[MrSteak]

I’ve been test driving for the past few days and it’s boiled down to a G37s and a 335i. Please don’t let this turn into a comparison thread… I already know that the 335i is a better car. (The BMW is faster, nicer, has better materials throughout the car, and gets better mileage. Where as the G37 just feels the road better and is less refined... plus I kinda like the cabin's cockpit style layout, and the fact that I don't see too many on the roads.)


My only issue is… I’ve only been able to drive the 335xi sedan in stick, and a 335xi coupe in auto, since that’s all they had on their lot. I personally like the feel of the G37s better since it’s less refined, and the shifter isn’t as soft/vague as the 335i.


SO, what would I have to do to make a 335i (6-speed) feel less refined, and sportier? (Just rims/tires, suspension, short throw, etc…?) The car is already like $5k more, and I don’t want to go nuts spending money just to make it feel more “raw”.

[F32Fleet]

Buy a 135i??

[Aija]

Originally Posted by MrSteak

I’ve been test driving for the past few days and it’s boiled down to a G37s and a 335i. Please don’t let this turn into a comparison thread… I already know that the 335i is a better car. (The BMW is faster, nicer, has better materials throughout the car, and gets better mileage. Where as the G37 just feels the road better and is less refined... plus I kinda like the cabin's cockpit style layout, and the fact that I don't see too many on the roads.)


My only issue is… I’ve only been able to drive the 335xi sedan in stick, and a 335xi coupe in auto, since that’s all they had on their lot. I personally like the feel of the G37s better since it’s less refined, and the shifter isn’t as soft/vague as the 335i.


SO, what would I have to do to make a 335i (6-speed) feel less refined, and sportier? (Just rims/tires, suspension, short throw, etc…?) The car is already like $5k more, and I don’t want to go nuts spending money just to make it feel more “raw”.

One thing i did notice about Infiniti/Nissan is the shifter. I definately understand where your comming from. The G37/350Z definately has that feel to it on their shifter and a slightly rougher clutch (which i like about it).

The 335 is smooth, a little too smooth for my taste as well. We have a 05 Lexus ES, 08 335i, and 08 350Z. The 335 is definately our favorite car for cruising but sometimes it feels closer to the Lexus ES (Luxury - numbed out feel) versus the Z (raw feeling).

From what ive seen in the forums, changing the tires, getting sports package, throwing in the short shifter kit is the only way to go. I just got the short shifter knob (E46 M knob), and ill let you know how much it makes a difference.

Judging from the knob itself, I can see that its going to make a difference since its weighted, full leather (much better feel) and a noticeable difference in size.

[Neek]

Save up for the forthcoming M3. Or keep a track slut on the side like me.

[MrSteak]

Originally Posted by Socom

Buy a 135i??

Looks small/ugly/sad... and it seems a bit overpriced.

My 335i I priced with ED = $43,500 (premium pkg, sports pkg, heated seats, aero kit, tint.)

G37 = $38,000 (6-speed Journey w/tint.)

135i = Msrp $41,100, so I'd probably knock it down to about the same as the G37... which I don't even think is worth it, esp since a 335i would be only a few grand more.

[EDK99]

Did the 335xi have the sports package and the 18in wheels. Otherwise it will feel less "refined" then a 335i with the sports package. You need to find a 335i with the sports package to get a better feel between it and the g37.

[Spool]

Coilovers, lighter wheels, and michelin PS2's will give you that road feel you been looking for.

[MrSteak]

Originally Posted by Aija

One thing i did notice about Infiniti/Nissan is the shifter. I definately understand where your comming from. The G37/350Z definately has that feel to it on their shifter and a slightly rougher clutch (which i like about it).

The 335 is smooth, a little too smooth for my taste as well. We have a 05 Lexus ES, 08 335i, and 08 350Z. The 335 is definately our favorite car for cruising but sometimes it feels closer to the Lexus ES (Luxury - numbed out feel) versus the Z (raw feeling).

From what ive seen in the forums, changing the tires, getting sports package, throwing in the short shifter kit is the only way to go. I just got the short shifter knob (E46 M knob), and ill let you know how much it makes a difference.

Judging from the knob itself, I can see that its going to make a difference since its weighted, full leather (much better feel) and a noticeable difference in size.

Currently I have a 04 350Z... (which I bought used to tide me over until the 335xic. But I'm hearing thats even less sporty feeling, so back to the i.)

I'd definitely like to get some feedback on how new rims/tires would change the feel of the 335i... and how the knob feels whenever you install it.

[Aija]

Originally Posted by MrSteak

Currently I have a 04 350Z... (which I bought used to tide me over until the 335xic. But I'm hearing thats even less sporty feeling, so back to the i.)

I'd definitely like to get some feedback on how new rims/tires would change the feel of the 335i... and how the knob feels whenever you install it.

With my experience, if your going from the 350Z to the 335Xi, I wouldnt recommend it.

Definitely go with the 335i coupe WITH SPORTPACKAGE (which is 1k difference for the coupe). I personally have never driven the Xi (i live in California), but from what some of the members on this forums are saying is that the sport package does not include sport suspension (I could be wrong about this), and it is slightly higher in height for the XI.

Hopfully by the end of the day, ill have that knob put in, and ill tell how the difference is in comparison with the 350Z shifter and 335i (since u have a 350z).

Just FYI, we have a 335 coupe, 6speed manual, WITH SPORT PACKAGE.

[bronco]

get a CDV for your 335 and sport package

[MrSteak]

Originally Posted by bronco

get a CDV for your 335 and sport package

I don't really know much about CDV's... or how it could help? I was thinking more of a short shifter to give it a more defined feeling during shifts.

So is a CDV something people normally get for 335i's?

[Aija]

Originally Posted by MrSteak

I don't really know much about CDV's... or how it could help? I was thinking more of a short shifter to give it a more defined feeling during shifts.

So is a CDV something people normally get for 335i's?

oh yea, the knob costed me around 60dollars. You can get the SSK kit too if you want..

I personally didnt get SSK M kits because looks wise it would have looked tacky with my coral red interior and no M steering Wheel/E-brake.

[a burrito]

take out the shocks and put rocks in place of it.. haha. Really though, I think you can make aftermarket adjustments like shocks/springs and rear sway bar to feel a bit more raw. It will always help with your handling too but will sacrifice some ride. But to feel the road better, I am geussing you have to sacrifice your ride anyways.

[bronco]

Originally Posted by tomwid

More raw? Dude, buy a Viper. Or you can take the seats out, most of the door panels, etc. Then it'll be "RAW".

I guess my point is, BMW is first and foremost a luxury brand, no? It just drives way better than most "luxury" brands.

I would not call it Luxury, especiallky the 3 series, but yes they are expensive

[335Transformer]

Originally Posted by Socom

Buy a 135i??

Maybe he wants a car that doesn't look bent in the middle.

I think 19 inch wheels will give you all the raw feel you want. For me, the car already has too much road feel.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by MrSteak

Looks small/ugly/sad... and it seems a bit overpriced.

My 335i I priced with ED = $43,500 (premium pkg, sports pkg, heated seats, aero kit, tint.)

G37 = $38,000 (6-speed Journey w/tint.)

135i = Msrp $41,100, so I'd probably knock it down to about the same as the G37... which I don't even think is worth it, esp since a 335i would be only a few grand more.

Oh..I though he was looking at coupes and not sedans. Don't forget the $2-$5k he's going to spend traveling to Europe when he does ED. All he needs is sport pkg on the 135i. He wanted raw, not luxo-barge

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by Neek

Save up for the forthcoming M3. Or keep a track slut on the side like me.

lol. track slut.

[MrSteak]

Originally Posted by Socom

Oh..I though he was looking at coupes and not sedans. Don't forget the $2-$5k he's going to spend traveling to Europe when he does ED. All he needs is sport pkg on the 135i. He wanted raw, not luxo-barge

I am looking at coupes.

[MrSteak]

Originally Posted by tomwid

More raw? Dude, buy a Viper. Or you can take the seats out, most of the door panels, etc. Then it'll be "RAW".

I guess my point is, BMW is first and foremost a luxury brand, no? It just drives way better than most "luxury" brands.

Hahaha domestics... never.

Yeah, BMW is a luxury brand, but I've always thought of it as a "driver's car" also. The 335i is a driver’s car by design, but doesn’t really FEEL like one. (And ergonomically, the interior doesn’t feel like a driver’s car either.) Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want Lotus Elise raw… but when I drove the G37s I really liked the compromise between feeling like a sports car yet not being as raw as something like my Z.

But it is the best car IMO for under $45k for what I want. (Fast 2x2 coupe, w/6speed) So that’s all… I think I really need to find someone who has a 335i lowered with rims/tires, so I can feel for myself.

[John 070]

Who cares about which is a "better car?" You like the way the G37 feels, buy it. You can't turn a 335 into a G37, or a G37 into a 335. They're just plain different. Again, who cares what anybody thinks except yourself? I say you like the G37, you buy the G37. Don't try to reverse-engineer a 335 into a G37.

[aspiring335]

Interesting thread. For me nothing beats the steering feel of the E90 (in its class of vehicle that is), so in that sense it 'feels the road' perfectly (i.e. it's so simple to place the car exactly where you want it and feel what's going on). It actually sounds like you want the car to have more road noise and / or poorer ride quality.

I haven't driven the latest iteration of the G37, but somehow I doubt that they've closed the steering feel gap between it and the 3 series? The G35 only felt like a sports car to me in that it was gratingly noisy; is the G37 that much sharper than the G35?

[John 070]

Originally Posted by aspiring335

Interesting thread. For me nothing beats the steering feel of the E90 (in its class of vehicle that is), so in that sense it 'feels the road' perfectly (i.e. it's so simple to place the car exactly where you want it and feel what's going on). It actually sounds like you want the car to have more road noise and / or poorer ride quality.

I haven't driven the latest iteration of the G37, but somehow I doubt that they've closed the steering feel gap between it and the 3 series? The G35 only felt like a sports car to me in that it was gratingly noisy; is the G37 that much sharper than the G35?

At first, I wondered if the OP were serious, or if this were flame bait. But I figure he's serious, or at least give him the benefit of the doubt.

Japanese cars feel different, I know, my other car is Japanese, and I have driven the G35S and G37. Driving either of those is not exactly slummin' it, they're fine cars. But they are not BMWs and as you point out, they do not have the same road feel. If you like the Japanese road feel, why get something that doesn't provide it, i.e. a BMW?

The BMW has a better steering feel, more and flatter torque, gets better fuel economy, quieter, and the cost differential has closed significantly with discounts and low finance rates. All of that means nothing if in the end, you like the way the Infiniti drives.