G35, RX-8 and first-year cars
 

I just had my 15,000 mile service done on my G35. My brake pads only had 2/32 on them and needed replaced already! I had around 3,000 interstate miles on the car and I do not drive it hard, so I was shocked and at first did not believe the service manager. He told me they have seen G35 coupes that are driven hard wearing out the pads in as little as 8,000 miles. A quick search of the G35 forum on freshalloy.com revelaed that yes, indeed, the G35 has a problem with brake pads that wear out too early.

A few things contribute to the problem: first, the rotors are a bit small for a car of its size and performance and softer pads were used to compensate. Second, if you have an automatic it upshifts quickly on normal driving, which means you don't get a lot of engine braking. Even with the world-class braking performance, I, for one, wish Nissan/Infiniti charged me $300 more when I bought the car and put bigger rotors on that didn't need softer pads.

I still am happy with my G35, but I am a bit upset as my service cost me an extra $139. It came to under $300 total, which is great for a high performance luxury import as it is, but I like the $160 figure better! (Try and get a BMW Inspection I or II for that much money, hahaha!) It is reliable and well put together, and a lot of fun to drive. But service surprises are what drove me from BMW in the first place and I hope this is the only fly in the G35 ointment.

Which brings up my point: First year cars, even from Japanese manufacturers, are prone to a glitch or two. Most are minor, but they aren't always- look at the last RX-7. Will anyone be putting off their RX-8 purchase until the car has a little more history?

Since I cancelled my Mini order, I'm driving mine when it comes in. If it impresses me enough, I will buy, costs be damned. But buying one next year is looking better and better for financial as well as quality control reasons.

Re: G35, RX-8 and first-year cars
 

It doesn't sound like "world-class braking performance" to me.

---jps

I think world class would be bigger brakes & softer pads :)

Yea but Don has the sedan which doesn't have the Brembos, right Don?

I think there's some problems there...

You know you would think these car companies would end up making cars that wouldn't have many recalls\glitches even for a first year model. To me if a car company has been around long enough and they have more than competant engineers then wouldn't you think that these cars the car companies spews out wouldn't have so many problems.

I mean come on if you're building a car, build it where the car is really reliable and won't have any safety issue. Build the prototypes drive it till it falls apart, find the weaknesses and fix the weaknesses. Its like Windows XP and other previous windows OS. Too many glitches.
:mad: :mad: :mad:

Re: G35, RX-8 and first-year cars
 

Normaly, I like to wait a year for those very same reasons ... but because I was forced to replace my old 1990 Probe last January, and now have a 2003 MP5, I'll be waiting a little longer somewhere around 3-5 years ...

:p

... unless I can get a great deal on an RX-8 and not lose any $ when I trade in the MP5

;)

XP?
 

Jesu H!
YY, did you just compare my '8' to WinblowsXP?
Be a little gentler, you're scaring me.....
S

This is what I heard from my girlfriend's brother:

"Henry Ford asked his engineers if there was a part on the car
that would not break. They engineers thought about it for awhile,
and they showed him a beam. Ford replies 'make it so it does.'"

I don't know if its true.

just a comparison...
mits evo brakes new brakes every 6,000 miles $275.00 installed
new tires every 10,000 miles $1080.00 ($245 each + labor)
and this is straight from mits for driving undr normal circumstances may be more often if racing...
race cars are not cheap...

haha yeh someone i know here had the same problem w/ his G35.
i think he needed a new pad at ~ 8000 km ( not miles!!)
The guy told him he must've drove the car pretty car.. and he said isnt that what this car is designed for??
the guy couldn't respone to it and everything ended up being free :P

Yep, no Brembos on the sedan.

When I was discussing the braking performance, I was referring to the strong performance of the brakes and the 70-0 stopping distances. Obviously the brake pad life is in the bottom 5%!

True but on a G35 sedan I would expect better than 8K miles.. wow... My rear pads, which don't do much breaking I know, have 90,000km and still going strong. Front pads on my car would have lasted about 60-80K km and that's with a few auto-x and lapping days.. 8,000miles is ridiculous.. :confused:

Don -- I have hope for you yet ! Whether this year or next, you will be swayed to buy the RX-8. You can always sell your G35S if finances dictate.

Enjoy your test drive.....

I have a lot of other stuff I could sell first LOL.

I don't think the RX-8 will convince me to dump the G35. The Infiniti dealers spoil you... not to mention that the G35 is effortlessly fast at all times and all rev ranges. Around here in Pittsburgh where there are tons of hills, the G35 is a better daily driver. Not to mention with the G35's VDC it gets along fine with all-season tires.

One thing I have learned over time with the cars I have owned is that if a car is treating you right, you don't get rid of it. With the exception of the brake pads, my G35 has been a paragon of consistency, reliability, and durability. Same thing for my Miata- not so much as a hiccup in five years. You have to appreciate that!

I probably should forget the RX-8 and save toward my midlife-crisis Ferrari 308. Of course, since I got my MLC out of the way at the age of 24, I might not need it LOL.

my 97 miata had her brakes changed for the very first time just 3 months ago. that is a little over 5 years on the original pads that came with the car. the service guys were pretty surprised when they replaced them.
obviously the light weight of the car comes into play...so with that line of reason, hopefully the 8's brakes last a little longer than Don's G35 pads did...

although i should point out that my 93 RX7 goes through brakes a little quicker than the miata. and i really don't know why....:D

santino

oh yeah...

AMEN.

santino

Bleeding edge always implies a risk, be it Windows XP, the RX-8, or a new plush doll you buy for your daughter. OK, so maybe not so much the latter, but you get my point...

I figure I'm kind of lucky since I'll have my maxima paid off next year, and am on track to graduate next spring, so I'll get to see how some of the potentials coming out this year hold up. Sounds like you're enjoying your G35, that's good to hear! (Although how I'd want a G, out of my currently allotted price range :( )