[[email protected]]

Just got my new R&T magazine issue in the mail. It's dated July 2002.

The results were

11 - Lincoln LS V6 Manual
10 - Jaguar X-Type 3.0 Manual
9 - Volvo S60 T-5 Spaceball
8 - Cadillac CTS Manual
7 - Mercedes-Benz C320 Sport
6 - Acura 3.2 TL Type S
5 - Audi A4 3.0 quattro Manual
4 - Saab 9-5 Aero Manual
3 - Lexus IS 300 Manual
2 - BMW 330i Manual
1 - Infiniti G35 Automatic

The main beef for the S60 is the suspension. They liked everything else. It beat out all it's corporate cousins though.

 

[rollie]

Hmmm....very interesting. All together not a good showing for Ford's Premiere Auto Group eh?

I'll have to grab this magazine. It's surprising to see the G35 automatic leading the pack (ahead of mostly German manuals). Looks like a G35 test drive is in my future...

 

[TurbobrickT5]

The thing that I felt was very very odd was that the manual tranny S60 was slower then the auto tranny S60, they tested back in 4-01. That auto tranny one ran 6.6 0-60 and [email protected] mph. The manual tranny ran 7.0 and [email protected] Anyone else find that odd?

 

[Pedestrian_A]

quote:

Originally posted by TurbobrickT5:
The thing that I felt was very very odd was that the manual tranny S60 was slower then the auto tranny S60, they tested back in 4-01. That auto tranny one ran 6.6 0-60 and [email protected] mph. The manual tranny ran 7.0 and [email protected] Anyone else find that odd?

the tester can't launch. :lol

 

[745TRBOBRK]

quote:

Originally posted by [email protected]:
The results were.

That is based on Performance, a bunch of sbujective things like styling and comfort, and price.

Performance

1 BMW 330i
2 INFINITI G35
3 Lexus IS 300
4 SAAB 9-5 Aero
5 MB C320
6 Acura TL Type-S
7 Audi A4
8 Volvo S60
9 Jaguar X-Type
10 Cadillac CTS
11 Lincoln LS

Subjective Things

1 BMW 330i
2 INFINITI G35
3 MB C320
4 SAAB 9-5 Aero
5 Lexus IS 300
6 Audi A4
7 Jaguar X-Type
8 Acura TL Type-S
9 Cadillac CTS
10 Volvo S60
11 Lincoln LS

Performance + Subjective

1 BMW 330i
2 INFINITI G35
3 SAAB 9-5 Aero
4 Lexus IS 300
5 MB C320
6 Audi A4
7 Acura TL Type-S
8 Jaguar X-Type
9 Cadillac CTS
10 Volvo S60
11 Lincoln LS

The price thing screwed BMW. It clearly is a better car. The INFINITI is $8k less so it got more points for being cheap. Having a range of cars from $30-46 is too wide to be the same class IMHO.

I think the editors were right when they said that it is an engine looking for a chasis. Hopefully the R will have a better suspension to go with the 4wd.

 

[S.R.]

The G35 deserved to win IMHO. The manual 330i with sports suspension was barely able to beat/tie the automatic G35 in every performance aspect. The 330i uses high performance 225's in the front and 245's in the back where-as the G35 uses only 215's all-round.

When the results were first revealed, about a 1.5 weeks ago, the BMW fanboys were crying foul. The G35 coming later this year with a close-ratio 6-speed & hopefully larger wheels will smack the 330i like a play-toy. Then the carnage will continue when the G35 Coupe whips the 330ci back to the last century.

Here is some of what they said:

quote:

The G35 is the best of this group, plain and simple. Why? Try 260bhp, 260lb-ft. of torque, and rear wheel drive. When you add excellent steering, super-predictable handling, and plenty of passenger space, what Infiniti has done is remarkable; the low price isn't even a factor.

quote:

The G35 is bound to make converts out of a lot of BMW fans. It's a winner.

Road and Track Numbers

Top Speed
G35: 151 MPH
330i: 128 MPH

0-60 MPH
G35: 6.2 sec
330i: 6.1 sec

1/4 Mile & Trap Speed
G35: 14.7 sec @ 95.2 mph
330i: 14.7 sec @ 96.3 mph

Slalom MPH
G35: 65.0 MPH
330i: 65.4 MPH

80-O MPH Braking
G35: 218 ft
330i: 230 ft

200 ft Skidpad
G35: 0.86g
330i: 0.86g

G35 Automatic/Sport vs. 330i Automatic/Sport

Edmunds Numbers (Not even close)

0-60
G35 - 6.1 Seconds
330i - 6.7 Seconds

1/4 Mile
G35 - 14.7 @ 95.1 MPH
330i - 15.1 @ 93.6 MPH

60 - 0
G35 - 111 FT
330i - 129 FT

Slalom
G35 - 66.4 MPH
330i - 62.8 MPH

-Drew

 

[bfavre4]

So what IS the best to launch from a stop? Hold the brakes while revving the engine? That's not too healthy for the brakes, isn't it?

 

[[email protected]]

I have to hand it to Infiniti and Nissan, they are building some very good products lately. The Altima is another car that seems to be quite on its game.

That said, I hate the looks of the G35. It's like a soft Cadillac. While it works for Caddy, I just can't warm up to the Infiniti.

After reading the article, I'll take the S60 or the Audi A4 and do some suspension tweaking of my own.

 

[Vetteguy]

Actually, the brakes don't really care. Your torque converter may cry a little but yes, that is the best way to launch an auto.

Ummm George, the G35 is the Altima but poshed up a bit.

 

[T5 Dave]

quote:

Originally posted by Vetteguy:
A

Ummm George, the G35 is the Altima but poshed up a bit.

Well, if you consider moving the drive wheels to the back as just a bit of a 'posh.'

The I35 is the poshed version of the Maxima who use the same engine as the Altima in a FWD layout.

But no, the G35 is a RWD and in no way related to the FWD stablemates.

The good news is that the G35 comes without leather and without a sunroof!! Yippee! Finally, I have an alternative if my S60 gets stolen . . .

Not that I'm planning on that, you understand, it's just that there just wasn't any other option out there until now in the same power-to-weight ratio class.

[This message has been edited by T5 Dave (edited 06-07-2002).]

 

[S.R.]

quote:

Originally posted by Vetteguy:

Ummm George, the G35 is the Altima but poshed up a bit.

The G35 is in no way related to the Altima at all except for the VQ35DE, but in the Altima it only makes 240hp.

-Drew

 

[[email protected]]

I'm certainly no Nissan expert, but I recall reading that the G35 is based on the same platform that Nissan will be using for the Z and the Skyline, in addition to the G35 coupe.

I think it's great really. There are a ton of accountant run auto companies out there, and Nissan has waltzed in with some rather daring engineering (and IMHO rather crappy exterior design) and garnered a lot of respect in the automotive enthusiast set.

You don't just see companies (unless they are BMW or MB) just producing coupes anymore. That in and of itself is quite frustrating. The cool thing is, unlike my two favorites (Audi and Volvo), there's virtually no waiting until halfway through the model cycle to get the coupe to market. I have to respect that.

 

[T5 Dave]

Uh, guys, what's wrong with this picture? A Volvo site extolling the virtues of a Nissan product? Are we saying we don't like our Volvos as much as the Nissan?

Is Volvo listening?

 

[Kai]

quote:

Originally posted by [email protected]:
There are a ton of accountant run auto companies out there, and Nissan has waltzed in with some rather daring engineering (and IMHO rather crappy exterior design) and garnered a lot of respect in the automotive enthusiast set.

I agree with you on this. The design cues on most of the Nissan cars are just aweful. It seems like they hardly ever get the tails of their cars right. Always a bit too much or a bit under the norm of general public taste.

It seems almost if they are trying a bit too hard..only rear ends I like on the Nissans are the Skylines, S15(maybe S14 is okay, too), the G20...and some of Q45s.

I could almost sense they try to design something new a different, yet they want to keep a hint of other European cars design cues in their cars. G35 from some angle reminds me of the A6's rear end.

 

[S.R.]

quote:

Originally posted by T5 Dave:
Are we saying we don't like our Volvos as much as the Nissan?

Is Volvo listening?

Nah, I think that we are a group of people who are easy going, open-minded, and can appreciate others virtues. I hope that Volvo is listening.

-Drew