A friend is selling a 1997 I30T and gave me first dibs at it. I drove it and damn, that limited slip works. I took this tight S-curve on-ramp to the freeway with it and it just powered its way through. The tires chirpped for a second at first but hooked up. Later, I took the same turn with the same speed with my SE but had to back off a little because the tires kept breaking loose exiting the turns. I need to find a used one. I just got my SE so I don't need another car.

 

As I understand it, Canadian market Maximas had the VLSD as well. I haven't figured out if it was an option or standard on them, but I was told by someone on here that they had them. Since I need a trans rebuild anyhow, I'm in the process of trying to find one, but I haven't had alot of luck on websites yet. www.car-part.com has 2 VLSD trannies in the USA, and none listed in Canada, but I suspect thats because Canadian shops just don't use that website much. I'll keep you posted if I find a good source for them.

 

Thats funny becuase I drive my Max and I30T back to back daily. The max handles better because it weighs over 200lb's less. The reason the I30 felt better then your car was probably because of the difference in tires. I will note that the I30 does have a slight advantage with getting off the line but thats about it for performance advanges.
Both cars are's awesome!

 

I found a beautiful 97 I30t 5spd with 70000 miles for $9000 in ATL a while back. As I walked up, I thought I had found my dream car. Black on black, tinted too. Then I got in it...the interior was totally trashed, cracks and tears all over the leather, cig burns in the doors, ugh, and under the hood was dirty as hell too. Oh well....


I still dream about what might have happened if that car was in good shape.

 

I thought though on the Infinity that there was a difference in the suspension itself? am i wrong on this?

SuDZ

 

Couldawouldashoulda beat up the price over the interior and gone over to www.leatherseats.com for a brand new (custom) interior. Now that would have been nice.

 

The friend is asking $10500 for the 97 I30T. It is in excellent shape. Drives really well too. It is an auto and has everything and only 42,000 miles. Why so cheap? It has a salvage title. I saw it before it was fixed and it only need a new front nose(stuff under it too) a radiator, hood, and driver fender. I don't see how it got a salvage title. Anyhow, you need to see it. You can't tell if it had been in an accident. He did a great job.

http://silva.tamu.edu/~tbui/forsale.html (click on the links to see it.)

 

Hey, Speedy-T:

I just bought a 1999 I30t 5-speed (YEAH! A 5-SPEED!) a few weeks ago. It's only got about 14,000 original miles. What a GREAT car! In researching I found out that INFINITI sold about 25,000 I30's in 1999 but of that total less than 250 of them were 5-speeds! They stopped making manual transmissions on the I30t during the 1999 run. The 5-speed makes all the difference.

It is ONE SWEET CAR.


Bob

 

Damn, I thought finding a 5sp SE was gonna be hard. That is some really mileage on that car. I have 55K on mine. Well, I hope you keep it for a long time like me. I've really come to like mine a whole lot. You gonna mod yours up?

 

I'm kinda new to modding. What kinda stuff have you done to YOUR 5-speed??? Mine's a family car (wife, three kids) - and if the dog gets in it I'll KILL her! - so I'm not sure how much I can do.

Bob

 

whats the difference between locking and non locking which one is the vsld thanks,louis

 

Locking is called VLSD
Non-locking is called Open differential

 

I have a white 97 I30t 5 speed, I have driven both maxima SE's and my I30t back to back as well. I have to agree that the diffence has to be the tires that you felt. Most of the Maxima SE's came with 16in rims and a lower aspect ration in the tires 55's? I'm not totaly sure about the maxima. Although the I30 weight 220lbs more in the 5 speed than the likewise year and tranny. Think about it, thats like having a passenger in your maxima while driving. It doesn't have too much effect of the performance of your car unless you in a drag race.

The I30t has the exact same suspension set up as the Maxima SE. The only difference I have been told about it that some of the I30t's came with puly urethane bushings. I dont know what year, but thats what I was told.

Louie

 

I know what you mean about the traction.. the limited slip is great. If you have a 4 gen manual tranny, you can add the Quaife differential (which I did) which is even a better design then the I30T's VSLD.

And, drag racing and 2 wheeled consistent burnouts are the best.

 

"I Envy 4th gen. I30T Owners!!"



Technically, wouldn't it be First-Gen. I30T (as there were no Infiniti I30s before '96)???

 

Im confused, I have a 96 non touring model I30 does it have the vsld or was that only on the Touring model?

T

 

You can get a new transmission from a dealer for $1750 (if you have a friend there). VLSD's cost the same as stock, though you'll need to change driveshafts. For the same money you can put in a Quaife, get better performance, and not add any weight ....