“Germany doesn’t make manuals much anymore… only on the S5. With automatics around why would anyone get a stick? It’s like getting an old cassette tape player in your car.”

my inner monologue: “Please just… go away.”

But I recall the repulsive dealer experience was already covered in a different recent post on TTAC. :)

As noted above, the 2.0T is more exciting than their V6 in every way except exhaust note. Also as noted above the 2.0T 6MT comparably equipped with Nav would be around the same 41K as the G, but 120hp down on the G, but only about 10 lb-ft of torque lower. If one were to chip the boost up a bit I’d bet the fun-to-drive factor would be similar. APR is already working on an initial 234hp/333lb-ft tq chip (93 octane #s though):
http://forums.fourtitude.com/zerothread?id=4242961

GBG wrote:
There is something about the design of the G cars that comes off too Nissan-like. Bulbous acres of sheet metal wafting off into the distance with no real destination. IMO, Nissan has lost its design mojo from a few years ago, and is starting to be a bad influence on Infiniti.

agree! If the G was a bit prettier and less boat shaped I’d be more interested. Plus the video game style “WENNNHHHH” exhaust note commenters have humorously noted in previous G reviews doesn’t help.

There is something about the design of the G cars that comes off too Nissan-like. Bulbous acres of sheet metal wafting off into the distance with no real destination. IMO, Nissan has lost its design mojo from a few years ago, and is starting to be a bad influence on Infiniti.

I think I was overly negative. I would like to retract the “ding”.

I suppose it makes sense for manufacturer to give out to reviewer the loaded version if that is what they want people to buy.

My local dealer says that Audi prefers to sell cars elsewhere than USA because of low prices here. They ship him plenty A4s but fewer and fewer as you go up the line, those go elsewhere. And USA is only 10% of Audi’s market. Not sure how this relates to the editorial up today on their down selling.

I prefer the Infiniti G35 I feel younger when driving it. I wish Audi will change it looks. it seem that they always look the same. except for the new one that came out with LED Eyebrows on the headlight (you know what I’m talking about).

Infiniti G35 LOVE YOU

I too would pick the G37 6MT over the Audi. I prefer a more sporting machine, plus I can live without right sized cup holders and a shelf for a center console. Besides, having 3 pedals and 6 speeds to play with is just icing on the cake.

I’d recommend the A4 to my sister. She likes the pretty headlights.

Last BMW thing – I’m not anti-BMW, but I don’t understand the excuses a lot of the press gives them. I’ve read long-term tests where severe mechanical and electrical failures happened at any given time under 40,000 miles and that just should not be in 2009. I don’t think they realize that people who actually pay cash for that car don’t have a wall filled with keys for other cars to drive when the BMW is in the shop!

I have friends with VWs and Audis and they all have electrical problems crop up well before 50,000 miles.

It’s because of that, combined with the value per dollar that I’m more of an Infiniti fan although if an M3 were to appear for my taking, I wouldn’t complain! Gobs of horsepower do cover up sins! I’ll just keep my current car as the “just in case” car!

Ahem. You tested the wrong Audi.

I tested the Audi that Audi provided. If you can convince them to provide me a 2.0t quattro (preferably a 6-speed manual) I’ll be more than happy to review it. Of course, then I’ll have to bitch about that annoying turbo lag…

Not a fair statement. The current 5 series has lost two C/D comparos to the Infiniti M. As a matter of fact, the 3er is the only BMW that C/D really favors at this point. 5, 6, 7, M5 and M6, and X5 have all “lost” C/D comparos in the past year or two, sometimes finishing well down the rankings or in last place. So to the extent that you make a case for bias, it has to be limited to the 3-series.

The G is a compelling product, but not so far superior to the 3er that reasonable minds can’t differ.

For all you Audi lovers, don’t fret if you cannot find a A4 2.0T Quattro Manual on your dealers lots. It is your chance to try out Audi’s European Delivery.

Alas, the list of appealing vehicles that allow us to shift our own gears is getting every shorter…

From a displacement of 3,197 cc, the 3.2 FSI develops 265 hp and delivers its maximum torque of 243.40 lb-ft all the way from 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. Compared with the previous model, which had a power output of 255 hp.

# Frank Williams :
March 16th, 2009 at 11:15 am

SherbornSean
One quibble: the 6 displaces 3.1 liters.

The Moroney, the Audi web site and badges on the car all state it’s 3.2L.

The crappy G cup holders applies only to the 6 MT…The AT has a more “dedicated” cup holder area with “auto” adjustment for cup size…one of the better cup holders out there.

Another thing I noticed on the B7 vs B8 Audi chassis…Audi did step it up on the quality/engineering of the interior hinges (both the center console armrest cover and glove box hinges both cracked in my B7 A4 within the first 25K miles – with “gentle” use)…No such issues with the G – almost every component is built like a friggin’ tank…

Not to mention the electrical gremlins that STILL exist in all German cars (probably planted the seeds as the Allies rolled towards Berlin)…Fortunately I had a VAG-COM cable so I could reset the codes (all false alarms)…

I had more of this crap in 20K miles with a 2006 A4 than I did in 100K miles with 2004 Honda Pilot. Remember: Anything electronic is best left to the Japanese. It should be a LAW, not just a RULE…

Good article for its purpose, etc. and keep up the good work.

Ahem. You tested the wrong Audi.

Testing the A4 with that v6 is what car testers should do when they are testing for the general public who are presumed (correctly) to dumbly want the biggest-motor-with-an-automatic. Which is the stuff of Car and Driver and similar ilk. “Plenty of passing speed on the highway.” Or, of factory sponsored tests where you don’t get to ask, you take what they give you and to signal deep knowingness, lament getting the wrong package.

A4 v6 is well known to be the wrong engine/car package among those who study Audi, well maybe except for Audi execs it might seem.

Also, it could probably be better said that, a b8 A5 is a b8 A4 packaged as a coupe and introduced first to North America, before the sedan, as part of Audi USA’s brand-excitement-management process. Rather than, Audi noticed that the b8 A5 was prettier than b7 A4, so they also introduced b8 A4.

To continue, the entire b8 generation is new here; body shell and 2.0. The 2.0 is not a simple continuance of old motor. Old motor is delegated to VW in North America to maintain brand and price point differentiation.

So, what’s your opinion on the matter?

I don’t have access to the variety of cars that C/D does, nor do I have the number of cars to choose from at one time as they do, so I don’t have as broad a basis of comparison. However, I didn’t notice any problems with tip-in in the G37 I drove. Keep in mind, though, that I was driving a manual and I could have been using the clutch in such a way as to mask problems that may have shown up in an automatic.

As far as overall refinement, I had no complaints. No, it wasn’t as “refined” as the Audi, but it wasn’t as boring either. And it was a helluva lot more fun to drive.

Hey, I used to lay patches with the ex’s 1.0L 5-Speed Firefly, and that thing had a cable throttle so tip-in was good. With $25 tires, how could one resist?

But I agree with you that the electronic throttles on many newer vehicles are too touchy.

I’ve driven a 2007 G35 with an automatic and wound it out on some good country roads. The only fault I found was that it was near impossible to start smoothly with that tap of the gas = neck snapping motion forward and that got old quickly. I did not think the Infiniti felt unrefined at higher RPMs.

I understand the throttle tip-in has been worked on for the past two model years and has gotten much better now.

So, what’s your opinion on the matter?

I can’t think of one car that is worth what the sticker shows. I really like the G8 GT, but a car sticker priced at $32k shouldn’t be selling used for $10k less. Shows that sticker price is as real as the buyer thinks it is.

For that much, I would rather buy something slightly used, like a certified low mileage 07 MB E550 4Matic, 06 E55 AMG, 07 Audi S4, or save some money and get a $30k certified BMW 335xi.

Particularly since the AWD G37 will erase part of the weight advantage the RWD car had over the A4 Quattro. I dunno what the weight penalty is for Nissan’s AWD setup, but I think it’s probably 150-180 pounds.

don’t forget – the G comes in AWD too, taking away any “advantage” the Audi may have.

Eh, then it’s a different comparison, no? The AWD G is a little more expensive and not a manual. You also lose the sport seats, transmission, etc. by going to the AWD model of the G37, unless you add them back on as an option. You can then fiddle around with the options a bit in order to get it back to around $41K, but with different choices.

But yeah, that could make it a closer comparison, adding AWD to the G and the nav to the A4.

Suddenly, keeping the Audi for 100000 or more miles gets quite a bit more expensive. Assuming nothing goes wrong. The G isn’t perfect (electrics = nightmares) but the motors and trannies have been bulletproof on our last two VQ-engine’d cars. The Altima did 150K before we sold it, the G35 is up to 110K and counting and still runs as sweet as can be.