 5 speed automatic will let you redline the engine most of the time before up-shifting using its manumatic shifter. The engine and transmission combo are amazingly flexible and will respond to demands on the throttle instantly.

The seats are excellent for long distance driving as well as canyon driving with good lateral support and bolsters. We think the ergonomics are first rate with the only exception being the multi-function display  above the clock requires an upward glance to confirm climate control changes.

So far our first 3,000 miles have been trouble free.  We've experienced no mechanical problems. Our only grip is the neat analog clock is too dim at night, but it's listed on a TSB at the dealer, and will be replaced at our first oil change.

Although not a mechanical problem, at first gas mileage was also a concern. For the first 2K miles, we stayed below 20 mpg no matter how carefully we drove. As we approached 3K miles, we started seeing  21-22 mpg, with our best tank showing 23.5 mpg. We have to admit it's kind of tough not wanting to floor the G35 at every stop light.

Our car was also one of three G35s used to prototype a K&N intake system. We got  a peek inside K&N's super-secret facility in Riverside, plus we got to run with the prototype system for a few days, and have our cars on the dyno. Honestly, they asked us not to publish any photos of the prototyped system, since a possible production model would be much nicer looking with anodized  aluminum. But that's a whole other story...

We'll be dropping by the dealer for our first service soon. After that, we're looking into a McCulloch 5K HID retrofit, since we decided 'after the fact' that we'd like Xenon lights. Note that the 2003.5 G35 sedans  (with "running changes") will come standard with HIDs, along with a slight price increase. 

So far we've enjoyed the seat time in our G35. The G35 is fast, smooth, and quite visually impressive (and if you want to see more photos of our Long Term G35, check out our new wallpapers).

Will our G35 hold up to the rigors of L.A. driving? And will our gas mileage improve? Stay tuned...

· Update: No. 1 Fixing A/C noise and HID conversion

Speak your mind: Long Term Test: Infiniti G35

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