2009 Infiniti G37 S Journey

I got a 2009 Infiniti G37 S Journey sedan to drive. The G-Series cars from Infiniti are some of the finest cars out there - good looking, well built, well engineered, and flat out fun to drive.

It took me a while to figure out just what I was driving. The car's emblem said, "G37S" but the G37S is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission. The price sheet clearly said this was a "Journey" with a Sport package.

The G37 S Journey I am driving has a 7-speed automatic mated to a wonderful 3.7-liter, 328 hp, V6 that drives the rear wheels.

Fuel economy is rated 26-highway and 18-city, which isn't bad. The G37 S Journey is not an expensive car $33,700 (okay, for a furloughed state employee it seems expensive but in a more normal world 33-grand ain't bad for such a neat ride). The Sport package, which requires the Premium package as well, adds $4,600 to that, pushing the price to the forty-grand level. This well exceeds my pay grade.

Funny thing happened just before I got home to pick up the G37 S Journey; I got a call from the folks who delivered it apologizing profusely because the XM Radio subscription ran out and they weren't sure they could reup it in time for it to work while I had the car. Now I'm wondering, are there auto writers who really get upset because the XM Radio isn't working? I mean c'mon folks, the car has a great sound system, the radio has great reception, and there is a CD player, not to mention an engine that plays a symphony whenever you ask. Besides, we're supposed to be reviewing the car, not the XM Radio.