Does it also have the active cruise system? If so, maybe you guys should call me about a year from now :-)

Speaking of snap steer, does this one have the 4-wheel active steering?

How did you like the feel of the clutch, Karl? Dan, Chris, and Josh all said they didn't like it!

Glad you brought up the clutch. I stalled it just after I left the parking garage last night, and while I thought the clutch felt a little abrupt I wrote it off as me just getting used to it. Then I stalled it AGAIN on the way in, and realized the clutch take-up is too abrupt, the engine's throttle tip-in is too abprut, and neither provides enough feedback to let you know exactly what's going on with them. I came in and asked Michael Jordan about the car's clutch and he 100% agreed.
 
Whew! For a while there I thought I'd forgotten how to drive a stick...
 
BTW, I didn't try the cruise out, and I'm not sure about the active steer option. I'll see what I can find out.

Nice car, its a good long-termer choice.I'm looking forward to its posts.

Drove one back in November. Didn't like the cramped-feeling interior and the car's excessive size. It felt extremely heavy when cornering - planted no doubt - but almost like I was piloting a large ship. The engine's subdued torque bugged me too. All in all, while the interior is nicer, the car is a step back from the last generation. Much like the BMW e90, it feels too isolated, quiet, heavy and banal.

G35, IS250, M45, GS350, LS460.....Hyundai Genesis...all supremely competant, but take the badges off and they all kind of look the same......ultrabland. To me, as a customer, this lack of unique style has always led me to skip trips to these dealers and give my hard earned to the European manufacturers. The look and style is a major contributer of the BMW's mojo and these high end Japanese cars just visually ooze unoriginality, despite being technological tour de forces beneath the skin. At least BMW's look like BMWs, Mercedes look like Mercedes and Audis look like Audis.

Until the Bangle generation, BMWs always looked 10 years old, imo. I guess that's unique.

Give the clutch a couple weeks. I found that after the first couple hundred miles both clutch and driver were well adapted. One thing about the clutch, it enables you to really get on it going into second without any hicups. This car loves to be driven to redline.

If the G35 and M35/45 have bland looks compared to the BMW, Benz, and Audi...........I'll settle for those looks in exchange for getting towed to the dealerships for electrical demons and astronomical service bills.

Karl:
 
why do magazines always chose manual long term vehicles when the general public buys mostly autos by a wide margin?
 
I see you added this and and Outlander. Can we get a new GM crossover in the fleet? I really wish you all had gotten one instead of a 12mpg Tahoe.

The GMC acadia is a great L.T. vehicle. A new chassis, new car, a GMC, and a 270hp v6 on a heavy 8 passenger vehicle. I would love to know what that adds up to after a year or two.
 
-Cj

1487 - they buy manuals because when all is said and done, most people working at car mags/sites are car nuts. Car nuts tend to favor what's fun over what's popular with John Q. Tubby.

BDC,
 
I figured you would chime in with a useless response. The overwhelming majority of people buy automatics, even in cars that offer manuals. Even you know this so I don't see the point in insulting 90% of the public by suggesting those who drive automatics are inferior. My point is they should leave the manuals alone for the most part, especially since many long term tests I read feature a lot of complaints about the operation of the manual tranny. Outside of BMW and Honda it seems few know how to make a manual that is easy to live with. BTW, this is Edmunds, not C&D so the focus here is on average car buyers, not autocrossing "car nuts" or speed crazed driving enthusiasts. Car editors are about the only ones still driving manuals these days.

1487 - I figured you would chime in with a useless response.
 
Nice way to be insulting.
 
The overwhelming majority of people buy automatics, even in cars that offer manuals. Even you know this so I don't see the point in insulting 90% of the public by suggesting those who drive automatics are inferior.
 
Never said that. The overwhelming majority of people involved in writing for car oriented publications are enthusiasts. If given the option they seem to want fun over banal functionality. Nothing insulting about that. John Q. Tubby is a reality as most Americans are overweight.
 
My point is they should leave the manuals alone for the most part, especially since many long term tests I read feature a lot of complaints about the operation of the manual tranny
 
Again, enthusiasts pick out the cars. They already suffer through minivans and the occasional Camry. People go into car oriented writing because they love cars...fun cars. I've never heard a car nut exclaim, "Yes, a new Odyssey!"
 
  Car editors are about the only ones still driving manuals these days.
 
Yes, just car editors. Sigh. You nailed it. Nobody else but car editors.
 
you want to complain about something? How about the last few months we've been fed a steady stream of car reviews related to vehicles most of us will never drive (Bentley, Gallardo, 911 turbo, etc). We'll get a Kia Rondo, followed by two 100k+ cars. Hmmm, wonder if the enthusiasts writers have anything to do with that?

Edmunds is not R&T, it's for average car consumers. I doubt manual transmissions are important to the majority of people doing research on edmunds.
 
"People go into car oriented writing because they love cars...fun cars. I've never heard a car nut exclaim, "Yes, a new Odyssey!" "
 
Actually, most car editors love Honda and thus they get excited about anything made by Honda, inlcuding the Odyssey. Notice the excitement in the automotive media over the Fit which is hardly and exciting car.
 
"How about the last few months we've been fed a steady stream of car reviews related to vehicles most of us will never drive (Bentley, Gallardo, 911 turbo, etc). "
 
I do find that annoying. If I wanted to read about Ferrari's and Bentley's I would stick to the print mags. I would prefer it is Edmunds focused more on mainstream vehicles that are well under $100k but these days they test as many exotics as any buff mag.

Notice the excitement in the automotive media over the Fit which is hardly and exciting car.
 
My money is on the fact you've not driven a Fit. It's actually a very entertaining car with an MT. Automatic, not so. Manual, it's a delight to use around town and in traffic.
  
I do find that annoying. If I wanted to read about Ferrari's and Bentley's I would stick to the print mags. I would prefer it is Edmunds focused more on mainstream vehicles that are well under $100k but these days they test as many exotics as any buff mag.
 
We agree on something!

"Actually, most car editors love Honda and thus they get excited about anything made by Honda, inlcuding the Odyssey."
 
Is that a fact or just a "fact"?

The Fit is not entertaining to me regardless of transmission. I'm sure one can have fun playing with the shift lever on a mountain road if one is manual obsessed but the Fit's styling, small wheels and weak engine do not excite me. Any car that is tons of fun with a manual and NO fun with an auto cant be all that exciting in the first place. The Fit isnt a sports car or even a sporty car, its a small car that doesnt embarass itself in the twisties and now the media has declared it the Second Coming. Based on its sales it would appear the public is not half as impressed Honda die-hards and the media.

Does the Aveo "excite" you, 1487? Based upon you listed criteria, it shouldn't. If you're so adamantly against the small car segment, then why do you consistently bash the Fit?

flic, because it's not American.

Exactly what I was trying to get at blueguy. :-)

I have no desire to own an Aveo, trust me. Small cars that are exciting are the MS3, GTI and Cobalt SS SC. DOnt be ridiculous and suggest that I dont like any foreign cars. I'm not that stupid. The Fit isnt anything to get excited about and the fact that I point that out doesnt mean I don't admire ANY foreign cars. Let's grow up people. I cant understand why people have a hard time believing that SOME (only a few of us) are not bound to like EITHER foreign or domestic cars. I dont want any subcompacts, regardless of who makes them. BTW, the Aveo is an import but I'm sure you guys knew that.

editor_karl: Can you guys please keep in mind the center console arm rest on the 6MT while making your observations/comments? I really like the G35, but I want a manual. After seeing how much lower the arm rest is on the G35 manual vs. auto, I tried paying attention to how much I use the arm rest in my current BMW 330i and I'm afraid the answer seems to be "a lot"!
  
If you could comment on that when you're discussing interior ergonomics, driver comfort, etc., I would find it really helpful. My lease-end is in August and (although it sounds silly) the console is what's really keeping me from wanting to go with the G35. Thanks!

Yeah, you wouldn't want to end up in an HHR situation. It's pretty much impossible to reach the manual shifter with the arm rest folded down.