On Saturday I had the distinct pleasure of testdriving one of these. Ever since they came out, I have really liked the new style (minus the tooth but I am growing to like it). Having said that, I went in to get some filters for my 2002 and decided to see if they had a 6 speed on the lot. They did not, so I test drove an automatic SE.

There were some distinct differences between my 2002 and the 2004 I test drove:

Pros:
1)Liked the interior layout, especially the metal painted surfaces
2)Very comfy seats, feel bigger than mine
3)Radio had excellent lows and highs..didn't check what the base setting was
4)It doesn't drive like a big car
5)Like the Elite package with console and seperated heated seats all around.
6)Tinted sunroof

Cons:
1)Shocks felt stiffer than my SE. I would have thought the car would handle bumps better than my 2002 but my 2002 is not as stiff.
2)Steering wheel leather...is this really leather? Mine is soft with a perforated section. This one felt like cheap vinyl, very slick and shiny.
3)Dash was very shiny. They may have armoralled it though so thats a gimme.
4)Cloth pieces going from the doors to the dash. Although it adds a nice contrast, this will be hard to clean dust out going forward.
5)Exhaust note. This is one I am most interested in. Did Nissan stop using the spring-loaded-flap muffler on 2004? Mine is mistaken for a Lexus V8 all the time (I dont see it). This 2004 sounded like a Taurus when I got into the gas. I expected it to be louder, but it did not have a smooth sound like my 2002.


I forgot to check the mileage, so it's possible this one has been abused. Can someone help with a few of my gripes, especially the exhaust note as I expected that to be better.

 

If you want a softer ride, then go for the SL. The ride is definately stiff, which is great in corners and sucks on bumpy roads.

I think it is leather, not sure to be honest. It has a nice feel and cleans up easily.

The dash was armoralled, which is definately a no-no unless you like glare.

I haven't had any issues with the cloth, but I could see that it may be an issue if you have kids.

No idea on the exhaust. I like the g35 exhaust better, but that wasn't a big thing for me.