Hooptie Review: The 2005 Infiniti G35x

Apologies in advance for the lack of pictures.

Part of paying your own way and loving cars is buying a hooptie as your first car. But what if you wait a bit later? Recently, I helped my cousin buy his first car at the age of 23. The process started by looking at Toyota Echos and finished with him behind the wheel of a 2005 Infiniti G35x. So how good is it, and is it worth the (relatively small) initial outlay?

Appearance: 7/10.

While the first gen G35's exterior styling is very much a matter of taste, the facelift bumpers sharpened everything up just right, and the overall proportions are classic sports sedan. The dark headlight housings are a nice touch, the alloy wheels are well-sized, and Infiniti exercised a fair amount of restraint with the brightwork. The doors are nicely sized, and there's plenty of window to keep occupants from feeling claustrophobic. I certainly wouldn't kick it out of the driveway on looks alone.

Interior: 6/10

In terms of the interior, the facelift added nicer plastics and cleaner-looking gauges (among other things). The console knobs being all on the right (how Japanese is that?) takes a bit of getting used to, but all the other controls are fairly standard fare. Infinitis usually have decent seats and this car is no exception, allowing for plenty of comfort but still supplying adequate bolstering. The number of storage cubbies is astounding, and there's plenty of passenger space. However, the cargo flexibility isn't quite as good as I'd like it to be, and there are still some things that feel a bit cheap. It mostly feels like a smaller Altima inside, and that seems to be a mark of a missed opportunity.

Toys: 8/10

This particular example has the Bose stereo, and it still thumps pretty well after over a decade of service. The automatic climate control functions quite well, the rear seats have Yakuza-approved business jet-style reclining backrests with really wide and comfy headrests, and the gauge cluster moving with the powered steering column is still pretty damn cool. It even has proximity key, although you have to twist a little nub to get it to start. Although it doesn't have an aux jack, it's still quite well equipped, and gets an 8 instead of a 7 simply for the wow factor of the steering column and the rear seats.

Powertrain: 8/10

Now we get into why people bought the G35x over the 325xi in the first place, the VQ35DE. What hasn't already been said about this engine? It's smooth, it's powerful, it's reliable, and you can enjoy the hell out of it every single day. Within 10 minutes behind the wheel, even my other cousin who is a very cautious and careful driver was matting it away from the lights. The primal instinct of quick being equal to fun is very much at play here. While I couldn't really feel the sophisticated AWD system kicking in, I definitely noticed the 5 speed automatic transmission. It's a bit slow-witted and the ratios are a bit long which, while par for the course, does date the car a bit. Still, when two people can stay up until an ungodly hour of the morning burning through 3/4 of a tank of premium and not even regretting the lateness or the fuel mileage, the car has to have a pretty solid powertrain.

Handling: 7/10

This is an AWD car that behaves like a RWD car. You can push it and push it and it will progressively break away into smooth, controllable oversteer. Add in the nice weight and feel of the steering, and this is a car that's chomping at the bit waiting for the snow to fly. Even in the dry, it's a very willing dance partner. It's not as polished as an E46, but it's noticeably livelier, and the fun factor definitely makes up for it being objectively slightly worse.

Value: 8.5/10

These things are cheap now. This post-facelift AWD one was picked up for $5k CAD, and RWD ones are even cheaper. 6MT cars carry a premium, but $4k Canadian is a fair price for a pre-facelift 6MT car and it's a serious value proposition for $4k. Sure it's not the cheapest to insure and it likes to drink premium at the same rate as a Crown Vic guzzles regular, but it's quick, fun, well-equipped and still feels quality. I'd buy one over an E46 any day of the week.

Total: 44.5/60

Would I buy one with my own money? Hell yeah I would.

Nice review.

I didn't realize they'd become so inexpensive.  It's funny, when I was a bit younger than your cousin I bought my first car (RX-7 Turbo II) in a similar price range.  Sometimes I think about how it seems like there are fewer cool, older, inexpensive cars out there for people, but I guess sometimes it's hard to realize how old certain cars have become.

My sister is on her second QX35/37 and likes it a lot.  As far as I recall, she was told not to bother with premium unless she really needed the last couple of horesepower.  Can somebody speak knowledgeably (i.e., more knowledgeably than a random car salesman) about VQ engines and premium gas?  As the price of these cars comes down and the price bump for premium goes up (especially in Canada), solid information here is going to be very useful.

Around 2006, I cross-shopped the G35, the IS300, and the 325i (all in RWD format), and ultimately bought the BMW E46 despite the alleged power deficiency.  I found both the G and the IS boring to drive.  I lose interest in straight line acceleration very very easily, especially since 85% of your driving time is spent with someone in front of you, limiting how quickly you can accelerate.

Plus, I hate the VQ's exhaust note.

 I'd buy one over an E46 any day of the week.

There's only certain versions of an e46 i would take over a G35. I'm one of those people in the camp that loves the VQ. 

Stealthtercel said:

Can somebody speak knowledgeably (i.e., more knowledgeably than a random car salesman) about VQ engines and premium gas? 

I ran my G37 on 87 octane once to see how it would behave. That was the first and last time.  

In reply to G_Body_Man :

Great read. I have said this before but it is worth repeating that I really enjoy your writing style.  

Do these have a LSD rear or electronic traction control?  If it's LSD and you ever get a chance can you take a picture of the diff and how it mounts?

What's his insurance rates? That would be the terrifying thing for me as a 23 year old.

In reply to Stampie :

IIRC the AWD ones didn't have an LSD out back. The RWD ones were available with either a VLSD or a clutch-type LSD.