Sold the I30t

[Mayhem_J30]

don't know if i should be happy or not. i love the looks and ride of the I30, but too many cars is too many cars. on the plus side, i sold it to my sister's boyfriend who lives in my apartment complex..so i'll still get to see it everyday. i also made some money off of it;) now i just need to sell the truck (or blow it up) so we can have an easily manageable 3 vehicles. i've been thinking about turning the S-10 into a paintball warrior vehicle, like something from Mad Max or Halo.:ylsuper

[PalmerWMD]

make him join NICO!

Fred..

[Aztek72]

You should be happy. Although it's been the life-line of the Infiniti marque, I never saw the I30 as an Infiniti but just as a dressed-up Max. I look forward to the day Infiniti drops the I35- the Infiniti marque should have vehicles entirely separate from the plain jain Nissan line. Likewise, a G35 coupe is just a dressed up Z to me.

With all that personal preferences aside, here's a list of drawbacks I've compiled for the I30t:

1- It's wrong wheel drive to begin with. 2- Detached handling that isolates drive from the road.3- I've always felt the Maxima's handling was never up to par with it's contemporaries- the Camry and Accord. The I30, especially the t version does not absorb bumps very well. This car is plagued by an archaic rear suspension design that at times, feels like riding a horse carriage. Excessive body roll. 4- Very bland styling. 5- Not as refined as aforementioned contemporaries.

For the Q guys- drive an I30t loaner car for a day and you'll feel like giving yourselves a pat on the back for buying a Q.

[PalmerWMD]

Actually I have always enjoyed all I30/35 loaners.

The Maxima is a <much> better car to base an entry level luxo sport on, than the Camry, which is the base for the wildy successful ES300 (go figure).

I30'35's have gorgeous leather, better upholstery than a Max, are fully assembled in Japan.

You complain they are stiffer than a Camry yet you complain they roll too much?Which one is it? It cant be both.

Yes, they are stiffer, but much better controlled than a Camry.Also the amount of body roll in an I30/I35 is similiar to that in your Q and <much> less than in a Camry.

Beautifulful interior too.

Too compare all that to a Camry and accord makes no sense to me and that's not even considering the VQ series engines which are much more powerful than the accords engine and no sludge monsters like the Camry V6's

Fred...

[Mayhem_J30]

Everything Fred said.

I'll also have to disagree with the 'bland styling'. Have you looked at a Camry or Accord lately? That's bland.

The 't' version doesn't absorb bumps as well because of the slightly more agressive suspension. If you want numbness and comfort get a Cadillac

[sultan]

i know too many cars is too many cars, especially in an apartment complex, but here's some upsides to a maxima/i30, (95-99 in particular, from experience)

actually has aftermarket partsfast at the track, drag and auto-xno problem getting to 130mph or higherintake + y-pipe = badass soundcan be supercharged or turbocharged excellent at weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds

[Repo Man]

I'll also have to disagree with the 'bland styling'. Have you looked at a Camry or Accord lately? That's bland.

I would run myself into the first lightpole or tree I saw if I had to drive either of these cars regularly. Seriously.

[Aztek72]

I would run myself into the first lightpole or tree I saw if I had to drive either of these cars regularly. Seriously.

Styling's all subjective. I personally feel the I30 NOT the Max was bland and about as unappealing as jabba the hut on a sunday morning. Unlike the Max with it's bulding fender wheels and round taillights the I30 wasn't distinctive AT ALL.

As for handling, a car that's THAT stiff should take the corners better. IMO my Q is more stable, absorbs bumps much better and with the active suspension swaybar has significantly less bodyroll. Am I looking to squeeze blood from a stone? Maybe. But if I'm shelling out that kind of money from a LUXURY marque, it had better worlds better than it's Nissan counterpart. I don't think the I30t is a step above a Max, in fact, if anything it's downgrade from a Max. It's less sporty, less sporty-looking and about the only redeeming quality is the animal skin (which I don't care for).

As for the vs. Camry and Accord styling. I was comparing them to the previous versions. But while we're at it- the new Camry is just plain hideous, much to tall and the front end looks like Dr. Kevorkian tried his hand at face lifts. The new Accord IMO looks better than the previous gen I30/Max. Fortunately I'm not alone on this one, where the Accord has consistently placed first in many magazine tests when compared head to head against other cars in its idiom.

[Aztek72]

Too compare all that to a Camry and accord makes no sense to me and that's not even considering the VQ series engines which are much more powerful than the accords engine and no sludge monsters like the Camry V6's

Fred...

The VQ is no doubt an incredible engine but will never be as refined or smooth as the Toyota V6. Both those qualities are what I look for in a LUXURY vehicle.

[maxnix]

I have to agree with Aztek72 to a large extent. The rear suspension is an oxcart design, much inferior to the second generation Maxima. It is harsh, noisey and unforgiving on irregular surfaces. In no way does it compare to the unequal length A arms used on almost all Hondas and Acuras. The engine is a jewel and the car is well screwed together, as are the Hondas and Toyotas. Only the Camry is blander.

The Honda and Acuras are the best in ergonomics and overall finish, even slightly better finished than the Lexus. Any of these cars is a better proposition long term than anything from the old country. We won't even mention Detroit in the same breath.

[Aztek72]

Maxnix- :bearchug

It's good to someone who sees beyond the marques and give credit where its due. Some may see my criticisms as hatred toward Nissan but like all things I truly care about, I have my criticisms both good and bad.

[jmatas]

Having owned 2 first gen Qs AND an I30t, I can make a pretty fair assessment. I love my I30 (2000 model). It's no boy-racer, but it does move. I think 0-60 times are around 7.2, very similar to my 94 Q. The difference in handling is night and day. I feel confident tossing my I30 around. My Q feels like it weighs 4000 pounds (imagine that). The understeer definitely keeps me in check. Suspension on the I is tighter. Speedbumps in the I are harsh (re: 17s), but when I take the same speedbumps in the Q, it feels like the back end of the car slams to the ground- again, attribute this to weight. Highway power is no question- you can feel the muscle of the Q, where the I has to downshift and start screaming before it takes off. "For the Q guys- drive an I30t loaner car for a day and you'll feel like giving yourselves a pat on the back for buying a Q."Driving both on a daily basis, I disagree. The Q has the V8, but I is the better package and the performance lost to the V8 is not that noticable. As for Camrys and Accords- Toyota and Honda would probably be the first people to tell you that they're vanilla cars. Hell, that's how you move a million cars a year- make something that offends no one. To me, that's the epitome of boring.

[maxnix]

As for Camrys and Accords- Toyota and Honda would probably be the first people to tell you that they're vanilla cars. Hell, that's how you move a million cars a year- make something that offends no one.

Yeah but it is difficult to ignore the statistical significance of that fact. Especially in light of the fact that the Accords are never sold to the rental fleets, whereas the Maxima and Camry are. That is why Toyota and Honda have been financially healthy.

Compared to the domestic or even other imported midsize sedans, the Nissan/Honda/Toyota trio are heads and shoulders above everyone else, unless you want to blow the bucks for more style from Audi or BMW. The N/H/T engineering and build quality is second to none in this segment.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t

Discover the power of the button!

[Jesda]

The I30 seems to just go "Woosh" off the line. Its a nice smooth feeling that cant be found in the ES300, which sort of romps away with less grace.

Also, for longetivity the VQ and VG V6 engines are hard to beat. If you read owner surveys, its not hard to find a Maxima or I30 driving about (and not sputtering about) with 250,000 miles.

I almost bought a 92 Maxima last year with 280,000 miles, and it was in mint condition with a VERY strong original (not rebuilt) motor.

I've owned Hondas... never settle for average!

-Jesda

[I30T]

as my username suggests, i have a 1998 I30T, and i dont agree with you, Aztek, as most people wouldn't. But the suspension problem is fair. i agree speed bumps are harsh in it. However, once youve ridden in a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee over 9 speed bumps in a row, you start to appreciate any comfort at all. The I30T is a quick car, the inside is great, and what i hate about lexuses, especially the newer ES series, is the vision through your back windshield. Its almost as bad as in the 350Z!

[miteymax86]

Nissan: building the world's best sixes for the last 30+yrs

[Dinkydow]

Just my opinion: I bought a new 96 Maxima SE, The salesman kept telling me, before I bought it "this is just as good as the I30 Infiniti, frankly I had never heard of a I30 Infiniti. Soon after I purchased the Max, I started hearing a real annoying dash rattel, I took it to a Nissan dealer and he took the dash out, not only did he not fix the squeek, rattle but he scratched the hell out of the dash. At the time I was a traveling salesman, I covered Ks and Mo out of the head office in Mn, so I put alot of miles on a car.

[PalmerWMD]

, I took it to a Nissan dealer and he took the dash out, not only did he not fix the squeek, rattle but he scratched the hell out of the dash.

If I ever have my dash removed by anything less than T3 I will take "before" pictures just in case....

Fred...:thinker

[Dinkydow]

After about 6 months with the Max, I happened to be in Wichita, I drove past an Infiniti dealer, I thought I am going to see what this Max is just as good at. I test drove a 96 I30T 5 speed, I already had 24K on the Max. The salesman explained how the I30 differed from the Max. I bought it. To me there was no doubt the I30 had it all over the Max, for the difference in $. I mean the the Max was fine, but no I30T. I put 25K on the 96 and bought the first 97 sold out of Wichita. This time I got a 97 I30T auto. I personally think the I30, in 96 and 97 anyway was one hell of a car. After driving those two I strayed over to Toyota. From that point I always wanted a Q but didn't want the big depreciation

[Dinkydow]

Of a new one, plus I couldn't afford it anyway. Finally this Dec I found a Q with 50K on it in Las vegas, I hoped a plane and drove her home.. At first I was baffled and intimadated by how complicated the engine compartment was, and how hard it was to work on, but after a few choice words, bloody knuckles, etc I have come to love it. I really have only put on 5k since so I can't brag about it like I feel I am qualified to about the I30t. Wayne

[SCOTTDW]

I enjoy whipping around in my I30T. I recently went on a 400 mile business trip with three other 200 lb guys and we did feel the bumps in the road however. All in all it is a great ride and I prefer the interior design to the Maxima. I also have had excellent service from the Infiniti dealer on this car and a J30T I previously owned. Never been to a Nissan store.

Scott99I30T

[Jeff Williams]

I have had 3 Maximas, 90 GXE, 92 SE 5-speed, and a 95 auto. None have compared to my wife's 00 I30t Sport. I did have to get the sport package for the Xenon lights, rocker panels, spoiler, heated seats, and CD changer, but It was only a $1,500 bump over the 00 Maxima, and I get my oil changes for $7.00, a free car wash, and a loaner for the day. Try that in ANYTHING, other than Infiniti!

I also smoked a 00 Maxima 5-speed (Of course, the guy blew the launch, but a win is a win).

The car rides great, although it is a little harsh, over speed breakers (About the same as the '95 SE, with the Suspension Techniques lowering springs). The major difference, is the leather interior, and the rear shade.

The 2-stage muffler give the Infiniti a little more low-end HP, where it gets the Maxima's off the line.

The car is almost 4 years old, and the body is tight as a drum.