I will be in the market to purchase this November. After all my research have decided on Infiniti. But now what is conventional wisdom regarding whether to try and get best deal possible on the 01 I30 or to kick in more dough and go with the restyled? changed? Improved? I35 model. Any thoughts on pricing? Is the thinking that, initially, it will sell for MSRP without discounts,or will there be deals to be made from the get-go on the I35? Anyone know if they will include the Midnight Blue color or if there will be other color selections in 02? Still interested to know if anyone out there has Midnight Blue and how do they like it? How would that color look with Gold package? How much should a Gold Pck. sell for? Dealer installed I suppose.
Good question. Nobody has said the I30 is going away. Is the Acura 3.2TL going away because they came out with the 3.2TL-S? Infiniti may do away with the I30T and make the I35 the hot sport model. How important is the extra horsepower? It didn't make that much difference to me. How much do you think they will discount a 2001 I30 once the I35 comes out? I don't think you will see $3k or $4k factory incentives. You said it youself, they will probably hold near window sticker for the new model. I think that the market will start to see the Infiniti I series as a very good car and this will prop up the re-sale. It has been overshadowed by Lexus and Acura, but, I think more aggressive marketing for the new Infinitis will benefit all Infiniti owners. This will also affect market values including selling price of the new ones. My personal preference is to buy a "new" car. Buying a leftover is not buying new. Good luck deciding.
I am planning to purchase an Infiniti I30 within the next 30 days. Does anyone know of any rebates or other incentives such as a low interest rate? Thanks.
on the economy in general...when the Nasdaq goes to 850 and the Dow back at 3,500, showroom traffic may control just how close they sell at MSRP...since the dot-com frauds are just now being exposed, and (I predict) that Amazon will follow Dr. Koop and Priceline, it could be an interesting time in the fall...
I wanted to thank the poster who posted the link on the I35 for 2002...highly impressive car, looks like they took all the good points of the I30 and made them better...more HP, standard HID lights...I tried to purchase an I30 over a year ago, but it was slightly out of my budget...actually, the car was within my budget, but when I had to roll over $4000 in negative equity from my Buick, THAT placed the car out of my budget...if no negative equity, I would probably be driving a 2K I30 now...such is life...instead I have a 2K Intrepid...nice car (and I always rail against UAW cars) but the I30 would be nice to have...maybe the I35 will be the one...then again, there is always Bentley..:):):)
Anyone have an idea what the new I35t will go for? I really want to get one but not at a huge mark-up. Does 35K sound about right for the new additions (i.e 260hp, 17"wheels, minor interior upgrades...). thanks in advance Pete
I was at Modern Infiniti in Greensboro NC this weekend and the salesman told me that the I35 is for 2002 and 2003, then it will be discontinued. About six new models are slated in upcoming years.....all rear wheel drive. I'm on pins waiting for the I35's debut in October. I think I like the waterfall grill better, but the pics of the car really look great........and the Q45 was the bomb!
Wow, I just saw a brief write-up and pics of the new I35. This will make things interesting. I had about made up my mind to buy the Acura TL Type S, but perhaps I'll hold off. I've struggled with this decision for some time. I'm currently driving a '94 J30t and still love the car, which has been no trouble at all. My problem was to find a replacement, a sports oriented luxury car. I drove my sister's '01 I30t on a trip through the PA mtns, alternating between my J30 and her car. While I admired the I30s quality and interior, I thought it was not up to the J30t's sporting capabilities. I have driven the Acura twice and it is very fast and sporting, but the interior isn't up to Infiniti standards. I guess I'll have to wait until Oct. and see what kind of pricing Infiniti offers. I do note that the I35 will still have only a 4 speed automatic, but I30 has a better crash test result.
djrunner>>>> its all good... maybe i could have stated it a little better.
jaydh>>>> look at post #798... it has comments on the Midnight blue. I personally saw it at the Auto Show here and it looked great... best color yet. there is also a brownish/bronze/off green color out there that looks really good... not millenium jade though.
There is a fairly good article on cars.com (http://www.cars.com/carsapp/national/? srv=parser&act=display&tf=/features/autoshow2001/ coverage/newyork/posted/coverage_04_12_07.tmpl)
(shoot - the posting program MADE me bust that URL into three pieces - you'll have to cut & paste it back together - sorry...)
that shows the new 2002 I35 model, as well as a description of the changes, mostly 'options' that have become standard like HID, 6-CD changer indash, etc. I haven't seen anything that shows the new dash layout, but I know from talking with one of my friends that is an "Auto Spy" that the new face-lift (grille), butt-lift on the tail-lights and addition of the HID, 6CD-changer and redesigned dash were pretty much what you'll see.
If you go to www.infinitinews.com you can click on 2002 I35 and view 4 pages of write up and about 7 different pictures under the photo option for those of you interested in info on this car..
wants to maintain the TL and TL-S as the lower and higher versions, whereas Infiniti will usethe same engine for all, but use the sport option to differentiate the L from the T, if I read all of your posts correctly...why couldn't they upgrade to a five speed auto instead of a four, inquiring minds want to know?????
As of 2002 Infiniti is doing away with the t designation and simply offering a sport pkg. for all its vehicles. This actually started with the 2001 QX4 (although I have no idea what heated front and rear seats in that vehicle have to do with sport).
The redisigned dash includes the better looking wood trim from the current QX4. You honestly can't tell the difference between the real stuff in the Q45 and the wood-tone in the QX4. Also you get a gated shifter similer to the old school Q45's and J30's. I actually prefer a gated shifter to the slap shift found on some manu-matics.
As for the transmission with the prodigious amount of torque available across a large amount of the powerband thanks to the variable valve timing, variable flow intake, and increased displacement. Infiniti did not feel a 5 speed was as important as it is for Acura whose smaller engine and Vtec design are more dependant on high rev's. The Acura makes very little use of its fist gear shifting to second at a fairly low RPM even when using the manual mode.
Does anyone have an idea about what incentives Infiniti might give in order to move the current I30s? I'll be ready to buy a new vehicle early July and I’m hoping that Infiniti will lower MSRP by at least $2k... wishful thinking? I really want a 2002 I35 but I might have to settle for a 2001 I30 because I need a larger vehicle before our first born comes out the oven...our current 2door Honda Civic just won’t cut-it. Also, will the I35’s 260hp engine be more noticeable when compared to the current I30’s 227hp??? Thanks Pete
I would like any comments from I30 owners regarding its airconditioning. I have not had the opportunity to drive one in hot weather, and it gets very hot and humid were I live from June through August. I hate to be stuck to the seats in an otherwise nice car. I have had the opportunity to drive the new Maxima on two separate occasions in the heat of summer and neither one ever really cooled down. I am assuming that the I30 probably has the same airconditioning system. So, you I30 owners who have been through a hot summer with your car, how's the airconditioning? Thanks. I'm definitely in the market for a new vehicle and just can't seem to decide.
Its a little after the fact, but I'd be interested to know the outcome of your ordeal and which dealer you used. Will appreciate anyone else who can recommend Atlanta dealers to use or avoid. Tks.
I cannot understand how Infiniti, with its good reputation, can ignore this serious problem of Wind Noise in the new I30. Do you all think that we should get together and start a class action?
Just got back from a 300 mile round trip with our two week old I30L. Did not detect this wind noise. Where is it coming from and what should I be listening for? According to the door build sticker, this car was built in Nov. 00 and delivered to the dealer at the end of Dec. 00. The car was an absolute dream.
Not only does my new I30 have an unacceptable amount of wind and road noise, but the transmission slips all over the place, especially at very low speeds like 5-10mph. Seems to want to find a gear for a second or two then abrubtly falls into the next gear. My wife's Saturn is quieter, and has a smoother transmission. I am VERY disappointed in this car
I love everything about this car except noise. I bought it on Dec 00 and it was built in Aug 00. A month ago, I picked up my brother-in-law from the airport and he told me that my car was noisy too. It is noisier than my '95 C280. As I said before, a service representative from my dealer told me that I30 is a little bit noisy. I haven't had a chance to take my car to other dealer. I plan to do so when I hit the first 3K miles. If your car don't have wind noise, enjoy it.
I have the 2000 I30 (since 2/00) and do not seem to have wind or unusual road noise. In the past I have noticed that if the tires are over-inflated road noise increases. So, if the ride seems harsh or loud, check the tire pressure. You may find a simple fix!
I own a 2001 I30t, and even with the low-profile-ish 17" tires I don't hear any "road noise". You might try checking the tires as the previous poster suggested.
Wclose: I have a problem with wind noise as well. I am at the point that I am ready for arbitration because the dealership, Consumer Affairs, and the manufacturer doesn't seem to care about it.
Jaki30: My wind noise occurs from the rear doors. The seals allow wind to come in around the quarter glass. I can hear the noise from the front seat and it is unbearable if you are actually sitting right next to it.
If anyone finds a solution please let me know.
Other than the wind noise and service in resolving the problem, the car has been great. It is just unfortunate that we have to pay the price that we do and not have a quieter ride than say a $20,000 automobile.
Is there any word as to whether this wind noise problem (intermittent though it seems to be! will be solved in the I35? I've whittled the search down to the I35 and the ES300 redesign.
I haven't seen any spy shots of the new ES300, but it sounds similar to the I35. Both seem like real winners compared to the GM models.
It seems that some 2000-2001 I30 owners have wind noise while others do not. My 2000 I30 has had the "wind noise" problem remedied by the judicious application of 5/16" to 3/8" square black rubber (of sufficiently high density) that is sold by all the popular hardware stores. It is placed on the rear doorframe openings (and not on the door itself) at the following locations: 1. an 8" piece located by the rear door light switch: top is at switch, bottom is 8" below 2. an 8" piece located at the top of the rear door hinge, going up from where the hinge is located 3. an 18" piece located on the rear door frame adjacent to the lock/strike plate, going up 4. an 18" piece located on the front door frame adjacent to the door hinge; put 9" above the hinge and 9" below towards the inside of the frame. The idea here is to supplement the Infiniti's rubber gaskets that surround the doors. Do not apply the hardware store purchased gasket material to the Infiniti gasket. Instead it is placed behind or in front of the vehicle's gasket materials as a supplementary wind seal. There are probably a dozen (total) strips of this gasket material on the door jambs in various locations. Evidently they seem to work as the car is very quiet. When the door is closed, you cannot see these "gaskets". It seems silly to have to resort to this type of empirical fix, but it is cheap and works - at least for me. Plus this gasket material is real easy to install or remove.
Lordjim1: How easy is it to remove? I asked my dealership if I could do that and they didn't want me to because when the manufacturer comes up with a fix it could pose a problem. I would like to fix the problem, but don't want to void the warranty. At this point I would not be surprised that something so simple as this would void it.
I have driven three different 2000 I30 loaner vehicles. My dealer is about an hour away from me one-way, so since the wind noise issue started on here, I have been listening for that. On each of the loaners, I have NOT heard any noise...they have all been completely quiet (except one loaner which had a rattle from the front passenger-side dash area). My 1997 I30t has a rattle from the passenger-side dash area, and I read somewhere that its the glove-box metal frame. With regard to road noise, my 97 has A LOT of road noise compared to many other vehicles I have owned/driven in its class. The 2K I30 has considerably less noise at idle compared to the 97. I still hear a lot of road noise on the 2K I30 (all three loaners)...seems to be a little less than my 97 I30t, but it may be because I have NOT compared to a 2K I30t.
I seem to receive horrible gas mileage on my 97...a full tank of premium only earns me about 260 miles total. Again, this is from FULL tank, to when the light comes on and I drive it until the light is constantly on. A friend of mine with a 2000 Maxima receives about 330 miles on a good mix of highway and suburban driving. My driving is mostly suburban, but I dont even use the A/C (not warm enough here yet), and the windows are rarely open. The mileage has been similar for me in the last 5 months of driving around...what mileage do others here get?
Djrunner: the black rubber is easy to install and remove. Any adhesive that remains (after you remove the black rubber tape) can be removed with paint thinner (mineral spirits) - do not use lacquer thinner as that can remove paint!
Mhammy84: My 2000 I30 averages about 22mpg on the daily commute to work (trip length of 24 miles) and about 26mpg on trips. This is using mid-grade octane fuel. The EPA fuel mileage rating is 20mpg city and 28mpg highway. Depending upon how you drive, you should average somewhere in that ballpark. The fuel tank capacity is 18 gallons, so a tankful should go about 320 miles (figure you use 16 gallons at 20mpg = 320 mile range). If you have a heavy foot, then you will achieve 90% of 20mpg = 18mpg X 16 gallon capacity = 288 miles. If you can only get 260 miles out of a full tank, then perhaps your vehicle is not tuned properly, or your foot is really heavy on the accelerator!.
I own a '2000 I30t and I had a '99 I30 (Limited)and neither have had any kind of wind noise. I commute 52 miles to work and road noise is an important issue to me. Even at high speeds (I regularly drive at 75+mph) not only have they been quiet, but I can speak in a normal tone of voice to a passenger or on a cell phone. This car is hands down the best I've owned. If you want to talk about road noise I'd be glad to tell you about my former car, a Dodge Avenger! Tough Crowd!
No lead foot here! At green lights, I start off nice and slow, and get up to speed and hold it there. Most of my driving is usually suburban, with the occasional 10 minute highway trip to the larger mall in the next town. I figure for things to at least sound okay, I should be getting OVER 300 miles, which I think would be impossible for me to attain. I dont know if its related, but it seems as if my car has no torque/acceleration at very low speeds (0-5 mph). If I so much as touch the accelerator, it used to jump...but now it lazily gets up to speed. 30K miles are arriving soon, and hopefully the 30K mile service may remedy this?
We've been having problems with our 1998 I30. Has anyone experienced any problems with getting the car to start? The car is turning over but just won't catch.
Hello to all. I'm new to this BB, but I've been reading it for months. I'm considering buying a new I30, and have learned a lot from all of your experiences. Thanks for all the 'good stuff'. I'm interested in the 2002 I35, but I would jump on a 2001 I30L if a really good deal. Yesterday's CARSDIRECT.com price was $27,392 for the I30L w/heated seats and dest. Sound good? Does the loyalty discount only apply to current Infiniti owners, or does it also include Nissan owners? Are there any other incentives now or coming soon to help move out the '01s before the '02s hit the showrooms? It appears that the Edmunds rebate and incentive page only lists state/regional discounts. Their earlier format listed national rebates and incentives on a different page which is no longer available.
To alamedaboy: My wife's '98 Maxima GLE had the exact same problem about a year ago. It cleared up by itself after a few days... possibly a bad load of gas. Her battery was fine then, but eventually died just after the 2 year battery warranty milestone. It was cheaper to buy a new one at COSTCO than to have Nissan replace it with remaining warranty. What really PO'd me was that less than 2 weeks later my '98 Pathfinder's battery also died... I bought both of these vehicles on the same day. I complained to Nissan's national customer service about their poor quality batteries. They blew it off, quoting the battery warranty. Some people may think that 2 years is adequate, but when I drop 60 grand for 2 new cars, I don't expect to be getting stuck in each one with a dead battery after just 2 years. Does anybody agree, or do I expect too much?
I had a similar experience with Ford Motorcraft batteries. Just make it past the warranty. The maintenance free batteries either last forever or die young. I think Nissan should have had the courtesy to replace at least one battery. One of the reasons I bought an I30 was lack of customer service from Ford. As a matter of fact, my son bought a 2000 Accord EX V6 coupe, my daughter bought a 2001 Civic EX and my wife and I just bought the 2001 I30 due to the indifference of the American manufacturers. I do hope Nissan/Infiniti will be better than them. PS: We love our 2001 I-30. How much is the extra power worth to you? I didn't want to wait!
Of course the new I35 will be a few thousand dollars more. You'll be getting more horsepower and slightly different trim on the same body/chassis, plus some other minor enhancements. Infiniti has to compete with Aura (now with 260HP) and Lexus (also with proposed HP increases). How else will they justify any price increases? The current I30 with 227HP is a very nice and very civilized automobile. The additional HP will allow Infiniti to broaden their customer base, which they need to do to remain competitive in the marketplace. Of course one must ask whether the additional HP is necessary or worth it. All things considered, I probably would not turn it down. Will I trade my 2000 I30 for it? No way. For the type of driving I do, the current I30 fits me just fine. I am amazed at the relative HP increases over the past 10 years - the first Legend coupe I owned had 160HP and it's engine was considered state-of-the-art then. Now 160HP is considered minor league. Things change...This spell check ain't worth a damn; it changes correctly spelled items to incorrectly spelled ones.
I test drove an I30 last weekend and asked the dealer about the new I35. He said it would cost close to $40k! I think he was blowing mud. There is no way they can justify a $10k increase because of a 33hp boost and a few other little extras. I plan to buy an I30 late june to early July so I hope Infiniti starts to dicount the I30s soon... maybe $2-3k off.
I drive a 97 I30t and have experienced some difficulty with starting. Its usually an intermitten problem however...sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesnt. its definately not related to cold weather...I have found it easier to allow the fuel pump to pressurize before starting...just keep the key in the "ON" position until you hear the fuel pump stop making noise, and start up. it should start in one go. as far as the battery is concerned, it will soon be 4 years, and my battery is still going. However, I have a whole host of other major problems with my car that I would NEVER get another I30 again.
I received a call from my dealership stating that the manufacturer service techs should have a solution in two weeks. My dealership will contact me if the parts come in sooner. I'll keep everyone posted as to whether it works.
Wasn't I. We have only had our I30L three weeks today. I did question what I should listen for. We have not had any discernable noise, but, I still don't quite know what I should be listening to. The car is fantastic.
Comments
away because they came out with the 3.2TL-S? Infiniti may do away with the
I30T and make the I35 the hot sport model. How important is the extra horsepower?
It didn't make that much difference to me. How much do you think they will
discount a 2001 I30 once the I35 comes out? I don't think you will see $3k or $4k
factory incentives.
You said it youself, they will probably hold near window sticker for the new model.
I think that the market will start to see the Infiniti I series as a very good car and this
will prop up the re-sale. It has been overshadowed by Lexus and Acura, but, I think
more aggressive marketing for the new Infinitis will benefit all Infiniti owners. This
will also affect market values including selling price of the new ones.
My personal preference is to buy a "new" car. Buying a leftover is not buying new.
Good luck deciding.
Anyone have an idea what the new I35t will go for? I really want to get one but not at a huge mark-up. Does 35K sound about right for the new additions (i.e 260hp, 17"wheels, minor interior upgrades...).
thanks in advance
Pete
Acura will continue at least through 2002 to offer the TL as both base and S versions.
All 2002 Infiniti I35's will be just that I35's their will be no 2002 I30.
jaydh>>>> look at post #798... it has comments on the Midnight blue. I personally saw it at the Auto Show here and it looked great... best color yet. there is also a brownish/bronze/off green color out there that looks really good... not millenium jade though.
coverage/newyork/posted/coverage_04_12_07.tmpl)
(shoot - the posting program MADE me bust that URL into three pieces - you'll have to cut & paste it back together - sorry...)
that shows the new 2002 I35 model, as well as a description of the changes, mostly 'options' that have become standard like HID, 6-CD changer indash, etc. I haven't seen anything that shows the new dash layout, but I know from talking with one of my friends that is an "Auto Spy" that the new face-lift (grille), butt-lift on the tail-lights and addition of the HID, 6CD-changer and redesigned dash were pretty much what you'll see.
The redisigned dash includes the better looking wood trim from the current QX4. You honestly can't tell the difference between the real stuff in the Q45 and the wood-tone in the QX4. Also you get a gated shifter similer to the old school Q45's and J30's. I actually prefer a gated shifter to the slap shift found on some manu-matics.
As for the transmission with the prodigious amount of torque available across a large amount of the powerband thanks to the variable valve timing, variable flow intake, and increased displacement. Infiniti did not feel a 5 speed was as important as it is for Acura whose smaller engine and Vtec design are more dependant on high rev's. The Acura makes very little use of its fist gear shifting to second at a fairly low RPM even when using the manual mode.
Thanks
Pete
Its a little after the fact, but I'd be interested to know the outcome of your ordeal and which dealer you used. Will appreciate anyone else who can recommend Atlanta dealers to use or avoid. Tks.
Care to explain how? That doesn't make sense to me.
Did not detect this wind noise. Where is it coming from and what
should I be listening for? According to the door build sticker, this
car was built in Nov. 00 and delivered to the dealer at the end of
Dec. 00.
The car was an absolute dream.
No "wind noise", either.
Jaki30: My wind noise occurs from the rear doors. The seals allow wind to come in around the quarter glass. I can hear the noise from the front seat and it is unbearable if you are actually sitting right next to it.
If anyone finds a solution please let me know.
Other than the wind noise and service in resolving the problem, the car has been great. It is just unfortunate that we have to pay the price that we do and not have a quieter ride than say a $20,000 automobile.
I haven't seen any spy shots of the new ES300, but it sounds similar to the I35. Both seem like real winners compared to the GM models.
1. an 8" piece located by the rear door light switch: top is at switch, bottom is 8" below
2. an 8" piece located at the top of the rear door hinge, going up from where the hinge is located
3. an 18" piece located on the rear door frame adjacent to the lock/strike plate, going up
4. an 18" piece located on the front door frame adjacent to the door hinge; put 9" above the hinge and 9" below towards the inside of the frame.
The idea here is to supplement the Infiniti's rubber gaskets that surround the doors. Do not apply the hardware store purchased gasket material to the Infiniti gasket. Instead it is placed behind or in front of the vehicle's gasket materials as a supplementary wind seal. There are probably a dozen (total) strips of this gasket material on the door jambs in various locations. Evidently they seem to work as the car is very quiet. When the door is closed, you cannot see these "gaskets". It seems silly to have to resort to this type of empirical fix, but it is cheap and works - at least for me. Plus this gasket material is real easy to install or remove.
Mhammy84: My 2000 I30 averages about 22mpg on the daily commute to work (trip length of 24 miles) and about 26mpg on trips. This is using mid-grade octane fuel. The EPA fuel mileage rating is 20mpg city and 28mpg highway. Depending upon how you drive, you should average somewhere in that ballpark. The fuel tank capacity is 18 gallons, so a tankful should go about 320 miles (figure you use 16 gallons at 20mpg = 320 mile range). If you have a heavy foot, then you will achieve 90% of 20mpg = 18mpg X 16 gallon capacity = 288 miles. If you can only get 260 miles out of a full tank, then perhaps your vehicle is not tuned properly, or your foot is really heavy on the accelerator!.
To alamedaboy: My wife's '98 Maxima GLE had the exact same problem about a year ago. It cleared up by itself after a few days... possibly a bad load of gas. Her battery was fine then, but eventually died just after the 2 year battery warranty milestone. It was cheaper to buy a new one at COSTCO than to have Nissan replace it with remaining warranty. What really PO'd me was that less than 2 weeks later my '98 Pathfinder's battery also died... I bought both of these vehicles on the same day. I complained to Nissan's national customer service about their poor quality batteries. They blew it off, quoting the battery warranty. Some people may think that 2 years is adequate, but when I drop 60 grand for 2 new cars, I don't expect to be getting stuck in each one with a dead battery after just 2 years. Does anybody agree, or do I expect too much?
the warranty. The maintenance free batteries either last forever or die young.
I think Nissan should have had the courtesy to replace at least one battery.
One of the reasons I bought an I30 was lack of customer service from Ford.
As a matter of fact, my son bought a 2000 Accord EX V6 coupe, my daughter
bought a 2001 Civic EX and my wife and I just bought the 2001 I30 due to the
indifference of the American manufacturers. I do hope Nissan/Infiniti will be
better than them.
PS: We love our 2001 I-30. How much is the extra power worth to you? I didn't
want to wait!
Pete
question what I should listen for. We have not had any
discernable noise, but, I still don't quite know what I should
be listening to. The car is fantastic.