Out of curiosity (for 1st owner I30s)
05-17-2004, 11:35 PM
#1
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 113
Out of curiosity (for 1st owner I30s)
Why did you choose this car instead of another lower end luxury? If I got to choose a new car, I'd have gotten an ES300, whose ride is smooth like no other and leather is very plush and high quality. Does this have to do with performance over comfort? I would think the ES wins in comfort hands down, but does lose in the performance category. So unless you're a performance freak, why the I30/I35? Don't get me wrong, I love my I30, but that's because I got it cheap used (99' for under 10 G's). There isn't too much of a price difference between an I30 and an ES, and the ES has a MUCH higher resale value. Btw, don't take this too seriously, it's just a thought.
05-18-2004, 12:40 AM
#2
for me, price was the major issue when i was looking for lexus. when it comes to the es300 vs the i30, there were a couple of different problems that i couldn't get resolved.
(1) you're paying a 3-4 thousand dollar premium for a car in the same year (es300 vs i30/i30t)
(2) there's a known problem with sludge buildup in toyota engines (every single lexus es300 and sc300 i've saw had some sort of sludge buildup in there)
out of frustration, i started looking past lexus and into acura (RL/TL) and infiniti (i30). yes, you're right, the resell value for infiniti isn't as high as lexus/toyota and acura/honda, but that doesn't mean that infiniti/nissan doesn't make quality cars, and the power from the vq30de is just testiment of that fact.
/me throws in 2 cents
(1) you're paying a 3-4 thousand dollar premium for a car in the same year (es300 vs i30/i30t)
(2) there's a known problem with sludge buildup in toyota engines (every single lexus es300 and sc300 i've saw had some sort of sludge buildup in there)
out of frustration, i started looking past lexus and into acura (RL/TL) and infiniti (i30). yes, you're right, the resell value for infiniti isn't as high as lexus/toyota and acura/honda, but that doesn't mean that infiniti/nissan doesn't make quality cars, and the power from the vq30de is just testiment of that fact.
/me throws in 2 cents
05-18-2004, 04:21 AM
#3
The low resale makes it a good value if you are buying it new and plan to hold on to it for a few years. I got more for my money with the I30t than I woudl with another make/model in its class.
Also, having the 5-speed was a major consideration, and nothing else in the class really compares to availability of the 5MT in the i30.
On top of that, I had a Maxima, and I knew that I liked the vq30de engine.
Also, having the 5-speed was a major consideration, and nothing else in the class really compares to availability of the 5MT in the i30.
On top of that, I had a Maxima, and I knew that I liked the vq30de engine.
05-18-2004, 05:31 AM
#4
Same as Pat. Sure, the I30 is a Maxima, but the ES is a Camry. However, I really wanted a 5spd, and the Cefiro headlights is what swayed me over the Maxima. And, of course, more performance goodies.
05-18-2004, 08:21 AM
#5
Moderator who thinks he is better than us with his I30
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 9,335
For myself, I was looking for a maxima so getting an I30 with a 5spd was just icing on the cake. I had no intention of buying an infiniti/lexus/acura when I started car shopping.
05-18-2004, 08:47 AM
#6
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Posts: n/a
I looked long and hard at both of these cars when deciding a new, used car. Several factors swayed me toward the I30t over the ES300:
• The price for an I30t of the same year and similarly equipped ES300 was much better. Resale isn't a factor I consider because I keep my cars for a long time. A lower initial cost is more desirable to me.
• The I30t has a much roomier interior. I'm 6'5" and the increased room of my I30t is quite nice. Plus, I transport people in the back seat fairly often and have heard nothing but praise for the space back there. I spent a road trip in the back seat of my mom's ES300 not too long ago and it was cramped. Also, the seats fold down in the I30t where there's just a pass-through in the ES300 and the I30t's trunk is bigger.
• The performance of the I30t is superior to the ES300. The VQ has a well-deserved reputation for being a jewel of an engine and that, coupled with the fact that it produces more power, made it a somewhat easy choice over the ES300's drivetrain.
• The I30t has that kick-a$$ rear power-sunshade. It's almost too trick to pass up.
Things I like about he ES300 over the I30t:
• The CD changer is up in the glove box versus back in the trunk.
• The doors don't have window frames.
• The price for an I30t of the same year and similarly equipped ES300 was much better. Resale isn't a factor I consider because I keep my cars for a long time. A lower initial cost is more desirable to me.
• The I30t has a much roomier interior. I'm 6'5" and the increased room of my I30t is quite nice. Plus, I transport people in the back seat fairly often and have heard nothing but praise for the space back there. I spent a road trip in the back seat of my mom's ES300 not too long ago and it was cramped. Also, the seats fold down in the I30t where there's just a pass-through in the ES300 and the I30t's trunk is bigger.
• The performance of the I30t is superior to the ES300. The VQ has a well-deserved reputation for being a jewel of an engine and that, coupled with the fact that it produces more power, made it a somewhat easy choice over the ES300's drivetrain.
• The I30t has that kick-a$$ rear power-sunshade. It's almost too trick to pass up.
Things I like about he ES300 over the I30t:
• The CD changer is up in the glove box versus back in the trunk.
• The doors don't have window frames.
05-18-2004, 09:08 AM
#7
Originally Posted by attomica
I looked long and hard at both of these cars when deciding a new, used car. Several factors swayed me toward the I30t over the ES300:
• The price for an I30t of the same year and similarly equipped ES300 was much better. Resale isn't a factor I consider because I keep my cars for a long time. A lower initial cost is more desirable to me.
• The I30t has a much roomier interior. I'm 6'5" and the increased room of my I30t is quite nice. Plus, I transport people in the back seat fairly often and have heard nothing but praise for the space back there. I spent a road trip in the back seat of my mom's ES300 not too long ago and it was cramped. Also, the seats fold down in the I30t where there's just a pass-through in the ES300 and the I30t's trunk is bigger.
• The performance of the I30t is superior to the ES300. The VQ has a well-deserved reputation for being a jewel of an engine and that, coupled with the fact that it produces more power, made it a somewhat easy choice over the ES300's drivetrain.
• The I30t has that kick-a$$ rear power-sunshade. It's almost too trick to pass up.
Things I like about he ES300 over the I30t:
• The CD changer is up in the glove box versus back in the trunk.
• The doors don't have window frames.
• The price for an I30t of the same year and similarly equipped ES300 was much better. Resale isn't a factor I consider because I keep my cars for a long time. A lower initial cost is more desirable to me.
• The I30t has a much roomier interior. I'm 6'5" and the increased room of my I30t is quite nice. Plus, I transport people in the back seat fairly often and have heard nothing but praise for the space back there. I spent a road trip in the back seat of my mom's ES300 not too long ago and it was cramped. Also, the seats fold down in the I30t where there's just a pass-through in the ES300 and the I30t's trunk is bigger.
• The performance of the I30t is superior to the ES300. The VQ has a well-deserved reputation for being a jewel of an engine and that, coupled with the fact that it produces more power, made it a somewhat easy choice over the ES300's drivetrain.
• The I30t has that kick-a$$ rear power-sunshade. It's almost too trick to pass up.
Things I like about he ES300 over the I30t:
• The CD changer is up in the glove box versus back in the trunk.
• The doors don't have window frames.
I would NOT like frameless windows. I am always afraid someone will push one too hard and it will break, or I am worried that the seal will break down. This is much more likely on frameless windows.
Other than that, you are dead-on.
Your A33 also has liquid-filled motor mounts, which quiets engine noise considerably.
05-18-2004, 09:47 AM
#8
attomica, so you're saying that the 2000s has the ability to have the back seats drop all the way down? because my 1997 i30 just has that dinky little middle part drop down. 
plus the 2000s have the classier clock in front.
Edited to refer to attomica.
plus the 2000s have the classier clock in front.Edited to refer to attomica.
05-18-2004, 09:54 AM
#9
Originally Posted by InfiniLover
phenryiv1, so you're saying that the 2000s has the ability to have the back seats drop all the way down? because my 1997 i30 just has that dinky little middle part drop down. plus the 2000s have the classier clock in front.
plus the 2000s have the classier clock in front.
05-18-2004, 10:26 AM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yeah, the whole seat folding down is great. It was quite nice when I bought an "assemble yourself" table and I could get this long, flat box home without having to drive with the trunk lid tied down with twine or something.
I also forgot to mention another thing I like better about the I30t than the ES300...the 17" wheels are beautiful. I'm not too crazy about the ES's wheels.
I also forgot to mention another thing I like better about the I30t than the ES300...the 17" wheels are beautiful. I'm not too crazy about the ES's wheels.
05-18-2004, 03:34 PM
#12
I bought my car because a good friend had a modded max and I found out about maxima.org. I originally wanted a maxima but after finding out the I30 was actually cheaper than a few SEs and most GLEs I decided to go that route. From what I heard the service was a lot better with Infiniti and the I30 is definately a rarer car.
If I had to do it all over again, I'd make the same decision. The ES/GS series are great cars, but the I30 is more performance oriented and since I'm only 21 that is what I wanted. Mods are pretty inexpensive and widely available. The interior and ride quality are better with Lexus, but those were more secondary concerns for me. I'm very happy with both with my car.
Also, my dad used to own an I35. I drove around in it for a couple weeks because I considered buying it. The interior and ride quality is very, very nice. Comparable to my friends GS300. I haven't been in a newer ES300 so I couldn't compare the I35 to that. But IMO the I35 looks better than the new ES series. I just don't like the way they look from the back.
If I had to do it all over again, I'd make the same decision. The ES/GS series are great cars, but the I30 is more performance oriented and since I'm only 21 that is what I wanted. Mods are pretty inexpensive and widely available. The interior and ride quality are better with Lexus, but those were more secondary concerns for me. I'm very happy with both with my car.
Also, my dad used to own an I35. I drove around in it for a couple weeks because I considered buying it. The interior and ride quality is very, very nice. Comparable to my friends GS300. I haven't been in a newer ES300 so I couldn't compare the I35 to that. But IMO the I35 looks better than the new ES series. I just don't like the way they look from the back.
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