Infiniti I30

Price Paid:  $36000.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 I35

Summary:
The I35 is a good luxury car, but it leaves performance hungry drivers (like me) a little starved. The quiet, posh ride is very luxurious and inspires a feeling of relaxation...however, the feeling I prefer when driving is one of tension and excitement. This car failed to evoke that feeling.

Strengths:
It''s very smooth and quiet, something I guess is standard in this kind of car. The engine is somewhat robust, although a combination of weight and what I think is an ambitious HP rating make it feel about the same speed as my 5-speed 4th gen. Maxima. Inside, there''s a lot of room (at first it seemed excessive coming from the Maxima) however, I''ve come to like it. As I said, it''s quiet...the engine barely gets louder than a muffled hum. On the road, it''s not soft-sprung, but it''s very comfortable. Bumps are muted, and wind noise is minimal. It''s more satisfying to be a passenger in this kind of car. The big leather seats support nicely, and the environment is just very relaxing.

Weaknesses:
Well, to start, it''s faster than anything else in its class/price range (except maybe the Acura TL Type-S), but the power seems to be wasted on such a luxury car. That, in combination with the lack of an manumatic option (die-hard stick drivers go through withdrawal) and a comfortable, reassuring, but far from exciting ride make this car very un-fun. Again, this car isn''t supposed to be fun I guess, but it would be nice if it were.

Similar Products Used:
99 Lexus LS400- It moves very quickly... quickly enough to put a knot in my stomach when I floored it. 95 Nissan Maxima SE, 5spd- A great compromise between comfort and sport. My personal benchmark

Price Paid:  $28300.00 from Bloomington Infiniti

Summary:
I moved from an Audi A4 to this car. Much more room, great engine, all the extras in the car. Very reasonable price.

Strengths:
Engine, price, extra

Weaknesses:
Big weakness...the sunroof leaks in car washes. When I called the dealer, they said don't go through any high pressure washes, but it happens at all of them. Very disappointing response and not acceptable! I've had Honda's, VW's and Audi's with sunroofs and have never had a leak.

Price Paid:  $30000.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 I35

Summary:
Traded in my Acura TLS for this car. Very pleased with this car. Not a SINGLE problem, no rattles no squeaks, transmission is still going strong at 15,000 miles. Touch wood. The Acura was fragile, almost had to baby it. I've been abusing this Infiniti and it keeps coming back asking for more. The engine is a jewel, I can see why Nissan's VQV6 has been hailed as the best V6 ever. There are times when I'm at a stoplight that I can't tell whether the engine is running or not. It's that quiet. Amazing torque off the line, stable chassis, minimal body roll around corners. Ride could be a little quieter but if I wanted the isolation I would have gone with a Lexus.

Strengths:
Quality, fit and finish, the ENGINE!, transmission, Infiniti service is second only to Lexus.

Weaknesses:
Road noise, turning radius, Infiniti should have further differenitated this from a Maxima.

Similar Products Used:
Acura TLS, Lexus ES 300

Price Paid:  $30000.00 from Harte Infinity

Summary:
I’ve had this car for about 2 months and I’m very disappointed with the front seats. The front seats look good, but they are not ergonomically correct. There is not enough support in the lower thigh, and there is no adjustment to extend the length of the seat. Don’t be fooled by their good appearance and try them out on the road for a longer period of time. Even with the lumbar support, there is not enough support in the lower back, which result in back pain, discomfort and frustration. I’m only 5’ 10”, but when I adjust the seat for the proper arm distance from the steering wheel, my right knee is uncomfortably pressing the center console or even worse the sharp edge of the key in the ignition. My knee can not freely move from side to side without hitting the bottom of the steering column. Each time I drive this car I try to change the adjustments to make the seat more comfortable, but so far I’ve been unsuccessful. I did take this car for a test drive when I was buying it, but it was only for a short distance. This was not enough to detect the major flaws in the seat design. By selecting this car, I assumed that the seats would be as comfortable as in my previous vehicles. But, oh how mistaken I was! My commute to work is only about half an hour, but after a few minutes of driving I can’t wait to get out of this car because of discomfort. I’m seriously thinking about trading this car in for another car. Remember that no matter how smooth the engine is if the seats are not comfortable you will not be satisfied with a car.

Strengths:
Not worth mentioning because of the bad front seats.

Weaknesses:
Very uncomfortable, not ergonomically correct front seats. Some controls placed under the steering wheel and can not be easily reached. Interior finish and controls identical to the Maxima's.

Similar Products Used:
Nissan Maxima, BMW 528i

Price Paid:  $27999.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 / Infiniti I35

Summary:
Infiniti did a great job with this car. The engine is flawless, interior and exterior styling is good. Bose audio system is good, except for some rattling from the subwoofer grille. The seats are comfortable, even for 5+ hour trips. This car is a great bargain!!

Strengths:
Engine, acceleration, comfort, styling. Great ride, especially on curvy roads :)

Weaknesses:
rattling in the back, analog clock is very hard to read.....needs to be brighter i think.

Similar Products Used:
BMW 528, Nissan Maxima, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord.