Infiniti I30/I35

david165

We just bought a new 2001 i30. In the owners manual it talks about the fact that the i30 has been "prewired for a cellular phone". The Service Dept. know's nothing about this. Has anyone found info. about the prewiring ect. Thanks, David

redskin024

Checked the VIN, now we are not affected. My dad picked the car up today. Everything we requested was done except for the real reason i took it in! The refused to fix it, saying nothing was wrong. What bothers me is that i proved the problem to the manager, he ordered the parts, and then refused to fix it! I will call him on tomorrow or Monday to offer him my opinion on his service! Ive had it delay the shift so bad once that the transmission slammed, the tires gave a quick protest and it shook the keys on the keyring. I woulda coulda shoulda followed mhammy's advice and gone to Rochester! Avoid Autoplace in Buffalo, NY for service!!!!!!!

animull

Howdy ..... I AM buying a NEW car and have narrowed my choices down to a
2001 Toyota (Avalon XLS)
and the Infinity I30T
PLEASE give me ANY and ALL Advise before I pull the trigger on the deal...
Thanks guys...... Animull (rpmk@yahoo.com)
Please email me copy of your response to make sure I find your input .... Thanks.

mvargo1

I30 has a better warrenty, better customer service, is less expensive (comparitively equipped), handles better, is better looking, is faster, is going to be cheaper to maintain(no timing belt to change), gives you a loner car for service, is more exclusive, has a split folding rear seat, 200W Bose audio, full size spare tire, is almost the same size, is more exclusive, and has memory seats. There is probably more but that is all I can think of so far.

animull

What about these "problems " I read about here ?
WIND noise from FAULTY seals or weather stripping (near back windows);
PINGING of engine (gas related or not) ?
talk to me.....
Animull (rpmk@yahoo.com)

mhammy84

The problems would obviously be covered under warranty. Do some research on your local dealers (Lexus, Infiniti, Acura, Toyota) and see who's customers are most satisfied. The Avalon isnt in the same "class" as the I30 in many ways, consider an ES300 if you want to go Toyota. Consider an Acura 3.2TL also. Seems like there are some more issues with the I30 lately...research them all and see if the car you choose has those issues, and try to arrange to have them resolved before you hand over the money. If you are really narrowed down to the Avalon and I30, I would go for the I30 (luxury nameplate, better styling, more HP). I would give up Toyota reliability in an I30 vs. Avalon ONLY situation for a nicer car in my opinion. Good luck...

kruser1

Went to the dealership today to take a closer look at the I30. Really nice car! Can people please post the types of deals they are getting over/under invoice??. That type of info is extremely helpful. I've got about 6mnths to look (first child on the way, the 2door accord won't cut it). I would like to stay with the luxury version (keep around 30K) but I just love the rims on the touring, I think it makes a big appearance difference. I wish they would let you upgrade just the rims. Has anyone asked this? When will they start bringing in the 2002's. Any known changes on the way?. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

al57

i recently made a deal on an i30 with mud guards as only option (will not pick up car for 2 weeks)...Does anyone know for sure if there is an overstock of these cars that infiniti is trying to move out at reasonable cost? and are there any major changes due in the immediate future? like more horsepower or body style changes that make this style less desireable???any special financing out there since february is typical quiet in car industry

sammielee

To al57
care to share what you paid for your i30 and where in the U.S. you're located? In Northern Calif. I'm seeing a lot of i30's with just the mudguards as an option. Not cold enough for heated seats. Given the declining economy out here, dealers have to be getting nervous.

al57

sammielee: in response to pricing i purchased an I30 with only mudguards for $27180 plus tax,transfer of plates and DOC Fee. Total with tax etc $29220 out the door NO MORE!Checking invoice TMV etc..price fell below what I had expected.Price could be even lower if dealer can locate car with mud guards only and not have to paint and install them(about$80)Thought the price was untouchable by anyone else so signed the contract right there.Thats why i'm questioning excess inventory or major changes..should I even care????? By the way i live 20 miles north of manhattan, not exactly a giveaway car market!

maxamillion1

I heard that the 2002 Nissan Maxima would get the 260 horsepower 3.5 liter V6, and a 6 disc changer, plus a few exterior changes. Now if the Maxima gets the changes, I am sure the I30 will also, so next year (2002) the I30 will probably have the 3.5 and a facelift also.

sammielee

What a great price! hats almost $400 under invoice! You took a big bite out of their holdback or the dealer had some type of undisclosed incentive bonus coming from Nissan. Did your dealership have a lot of I30's on his lot? You have single handily created a whole new way to shop at Infiniti dealerships! Thanks

Sammie

sasmith95

I visited an Infiniti dealership last week to test drive an I30. Dealer said there was an incentive until the end of Feb., and offered a price of $27,200 right off, no haggling.

bski1

al57: I also live 20 miles north of Manhattan, and am considering purchasing the i30L. What dealership did you buy from?

mvargo1

Having sold many 2000/2001 I30's since their introduction in 1999 I have yet to have a single customer complain about wind noise. Reliability wise not only is the I30 just as good but with a timing chain instead of a timing belt it may even be more reliable than the toyota V6.

There is currently a $1,000 owner loyalty bonus for former current Infiniti owners/lessors who are buying an I30/QX4/Q45.

al57

sasmith95 you mentioned there is an incentive......what gives

al57

sammielee:dealer inventory in ny was adequate bought a titanium/black...but didn't have..had to locate

al57

bski1: try pepe infiniti white plains ny..no haggle just right price no fuss

royalruby1

I've had my i30 a few weeks short of 6 months. After 6800 miles of driving this wonderful car just about everywhere, I'll list my pro's and con's below.
Pro's:Overall, pretty quiet, smooth ride, compared to other similar cars I've driven.
Plenty of power
Brakes that are solid and quiet
Transmission shifts smoothly
Great, comfortable, stylish interior
Absolutely no probs, no wind noise, no vibration or rattles that some
of you have had
Cons: Bose stereo OK, but needs sound in the back (may upgrade sometime soon; have had after market systems that have sounded better)
Paint job looks great (Royal Ruby red) but have had some fine surface scratches on hood and trunk. I baby it by hand washing, but scratches are coming up some how?
Oil filter hard to get to--plastic cover that comes off is a pain.
Gas mileage isn't great (17-22 mpg), but with it comes the power

So overall I'm very happy with it. I can work on improving the Bose system, and find a detailer that can work on the scratches and I'll be a happy camper.

sascuderi

Glad to hear you have enjoyed the first 6 months. I have found that the Zanio products keep the paint looking new and seem to hide surface scratches. Have used it on my 95 Max, 96 Accord and my 2000 I30. Try it!

I found, unlike you, that the the transmission is the weakest part of the car. It at times shifts too slowly and doesnt have a quick snap between gears. My 95 Max was the same way.

The ride, leather, handling, power,reliablity, Bose,& interior room, are more than what I could have expected in a car of this price range.
So, overall it gets an A-.
STEVE

kruser1

Per the Chicano Tribune, there currently is a $400 dealer incentive. Also, Looks like Edmunds just lowered the FMV estimates. Couple of questions: how harsh is the touring ride?? Seems to be listed as a con in many consumer/pro reviews. I really don't need the sports suspension and bigger tires, but I love the rims and the xenon headlights. Should I go lax or tour?? (I will test drive, just like to see opinions) Also, I've seen a 0-60 time listed at 9 seconds in a couple of mags. Can this be right given the ax is under 8?

sammielee

I read that review about the "rough ride" at Edmunds. I've read plenty of their reviews and it seems really " a matter of taste " more than reality. I've been in BMW's that Edmund's loved and thought the ride was really harsh! I agree that the rims really set apart the appearance of the car! Avalon's with this option really look good! I really like the royal ruby. Did you get the gold plating?

Am going out to buy an I30 this week. Any advice
before I trek out from anyone out there???

los2fast

I am considering buying a 2001 I30t and was wondering if anyone has had problems with the 1st to 2nd shift hesitation that plagued the 2000 models?

sasmith95

I don't know the details of the incentive. The dealer just told me that there was one. By the way, it was at the dealership you mentioned, pepe infiniti in white plains. They were very helpful and low key.

acrane

What are the manufacturer's performance figures for a 2000 I30? I want to know--

0-60.
1/4 mile.
maximum speed.

I moved here from Europe where car manufacturers publish performance figures with alacrity. In the US it seems that manufacturers are cowed by the Feds into being very coy about performance capabilities of their products. The unwashed masses outside the Washington Beltway cannot, it seems, be trusted. If the peasants knew the maximum speeds of their cars there would be carnage and country's roads would resemble World War 1 battlefields as people tried to match the performance numbers.

anilt007

Hey guys, i am new to this form, but I have a big question! I am getting the Infiniti I30t 2000 touring model from a dealer for a price that I think is to die for! The only down side is that it was a demo for the boss of the dealership. It has 4000 miles on it These are the specs and the price I am getting it for. The dealer is located in Denville,NJ.

The price is : 30,500 ---this is with a 1,000 dollars off for owner loyalty incentive as I already own a QX4
, otherwise the dealer is selling it for 31,500
The price of the car on the tag is 36,000. But the dealer cut it to 32,500 becuase it is a demo and has 4000 miles on it.

The specs...
It is a fully loaded every feature possible!
Navigation system
Heated front seats
memory seats
heated side view mirrors
six disc cd changer in the trunk
blah blah blah!

IS This Worth it? Please answer or email me at AnilT007@yahoo.com Thanks for your help!

96_i30_5sp

IMO, demos are not a bargain usually. The dealer is trying to sell you what is essentially a used (and maybe abused) car for the price of a leftover new 2000 I30. I wouldn't pay more than $26-27K for it. Do this: take the car for a drive, go to the next Infiniti dealer and ask them to appraise it for you. I bet you'll be shocked by how much you will lose since it's a year-old model.

los2fast

I am considering buying a 2001 I30t and was wondering if anyone has had problems with the 1st to 2nd shift hesitation that plagued the 2000 models?

boz151

Anilt007,
I looked at that car back in August, is it black? In my opinion your not getting the best deal. I ended up having to wait about a month but opted for a 2001 I30t with everything but the Nav system. I paid 30,700. That should give you some type of guideline. Also, they have been sitting on that demo for a LONG time. They should be looking to unload it by now. As info, they were pretty firm on the price in August, that's why I waited....

Good Luck

anilt007

Thanks for the help,
The car I am looking at is not black, but a metallic silver, it is in their showroom.
From what I am hearing you guys paid around 27,000 for a 2000 I30 without the nav, but this car does have the nav, and the new 2001 is 30,700 w/o navigation. So I still dont know if I should go for this, or not. I am going to take it for a test drive, do you mean to take it to any dealer for appraisal? Because the next infiniti dealer isnt for a while. But also, if I do get it appraised I know the dealer will lower the price dramatically just because they want to buy it low, and sell it higher. Thats how all dealers are. Buy low, sell high. So I am still not certain if this is the best deal for me. I checked out Edmunds appraisal, and there seems to be on target with 31,500. IF you can HELP me at all please feel free to email me at AnilT007@yahoo.com

hunter001

I would steer clear of "Demo" cars. People I know have had bad experiences with "demo" cars. Always, if you ask the people at the dealership, they would say that the car was driven by either an "Old Lady" or the dealership "Owner's wife" or the "Boss of the dealership" or some such source, who you would expect has treated the car well.

In reality, these cars are normally given to customers as "Loaner cars" when they are in for service/oil changes. These "Loaners", from what I understand, are thrashed/driven unacceptably hard, by the characters who take them, before returning to pick their regular cars up. They are also taken home during the weekends by salesmen, who are also not particularly gentle in treating the car since these cars are taken out by their high-school kids who try out various antics on the car (power braking, acceleration tests etc to name a few). These cars are also used for "test-drives" by people who come to purchase cars, and suffer a lot of abuse during such test-drives. To summarise the above situation, these "demo" cars are literally treated like rental cars (abused/thrashed) during their time at the dealership during the MOST IMPORTANT MILES in the life of the car.

The initial mileage (upto 3000 miles) is the one that would determine longevity of the car. If you intend to keep the car for maybe a year or so before unloading it, then I would say to go for it - assuming that you are getting a price, WELL BELOW INVOICE. If you intend to keep the car for a long time, then I would suggest that you run away from this "Demo" car and spend a couple of thousand dollars more and go for a truly new one with less than 100 miles.

Just my 2c

Later...AH

marsha7

just because the demo was driven by the owner's wife (or husband) does not mean the car was babied...when you know you can get cars "for nothing" people do not always take good care of them, and sometimes beat the hell out of them...after all, "my wife/husband owns the dealership...what do I care?"...just something to think about.

humble_rex

I personally would not buy a Demo. Also the price does not look as attractive. You might want to go to CarsDirect.com and price out the car and see howmuch you will be paying if you buy it from them. Subtract owners loyalty and your ability to negotiate...I can assure you you can get a better price on a 2001 car.

Another point to remember is that what is the price diffrential between the two model year. I would also go to kbb.com and check out the cost diffrential in (say) 1995 and 1996 infiniti I30t with exactly the same milage. This will give you an idea as to what to expect in price diffrential when you go out and try to sell the car five years down the line. You will be amazed that when everythis is factored in the you probably will comeout ahead with REALLY NEW car as oppose to demo.

Just my two cents

redskin024

The I30 goes 0-60 in 8.4 sec. In America here we get our figures from Motor Trend or Car and Driver magazine.

96_i30_5sp

It's a shame that the new car is so much slower than the last generation. My 96t does 0-60 in 7 sec.

mhammy84

well, yours IS a five speed you know...i wonder if you can attain similar times on an automatic by shifting the tranny manually (from one to two to D with OD off, and then click the button to get you into fourth).

joel2468

a loaner, demo, or service vehicle. I purchased a 1999 Volvo S70, and owned it for 18 months. The car was fine, when it ran, but left me stranded three times, two requiring tows. It is the first "used" car I purchased since 1978, and it saved me about $1500 dollars...definitely not worth the trouble and inconvenience it caused. In part, the problems were probably due to the S70 itself (not a very reliable car overall), but, it had about 5000 miles on it when I purchased it, and I believe was driven hard, or abused, during the most critical part of the life cycle, the first 1000 (break in)-3000 miles.
NEVER AGAIN!! I got rid of it in Jan 2001, and purchased a 2001 Avalon (thank God I didn't lease the S70). Needless to say, the Avalon is being babied for the first few thousand miles, and driven nicely over the life of the car.

joel2468

with a loaner car... I know for a fact that when customers who purchased new cars have minor problems, for instance exterior (scratched bumpers), missing or lost interior (stereo) and/or engine (filters, bolts) pieces and parts, these are "borrowed" from the loaner cars, or newer pieces on the loaner swapped for older parts on the customer's vehicles.

jfalardeau

I just purchases a '96 I30t. It is in immaculate condition but needs two new tires. The vendor suggested that the type of tire had a bearing on how firm the ride would be. At present, there are Good Year Eagles on the car. I would like to know what type of tire I should consider to soften the ride a bit and if I have to buy four tires at the same time.

danl8

I purchased my I30T yesterday and found that when I apply the brakes, steering wheel shakes. Service said that sometimes the roters have to be reground, as not done properly at the factory. I am nontechnical, does this sound plausible? Car has 75 miles on it. Plwase advise.

brucer2

I've read of numerous brake problems with Maximas. The cause of most of the problems was that the lug nuts were over tightened at the factory, and this warped the disks. If your rotors are warped, demand new ones since your car is brand new. I am sure that the rotors were properly manufactured, and grinding them will shorten their useful life. The dealer should also make sure that the hub that the rotor sits against is flat and true. Otherwise the new rotors will also warp.

96_i30_5sp

I am currently using Michelin Pilot XGT H4 and am very pleased with their performance in dry/wet conditions. I replaced all 4 tires but you could probably get away with replacing them in pairs.

rgers

I am considering the purchase of an i30 and have asked the dealer if unleaded regular is acceptable to use in the car. He said that is what they use in all their vehicles, including the Q45's with no problems. Anyone have any pinging problems with 87 octane gas?

sascuderi

When I had my 95 Maxima, which is the same engine, it would ping on regular. I use either 89 or 93 in my 2000 I30 without a problem.

The engine has a high compression ratio (degree of compression in the chamber before the spark plug fires) which allows for the better than average MPGs for a V6 and great performance. If you use regular you run the risk of pre-detonation (ping) which can damage the engine. The engine does have a ping sensor which will limit the amount of detonation by retarding the timing, but this hurts performance and MPGs.

So, since the engine is a performance V6 which runs best on higher octane I would suggest only 93 or occasional 89.

STEVE

pakudirka

Does anyone have any info on which dealers in the LA area are selling the
Infiniti I30 luxury, either 2000 or 2001, at good prices? Also what would be a good
price....from what I am reading on this page it sounds like 27,000 would be an
extremely competitive price. Where do you reccomend I go in LA?
THanks....

sammielee

Ready to go for the I30 2001. Anyone out there know of any dealer incentives that may not be published. I knew there was a $1000 current owner rebate floating around earlier. Given slowing economy the dealers have to be in a pickle.

Thanks to all

mrfine00

Even the passat got the rear mirrors heat, Is anyone know when infinity puts this option in the car? can we upgrade the 2000 or 2001 I30 to mirrors heated parkage.

mmcbride1

I have heated mirrors on my 2000 I30L. It comes with the heated seats. You have to get the heated seats to get the heated mirrors. I have no idea about upgrading.

zeliforp

I don't know about that 8.4s 0-60 time for the 2000 and 2001 I30, though. Yes, I realize that was the published time. But most of the auto magazines did their testing on the "first build" of I30's back in 1999, when the I30s were suffering from that stupid Transmission Control Module problem that caused the half-second "lag" between 1st and second gears.

I was pissed as hell when I test-drove TWO 2000 I30's in January of 2000 and felt both trannies slip when shifting from 1st to 2nd. It actually made me delay my I30 purchase until a short while ago, when I test drove a 2001 and verified that the problem had been fixed.

Nissan ended up putting out a Technical Service Bulletin for this problem, and every car with a build date after June of last year received the new TCM. For the record, I have beat two automatic pre-2000 I30's off the line to 60 mph, and stayed PRETTY DARN CLOSE to a manual.

As far as I know, there have been no 0-60 tests performed by any of the major magazines on an I30 that had the "fixed" Transmission Control Module. I would place the 0-60 time of my 2001 I30t squarely at 7.5s. Surely not the fastest in its class BY A LONG SHOT, but not as slow as the "Plymout Neon"-type times that the auto magazines ended up getting.

mhammy84

what is the status with your I30's TCU situation? Have you tried to get Autoplace to change out yours with a new one, or have you already given up? What is your next course of action, if you have one? Thanks...