Is it just me that I am starting to think that the G35 is a better buy than a Z. What do you guys think? Dont get me wrong I do luv the Z as well. But the G has 2 more seats, the interior is integrated with style and quality, it performs almost identical with the Z, it starts at 32K almost similar to a touring model. The shape of the G is as schweet as the Z. I feel myself oscilating away from the Z towards the G.

 

The only rule here is "Whatever floats your boat" but I think the Zzzz is really unique & the G35 looks like another nice sports coup. I like unique.

 

I know this site is geared towards the Z and prolly some bias in people comments. If you really think about it, it just becomes a personal taste. I luve the Z for its rawness and I luv the G for its well mannered stance. I am still confused LOL!

 

i used to think that way ... then i drove the G35 and it made up my mind...

got the G35coupe...much happier with it then i would of been w/ the Z...

 

jus look at it...

 

The shape of the G is slowly growing into me...That looks dope with them Volks!

 

Is that a PS. The wheels don't look right at all.

 

ive seen that pic with so many different wheels..
anyways i treat my G35 like a 350z so far all my aftermarket parts are meant for 350z's.

 

Ok in hind sight, i would still get the 350z over the g35. I am not married, no kids, no dog, and i dont need bike carriers or a sunroof.

With that said, there is 1 determining factor that truly sets the 2 cars apart!

Wheelbase!!!

a. the 350z has 7 more hp because the the g35 exhaust has to compensate for the extra wheelsbase and that little entrapment of air flow, restricts the g35. with minimal modification, you will be at 287 with a g35!

b. at higher speeds, the g35 will be more stable. If you travel 140 in a g35 and a z, i bet you the g35 will feel more safe and will be easier to recover.

c. the g35 is introducing awd into their lineup this fall! dont ask your dealer cuz they will deny it in order to sell current inventory.
but trust me its is true.

So if you wait a lil, you can have a 350Z with awd, back seats, and better high speed stability with a g35 awd model. I am not sure if awd is offered in both sedan and coupe. i do know the GTR is awd.

but i will always love my fairlady. and i am desperatly trying to beat the new GTR release with my custom twin turbo. When you see the GTR on cover of Motor trend, i want to be on the cover of Superstreet at 888 whp 350Z!

Factory Turbos are for the weak,

Turbo'ed Fairladies will inherit the earth!

 

i think only the SEdan is awd
otherwise im trading it in
btw i dont think its the exhaust officially it si
the intake is more restritive on the G35 so that seems more responsible then a few inches of piping.
maybe its both
who knows

 

Your not hitting on the real differances at all, nor are you hitting on the dynamic's of what a shorter wheel base means. I understand that what you really doing is thinking out loud, not really speaking as point of fact. Any differance in perceived stability comes from the fact that the G35 is tuned to be softer and less hard edged than the Z, not because of the G's longer wheelbase. The Z's shorter wheelbase is actually a plus on the track, and in how it add's to the feel of the car, not a minus. You see a whole bunch of Z's being modded for track duty, not G35's for a reason. No one whine's that their Z lacks high speed stubility or act's in a manner where it's easy to,..... NEED RECOVERY. Fact is the Z's specialty is in the whole package. It is extreamly easy to get to all it's performance limits and to stay at those limits. More so than several other well know performance cars, that should post faster lap times, but don't. Frankly I've driven the Z at the limit, it has abilities that the G can't match unless you start to massage the G's chassis. But even then, you can't match the Z's shorter wheelbase benefits. Finally, drive both and just get which one has the benefits you want.

 

Hey i have driven a g35c manaul and it hauls *** just like mine. not the same note but the engine and tranny are the same. so are the suspension and brakes. I wouldnt trade my z for a g35 for the world. there are many differences i could go on and on about.

But you make it sound like the g35 is some bastard child with a vtech in it! its 95% more similar to the z than different. and to say the g35 cannot handle at the track is um....strange. there is a reason the gtr is based on the g35 and not the 350z.

the z is more raw and better around a track in stock form but at the end of the day, they are very close to being twins. I basically see the g35 asthe 350Z 2+2.

 

As I posted in the thread 'stock vs. stock' ...

.Stock vs. Stock

=========================

I have a G35 Coupe.

350Z definitely has stiffer suspension but here's what R&T said about handling in their G35 Coupe review:

"And thanks to its slightly longer wheelbase (112.2 in. to the Z's 104.3), the car feels more balanced and stable through corners than the Z, especially noticeable through quick left/right transitions where the Z's rear end can become a touch twitchy. In fact, the G35 recorded better handling numbers at the test track. It achieved 0.92g around the skidpad and danced through the slalom at 67.7 mph, besting the 350Z's 0.89g and 65.6 mph."

Both cars handle similarly, the Z being more track oriented and agressive. But seems the longer wheelbase of the G has some side benefits aside from allowing room for back seats

Also in the article, the chief engineer for the G35 is quoted:

"The G35's chief engineer, Kazutoshi Mizuno, who moonlights as both driver and manager for various racing teams, said he intended to make the G35 Sport Coupe as performance oriented as possible. "Because of my involvement in racing, I knew exactly how I wanted the G35 Sport Coupe to perform. Although I wanted it to possess a different character than the Z, I didn't want it to be inferior. Therefore, I set out to create a Grand Touring version of the sports car. Where the 350Z is more in line with sprint racing, the G35 Sport Coupe has the heart of an endurance racer."

Also of interest is the Best Motoring video where the G, the Z and an M3 battle it out at Tsukuba. It's been out on the Fresh Alloy site for some time... so you may have already watched it... but here it is:

Best Motoring July '03

 

no offense but that C&D article is a bunch of BS. Everyone knows the G comes with better stock tires than the Z...flawed test IMHO...and if you watch the best motoring video, the drivers agree that the Z "does things a little better than the G" ...that's a quote from the vid.

 

I love them both - and think they both look and perform great. I bought the G - but that's due to my needs and personal preferencces rather than some blanket rating of each car. I feel the G is a better day-to-day driver due to the slightly softer suspension, but that's my personal feeling - yours may differ.

I do agree with the thinking that the Z is more a 'sprint' car, and the G, an 'endurance' car - based mostly in the longer wheelbase and larger size of the Infiniti. Either one is fast and handles well - I think the Z is a potentially better AutoX and sprint-type car, while the G is more of a rally or endurance racer. That's not to say that the right setup and driver can't make either shine in other areas.

Neither is an insult - sprint isn't less or more of a compliment than endurance.

I am a former Z driver (1983 300ZX, black with t-tops, loved that car!) but I couldn't go Z this time, due to day-to-day driving and the need for a back seat. Also, I simply fell in love with the styling of the G coupe! That's personal taste though - because I know plenty of people who love the looks of the Z. I know a guy down the block with a black 350Z and I always slow down when I pass it by - it's a gorgeous car.

These cars have a lot more in common than they have differences.

I think it's kind of silly to put down a car with basically the same philosophy (FM) and some of the same internals (VQ) as your own!

- Riff

 

Here's my take:

G35c = 350Z 2+2

 

Yep, I'll bite!

 

Both are great cars. I was interested in the G at first, but infiniti dealers wouldn't deal. I had Nissan/Infiniti VPP.. but the G35 coupe didn't qualify for the program , so i got my CS Track for Invoice+2.5%. While i love my Z, i have to admit, the interior and sound system sucks ***.

 

Here is mine:

G35C = 350Z with 2 baby seats and one golf bag.
350Z = 350Z without 2 baby seats and two golf bags.

 

Here's my take...

G35C + 350Z = Two awesome cars

BTW... theoretically you can fit two golf bags in the trunk of the G according to the instruction plate under the trunk lid... but I don't golf... I drive.