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Test Drives:
2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe M6
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It was time to try the 6-speed manual in the G-Coupe. I've tried the automatic coupe, the
manual sedan, but until now, not the M6 Coupe. There are many attributes of the coupe
that are appealing, the 280-hp V6 engine, the sleek coupe exterior shape, and of
course, the short-shift transmission. I didn't care for the short-shifter in the sedan, but in
the coupe, the identical transmission is better suited. The clutch requires a lot of pedal
travel though.
With 18-inch wheels and shorter & wider dimensions than its sedan, the coupe has a
much more sporty look. Remember, this is a four-seater 350Z. The exhaust note is a
unique sound, with a nice baffle upon high-rev release. The interior resembles the
sedan more than the Z-car with its cheap-looking center console material,
orange-faced instrument dials, and tubular dashboard treatment. Recommended
improvements for the next few years?
1. Exterior door handles: either go with the sedan's conventional door hinges or make
the coupe's grab pull-handles smaller.
2. Badging: remove all that "infiniti" badging off the decklid, too much lettering.
3. Interior: use a higher quality material for the center console.
4. Seats: remove some of the side-bolstering in the coupe's seats.
5. Taillights: redo the shape of the taillight shell. Retain the LED bulbs though!
Gauges: either go with white or red intrument backlighting, not orange.
Not to say this is a bad car though! Compare to a 330Ci, this car is cheaper, more
powerful, more fun, and gets a lot more looks on the road. For $50,000 CDN, it spells
value for a sports car.
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