Hello folks. I've been looking for a potential replacement for my max (which seems to be slowly falling apart). First thing that comes to mind would be an 03 MAX or an 04 I35
(a G35x would just be outta my price range and HONDUHs still have tranny issues in their 04/05 models).

Have any 04 I35 owners had any inherent "5th gen issues"?
-TCM or tranny issues?
-Oil consumption problems? (Can't figure out whether is was the earlier 3.5s or the later ones that have this issue?)
-Any other weird nissan/infinity annoyances that i'm sick & tired of, and wouldn't wanna see in a $16/17K car that i'd be paying off for the next 5 years?

Thanks guys!

 

This year i35 is really starting to grow on me. Not sure if they come in stick in that year but they are very good looking cars. GL

 

And I35 = Maxima, it *can* have every problem a 5.5gen Maxima might have. Just make sure the car you are buying was well maintained and get an extended warranty if you are not a hands on person to fix smaller issues. That and if you need to go to the dealer for work, you can look forward to a new G35 for loaner every time.

 

Hah! Maybe i should just go for an 04 MAX or a G35? Would they be less of a PITA?

 

Every used car might have problems with it. The 6th gen Max and 1st gen G35 both are not problem free either.

 

Yeah man, i know. It seems that there are no "good" cars to buy lately. My bro's camry (98, 116K) never had one problem! Just now, an EGR flow issue tripped a CEL and messed with the vaccum. Clean that **** out, and all is well again. I'm just trying to get the odds in my favor on the "more serious" issues.
But what about that "oil consumption issue"? Is that more of a problem with 02s or is it more of a problem with 04+?

 

G35 man, rwd and the mods are plentyfull.

 

Well my I35 is an 02, no oil burning problems, nor has it broken down once yet. I just maintain it following the user manual, and have to yet to experience a check engine light...etc *knock on wood*

 

ehh, i live in PA man, can't have RWD down here. Otherwise i'd get a G35 coupe or a Z.

I'm glad to hear that n3985, i hope it'll stay like that until 150k!!!

 

Oh $%^%& i just realized from another thread its N3985's infiniti that has me starting to like those i35s.
Props man nice ride.

 

I'd just F---- it all and get a 04/05 Accord V6 coupe, which are good enuff. (aside from a potential tranny issue that might bite you in the ***! I thought they fixed it since the '03s, but some people claim it's still a prob.) Also has a better turning radius than the I35/MAX.

 

For the $, you can't beat the overall package an I35 offers. I had an IS300 before, and when I was shopping for a car for college, I looked at the Maxima, TL, G35, 330i, and A4. Looking back I prob would've bought the 330i for the driving experience but wouldn't have been as trouble free. My friends' E46s have constant small problems here and there and their repair and maintenace cost are ridiculous.

I was given the $ to buy a 335i after I graduated but with only 30K on the I35, solid reliability, comfort, power...etc it didn't make sense to. Going off current shape of the car, I don't see why I can't drive it for at least another 3 years lol.

 

hmmm....i have no doubt that it'll be miles ahead of my 97 GLE with 136K that hasn't given me a trouble-free month so far in two years!

 

wait wait , you had an is300 an you got rid of it? Oh yeah i forgot your in P.A. If the miles were decent on it we couldve traded heh heh

My gf has a 04 accord sedan with the 5at works flawless, what tranny issues do you speak of?

 

I've read the consumer reports on Edmunds. We all knew that the 98-02 hondas/acruas has tranny issues. (that's what turns me away from an 03 TL Type-S). Tranny issues are still rampant on the 03-04 5AT models. The 05 seems to be better in that regard.

 

I guess an I35 it is Unless someone else can chime in.

 

Your should get my '02 i35 for $12K

 

Sell me your mirrors first

 

Do you finance?

 

Thats good to hear, because I did buy the elite infiniti extended warranty which they had sale on for about 1200 bucks, it ever covers the HID light bulbs.
I chose an 04 I35 over a G35, but its a nice loaner none the less!

 

The Hondas do have tranny issues, I just sold my 2003 Acura TL Type S for the I35.
00-06 Acura TL's and other models have tranny issues, it is severe in 00-04, but less on 05-06.
I sold my Acura just as it hit 60 k miles, I dont need any tranny issues.

 

wow, well that's just it right there I35 it is then

 

2004 was the last year of the I35's and if IIRC the sales numbers were really low that year. You might have more luck finding an 02 or 03. I think the differences between model years was very minimal.

 

You RC! I've seen some 04 I35s floating around locally with <45K miles. The differences are minimal. I just want the "newest" production year

 

I test drove (and almost bought) an 03 I35 with 78,000, asking $9300 but I got him down to $9000. Serviced at dealership for everything. Mechanically it's awesome. Cosmetically, it could use a detail inside, and outside body has couple scratches, but nothing you couldn't do yourself. Personally I think the price is an absolute steal, but I decided to spend less $, so I passed. Seller just called me today to see if I was still interested, I passed, so it's still available.
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/car/618415764.html
Oh yeah, carfax is clean, includes the dealer visits.

Dr J

 

I recently paid $15K (dealer) for a 03 I35 with nav/sunshade with 39K on the ODO. Exterior needs some love (new bumper in the mail, front will be replaced soon).. There are some deals out there private party that is for sure.

 

I found my 04 with 40k miles on it, inside it was like a brand new vehicle, outside has a few small nicks, but nothing major.
I had the car for 2 months now and I love it, it blows my old 03 TLS away.

 

Looks like a decent deal, Im just not a big fan of tan leather, black interior ftw!

 

Summer sweaty skin on leather's pretty funky feeling already... add sun-baked black hot seat to that equation, and it's difficult for a female with short skirt to sit.

Did I35 ever come with cooled seats?
Dr J

 

yeah, the black interoir looks fancier, but the beige interior would be a little less of a pita.

 

Awesome, man! I'm glad to hear that.

 

The only thing that i don't like about it, is the 40ft turning radius. Now, i know it has a 10X better steering rack, and prolly doesn't flex as much, but it's none too impressive nonetheless. How does it compare to a 4th gen handling-wise? I'm sure that if i ever feel that the handling isn't up to par, i could always put on a FSTB & RSB

 

dont worry about black interior. my car has black leather and this is the 1st car my family had owned with leather and i was xpecting to be freaky hot in the summer but suprisingly it actually stayed cooler than my cloth seat car. but im sure my tints and always having the sunshade when parked.also buy one those shades you can put on windshield when you park those things actully keep the interior pretty cool especially if you drove with the ac on.

 

The screen for the rear window seems like a gimmick.
Dr J

 

The rear window sun-shade kicks ***, I love it!

 

Co sign.. light tint + sunshade FTW...

 

Really? I would think that a light tint would suffice. Do you guys make it go up and down daily? Or just leave it up all the time?
Dr J

 

This is my old TLs

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/9...uratls3mj0.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/5...uratls1su0.jpg


ThurzNite, I leave the sun-shade up all the time ... rarely take it down.
It looks pimp and it gives car a classy look, in addition to the fact that the car already is very sexy.

 

^^^ I really like those TLs, but the tranny issues are such a turn-off

 

Up with the sunroof cracked works wonders... Add the dash blocker and your car is not only cooler but that leather wont dry out..