6MT Coupe and 5AT Sedan (Loaner) Compared
Well, I have my G in the shop for the transmission problem (and a few rattles I never reported), so I got a 5AT Sedan loaner for the day. I figured I'd toss in my 2 cents on how they compare.
Interior:
The interior layout is about the same, the armrest in the sedan is better placed than in the coupe and the drinkholder is a little more useful - mostly due to the lack of a handbrake (5AT, remember). The seats are comfortable but not as snug as the Coupe; the sedan does have a power seat back, no manipulation of a lever to adjust it. There is a little less engine noise in the Sedan, and what you do get is almost defeated by road and radio. The Coupe gets a little more engine noise without much more road noise - the engine noise you do get is very pleasant. So far as the radio, my loaner has the standard audio installation while my Coupe has the Bose. The loaner sounds good and clean with decent bass, but the Coupe has a better sound environment. Coupe gets the nod here in all driving.
Exterior:
The Coupe just seems to have better lines and flow in my opinion. I never liked the exterior styling of the G35 Sedan, it just ...doesn't look right, I can't explain it. The Coupe is drop-dead gorgeous. I'm a big G35 coupe fan, so no surprise that I pick the Coupe hands down here.
Powertrain:
The sedan has ample power, and the automatic is pretty responsive. At first I thought the sedan felt almost as fast as my Coupe, but as I played with it I realized it was just the way the 5AT responded and how the car acted under power. It definately pulls quite well, with what seems to be a little boost at the bottom (probably from the trans). I did find myself using the throttle a lot more in the sedan than in my Coupe, so I suspect I was expecting more than I was getting. The coupe would pull ahead in legrace. This isn't a fair comparison in that it's 5AT vs 6MT, so I'll leave this one alone.
Side note: I've hit the VDC on the Sedan 6-7 times already (20 miles), which has to be almost a quarter of the times I've done it in the Coupe (4500 miles). I don't know if the Sedan has more aggressive VDC or if there is some other difference, but I figured I'd note this fact.
Brakes:
The 5AT Sedan has very grabby/touchy brakes, not at all linear in application. They reign in speed quite well, but not with the same confidence that the 6MT Coupe does. I didn't test fade, but suffice to say that I'd rather have the Brembos in street driving than the stock 5AT Sedan brakes. Notably, the ABS in the sedan is quite a bit more obtrusive than the 6MT Brembo ABS, and I didn't get the same confidence the Brembos provide when you need to use the ABS. Coupe has this one.
Handling:
This is where there is where I believe you'd find the most difference. There is a definate difference in how the Sedan responds to input from the driver. The 6MT Coupe is pretty much input/response. If you touch the wheel, it will respond with a change in course. The Coupe isn't "frenetic" per se, but it does ask for your attention when you drive. The Sedan feels a bit softer - at lot to do with tires, but some with suspension - and you can let your guard down when driving. It's a bit more comfortable if a little less confident than the Coupe. The Sedan gives you a lot more indication of where the limits are and much more warning that you are approaching those limits, where the Coupe is much more grounded and stiff, but when the coupe lets go - hold on and pray. For daily driving, I'd give a nod to the Sedan as far as handling. For sport driving, the Coupe wins - if you are brave enough to push it.
Kal.
'04 G35 Coupe 6MT, Black/Black, Premium Package, Aero Package w/Spoiler
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