Well I've had my 2012 G37S 7 speed Auto for 3 months now and like all my other cars in the last 40 years, I just can't leave well enough alone. One of the reasons for that is that my first sports car was a 1971 Datsun 240Z. So I'm now back in the fold with the Nissan built Infiniti. As good as the G37S was on the street, my first track day at Thunderhill Raceway showed I needed to make some modifications. So I've done the following:
1. Eibach Pro Kit - lower the center of gravity and reduce brake dive.
2. Hotchkiss sway bars - reduce body rool
3. BF Goodridge brake line upgrade - reduce spongy brake feel
4. Motul RBF 600 brake fluid - reduce spongy brake pedal

So on the 24th of this month I had a chance to track the car again while instructing for Hooked on Driving. This is what I now find with the car. It's now a very fun car to drive fast on the track even with stock tires. It doesn't feel as heavy; the car turns quickly; grip is strong and controllable; it runs too hot given the temperature of the day (84 F); hate the limp home mode of the tranny; it needs better brake pads and cooling; it needs an oil cooler for the tranny or engine or both; and I can go faster.

My second and third sessions showed that if I shifted up another gear during the 3 main straights, (from 4th to 5th) it kept the engine cooler which then reduced the tranny from not shifting down in some turns when needed or the dreaded limp home mode. I also found that I was going faster into the corners and sweepers and thus I held a higher gear through them. I was surprised that the engine had enough torque to pull through these areas and only needed to get down to 2nd gear in one short tight 90 degree corner (12) which was going uphill. But going faster down the straights also showed me the weakness of the stock pads. So now I'm looking for a good oil cooler; better brake pads; brake cooling ducts. I also want to add essential gauges for engine oil pressure, temp, and tranny oil temp. The oil cooler will be a must have if the track temp gets into the 90's or higher which most tracks on the west coast do.

On the whole I had a blast driving this car felt that it can definitely do better with some more track time and the mods I pointed out. I'm open to all reasonable suggestions as to what mods. you might recommend. Remember this is still mainly a street car. Tracking is a low secondary need for me. Thanks for any help.

Al

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. I know that many other G owners are using Hawk racing pads as an upgrade for stock brakes. Project Mu also offers some good ones. Cross drilled rotors might also offer some slight benefit.

The oil and tranny coolers are a must if you are experiencing limp mode. Good luck!

 

I've installed an oil cooler and my next event went much better without any of the limp mode problems. I still thinks if you're pushing the car hard and you have an automatic (5 or 7 speed) you need an oil cooler for that as well. My next upgrade will be the brakes and then the tranny cooler.

Al