So I just bought this 1996 I30 for $1700, it's got 116k miles, which is very low for a 96, and yes they are original miles Anyway, I have always loved the 5th gen, not really the 5.5gen I30, and am thinking that I may flip this car and go for a clean 2000/2001 I30. Any reason that I shouldn't do this? I really like the VG30DE-K motor, feels a little more "torquey" around town, even though they feel about the same in terms of performance numbers (0-60mph and 1/4 mile). More than that though, the interior is more modern (perfect IMO as the 5.5 and above look too "new" to me). plus it's a little bigger, which I like. I owned a 5.5gen Maxima and while I loved the VQ35, I felt it was too much power for a front wheel drive commuter car. I also own a 2008 Lexus IS350, which is a low 13 second 1/4 mile car, so I have my "go fast" needs covered. Just wondering what the pros and cons are for the 4th vs. 5th gen? Everything on my 1996 works, save for the drivers window regulator (motor still works though ), and the y-pipe has a leak in it, but otherwise very much in great shape. What say you guys? Also, since I found a very clean 2001 I30 for sale in the color combo I am looking for, I am wondering how much it's worth these days (it's a 2001 with 110k miles).

I see that KBB lists the car at $3200 in EXCELLENT shape with 110k miles, but he is asking $4200. Is it common to pay over book for these cars? I know some cars can demand over book value, but these I30's are far from rare, and to be honest, are less desirable than the I35/Maxima, which obviously have a following b/c of the VQ35.

 

$1700 for a 4th gen with only 116k is a good deal as long as they are original miles.

I wouldnt flip a 4th gen for a 5th. 4th gen better quality car IMO.

I30s have plenty street value. Im not surprised the guy is asking alot.

 

Yeah, it's box A miles and everything looks like it should for a low mileage car, the registration records correlate with the current mileage, but you never know as it's a mechanical odometer. I offered the guy top book value, $3200, and he said straight away "no". The reality is that NONE of these cars are selling well over here. Most of the I30's of that vintage sit on Craigslist for months until they drop into the 2000 dollar range, then they get bought quickly. I35's, yeah, those seem to always go quickly....again I suppose it's the draw of the VQ35, which I specifically don't want in a second car.

I will take a look at the 2001 I30 later tonight, see how clean it is, my 4th gen is in "very good" condition...could be cleaner than his 2001, so far it's been cleaner than most cars I have seen, so we'll see. What I really want to do is do a compression check and see how the engine is doing on my I30, seems like I am going through a lot of gas for a 3 liter engine, despite having NO CEL codes. I mean, I do have a pretty nasty leak at the y-pipe flex section but other than that all the regular "tune up" items are ether new or functioning normally.

 

Seems that you are considering trading a good car that you know for a very similar car that you do not know, for a higher price.

I doubt your fuel mileage is due to low compression.

I would start by changing spark plugs. Your oxygen sensors are old. Even though they don't throw a code, they are not like new.

Is your air filter clean? Tires inflated properly?

 

I agree about the compression not being the cause of lower mpg, more so I wanted to check to make another correlation for the mileage, as I still am in disbelief on how cheap this thing was. Also, I checked the tires, I can already see 2 that are low-ish, probably down 3-4psi, so that's probably a little bit of it. Air filter changed, plugs changed, O2's "look ok" on a live data stream. I will see the 2001 I30 later and compare, but I know that it is more than likely that I will be keeping mine, I just have a thing for the 5th gen I30, the entire back end of that car looks fantastic, it has the VG30DE-K motor, and this one has the black interior and is a little bigger.

 

Both cars seem good. Depends on which you like better.

Old saying........ you pays your money and you takes your chances.

Good luck to you either way.

 

Took a look at it, what a piece of, well you know. It's the same one I looked at before buying mine, the guy is trying to flip it for an extra couple hundred over what the previous seller was offering it for last week.