Ok, what I'm trying to find out is the differences in the two engines, and the vehicles applications. I have seen a few pics of the J30 engine, and it definitely looks different than my I30. Is the J30 more of a performance application? Does the J30 have more horsepower, than the I30? Also, I know it's rear wheel drive, but is it more sport oriented, i.e. what's the ride like, smooth or sporty? As you can probably guess, I'm looking into the J30 for a possible purchase in the future. It might be the wife's car, or it may be mine.
Brent (99 I30t)
Differences between J30, I30
Both cars have a lot in common.
Both are equipepped with famous V6's and are about the same sizeThe main diffrences are:
the 99 I30 is based to a great extent on the 95-99 Maxima, has FWD and the famous VQ30 engine (smooth, powerful reliable).It's a slightly more modern design than the J.
The J30 was made between 93-97.5 (98?) model years.Its a slightly upmarket platform and more expesnive to produce.Has RWD and a slightly more powerful (210hp) VG30 engine (also used in 300Z).
Both are extremly popular cars in our community and their owners display fierce loyalty to them.
I30 owners and J30 owners will chime in with lots of comments I am sure.
Fred...
Both are equipepped with famous V6's and are about the same sizeThe main diffrences are:
the 99 I30 is based to a great extent on the 95-99 Maxima, has FWD and the famous VQ30 engine (smooth, powerful reliable).It's a slightly more modern design than the J.
The J30 was made between 93-97.5 (98?) model years.Its a slightly upmarket platform and more expesnive to produce.Has RWD and a slightly more powerful (210hp) VG30 engine (also used in 300Z).
Both are extremly popular cars in our community and their owners display fierce loyalty to them.
I30 owners and J30 owners will chime in with lots of comments I am sure.
Fred...
ah, nothing like a bit of controlled slip, i.e. power oversteer in the back. the J does love to be steered with your right foot, especially in the wet.
the viscous LSD makes it a wonder to drive...
of course, this is coming from a guy who will never go FWD.
i wouldnt recommend the car to anyone that isnt comfortable with sliding around a bit.
this having been said, the car becomes completely predictable after you know it. but to really KNOW a car, how it will react, you need to push it to extremes. for example, it is my opinion that loosing traction in the rain shouldnt be the first time you learn to control a fishtail, as you will have far less control than if you have experienced it before, in a controlled environment. autocross. trackday.
the viscous LSD makes it a wonder to drive...
of course, this is coming from a guy who will never go FWD.
i wouldnt recommend the car to anyone that isnt comfortable with sliding around a bit.
this having been said, the car becomes completely predictable after you know it. but to really KNOW a car, how it will react, you need to push it to extremes. for example, it is my opinion that loosing traction in the rain shouldnt be the first time you learn to control a fishtail, as you will have far less control than if you have experienced it before, in a controlled environment. autocross. trackday.
lol...i always try and do it on an open road and around some wide right angle turns but it usually doesnt do much, but the other day i made a right turn from a stop and when i was straightening out and accelerating the car whipped like mad and this was at like 2,000rpm (usually i try and do it at like 6,000rpm and its never as bad as this). Anyway...i ended up the next lane over after i got control...wasnt too much fun.
I have seen some good responses, but am still wondering if the J30 rides smoothly, or if you feel the road a little more? I have seen a few J30's around here, and the body style really appeals to me, and best of all my wife seems to like them too. I have really enjoyed my Infiniti experience so far, I have had my I30t for just over a year now.
Brent (99 I30t)
Brent (99 I30t)
maybe member mahem will chime in here (he as owned both)
but from having driven both myself in base form, i think the J30's steering is much more numb than the I30, while at the same time, you can feel/hear the road through the J30 (not the steering) just slightly more than in an I30.
neither are terribly sporty, although the J30 is more of a driver's car or a grand tourer, simply due to the RWD layout, seating, and less practicality. (lack of trunk). In general, the I30 would make a better family car.
hence the j30's advertised niche: personal luxury sedan
but from having driven both myself in base form, i think the J30's steering is much more numb than the I30, while at the same time, you can feel/hear the road through the J30 (not the steering) just slightly more than in an I30.
neither are terribly sporty, although the J30 is more of a driver's car or a grand tourer, simply due to the RWD layout, seating, and less practicality. (lack of trunk). In general, the I30 would make a better family car.
hence the j30's advertised niche: personal luxury sedan
-
diamondj30
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2002 10:49 am
- Car: Not to low , not to high , just right .
- Location: 3rd world seattle
- Contact:
to me i30's are quiter,when i drive one it makes me feel like a commuter.j30 more laid back like sports car.in rain i30 spins front tires in rain.hard to take off.torque steer sucks on front wheel drive.but be very carefull with stock j30 as eswift said,carefull in the rain.both solid cars.lots of aftermarket for i30.not j30.wheight balance is key to making a j30 stick.family wise id go i30.larger inside.more passenger room.j30 really is like a 2 door.no room for backseat drivers,i like that.i choose not to talk about the ride of either.
-
Mayhem_J30
- Posts: 2643
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 2:00 am
- Car: Ummm...My Car
- Location: Louisville, KY
Diamond pretty much nailed it.diamondj30 wrote:to me i30's are quiter,when i drive one it makes me feel like a commuter.j30 more laid back like sports car.in rain i30 spins front tires in rain.hard to take off.torque steer sucks on front wheel drive.but be very carefull with stock j30 as eswift said,carefull in the rain.both solid cars.lots of aftermarket for i30.not j30.wheight balance is key to making a j30 stick.family wise id go i30.larger inside.more passenger room.j30 really is like a 2 door.no room for backseat drivers,i like that.i choose not to talk about the ride of either.
My favorite is the J30 hands down, probably mostly for styling inside and out. The spinning out in the rain is pretty much gauranteed with the J. I haven't had any traction problems with the I30 and it was a beast in the snow and ice, especially with some good snow tires. Maybe the LSD on the 't' model helped.
Like Diamond said, there is no back seat to the J30 and the I30 can seat 5 people very comfortably...don't even think about 5 in the J. Heck don't think about 3. The I30 has more trunk space as well. Just in my experience with the two motors the VG30 seems more reliable than the VQ30, BUT the VQ seems more applicable for a daily driver. The VQ has great low end torque were in contrast the VG has none. I'd rather have the VQ for the stop and go traffic.
Eswift is right about the J's steering..very numb. I thought the I30's was close behind though, but the FWD may have altered it a little for the better. The I30's interior (no offense I30 owners) makes me ralph after being used to the J's. IMO, it's just plain sub par. I also don't think the interior build quality is as good. Things just seemed more worn and more 'plastic like' things broke. The J's interior, even though aged, has a modern luxo/sport theme. The I30's just seems like a grocery getter with leather seats.
I'll prefer the ride of the J30 anyday over the I30's. I've rode in both with good and blown shocks. With blown shocks the I30 is SCARY. I was afraid to go down the interstate because the rear end floated around bad. The J30 just gets some bounce but remains stable. With new shocks the J30 still wins, IMO.
J30 parts cost more, remember that!
So figure out how often people will be riding with you. If pretty often more than one person is in the car, grab the I30.If looking for aftermarket support, grab the I30.If you want super reliable motor (although the VQ is reliable), grab the J30.If you want a car that even at 10 years old people ask if it's a new car, grab the J30.
Chris has done a great summary.I disagree on part of his assessment of the VQ30 engine as less reliable though.
The VQ is a known good engine strong and durable, a real gem.It wont take to aftremarket boosting as well as a VG30 engine (such as in J30) because its an open deck engine.Other than that they are nearly bulletproof if given regular oil changes with decent oil/filter.
Fred...
The VQ is a known good engine strong and durable, a real gem.It wont take to aftremarket boosting as well as a VG30 engine (such as in J30) because its an open deck engine.Other than that they are nearly bulletproof if given regular oil changes with decent oil/filter.
Fred...
-
diamondj30
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2002 10:49 am
- Car: Not to low , not to high , just right .
- Location: 3rd world seattle
- Contact:
-
J-Owner
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 10:38 am
- Car: 2010 FX35 owner and former owner of an '05 G35 Coupe and a '95 J30T.
Thought I would throw my two cents in here. The J is without a doubt the best looking car and the interior is super luxury. Feels better than a Jag. The seats are comfortable and the ride is superb. I will never own another car that is not RWD. Don't think I am weird but there are so many things that make the J a great car but my favorite is the little light by the sunroof that shines down and adds a glow to the center console. VERY CLASSY!
Between my parents and I we have owned two maximas (an '86 model that talked to you, loved that and a 91 model, a Lexus, 2 Benz, a BMW 740iL a '91 300Z, a '95 Q and my mom right now has an '03 Q and my dad has an '03 M45. I plan on getting a G35 Coupe in another years or so but I WILL not part with this J.
Everytime I take it into Crest for Service they try and pry me out of it. I swear I will drive this car until it quits. It is almost ten years old and it looks brand new inside and out. I get more comments on it beauty then any other car I have ever owned. If you can find a J in good condition you would be wise to by it. Hands down the best car I have ever owned and the whole family loves Infiniti.
Between my parents and I we have owned two maximas (an '86 model that talked to you, loved that and a 91 model, a Lexus, 2 Benz, a BMW 740iL a '91 300Z, a '95 Q and my mom right now has an '03 Q and my dad has an '03 M45. I plan on getting a G35 Coupe in another years or so but I WILL not part with this J.
Everytime I take it into Crest for Service they try and pry me out of it. I swear I will drive this car until it quits. It is almost ten years old and it looks brand new inside and out. I get more comments on it beauty then any other car I have ever owned. If you can find a J in good condition you would be wise to by it. Hands down the best car I have ever owned and the whole family loves Infiniti.
-
Mayhem_J30
- Posts: 2643
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 2:00 am
- Car: Ummm...My Car
- Location: Louisville, KY
j30t wrote:dude...that light is pretty cool...i have it on all the time when i drive at night! Not sure about all I30s but the one I rode in didnt have the analog clock...which it should have.
I missed something, what light?All the I's I've seen have that cheezy gumball machine clock in it. blah! The analog clock in the J30 is just 100% PIMP.
Fred,About that engine preference. I'd still prefer the VQ over the VG, but just with my own two personal experiences the VQ has given more problems and my time with the VQ was short lived. I don't doubt the quality of the VQ though. It did win engine of the year...which year I forget :oface .
Couple more preferences of the J over the I. The J's headlights are much better than the I's. The I's have a bad habit of 'yellowing'. Look at the J's lights vs the I's and I think you'll agree the styling on the J wins. The plastic yellowing or aging is the same on the rear lights of the I. The I30 also has problems of frequently burning out fog light bulbs and turn lamp bulbs...even when using stock bulbs.
-
J-Owner
- Posts: 484
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 10:38 am
- Car: 2010 FX35 owner and former owner of an '05 G35 Coupe and a '95 J30T.
There is an overhead light on the sunroof control panel that you can turn on that shines down on the gear shift, radio controls and climate controls in the J.
When you push the burron to the on position when you turn your lights on at night from the steering wheel control arm it kicks on and lights the console. It is a light seperate from the map lights. It looks like a pin-hole type light.
Mayhem - did you not have this in your J? I am talking about the J not the I.
As for the analog clock in the J, yes it is pimp. The I had that digital in the old model, so Ford like. The I interior is hidious to me as well, sorry I owners. Still a solid built car just not my preference. Looks too much like a maxima to me, because it is a maxima I know, but I want something unique and the J is definetely that.
When you push the burron to the on position when you turn your lights on at night from the steering wheel control arm it kicks on and lights the console. It is a light seperate from the map lights. It looks like a pin-hole type light.
Mayhem - did you not have this in your J? I am talking about the J not the I.
As for the analog clock in the J, yes it is pimp. The I had that digital in the old model, so Ford like. The I interior is hidious to me as well, sorry I owners. Still a solid built car just not my preference. Looks too much like a maxima to me, because it is a maxima I know, but I want something unique and the J is definetely that.
-
diamondj30
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2002 10:49 am
- Car: Not to low , not to high , just right .
- Location: 3rd world seattle
- Contact:
well i think there needs to be some specification on these observations.
Are you saying that all years of the I30 have an ugly interior?
Maybe i havent seen the best J30s, someone can point me towards some, but the two ive seen on the road were not very appealing to me. I would guess they were 95-96, maybe they were just in bad condition. Anybody have a few pictures of a good J30 so i can know where these comparisons are coming from?
Are you saying that all years of the I30 have an ugly interior?
Maybe i havent seen the best J30s, someone can point me towards some, but the two ive seen on the road were not very appealing to me. I would guess they were 95-96, maybe they were just in bad condition. Anybody have a few pictures of a good J30 so i can know where these comparisons are coming from?