I own a 07 G35S with eibach sway bars, 370z nismo front springs, whiteline endlinks and Potenza S04 tires. I think the car handles great in general, with a good driver it can hang with most cars easily on the back roads, I'd say it's one of the best handling sedans ive driven.

I have driven over 100 cars now (enterprise management program and a test driving hobby ha) now only a few matter like Maserati Gran Turismo, Cayman S, C6 Corvette, S4, S5, WRX, Q50S, 335i, Camaro 1LE, Mustang GT500, and plenty more but you get the idea.

I'd say out of ten the G sedan gets a 7/10:
It handles great on back and forth turns, easy to push and trust the car and fun. However I would still like a better ride and less body roll. The car doesn't stay nearly as flat as I'd prefer around turns and the steering is pretty heavy (older Gs have a different steering rack) for not giving amazing feedback.

So what cars have you driven and how would you compare your G? Comment with your rating, car & mods, and reasoning!

 

I think your net is too wide, because you really can't compare the G to the Cayman, C6, etc. However, in the context of "sport sedans", 7 out of 10 is a fair grade. With some simple bolt-on suspension mods, and proper tires, you could even give it an 8 out of 10. Heavy, high-HP, front-engine, RWD cars... it's almost a musclecar thing, but with more refinement, and handling. Add a proper transmission to the mix, and it's a worthy automobile.

Not sure what you're getting at here, except as a platform for random discussion.

I've driven the 335i... and without sounding too lame, the handling and power were sublime.

I've driven the WRX STI... and that car is brutal, with neck-snapping response.

I've driven the Camaro SS and Mustang GT... both are crude, and dangerously fun as a cheap roller coaster.

I've not driven the Cayman S, but I have driven the F-Type S... and that car is everything G owners are modding their car into, but can never quite get there.

 

Wasn't exactly a comparison but more of saying my basis is off a wide range of cars, not say a G,F150, and Hyundai Accent.

The thread is for open ratings on handling with mods supporting reasoning, which means peogle will talk about what works and what hasn't, giving other owners mod ideas, and prospective owners a general idea of where it compares to other cars. Maybe just an excuse for a poll who knows haha

 

Compared to my modified Miata and stock Viper, it's cushy yet has grip and good power. Needs stiffer suspension and wider wheels.

 

I think in stock form, the G is just "ok". There's just too much body roll and the factory wheel/tire setup isn't exactly suited for spirited driving. My car is completely stock but i firmly believe that with a few performance modifications it can be brilliant. (Oh and a new transmission would be nice lol).

In terms of a relative comparison, I'd have to say that the new WRX is the best handling car I've ever driven.

 

Compared to stock my current time setup handles.much better performance wise yet, it's rougher and bouncier. The suspension is definitely stiff enough, seems almost like it needs better technology in the shocks and struts, magnetic ride would be amazing (can only dream right).

There's a couple cars in mind ride smoother and bottom out less yet don't feel as stiff and yet handles equally or better. My father has a C6 that I drove on occasions and its ride is actually softer and smoother over rough roads and bumps yet still handles much better, 335i and the new 16 Camaro/1LE. They all handled rough roads and bumps better, bottomed out less, yet stay flatter and easier on turn in.

I'm wondering if setting my eibach sways to full stiff if it will help enough on body roll in turns for the worse ride?

 

I think this car is probably one of the best handling sedans I have driven for the money. I changed to Hotchkiss sway bars and Tein Basis coilovers, but it probably still would have been really good with just better tires.

It has almost the identical chassis and suspension parts as the 370Z which handles great so it has a big advantage. The cars I have owned before that I can compare it to are the BMW M3 E46, '09 STI, '02 WRX (race prep), '14 Evo, '11 370Z. The fastest of these on my local (very technical) track was the Evo and I got lap times on the G37S to within 1 second. Very impressive!

On that same track day I also passed a supercharged 3 series, Audi R8, Evo 9, and new Corvette Z06 on Michelin cheater "street tires." Part of it is my driving experience, but if the G37S was not capable I would not have caught any of these cars.

I have also driven an E92 M3, and the last 3 generations of M5 on the street and I cannot say any of them pose a serious handling advantage to the G37S on a decent set of tires. No other sedans are coming to mind that would handle better.

 

I've not driven one, but I suspect the magnetic ride control suspension on the Chevy SS would be an inspiring experience. And that car is like the Big Brother to the G37S Sedan: high HP, naturally aspirated, RWD, four doors, 6MT, and two-tons of heavy.

While not the same suspension, but a similar car... back in the day, I test drove the Pontiac G8 GT. You knew it was a bloated car, you could feel it. And yet it hung into the turns.

 

I have not driven an SS (actually considered getting one briefly), but if it drives anything like the G8 the handling is going to be nothing like the G37S. Adaptive suspension helps, but the size & mass of that car as well as the very different suspension set up and chassis will make a bigger difference.

 

GM's magnetic ride has been getting great reviews in all their sporty cars. Very little body roll in any of them.

 

I understand that and I am sure those dampers are better than the normal set up, but there is a lot more that goes into making a car handle well.

The G37S has an aluminum double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension so it is better able to keep the camber level around corners. Very advanced for a sedan. It also has a shorter wheel base, shorter length, less weight, and probably a lower center of gravity as well. All of these are factors in how the car will handle. It's also important to consider the steering response, weight distribution, and how well the seats hold the driver in place. A final thing to consider is the feedback the car gives the driver. I have driven many cars that handle better on paper than the G37S, but they give very little feedback so it is hard to obtain those numbers consistently and are much less fun to drive.

If you had both cars with the same tires and driver on the same track and day, my money would be on the G37S, especially if you did mild suspension upgrades like I did. In a straight line however, the SS would walk away from the G37S

 

Oh hey, I'm on your side in those opinions, 4DRZ. With a 3.692 LSD rear end, some basic bolt-on suspension modifications, added frame bracing, a lowered center of gravity, a little bit of neg camber on big, stupidly expensive summer tires...

...and the G Sedan can be positively heroic on the back roads.

The close-ratio steering available in the RWD Sport Package doesn't hurt, either.

 

I am very surprised in your comment about the G being second fastest compared to the evolution even with competition from M3, 370z, and ST I.

How would you compare the e46 m3 you owned to your G? That's one of my car's I've always wanted to own and planned on getting onenough some day. I'd love to hear what differences and similarities they have.

 

I was surprised by the results of the G37S on track too compared to my older cars. In all fairness the 370Z probably would have had the same lap times or better if the tires I have now were available then. Tires are also a small factor with the STI and it should have done better with the AWD on the small technical track, but it still understeered a bit and I replaced every bushing on that car and was running 275's at all 4 corners?!? The steering was also not nearly as sharp on the STI as it was on the Evo or G37S. (Replaced that bushing too)

The E46 M3 is a fantastic car and I often find myself still looking for a nice clean example. It handles exceptionally well, sounds great, loves to rev, and looks awesome. It also stays cool on the track. I was running the Michelin Pilot Cup Sport tires that everyone on this site as well as the BMW forums swears by. Yes, the are decent on the street and ok on the track, but nowhere near competitive anymore. Very old design and compound. The other issue is the brakes.

So here are the bad things about the M3: The brakes are not really up to track duty so plan on spending lots on a big brake kit. You are also best to hire a welder to weld in a reinforcement kit to the rear subframe because it will crack. After that you will need to get the Dr. Vanos kit so your engine does not grenade. If you plan to keep the car a while, learn how to replace the valve shims. Get used to $18/qt. oil and $1,500 or $2,500 every year or two for regular maintenance... if nothing else breaks first. Replace both front seats or at least the driver seat because it has a million adjustments and none of them are comfortable. You will also want to replace the shift linkage with one from a diesel 3 series and get a ZHP shift ****.

If you budget for front brakes, front seats, subframe reinforcement, Dr. Vanos kit, shift kit, and learn how to do the valve shims, the E46 M3 is not a bad car and relatively cheap right now. However, the G37S can be had for about the same price and you don't need to spend as much on parts or maintenance, it is more reliable, and about 10 years newer.

 

Wow that is very disappointing, I mean I know it is a BMW and I had an idea about the sub frame but didnt know it was the high of maintenance and costs.

How are your Tein coils compared to stock and also your M3 setup? Have you replaced any notable bushings on the G?