Up for grabs is a 1992
Infiniti M30 Convertible (a Florida car since new) in a condition that
will make it affordable, and available to you at a fraction of it's
book value. I'll start off by telling you that the car does not look
nearly as clean as it appears in the photos - the previous owner of
this car appeared to care more for mechanical maintenance then
cosmetic upkeep. There is evidence of multiple and regular oil
changes (stickers overlapped on windshield), and the car runs and
drives like a top, but they allowed the cosmetic condition to
noticeably deteriorate. It was a new car trade-in that we acquired by
wholesale from the dealer.
Inside is relatively
clean, but worn by passenger use and the Florida sun. The leather on
the seats has cracking and discoloration, though the driver's seat top
has been replaced in a matching color and material and looks pretty
good. The dash isn't cracked, but there is a partially raised section
from heat warping on the left front and just above the glove box. The
steering wheel has been stripped of its worn leather and replaced by a
cover in matching color. Some areas of the plastic trim around the
seats show sun pitting and whitening, though the effect of this is
lessened by the majority of trim being light in color.
In a traditional
Japanese style, there are lots of useful little compartments and
storage areas scattered around the dash and cabin, and the instruments
and controls are laid out logically.
Being an Infiniti, this
is a well appointed luxury car with the appropriate features - power
windows, power locks, power steering, ABS brakes, cruise control,
central locking, security system, power mirrors, power antenna, power
driver's seat, air conditioning, a powerful six-cylinder (the 3.0
liter V-6 from a Nissan 300ZX), a driver's side airbag and full
leather interior. All of the options are working as they should, and
the vehicle includes an owner's manual and documentation in an
attractive leather case. An aftermarket CD player has replaced the
factory tape deck, but both radios are included if you would like to
retrofit. The switch for the remote trunk release has been broken and
will need to be replaced to work properly. Trunk access can still be
gained with the key.
The power top is a neat
design, with a single switch to operate both it and the
raising/lowering of the windows. It works well enough, but has a
couple of issues - it requires some upward help to start, and one of
the metal support bars going to the windshield pillar is broken,
though it has been effectively (and permanently) repaired with subtle
stainless steel hardware and a hidden 1/4" aluminum plate - it is
structurally sound and not cosmetically distracting. The back window
is hazy, and would need to be replaced for proper vision. I've raised
and lowered the top at least 20 times while driving this car over the
last month. I haven't experienced and hard rainstorms while driving,
but it wouldn't surprise me if it had a drip or two coming in to the
cabin, as these cars have a reputation for leaks (while driving, not
while parked). There are no rips or tears in the top fabric, and it
looks very presentable and clean when up or down.
Mechanically, the car
runs and drives extremely well, exhibiting signs of good maintenance.
It shifts smoothly through the four gears in the automatic
transmission with no slippage or harshness. The ABS brakes feel
strong, and it looks as though the pads were recently replaced. The
suspension is solid and electronically adjustable to a "comfort" or
"sport" setting, and it makes no unusual noises or shudders going over
bumps or rounding corners. The car drives, tracks and steers well, and
feels properly connected to the road. There is about 50% tread wear
left on the radial tires. A spare tire and jack are properly stowed in
the trunk.
The fuel injected engine
starts and runs well, maintaining good oil pressure and normal
temperature at idle, in traffic, or at highway speeds. The oil and
other fluids are level and clean. There are no warning lights of any
kind in the message center. The air conditioning works very well and
the heater does its job in a fine manner. Being a rear drive car (it
has the same powertrain as a 300ZX), you will never have to worry
about replacing CV boots or expensive axles.
Outside, the paint is in
very poor shape from the back of the doors forward, with chips, road
wear and heavy sun fading common to Florida cars. With the exception
of a small spot on the bottom of the passenger doorframe (pictured in
photos), the car appears to be devoid of rust. There is none
underneath or on any spot other than pictured. There are a few dings
and rubs in the sheet metal, but nothing serious or beyond normal road
wear - the passenger side was victim to a mild keying. The rear
spoiler with a centrally mounted brake light is an attractive touch,
as are the styled alloy wheels and flush European style headlights.
The blue-tinted mirrors have a cool and chunky look to them.
Overall, it's a solid
and good looking car that's a blast to drive. It's in poor cosmetic
condition, but if your concern is more mechanical in nature, this car
will not disappoint, and will deliver many more miles of enjoyable and
faithful service if a good maintenance schedule is continued. Though
not at 100%, the car does still attract a lot of positive attention.
In order to truly look
presentable, this car would need exterior paint and a recovering of
the front passenger seat. There are essentially two routes to go with
it - invest in repair of the cosmetics, and have a car that will be
worth more than your expenditure , or simply enjoy the lowered top and
drive it like it is. This car has been my driver for the last three
weeks, and I've put over 1000 care-free and untroubled miles on it
with no let downs.
