Just got back from test driving / shopping the A4 3.0 CVT and the G35...
07-13-2002, 10:57 AM
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Just got back from test driving / shopping the A4 3.0 CVT and the G35...
...great way to start off a saturday! The best part is that I drove both cars on the same route.
Cutting to the chase - I'm getting on the list next week, and will get the G35 coupe.
A4 Pros - CVT transmission, top notch interior, sport suspension, exclusivity, German engineering
A4 Cons - Premium price, underpowered, FWD torque steer, and it seemed way too eager to chirp the tires from a standing start.
G35 Pros - Bang for the buck (even paying MSRP), 275+ hp, RWD, coupe, navigation
G35 Cons - First year production, mainstream car, front end looks are so-so (optional body kit might fix that), dash deisgn is blah, and tons of people will have one.
Both sales people drove the cars agressively, but the Infinity rep won hands down. She was probably mid to late 40's, and she managed to scare the crap out of me by hustling the car down some empty office park roads. She was flying (60-70mph in a 35) through some very rough sweeping turns, and the car handled incredibly well for a stock sport setup. The we proceeded to an empty parking lot where she did a big circle to show off the VDC feature when we hit loose gravel. I couldnt believe how smoothly the car sorted itself out - it kicks the snot out of Audis ESP, which suprised me.
Thats about it. If you know someone who wants a killer deal on a 2.8, you know where to send em.
Cutting to the chase - I'm getting on the list next week, and will get the G35 coupe.
A4 Pros - CVT transmission, top notch interior, sport suspension, exclusivity, German engineering
A4 Cons - Premium price, underpowered, FWD torque steer, and it seemed way too eager to chirp the tires from a standing start.
G35 Pros - Bang for the buck (even paying MSRP), 275+ hp, RWD, coupe, navigation
G35 Cons - First year production, mainstream car, front end looks are so-so (optional body kit might fix that), dash deisgn is blah, and tons of people will have one.
Both sales people drove the cars agressively, but the Infinity rep won hands down. She was probably mid to late 40's, and she managed to scare the crap out of me by hustling the car down some empty office park roads. She was flying (60-70mph in a 35) through some very rough sweeping turns, and the car handled incredibly well for a stock sport setup. The we proceeded to an empty parking lot where she did a big circle to show off the VDC feature when we hit loose gravel. I couldnt believe how smoothly the car sorted itself out - it kicks the snot out of Audis ESP, which suprised me.
Thats about it. If you know someone who wants a killer deal on a 2.8, you know where to send em.
07-13-2002, 12:46 PM
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FreshAlloy has some pictures and info on the coupe...
<ul><li><a href="http://www.freshalloy.com/site/cars/infiniti/2003/g35/coupe/home.shtml">FreshAlloy G35 Coupe</a></li></ul>
07-13-2002, 01:29 PM
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ok so lets analyse those pros and cons..
A4<sup> Pros</sup>:
CVT transmission- Smooth German Technology
top notch interior- Nawgahide vs. plasticy Japanese stuff
sport suspension- 02's have a great oem sport suspension, but if your a true driver you might want more anyways.
exclusivity- you get to still be an audi enthusiast
German engineering- that depends on what technology your looking for, some japanese technology is also pretty good.. id put japanese navigation over audi's effort at this point.
A4<sub>Cons</sub>:
Premium price- they are whoring these things out, who knows how the resale will be on the G35.
underpowered- so you gotta chip it? is that all that bad?
FWD torque steer- Audi does have some aftermarket companies that will look into resolving stuff like this, "and it seemed way too eager to chirp the tires from a standing start" thats an overall FWD car flaw, not really a audi con
G35<sup> Pros</sup>:
Bang for the buck (even paying MSRP)- Whats the warranty? 3-4?
275+ hp, Definately a pro
RWD- got snow?
coupe- did you test the coupe or the 4 door?
navigation- Audi offers it, just no visual aids.
G35<sub>Cons</sub>:
First year production- isnt the 02 a4/cvt also a 1st year?
mainstream car- Define mainstream, it's still an upper class car.
front end looks are so-so (optional body kit might fix that)- Than they can buy a 350Z..
dash deisgn is blah- thats the times we live in, japanese cars are all going to that look, american cars are going retro/vintage, and tons of people will have one.
CVT transmission- Smooth German Technology
top notch interior- Nawgahide vs. plasticy Japanese stuff
sport suspension- 02's have a great oem sport suspension, but if your a true driver you might want more anyways.
exclusivity- you get to still be an audi enthusiast
German engineering- that depends on what technology your looking for, some japanese technology is also pretty good.. id put japanese navigation over audi's effort at this point.
A4<sub>Cons</sub>:
Premium price- they are whoring these things out, who knows how the resale will be on the G35.
underpowered- so you gotta chip it? is that all that bad?
FWD torque steer- Audi does have some aftermarket companies that will look into resolving stuff like this, "and it seemed way too eager to chirp the tires from a standing start" thats an overall FWD car flaw, not really a audi con
G35<sup> Pros</sup>:
Bang for the buck (even paying MSRP)- Whats the warranty? 3-4?
275+ hp, Definately a pro
RWD- got snow?
coupe- did you test the coupe or the 4 door?
navigation- Audi offers it, just no visual aids.
G35<sub>Cons</sub>:
First year production- isnt the 02 a4/cvt also a 1st year?
mainstream car- Define mainstream, it's still an upper class car.
front end looks are so-so (optional body kit might fix that)- Than they can buy a 350Z..
dash deisgn is blah- thats the times we live in, japanese cars are all going to that look, american cars are going retro/vintage, and tons of people will have one.
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07-13-2002, 03:16 PM
#8
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good choice man...I would take a G35 coupe in a second
over a 3.0 audi. All your points are valid. I just hate the steering wheel and waterfall center console shape of the infinity. Otherwise I think the car is pretty great too. GOod luck with it.
07-13-2002, 06:37 PM
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I test drove both too and didn't like the G35
Despite the much more powerful engine, the car refused to give me the power that I was demanding around certain curves and began flashing "SLIP" next to the speedometer. Only after I laid off a bit and got around the curve did the flashing thing stop and the power kicked in. It was COMPLETELY DRY out too! I've taken my car and several others (even my old Subaru wagon) around that corner faster than that G35 would let me.
All I have to say is: The beauty of quattro (or any AWD for that matter). I have definitely been fortunate to always have driven an AWD car.
All I have to say is: The beauty of quattro (or any AWD for that matter). I have definitely been fortunate to always have driven an AWD car.
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