I have a 2008 G37S Coupe (5spd Auto) w/ Premium, Sport, Tech & Aero packages. I love, love, love just about everything about this car. Lease is about to mature in a few months, and Infiniti is offering to take the car back early and cancel the last 5 payments if I lease again.

Since the coupe styling hasn't really changed much, thinking about switching to the Convertible G w/ premium, sport, tech packages. I'm a bit concerned about handling and acceleration compared to the coupe.

I love everything about the handling of my coupe: taking turns fast, winding around Sunset Blvd--the car doesn't miss a beat. At no point do I feel the car lose control, and even if I do manage to get it to lose traction, and the slip indicator comes on, between the VLSD + the VDC, the car doesn't miss a beat. I barely notice the loss of power, and even if the road's wet, the tail barely goes out of line and just snaps right back into place. Flooring it from a stop or even while doing 60 on the freeway pins me right back in my seat. This car is just a dream to drive.

I'm concerned about swapping to the vert. From the Infiniti site, it doesn't show it having the limited slip differential the coupe has, and seems a number of reviews say the convertible has noticeable lag when accelerating (due to the extra weight) and the cornering ability is noticeably stunted vs. the coupe when the top is down. Also on these forums, seems a number of people are complaining about the 7 speed. My 5-auto doesn't have any issues.

...of course, reading all these issues with rattles is also of concern since I'm pretty **** about noises. Even with the radio blasting, I'll notice a squeak or rattle. This is an issue for me as I drive down Pico around Sepulveda just about every day (anyone around L.A. will tell you that part of Pico is a disaster right now). Riding on 19s in my coupe there is rough as it is, but my car takes it without anything rattling (except the fillings in my teeth). With few exceptions, the coupe's fit & finish is awesome.

So.. Has anyone gone from coupe to vert? If so, regret it or never looked back?

Thanks for any input!!

 

go for it, I have coupe and convertible, you won't miss as convertible handles same and/or better with roof down... you will love it.
Test drive at a dealer. Rattle issues are all resolvable,
Good Luck.

 

I went from a 2008 6MT coupe to a 2011 6MT vert. Althought, I do feel more body-roll in the vert (especially when the top is down), the car still handles great! Only down part is that the vert does not get a VLSD no matter what you option out the car with. So if you have traction on and you floor it on a turn, the car cuts a lot more power to the wheels than my coupe did.

Aside from that I love everything about my car. The updated navi screen is sooo much better than my 08's. I do miss my intelligent cruise control that I had on my coupe, but it's not a big deal... I would definitely go for it if I were you, schedule a test drive with your dealer!

 

The Vert rattles, I don't care what anyone else tells you. It's the nature of the beast, it has a 3-section folding roof, wires, springs and all kinds of parts the Coupe doesn't have, of course it will rattle. But outside of the Bentley I'd like to see any Vert in this price range that doesn't rattle to some degree on crappy roads.
You can either spend most of your time at the dealership chasing noises or spend your time driving with the roof down.

 

you will be fine in handeling. I did autocrossing with my convertible and did just fine. I also did a wisconsin cruise with a lot of twisties and was able to keep u while a lot of 350 and 370zs could not. Note this is all stock suspension.

 

Thanks, guys! Very helpful info.

Unfortunately Cartelligent is telling me there are no Verts with all 3 packages available. argh... I'd have to choose between sport or tech, which is annoying, cuz the tech package at MSRP is only $1700. I hate not getting something and then regretting not having it for 3 years.

 

I have sports and tech package on my 09 vert. Has something changed for 2012?

 

oh, it might be the nav that's making it hard. I meant 4 packages: Premium, Sport, Tech, Nav. I think they're just out of inventory. When I got my 2008 coupe w/ premium, sport, nav, tech, & aero, it was like the only car in the state available :-/

dunno why they offer packages they hardly make inventory for. At $50K, who's going to argue over a package that's $1200 MSRP.

I might have to live without the tech package, but I really wanted that A/C that can smell something that stinks and shutoff the outside vents

 

When I bought mine a few weeks ago I couldn't find a single one with the tech package. Oh, I don't think the smart ac will help much with the top down

 

true. but i like the idea of telling people my car can smell odors!!!

I'll miss the soccer mom arm seat belts too.

 

did you get coupe or convertible?

 

I have an '11 black vert now, too lazy to change my screen name. My last 2 cars were blue coupes (05 G35 and 08 G37).

 

FWIW, you might want to take a run down to OC Infiniti (beach Blvd & 405). They're still pretty new, and don't seem too busy. They were great to deal with and even dealer traded for my car since the one they had in stock had chipped paint on the edge of the driver's door.

 

Yes, good guys at OCI..

 

Who said they can feel the body roll more with the top down? That makes no sense. The top is lower when down, therefore the CG is lower with the top down than up.

You may feel the chassis wiggle more because it's not holding the car rigid when down.