My wife has a 2009 G37S with the manual transmission. We both love the car. It is her grocery-getter and our long distance travel car. It has low miles for a 13 year old car but it is starting to show its age. This is made worse because we do not have a garage and it has lived outside most of its life. Sun roof drainage channels are clogged again and the floor got soaked recently. Cleaning that out is a pain. Wheels are rashed up. Grille is peeling 'chrome' paint. It has dimples in the bodywork from the pecan trees. Half of the light for the tachometer does not work. Passenger airbag sensor failed and I used an override circuit to fix that. Most of the paint on the steering wheell trim is gone.

We still love the car so we might bite the bullet and get a lot of this stuff fixed, new wheels etc. But that's going to be pricey.

So we are also considering replacing it. We would both prefer a manual transmission. But options for those are getting slimmer and slimmer. We are pushing 60 years old and she says she would feel silly in a Mustang. Infiniti no longer makes a manual. We did not like the automatic transmission in her 2007 G35x sedan we had before the coupe. It was pretty bad.

I know that automatics have improved dramatically over the years for performance oriented cars. Unfortunately I know next to nothing about them. I am a track day instructor and have ridden in the new Toyota (BMW) Supra several times and was very impressed with its track mode. Some of the students used the paddle shifters some but I couldn't tell how well they worked.

I don't have a ton of money to spend on a car right now and will definitely need to keep it under $50k at the max. Have looked online at the BMW M2 but it looks a bit smaller than the G37. I cannot afford an M4.

So, I'm interested in thoughts on Infiniti's later model coupe automatic transmissions. Do they have sport mode? Do they have paddle shifters? If so, are they responsive? (Some paddle shifters are basically just a suggestion you make and the automatic decides if it will shift or not.......I hate that!) The car will not be driven on the track but will be driven more sporty than most.

Also interested in other alternatives. I instructed in a late model Mustang GT350 with a manual and was very impressed....I just don't think my wife will go for one.

Thanks for any help or ideas.

 

Test drive a stinger... 4 cyl or 6. You might be surprised. Yes it's an automatic w/torque converter but shifts are quite fast. I opted for the 4 banger for better mpg (low 20's in the city, low/mid 30's on the highway). The car is quieter than the G was. Mine has no sunroof so no worries of seals/drains causing issues. It is a bigger car, bigger than the G in both length and width. Trunk space is excellent (24/40^3 ft seats up/down). If you can find it in rwd even better. Around here I was forced to go with awd as that's all they had on the lots.

Usable power wise, the 4 cyl is onpar with a stock G. The 6 cyl of course puts it to shame. In terms of the 400 hp q50 vs stinger. I think the stinger is more practical.

 

If the car is in solid mechanical condition I see no reason- especially in this topsy-turvy volatile car market/ economy- to buy a replacement car for, what seems, purely cosmetic reasons.

For ≈$20 in parts from Home Depot and a few hours with simple tools, that sunroof issue can be solved permanently. To add to the water ingress issue, I would also add silicone to the two windshield cowls as I am sure those seals have long since disintegrated.

The front chrome “grill” (p/n: 62070-JL00B (≈$200) is a relatively easy swap/ replacement. Steering wheel trim (p/n: 48463-JK07A (≈$100-200)) is also a simple fix that takes about one (1) hour. All you would need is the T30 bit to remove the two airbag bolts. Replacement wheels are a dime a dozen on eBay and other websites. There are plenty of deals to be had or you may want to consider refurbishment services in your area.

All of this assumes you are qualified, willing, and able to do most of the work yourself. Now the body work and paint is a different animal and will be the most costly. Only you can assess cost-to-benefit.

I am in a similar quandry as you. I have a 2008 that just clicked 115k miles. Over the years I had practically the same cosmetic issues as your car which I addressed at the time. While I have no intentions of ever parting with it, I do want to add something “newer” to the stable (I’d like to hear your thoughts on the new "BMW" Supra!). I do not like, at all, "cookie cutter" cars. If I see another Mustang, Camaro, or Dodge "whatever"...(side rant)

My 10¢... invest a little to bring it up to snuff. There is no reason you can not get another 4-5 years of good service. This will will allow you plenty of time to research options, adjust finances and settle on a good car to enjoy your retirement (whatever that is, lol).

I will end by saying this, if you and the Mrs. disliked the 5AT in the G35x, you will hate the 7AT even more. Gizmos and gadgets aside, if you and Mrs. truly love a sporty manual, a automatic will NEVER compare.

 

I'll be echoing ILM's response. My 2008 is getting long in the tooth as well, at over 150,000 miles, the maintenance tasks (and costs) are growing. At nearly 60 myself, I'm not all that flexible to do some of the maintenance and frankly I worked my @ss off my entire life so I could pay someone else to do these things; but I do enjoy working on the car some. I'm looking and new (well, new to me anyway) cars and the marked it beyond ridiculous so I will wait a few years. Luckily, the car is mechanically sound, and everything works as it should, so I have the luxury of time. A paid off car in the garage trumps a depreciating asset you will be making payments on for the next 4-8 years any day to me

 

(Sigh) Yes, I opted for an automatic transmission in my current G because at the time my daily commute was about 75 miles in each direction in Bay Area traffic. The constant clutch action was getting tiresome. Sadly, I've come to expect that automatic transmissions aren't Infiniti's strong suit as I've heard similar comments regarding the 7AT is the same as what I'm experiencing in the 5AT. Whether I return to an MT for my next car purchase remains to be seen. I do miss the control you get regarding a MT over an automatic; however, the modern transmissions are quite impressive. The new C8 Vette is probably one of the most impressive I've experienced. I did find though that during the test drive, my left foot was aching for something to do, and my right foot was trying to heel-toe the pedals. Maybe its generational DNA but I do miss the availability of MT

 

My Coupe has the 5AT. I wanted the 6MT but when this car came available it was a deal I could not refuse. I still regret at times not waiting, but then again I also wanted a 'Vert, so.. My old beater pickup is a 5MT so I can get my clutch fix that way.

I do not discount that there are likely some good automatics out there. It will be interesting to see how the Nissan 9-speed (Mercedes-borrowed) transmission pans out. Still, even with fancy software and the paddles- which I rarely used (column or current wheel mount) you are never in complete control as the nanny will, at some point, take over. We all agree that manual gearboxes are dying fast- the new Zed will likely be the last- I see no reason for the OP's to let go of their rarity for the sake of a few cosmetic issues. Just my 10¢ is all...

Any way, back to topic...

 

Test drive a BRZ and get back.

 

BRZ isn't going to be a great choice if they are concerned about an M2 being smaller than the G37.

 

Perhaps. But until he sits in both and test drives, it's all just guesswork. Also, the point here is to hold up options, not tear them down.

The back seats are probably pointless considerations, so as long as the fronts are comfortable... size is relative. For that matter, consider a Mini. Those things are like the Tardis.

 

OP, your quandary is similar to mine with my beloved 2007 Titan. It has been excellent, runs great, but has been rode hard and put away wet, never garaged, been crashed into several times now. I did look at the new Tundras, love those, but at $5K+ ADMs and they apparently are less reliable than my 16 y/o Titan, I just don't have the stomach for a new truck, yet. Also, it would be a $60K brand new truck parked outside, getting beat up by UV rays, careless drivers, bird crap.....eh, that's all been done to the old Titan, I don't feel bad about it, no anxiety.

You mention that the G is a bit worse for being parked outside. And you are considering a new/er $50K car? Are you not going to park that outside too? It'll collect the same condition issues (except for the sunroof if you get a car w/o one). New cars do NOT like being left out. They are cheaply made, many parts are either made on such a cheap budget and/or the EPA rules don't allow manufacturers to use the good materials anymore. I have seen so much degradation on newer cars only 5 years old from being left out all the time.

If the G is mechanically sound, I'd correct the imperfections it has. The sunroof issue does suck, and I know mine (2014 always left outside) is well overdue for this issue, but is it that big a deal for over $50K? Plus, right now, you need to pay "pandemic tax" on almost anything that is REMOTELY desirable.

You mention that maybe a decent trackable car would be nice. Not gonna happen with the later Infiniti 7AT cars. Besides being heavy pigs, the 7AT is a damn mess. I tolerate my 7AT because the car is so reliable otherwise, but I would NEVER use a Nissan slushbox on a track. Even with paddles.

Personally, I'd wait. We've been in this hell for 2+ years now. Eventually, it's gotta end. I'd keep the car you have until better options become more affordable and plentiful.