G35x vs. G35 - Sedan Advice Wanted

[michael72]

Hello, I am a new poster almost ready to purchase a 2005 G35 Sedan and have been wavering between the AWD G35x and RWD G35. I live in Georgia where it snows maybe two days a year. However, we do have a considerable amount of rain here. Handling well on wet roads is important to me.

Here are my questions . . .
(1)Will I be giving up any performance by choosing the AWD G35x Sedan over the RWD G35 Sedan?
(2)Do you believe the AWD is worth the extra money considering the very limited snowfall here?
(3) Will the G35x handle considerably better in the rain and wet roads than the G35?
(4) For G35x sedan owners who live in the northern US, would you have purchased the AWD had you lived in Florida or Georgia? Or, would you have gone with the RWD with sport suspension package.

Thanks to all in advance for your advice!

[struan87]

HELLO MICHAEL
and welcome

(1)Will I be giving up any performance by choosing the AWD G35x Sedan over the RWD G35 Sedan?
Yes. You will lose quite a bit of power (6-10%?) in an AWD drivetrain.

(2)Do you believe the AWD is worth the extra money considering the very limited snowfall here?
No. Just don't drive on those two days, that's what I do (Austin, TX)

(3) Will the G35x handle considerably better in the rain and wet roads than the G35?
Yes. But an RWD with VDC on and a careful driver is still a very safe car. If you don't push it in the rain, you'll be fine.

"struan87 you are way better than Google!" --BCole
Pictures.

[AZ-G35]

I agree!

'04 Infiniti G35/coupe/6MT/Ivory Pearl/Willow Leather/Premium Pkg/Aero Kit/XM Radio

[Torkaholic]

I agree that you probably don't really need the AWD car where you are (I've had no troubles in the rain that we have down around the Gulf Coast). That said, if you want it, why not? About the power penalty, just remember that the hp on the 05 models is up 20 to 280, so even with the driveline loss, you'll be no worse off performance-wise than those of us with 04 RWD cars.

[Edge]

In general, AWD increases the handling limit (traction limit) when you are on the throttle. However, that extra increase over RWD on pavement -- wet or dry, can only be exploited by drivers with very advanced skills (and on the streets, you need guts too.) Normal drivers can only take advantage of that on gravel, snow, or ice. No offense, but since you are asking this question, I think you fall into the latter for right now. BTW, welcome!

That extra traction does provide normal drivers with a little more safety, if he unknowingly exceeds what would be the limit of a RWD car. But that safety is now provided by VDC even on the RWD like Struan87 said. In fact, when both an AWD and a RWD car get beyond their limits, VDC works better for the RWD car as the current VDC technology stands.

Also, I actually think that the extra traction of the AWD provides people a false sense of security. Think about it, instead of feeling the fish tail on snow in the RWD, you will feel a safe and strong acceleration. But if that sense of security you get during acceleration causes you to drive faster, you will be surprised when it's time to brake, because AWD has ABSOLUTELY NO ADVANTAGE when it comes to braking.

So for your questions 2 and 3, my advices are firmly NO, NO. And for 4, I live in Michigan, and you can check my sig. to see what I bought. If you do get a snow, just go have some fun in an empty parking lot.[]

Good luck on your buying.

04 Sedan 6MT/Caribbean Blue/Willow/Aero/Sunroof/Bose/Free broken Infiniti pen

[robdado2]

AWD is worth it if you DON'T like driving in a straight line. You can get the lost horsepower back with a few air flow upgrades. It doesn't snow where I live, but I can find other reasons to NEED the awd. My car loves the rain.

Robert