In the beginning of January I picked up a 2011 G37S sedan with 32k miles on it and a brand new set of Michelin PSS tires. I really wanted a BMW 335i however I was concerned with maintenance costs. I also considered and test drove a 2014 Mustang GT however I wanted something I could take the family in so the Mustang didn’t quite fit the bill. From what I had read the G37 handled about as well as a 3 series but was more dependable and cheaper to maintain than the BMW.

I drive between NY and NW Arkansas three or four times a year for business and I stay in Arkansas for 4-6 weeks when I am there.

On Sunday 02/16/14 I left upstate NY for NW Arkansas. I left NY around 07.00 am. We had gotten more than a foot of snow the week before and a few inches the day before I left. Temps were around 10 degrees and the roads were clear with a few icy/snowy spots where the snow had blown back into the road. I was very concerned because of the Michelin PSS tires. I made sure to take it very slow going around any turns and/or corners.

Going through the mountains of Pa is always tough. Even when NY and Ohio are clear and above freezing the Pa mountains can be cold and have snow in them. Driving down the interstate, in the mountains of Pa, temps were right around 12 degrees and the shoulders of the road and the exits had light packed snow on them. I started to wonder if I hadn't made a mistake deciding to take my new to me G37 on this road trip.

I normally go through the center of the country (Ohio, Ind, Ill, Mo) when I head to and from Arkansas but for this trip I decided to head south through Md, West Va, VA and then head across I40 through Tennessee and Arkansas. I figured I had a better chance of not getting snowed on via the southern route although it added about 200 miles to the 1350 mile trip.

Temps slowly started to warm as I headed south. In Maryland temps got to around 28 and as I headed south in Virginia temps actually got above freezing and I started to feel better. When I stopped for the night temps were in the low 40's. The second day of my trip as I got into Tennessee temps were in the 60's and as I headed into South Eastern Arkansas temps were in the mid 70's.

The car averaged 27 MPG on the highway which was pretty good. I did have a slight scare running through Arkansas on the way there. Twice the clutch pedal felt low on pressure which I believe is the CSC? After pumping the clutch pedal a few times pressure returned. I haven't had a problem since but I was a little concerned the entire ride back to NY.

While I was in Arkansas with the spring like temps (50’s 60’s and 70’s) I took the car out on the twisties. NW Arkansas has some really nice roads. I was really impressed at how well the G37 handles. My other car is a 1999 BMW MRoadster which is a street legal go cart. While the G37S isn’t as nimble and the steering isn’t as quick as the MRoadster (not many street legal cars are), the G37 does seem to handle really, really well for a 3600 lb. sedan, the brakes a good and the car has plenty of grunt.

The one thing I am really, really struggling with is the HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE clutch in this car. I have been driving for over 35 years. In that time I have always owned manual transmission vehicles. I have close to 500k miles in an automobile and around 100k miles on a motorcycle. Back in the 90’s I did track days in my 1995 BMW 3 series at Lime Rock, Watkins Glen and Sebring and I have been heel and toeing for years. I have never struggled with up and downshifting like I am in this vehicle. I purchased a new spring for the clutch pedal and I plan to install in once the weather in NY warms up. Hopefully this will help.

The other thing I notice is a slight thunk in the rear diff if I don’t get the upshift just right. Is this related to the clutch/trans or could this be part of the reason I am having a hard time shifting smoothly? I plan to change the fluid in the brakes and clutch as well as the Diff and gearbox oil once spring arrives in NY.

I also noticed that on the door lock/unlock switch only the lock portion of the switch is illuminated. Is this normal?

I have put more than 4000 miles on my G37 since January. For the most part I am pleased with the car, however the clutch is making it hard for me to really love this car and the concern that the CSC could go in the middle of Illinois on I70 is a big concern to me.

 

370Z & G37 AFP Clutch Pedal Assemblies - RJM Performance.com

 

Spring didn't do it for me. I use the RJM pedal, which is a nice improvement. Still not as easy to drive as the BMW clutches, but reasonable.


The other problem the OP had with having to pump up the clutch pedal - that's an issue with the hydraulic system, CSC or master cylinder ... not the clutch pedal.


The "thunk" described is probably slop in the differential bushings. They can be upgraded. https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...-bushings.html


Greg

 

OP, is your still under the bumper to bumper warranty? If so, drive straight to a dealership, do not pass go, do not collect your tax return. Get your CSC issues documented and repaired while you're still under warranty.

It is a costly fix and is never covered outside of bumper to bumper warranty. If you are outside of your warranty period, order a ZSpeed HD CSC. They're great and the majority of owners here now have them.

 

I took the car to the dealer on Thursday. I told them about the clutch pedal going soft and also about the thud I get from the rear diff if I don't hit the shift exactly right.

Because they could not duplicate the soft cllutch pedal there was nothing they were willing to do (not really surprised). However it seems that the thud of the rear diff was a result of a misaligned rear diff which was a result of them changing the rear subframe bushings back in January.

I am not sure why, but aligning the rear diff has made a huge difference in the feel of the clutch. It is almost as nice as the clutch in my 1999 BMW MRoadster clutch now. Maybe becasue when the diff was misaligned I had to be that much more exact in where and how I released the clutch in order to avoid the thud.

Anyway if you are hearing a clunk from the rear diff when releasing the clutch have the dealer check the alignment of your rear diff.

 

I have a 7at but good to know. The dealer is replacing my diff cradle next week. Hoping they get it all right and toss in an alignment.