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- JG300-Stoopy

So I'm still worried what the Infiniti test drives are going to do for you, you might get wrapped up in all that comfort and tech and forget about the Mopar. Can't wait to see what you report!

I'm not too worried about the luxo aspect as much as I am the lack of space in the G37....throwing a 70lb. German Shepherd in it isn't much of an issue, but a folding, collapsible kennel for hotel stays would be. That means no ambitious road trips with my 4-legged security system that doesn't involve the Pathfinder or doggie boarding. Shepherds don't board well, I've had two and they don't dig strangers or separation.

I love me some FX35, too, but that falls in the category of both sporty-mobile AND truck and is mucho dinero. I'd have to give up the Pathfinder to go that route and don't think I want to do that.

- JG300-Stoopy

So I'm still worried what the Infiniti test drives are going to do for you, you might get wrapped up in all that comfort and tech and forget about the Mopar. Can't wait to see what you report!

Quote redux....

OK, yesterday was Infiniti day. It was enlightening in several ways:

Both the G Coupe and FX35 are very nice. And owing to the gap between wished for MSRP and reality, are less expensive than my internet visits to dealers suggested.

On the G 37 coupe (I didn't take out an IPL as they ask what amounts to an obscene amount of money for an 18 H.P. boost and some meaningless exterior bits). Infiniti has a lot to learn about marketing and delivering performance in this era of tuner cars, both factory and aftermarket. Dealer had a dozen G Coupes, but all were automatic. I'm astonished to report that for a 3,700 lb. car, the 330 H.P. (on paper, the equivalent of our Mustang GT's) is underwhelming to the point of being boring. There is no "kick in the seatback", no doubt partially due to the throttle lag that many owners report (the Infiniti's are drive-by-wire...there is no throttle cable). When you stomp the pedal, it's as if a committee convenes under the hood to debate whether that's what you really want to do, then reluctantly delivers a downshift and more thrust. Using the select shift helps some, but it's still disappointing. It's a very nice GT car, but don't expect any thrills.
There is an isolated traffic circle that's almost identical to a skidpad near the dealer, and a few loops round that confirmed very good cornering balance, so a twisty would make the car seem competent, if not exciting.

By contrast, the FX35 is very much like my Pathfinder in the acceleration department, which is to say, good for a 4,000 lb. car. What impressed me was the coddled-in-swaths-of-luxury feeling I got. It's a very nice cockpit and ride. I could totally be seduced by the classy environment, which seems lots more expensive than the car really is. Between that and the from-another-planet good looks of the exterior, the FX35 seems like a bargain. Frankly, it's got more svelte-y class than a Mercedes SUV...kind of like a professional female athlete (say, Mia Hamm) in a little black dress. I really like this car. Reservation: is it a sufficient departure from my Pathfinder? It's a car you really want to take a road trip in, then go to a nice restaurant and valet park. it's what I should have bought back when I bought my abortive Grand Cherokee in 2002 (I think they offered them then).

Both are smack dab in the same price range that they want for a well-appointed Challenger SRT. You can see the dilemma....swaddled in luxury with acceptable performance vs. a decent car with indecent acceleration. Anything else that offers both means a leap in price into another class that I don't want to take.

Hmmmm......the Challenger is looking mighty good given the space and the seat-of-the-pants aspect.

Well - that's very enlightening indeed!

I was worried that the Infiniti G 37 would have given the Big 3 (or Big 2 you tested) more than a run for their money in all respects. Sounds like a great car except down on grunt - torque numbers really tell the true story, don't they?

A neighbor down the street has a brand-new grey Challenger parked in their driveway, despite the stealthy color when I turned the corner it was the first thing I saw, the wife apparently noticed it right off the bat too since she mentioned it over dinner. Good looking machines. Definitely a ride befitting the Chief Armorer of JG300.

- JG300-Stoopy

A neighbor down the street has a brand-new grey Challenger parked in their driveway, despite the stealthy color when I turned the corner it was the first thing I saw, the wife apparently noticed it right off the bat too since she mentioned it over dinner.

That may be a sign. A really good sign. Unless it's one of those casually "noticed and mentioned" items like how young and attractive your new secretary is (as in, "I'm putting you on notice that I have detected a potential new article of interest in your orbit".).

You may need to take her on a surprise trip to the dealer for a test drive, just to test the spousal approval waters*.


*If she says something like "WTF are we doing here?!", that means you've mis-read signs.

- JG300-Ascout

That may be a sign. A really good sign. Unless it's one of those casually "noticed and mentioned" items like how young and attractive your new secretary is (as in, "I'm putting you on notice that I have detected a potential new article of interest in your orbit".).

Oh it's a sign, all right. She said it quite pointedly. We - or rather, she - had test-driven a manual-trans-equipped R/T back when they first came out. I was just the passenger and was content to play with the heated seats while she ran it through the gears. She wants one...but the 'Stang is paid off with low miles so it's not making perfect sense to get into debt again. Although my F-150 will be paid off in a few months....

An SRT8 for you, however, is an altogether different and much more compelling story.

- JG300-Stoopy

...Although my F-150 will be paid off in a few months....

You know, the Challenger has quite the large trunk. Just the thing for those trips to Loews for potting soil, Christmas trees, ceiling fans and such. Basically a pickup truck bed with a cover.

And a 392 will just about guarantee that you can get home before those dahlias start to wilt, thereby avoiding accusations of plant abuse.